Intelligence is something all of us have. It is a combination of character traits including; aptitude, emotional control and understanding, kinesthetics, discernment, and more. Each human has different degrees of these components of intelligence.
I have been told for years that I am above average intelligence but I had no way of knowing either way because: I am trapped in my head and therefore I am bias. Also, the people telling me that were also human so who are they to judge my intelligence. Part of me hoped they were correct and part of me disagreed with them.
Tonight I found out that the people who inflated my head were incorrect. I discovered that I speak improperly pronouncing many words incorrectly. I also found out that I use many words inappropriately in my ignorance of definitions.
My thoughts exit me in form of words. Because of that words are I credibility important. I am seeing that because I was incorrect in my language my communication to the world was flawed. That means many of my ideas could be good but I would never be able to effectively communicate them unless I started to change my ignorance.
My wife told me they I am mispronouncing and misusing the words today. She reported that she when she first met me she noticed I use words incorrectly and she wondered whether I was “trying too hard,” or whether I was simply ignorant that I wasn’t using the words properly.
I had no clue she had noticed these problems. After receiving the news my heart sank swiftly into my epigastric region and I lost focus on my surroundings. I realized that I look like an idiot to my wife. I also realized that I was ignorant, lazy, easily frustrated, and flawed.
Now I wonder about every other area of my life. I wonder just how much worse I am in these areas than how I feel. I used to have moments where I did actually feel intelligent. I feel tiny and depressed today know I have been inflated with pride and false confidence. I’m not as intelligent as even I believed.
I am a broken man. I really wish I could just stop talking in order to actually take the time to learn English- grammar, spelling, and definitions. The kicker in all of this is I have published 7 books. I am an author that doesn’t understand language to a satisfactory level.
As I write I wonder who will bread this and whether or not he/she will be able to relate. How many other people are finding out they are quite honestly much less adept in their expression than they believed. I believe we will all find out that we are egocentric in general and thus very likely to be lower in many categories than we previously believed.
I understood why I quickly came to see my parents as simply human, not super heroes. It a much greater blow to me understanding that I am not one either. I am just another self-centered human in a self-centered world.
I must bridle my tongue. I must think before I speak. More importantly, I must not look like an idiot to my wife. She already has plenty of reasons to think I’m stupid. This reason, however, is ultimately in my control to improve.
So as I close this simple blog entry, I admit I am crestfallen. I don’t even have an angry emotion for being criticized. I am much worse off than when I am angry, now I am depressed and guilty.
“How could a woman love an idiot,” I wondered accepting my reality. The only thing keeping my wife in my immediate proximity is her loving heart and the grace of God.
I am sincerely thinking about keeping my enteral level labor job despite having completed a masters degree program. I honestly believe that I am not worth having anything better because I probably won’t understand it and will again be the village idiot. It isn’t that I want to shelter myself from the jokes and insults that are likely to be hurled at me indefinitely. It is that I, like Hippocrates, must first do no harm. I now understand just how ridiculous I look and how my portrayal of an idiot will lead to loneliness and self destruction.
Dishonesty is something that comes with heavy negative connotations from both those who are spiritual or atheist. It is one of those traits that seems to be universally despised, yet quite frankly, it seems to be incredibly common. In fact, people tend to invent shades of lying such as “white lies” or “little lies” which they believe to be harmless.
People lie by omission. People twist words or use words that they know are technically true by one definition, however, are being used to confuse a person who is from a different culture and who therefore has a different understanding of the concept being used. There are so many ways to lie I don’t think I can get into it in one post.
Based on my experience as a 39 year old minister, counselor, former nurse and nurse-practitioner, and having worked in various service jobs as well as having been through the county jail system and several rehabilitation centers and re-entry programs, I believe I have gotten a decent slice of life as far as seeing it from various cultural and socioeconomic angles. Universally I have seen deception.
I’m sure there are theories of deception and why humans do what they do and they are fairly simple to understand psychologically. The truth is that despite all of the Christ-centric, blood washed, teaching I want to anoint you with, and despite a well developed frontal lobe being capable of overcoming a medulla and midbrain, human beings continue to be egocentric and self driven hedonistic beasts. Ultimately this behavior comes out eventually in the best of us. In myself I catch it often.
I would venture to say that in an individual who has social interactions a reasonable amount of times daily, that individual is deceptive to a degree at least once daily. It may be small, even insanely negligible to most, but I believe it is there. I think it is worth mentioning for multiple reasons. I will expound more later.
The very nature of believing in a perfect and “all knowing” God places man at a great disadvantage. Man, by default, is inaccurate without even knowing. Man is subjective where God is the only entity capable of objectively viewing anything if He is the only one capable of omniscience and omnipresence. I begin to wonder if there is simply one true “reality” and we are unaware of it so subjectivity is valid and thus there is no way for us to actually know any truth… this is where faith comes in for me. So we must then define lying in order to move forward.
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines lying or deception as: To lie =df to make a believed-false statement to another person with the intention that the other person believe that statement to be true. This emphasizes intention.
So one cannot accidentally deceive another and it be called a lie. This makes the subjective nature of the human experience more of a moot point. For example, every time someone makes plans with me and tells me they will be there at 8:00 and I know in my heart I won’t see them until 9:15 I don’t believe they are lying, I believe they have poor time management abilities and that they don’t respect my time. They usually apologize to me before greeting me and move on to normal things which indicates that they are aware of the issue but don’t value it enough to change behavior. Maybe in a way it is like lying because of the awareness… see what I’m saying?
So the point I am driving at is: people seem to try to paint an image of being totally honest all the time from what I observe in their speech patterns, yet behaviors indicate otherwise. I want to open the door for honesty and try to work on the problem in my life from both ends: 1) I find myself lying, so I would like to catch that speech and improve it. 2) I want my behavior to improve to match my speech and no longer indicate any degree of deception; yay be yay, nay be nay, kind of stuff.
I am realizing truths in this life that people do not want to face because they are simply to painful. This is making me mentally and emotionally stronger, but I am also finding myself with fewer connections to humans that I rely on. That seems to be the normal or expected sanctification and maturing process. God CAN NOT receive anything by very nature and if we are being sanctified the closer we get to that the less we will be able to receive and the more we will be giving. That stands to reason.
I am not becoming God by any means, but the goal of sanctification is to become like God and to “love not the world” (1 John 2:25). If that is the case the humanity in me should be burning up and the world should be seeming more distant, and it really is. I am finding myself seeking more distant places to worship and pray to The Father which is this relatable yet fully unknowable God.
I will continue to post articles and share as much as I can from my experiences. I will continue to connect with others and bond as able. I will love those around me. I will be human and seek to improve the human condition. I am not implying I am above anything. I am just answering a call that I believe many of us have and I want to encourage others to do the same. Please inspire the continued evolution of the human species spiritually through God. Unlock your spiritual truth and lay down lying.
Mark Rothko showed the beautiful complexity of minimalism in his work.
Minimalism isn’t just about throwing away all of one’s possessions and keeping old patterns of living and mentalities. When I adopted my new lifestyle I did some soul-searching and incorporated strategies directed toward optimizing quality of life. My goal was over all wellness starting with Spirituality and traveling down to physicality. Here are four things I have learned on my journey toward wellness, which by the way, is a lifelong process:
1) Speak Less
I have found by living a quiet life I am more engaged with my surroundings, and therefore more mindful. I am more in touch with my inner and outer worlds. I am a better listener which allows me to communicate better. I am more involved in processing my own feelings. I am simply overall a more adjusted human.
2) Spend Less
I’m sure this makes sense however, I have really put into practice a lifestyle of getting as many free things as possible. Most of the clothes I have were given to me and keep in mind I don’t have very many clothes. I am a pretty extreme minimalist. I tend to eat mostly free food from pantries. At first, I felt a bit like I was leaching off of people until I realized much of the produce and fresh food which is what I like to eat anyway was going to waste.
It turns out our country has an abundance of free food, free, clothing, and other free things that just get thrown away. America throws out about 30 to 40% of its food in general. After I learned those statistics, I didn’t feel so bad about taking free things. I still work for things and spend money, but I don’t see any reason not to look for good deals. There are also people putting perfectly good furniture and other items for your living space out all of the time. Just be mindful of the environment and keep your eyes open. Financial freedom will lead to a much happier lifestyle.
3) Own Less
This is the core of minimalism to many people. The thought behind this for me was: my possessions weren’t things I owned, they were things that owned me. I was making my identity, something that was in the material things which I owned. I no longer have to do that. in fact, I really enjoy the freedom and mobility that I have by owning very few things. What is ownership anyway?
How extreme a person gets with their minimalism is truly up to them. I am pretty content to just have some clothing, a laptop, a living, space, a vehicle, and really not much else. To some people that is extreme, to others, they wouldn’t even need a place to live, and could just remain mobile, I respect anyone for just being authentic. The key is to find out where you are truly comfortable and live it out. I also realize I am basically borrowing everything rather than owning it… I will die and it will no longer be mine anyway.
4) People Please Less
This life is yours, live it that way. I’m not telling you to disrespect or disregard the people around you, but I do think you ought to stop caring what they think about decisions you make regarding the course of your life and the goals you set for yourself to a large extent. Once I started living in respect to my spirituality and seeking purpose rather than trying to appease people around me I felt a weight lift off of me that is indescribable.
“ Let him who has no sin cast the first stone” -Jesus Christ
I am human and thusly I sin. Despite my sinning, another believer is still not justified in judging me. In particular, another believer has no business in my business. I am mostly a loner and don’t need any affirmation from others.
Being hyperspiritual doesn’t free the individual from their responsibility to honor the commandments first which were given to Moses straight from The Father. A sort of pseudo-faith movement is going strong in the United States and it is hugely damaging to the church.
The main reasons I am mentioning that others have sinned while working against me is:
First: to spin a negative situation into a positive one.
Second: to warn others to pray, plan, and meditate.
Third: to spread the gospel.
If an individual consistently does any of those three things they WILL see results. much of the formula for success is persistence. Try to set aside daily self time and focus on your spiritual journey. 30 minutes of moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise is great. I also enjoy yoga.
The Apostle Thomas
Keep in mind that if you start becoming successful you will have jealous people and distant acquaintances suddenly begin to miss you. When I made good money and had nice things it disgusted me the way people would look at me. Now that I’m a starving artist minimalist minister I don’t have many friends and I’m happier.
“IF you don’t have haters you ain’t doin’ it right.”
-Pastor Cornell Jordan
As people gossip, slander, come against my household with a spirit of division, I repent and quietly pray for the ones spiritually attacking me. My friend pastor Cornell once gave me some sound philosophical advice, “if you don’t have haters you ain’t doin’ it right.”
Jesus specifically spoke on division. Christ states that he was incarnated to bring a spirit of division, sure, but not between two believers- particularly a believing married couple. Outside of infidelity or walking away from a marriage as an unbeliever, Christ was clear that for Christians divorce ought to be unacceptable (Matthew: 19 8-9).
Sowing discord in darkness is not of Christ.
Refusing to face a believer directly I find myself pushing on and pressing toward that mark the Apostle Paul wrote about. Blatantly disrespecting someone in private is not biblical. This happened to me from a self proclaimed Christian who loved to dish out free advice whenever he got the chance. I got sick of trying to cover up the more eccentric parts of my persona and just started wearing casual clothes to work and treating our church house like it was a carry in for food, essential oils, and other small gifts to give to God’s people.
No secret is safe so there is no safety in secrets. What happens in dark comes to light. God corrects the ones who are in His hand: the ones He loves.
I definitely have guilt for my sin, but I refuse to carry shame. There is no reason for anyone who understands who Jesus Christ IS to carry shame period. Shame is a feeling I could go without for the rest of my life and not complain.
My ability to forgive myself makes people uncomfortable because they lack the ability to forgive me. That isn’t my problem, it is theirs, and it is a big one. We will be judged by the measure we judge others and we will not be forgiven if we do not forgive (Matthew 6:15).
The truth is my sin doesn’t make the truth the comes out of me inspired by the Holy Ghost any less true. If the hardness in someone else’s heart due to judgement impedes them from accepting a true message they are still held accountable for the knowledge they are rejecting.
On the other hand, every time I led others to sin, or worse, to blaspheme the Holy Ghost, their eternal blood saturated my hands. I could have been their last opportunity at salvation and my sin ultimately cost them another chance to accept Christ. I own that..
Because I have major mistakes in my past, I have gone to great lengths to rehabilitate and rest so that I can be ready for the work force again. I am going to continue with making music, writing, yoga, running, painting, and cooking. I would also like to get back into filmmaking, learn a foreign language, and how to play classical piano.
In conclusion, human beings each have a flaw of some sort. Addiction is a common problem that affects every culture, race, and socioeconomic class.
The health benefits of mushrooms have been widely known for thousands of years.
Our ancestors have used wide varieties to treat various conditions. The practice of ingesting fungi has continued, although in western society it has been thought of as alternative medicine or supplemental to more “standard” medical care. I propose the question what is standard medical care anyway?
I practiced as a nurse practitioner in the setting of family practice and came to a point where I realized that standard American medicine is just one route to achieving a common goal: wellness. What was considered fringe or alternative medicine began to make more sense to me the longer I practiced. Often, natural remedies offered the benefit of very low risk for side effects. For example, I have had more success treating depression with vegan diets and music therapy than with “standard” serotonin-modulating pharmaceuticals. So why not mushrooms?
What if mushrooms could be a step in the right direction in getting Americans off of the feedback loop of pharmaceuticals they are bound to? I have taken care of geriatric patients on upwards of 30 medications, oftentimes palliating side effects brought on by the myriad of exogenous chemicals they were ingested by the handful in nicely packaged little tablets handed over to them by a smiling pharmacy tech in crisp scrubs. I felt as though I was chasing my tail in a lab coat, adding to a mountain of molecular chaos. There had to be a simpler way…
We are what we eat
Everything we ingest in some way impacts the body. This physical impact alters brain chemistry and thus affects everything from emotions to cognition to metabolism. The human-machine is incredibly complex and has a multitude of variables which are each impacted by the environment and intake of any substance. That being said, mushrooms come in countless varieties each offering a unique biochemical makeup, so simply playing the odds it is safe to say some certainly offer benefits.
Luckily, some super-intelligent people have done much of the leg work for us for hundreds of years studying mushrooms and discovering the benefits and risks in ingesting various varieties. Mushroom nutrition and supplements are becoming big business, and for good reason. The Harvard School of Public Health notes many varieties of mushrooms contain polysaccharides, indoles, polyphenols, and carotenoids. This chemical jargon equates to essentially a group of substances that have been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects in animal studies. Science is verifying what our ancestors seemingly knew centuries ago, mushrooms are an incredibly beneficial and simple solution to contribute to overall wellness.
Troop
One company, Troop, has captured and concentrated on this fungal super-food and is marketing it in form of supplements and has been doing so since 2020. Troop has concentrated various varieties of mushrooms into delicious gummy supplements for an effective and convenient way to enjoy all of the benefits of mushrooms. Troop sells affordable products like lion’s mane gummies for a daily brain boost and reishi gummies for de-stressing. Their products are made with pectin and are therefore vegan, the mushrooms are sourced in the U.S. and Troop supports small farms. The company is very health conscious and also focused on conservation, products are sold in recycled plastic bottles. Troop’s founder noted that our country has “too many processed foods” and the company wanted to offer an easy way to supplement for health.
In the first two months, Troop sold out of their inventory, which tells me there is a serious buzz around mushroom products. The company reports they are hearing testimonials from satisfied customers regularly related to improved sleep and focus. If you are interested in discovering the benefits of mushrooms check out Troop at https://trytroop.com.
I have researched and have even found various coffee alternatives made from mushrooms which claim to give a natural energy boost without the jitters that can come with caffeine. These various products just make sense to me with my clinical background. In my experience reishi tea has had a calming effect on me. I had accepted a gift of dried reishi mushrooms from a friend who is experienced in hunting mushrooms. Tony took me to the woods and explained a few tips for finding eatable species. I was able to harvest a few plastic bags full of chanterelles which I later used as a meat substitute to make a delicious lasagna. But I digress, I am simply expressing that I have a fondness for mushrooms and their goodness and therefore see a bright future in medicine for the little guys. I support any product with the ability to get individuals away from Big Pharma while improving their overall wellness.
A Closer Look
Let’s get a deeper look at the actual science behind mushrooms and why they are healthy: They are a decent source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin, and many of us lack sufficient exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is essential for bone health and contributes to overall feelings of wellness. Many varieties of mushrooms are rich in zinc, which is needed for a healthy immune system. Mushrooms are rich in potassium, which is essential in normal functioning cells and can contribute to stable and lower blood pressures and functional muscle contractility.
Research has shown that mushrooms increase the function of macrophages. For those of us who aren’t biology majors, just know that macrophages are cells that “eat” foreign bodies. What I am saying is, that research has shown mushrooms to improve immunity by boosting these clean-up cells (macrophages) abilities.
Mushrooms are rich in antioxidants. Anything that cleans up free radicals is a good thing. A free radical is a molecule that contains an unpaired electron which leads to instability and therefore the molecule is highly reactive. More science jargon right? Free radicals lead to cell damage because they are unstable and reactive. That is why certain super-foods are so beneficial, mushrooms being one of them. I also recommend blueberries, dark chocolate, spinach, and oranges. But this is all about mushrooms, so let’s get back on track.
Mushrooms are a source of thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and copper. Let me break down those nutrients and minerals:
Thiamin: This is vitamin B-1. It is necessary for cellular growth and normal function. Without thiamin, our cells could not generate energy. Thiamin is necessary for our cells to break down carbohydrates, thus, our metabolism is somewhat dependent on it.
Magnesium: Magnesium supports muscle and nerve function. I have always thought of magnesium and calcium as “sedatives” in practice. Too little of them and muscles become hyperactive and rigid. It is imperative to keep magnesium levels within the normal range to prevent hypertension, coronary artery disease, type two diabetes, and osteoporosis.
Phosphorus: Phosphorus is essential for bone health. Normal phosphorus levels are necessary for energy and overall feelings of wellness. Low phosphorus levels have been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome and joint pain.
Selenium: Selenium helps our cells to produce DNA. It is also known to protect from free radicals which explains why mushrooms have antioxidant properties. Selenium contributes to overall metabolism and thyroid function.
Copper: Copper is a very important mineral in the human body as it aids in the production of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to various tissues in the body. Copper is also an antioxidant like selenium helping to rid free radicals.
So there is a general overview of “mushrooms” and their health benefits. Yet it is apparent that not all mushrooms are created equally. With so many varieties to choose from, there has been a great expansion of specialty mushroom products. This has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Westerners are becoming more health-conscious and are reaching for reasonable preventive solutions which have been well documented for years in eastern cultures. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global mushroom market was 12.74 million tons and is projected to reach 20.84 million tons by 2026. Sales are expected to be $34.3 Billion by 2024 according to Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The Top 13
www.mindbodygreen.com has posted an interesting read concerning 13 varieties of mushrooms and the best ways to use them. Essentially there is a fungus for every condition it would seem. I took their list of thirteen mushrooms and decided to do my own research on each variety to learn more:
Essentially there is a fungus for every condition it would seem. I took their list of thirteen mushrooms and decided to do my own research on each variety to learn more:
These mushrooms are a great source of riboflavin or vitamin B2. Riboflavin helps to break down carbohydrates, thus increasing metabolism and energy production! They are also high in B3 which is Niacin. Niacin is commonly known to detoxify. Portobellos are also a great source of fiber which reduces the risk of colon cancer. 9 Beneficial Health Benefits of Portobello Mushrooms – DrHealthBenefits.com
Maitake (Hen of the Woods)
According to Healthline Maitake mushrooms are extraordinary for treating cancer. They are rich in antioxidants, beta-glucans, B and C vitamins, copper, potassium, fiber, minerals, and amino acids.
Maitakes are shown to lower cholesterol in mice as per this 2013 study:
Reishi mushrooms have been shown to boost immunity in humans. Details a[[ear vague, however, studies have shown reishi mushrooms affect genes in certain white blood cells and increase their numbers.
A 2005 study found the correlation to ingesting reishi mushrooms and a positive immuno-modulating response in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, though the author concluded more studies certainly need to be performed:
That being said, if there is any truth in any of these studies reishi mushrooms may prove to be extremely beneficial to the future of medicine in the fields of oncology and rheumatology.
Crimini
Crimini mushrooms (spelled cremini sometimes) are sold throughout grocery stores. They are known to have boos immunity. They contain probiotics which improves digestion and immunity. More interestingly, crimini mushrooms appear to have properties similar to aromatase inhibitors. This means they block the creation of estrogen. This could be incredibly beneficial in the treatment of breast, lung, and uterine cancer. My interest was peaked when I read an article posted here: Mushrooms Are Highly Recommended For Breast Cancer | Food for Breast Cancer
White Button
These are mushrooms I commonly see in grocery stores. They have great health benefits. The are a great source of vitamin D. Like many other mushrooms they are a source of selenium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium. They also carry B vitamins. These may seem common, but could be a key super-food staple which could be added to several meals per week: White Mushrooms: Nutrition, Benefits, and Uses (healthline.com)
Oyster
Oyster mushrooms are packed with antioxidants! This 2006 article showed significant anti-oxidant action in rats: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov After-all, we share ¼ of our genome with rodents, so there is some serious implications here that oyster mushrooms may hold the key to reducing free radicals. This German fungi is a super food for sure.
Porcini
Porcini mushrooms are known for being fat free and a great source of protein as well as fiber. They have the same antioxidant effects of many of the other mushrooms discussed and additionally they have been known to improve ulcers, inflammation, colon cancer, and have aided in weight loss: Porcini mushroom Health benefits and Side effects – foodthesis.com
Chantrelles are rich in vitamin D and are meaty and hearty. They contain beta-carotene which is an important precurser to vitamin A. They contain Lycopene (a chemical that gives many veggies their red color, but otherwise is useful in normalizing blood pressure and inflammation). Vitamin A, E, C, Thiamine… Chantrelles are incredibly nutritious. After seeing just how many vitamins and minerals are packed into these mushrooms I am definitely going to get back in the woods this season and find some! Check it out:
Morels are commonly sought in Ohio, and for good reason! They contain a high amount of antioxidants and are known to prevent type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and heart.
disease. This, again, comes from the cleaning up of free radicals. These are championed as a delicacy in the rust-belt and I know several avid mushroom hunters personally who seek only morels. Look at this article on health benefits of morels:
Lobster mushrooms? I had never heard of these. It turns out they are quite nutritious. They contain vitamin D in high levels as well as phosphorus and zinc. They, like all mushrooms, are a great source of fiber and they also contain a good deal of copper to keep red blood cell production running smoothly.
These mushrooms are rich in potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium. King Trumpets have been shown to improve blood glucose and lipid levels in mice:
I also want to point out the obvious, I have not mentioned psychedelics as that is for another article, but know that there have been many breakthroughs with using psilocybin to treat various conditions from depression to chronic pain. I say this because when I tell people I am writing about mushrooms I inevitably have to explain “no, not the trippy ones dude.” I have recommended it to patients in the past, which of course put me in some grey area as a clinician as psychedelic mushrooms are not yet legal. However, research is truly supporting various benefits there as well. I will discuss this in a future post.
To conclude this article, I want to simply say the future of fungiculture is staggering and seemingly limitless. There is a wealth of untapped potential growing all around us. God has provided every nuanced building block to complete a solid mind, body, spirit temple right here in the garden. It is inspirational to see others researching and discovering wellness strategies which have been sitting right in front of us for centuries. More often than not the obvious solution is overlooked, yet it is the correct one. Nature has a way of elegantly fitting together perfectly like a well thought out interdenominational puzzle. Mushrooms are just one more piece falling into place right where they need to be.
I want to add I am not paid by Troop, I just found their site to be cool so I mentioned them and thought I would give them a plug.
Ernie Clifton II 