"GET THE STRIFE OUT OF YOUR LIFE"

Okay-I admit it. I am a huge fan of Joel Osteen! Yes, I am a Jew. But, I am not a religious Jew. Nor do I believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. How did my fondness for this preacher come about? I am a news junky. I never leave the house on Sunday mornings whether it's Winter or Summer. I must watch all the political morning shows and finally at 11:30, when they all end, Joel Osteen magically appears on my television! This attractive pastor (not so young, but looks very youthful) always starts his sermons with a joke and more often than not, they are very funny jokes. He is also a great story teller. So now, he gets me hooked with the amusing joke or story, and I go on to listen to his sermons. All sermons have themes, and sometimes Osteen's themes are just mediocre. But generally, somewhere within the sermon, he offers advice that speaks to me, and helps me navigate towards positive thoughts for the day. I'll get to all that in a minute-First, I need to address my close relatives and friends who are totally appalled that I could like this man! They point out that he didn't open his church to those in need during winter floods and hurricanes. They insist he is a grifter that takes money from those who don't have money to spare. They rant that he is a Capitalist over a Christian. That he is not a spiritual leader but rather a cross between greed and religion, etc. etc. This may all be true, but it doesn't impact my new habit of listening to him each day for a few minutes on Sirius in the car! I can ignore the above criticisms and ultimately, I find him to be more helpful and hopeful than any hour long session with a shrink. I feel uplifted, happy, and more optimistic after a few minutes of listening. So what is his mass appeal? And, specifically, why does he appeal to me? For me, he is merely a motivational speaker with a religious bent. He is not overtly religious and is more ecumenical. I easily ignore the religion aspect. He delivers messages of hope during our bad times: such as the covid pandemic, death, sickness, money issues, and relationship issues with spouses or relatives, and betrayals by friends. In essence, he has figured out a way to market religion to a wider audience. He doesn't call people sinners or judge you for wrongdoing. He doesn't instill guilt or fear. Rather, he talks more about morals and integrity. He doesn't scold or insist you repent for mistakes. He is the ultimate optimist. He wants us to rid the negativity in our lives. Prosperity for him is peace, feeling blessed, and being able to pay the bills! He teaches me to let go of the strife and the stress and move toward a productive outcome. He teaches me to compromise with those that matter to me; to make allowances for the sake of keeping peace; and not to keep a record of every mistake. He preaches that strength and weaknesses complement and complete each other. And, yet He also suggests we let go of the people who bring negativity into our lives, which is often hard to do. We should have acceptance without expectations which is also not an easy concept for me. And finally, he ends his sermons with a "SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT"! I love that!! All this may seem like hooey to you and I understand why. He may seem disingenuous and I certainly understand that perspective too. But, for me, those few minutes in the car each day, when I'm stressed out about a work issue, a friend problem, a family health situation, or whatever else-Joel Osteen has the ability to calm me down. He makes me take a breath, and gives me a little chuckle at the same time. He's like an edible with a shot of vodka...mellow and pleasurable simultaneously. PEACE OUT-ONE B `