• HOME
  • BLOG
  • SPEAKING
  • ABOUT ME

Sarah Rose Lochelt

Conversation, Connection & Coffee

to choose love.

August 21, 2010 by SarahLochelt 1 Comment

I CHOOSE LOVE…
No occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…
the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see
people as anything less than human beings,
created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as
anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE…
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll
invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the
wait is too long. I will thank God for a moment
to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new
assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS…
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.
Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to
the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS…
I will go without a dollar
before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked
before I will boast. I will confess before I will
accuse. I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS…
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates
will not question my word. My wife will not
question my love. And my children will never fear
that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS…
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF CONTROL…
I am a spiritual being…
After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.
I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.
I will be impassioned only by my faith
I will be influenced only by God.
I will be taught only by Christ.
I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek his grace.
And then, when this day is done,
I will place my head on my pillow
and rest.

-Max Lucado

why so serious??

August 20, 2010 by SarahLochelt Leave a Comment

The Dark Knight: Joker’s rising
Batman and The Joker: What’s the diagnosis, doc?
Published 07.23.08 By Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.d.

The second installment of Christopher Nolan’s vision of Batman also brings us Nolan’s vision of the Joker: a frightening “terrorist” with no political agenda other than to create chaos for his own amusement. Batman is certainly in this film, but it’s the Joker who is really its center, its star. He laughs at his own actions, but in this film those actions are more terrifying than they’ve ever been. There’s definitely something wrong with him, but what is that something?

The Joker’s most likely diagnosis is antisocial personal disorder. To be diagnosed with that disorder, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the diagnostic rulebook of mental health clinicians), an individual’s behavior must meet at least three of seven criteria. The criteria most relevant to the Joker involve his repeatedly: 1. violating social norms of lawful behavior; 2. having no remorse for his misbehavior; 3. lying for personal pleasure or profit.

Nolan’s incarnation of the Joker gets his kicks from wreaking havoc, and he’s clever enough that there’s plenty of havoc to go around; he knows what he can do and he’s ambitious. He is grandiose, but does he have a second disorder — is he a narcissist? The diagnosis for narcissistic personality disorder rests on the notion that such people’s beliefs about themselves are greater than are warranted by reality; they have an over-inflated sense of their own abilities. Unfortunately, Joker’s beliefs in his talents are well-founded.

The Joker is frequently portrayed as the inversion of Batman: humorous, irrational, and spontaneous whereas Batman is humorless, logical and methodical. But what makes Nolan’s Joker particularly interesting is his similarity to Batman: They’re both smart, driven, methodical loners who are good judges of human nature. Unfortunately, the Joker, like some serial killers, uses his talents and abilities for his own sick amusement rather than for the common good, as does Batman. Thank goodness for Batman.

See Dr. Robin Rosenberg on the recent History Channel program Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight. The first part of the show is on her blog; you can also watch the program on YouTube.

The Joker: He Who Laughs Last
by Scott Summers

How uncomfortable it must be to encounter the Joker at a cocktail party! You deliver one of your drollest anecdotes, skillfully drawing it out to maximize the punch line, and there he is laughing at you, not with you. He’ll always slip in that tiny stiletto of contempt, making sure you don’t get the last word, drawing the room’s eyes back to the purple velour coat and bolo tie with which he made such an ugly but memorable entrance. No matter how many grass-green apple martinis he’s tipped into that toothy gullet, he’s never going to let you run away with the crowd. And then, as if to clap a lid on the unpleasantness of it all, comes the laugh—a little like the screech of a bobcat or an uncut diamond etching glass, and every bit of it at your expense.

The worst of it all, other than his annoying tendency to casually kill the people he meets, is that you know others just like him. Worse, actually, since they don’t announce themselves with Easter-egg haute couture or a permanently nasty grin. When you meet them they’re all smiles and blarney, but their twinkling eyes appraise you as either a worm on a hook or the fish they’ve been trolling for. You might politely say these people suffer from antisocial personality disorder, or call them psychopaths or sociopaths. They function at all levels of society, from gutter snake to Vice President, and don’t care a whit for the feelings of other human beings. (A possible exception is often the sociopath’s mother, who possesses the singular clout and distinction of having brought them into the world to begin with.) All the sociopath ever really wants is to put one over on the next guy, to have the last word, to exert his power—whether that means cadging a meal with a clever line of bull or taking the stockholders for a few billion before the SEC closes in.

Likewise, with that hyena-on-nitrous-oxide laugh, the Joker lets you know he has you exactly where he wants you, that he’s the one dispensing the punch lines. When he laughs at you, he’s celebrating your insignificance. God forbid, then, that you should steal his gag, as Harley Quinn dared to do, or as Batman does by foiling his plots. That would mean usurping Joker’s power, which is punishable by grinning, cackling death. So by repeatedly whisking away those mustard-gas whoopee cushions before they go off, Batman represents an affront to the Joker’s entire self-concept. It drives the Joker down to brass tacks: in down-and-dirty combat, he throws aside the acid-squirting flowers in favor of switchblades and Uzis. He never drops the laugh, of course, but in such circumstances he deploys it with a more vital desperation.

Killing Batman is the last and greatest test of his power, which Joker makes clear when he snaps back at Lex Luthor for calling Batman a mere mortal: “There’s nothing mere about Batman.” Cut down the Bat and you simultaneously diminish the Joker, as the continued existence of an unbeatable, unflappable Batman defines the Joker’s life by opposition. Consider how personally Joker takes it when anyone else gets between him and Batman—Sid the Squid, for instance, or Harley Quinn when she chains Batman over a piranha tank. In the second case, Joker goes berserk, throwing his girlfriend out the window; in the first, he mourns the loss of a chance to shiv the Bat, shedding a tear for himself alone.

At the next Gotham City soirée, then, here’s what to do—especially if the mayor is in attendance, as those pesky supervillains are always popping in for a cocktail weenie when he’s around. If you’re prepared to trade quips with the Joker, have no qualms about sacrificing your pride. Let him have the last word. Laugh at his jokes, but then again, not too loudly. Avoid remarking on the green bolo tie they weren’t wearing last year, or the obviously fake carnation in his lapel. And whatever you do, don’t mention Batman.

DSM-IV-TR Diagnosis: 301.7 Antisocial Personality Disorder

A. There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:

(1) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
(2) deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
(3) impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
(4) irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults
(5) reckless disregard for safety of self or others
(6) consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations
(7) lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another

B. The individual is at least age 18 years.

C. There is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15 years.

D. The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia or a Manic Episode.

*Reprinted with permission from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth Edition. Copyright 1994 American Psychiatric Association

wish I had a “dislike” button

August 17, 2010 by SarahLochelt Leave a Comment

once again, I’m resorting to just making a list.

the following are things that I strongly dislike:

–          moths

–          butterflies

–          the sound of pages being rubbed together

–          elevators

–          attics

–          basements

–          headaches

–          cockroaches

–          Styrofoam

–          Open closet doors

–          Swallowing pills

–          bats

–          egg nog

–          sloppy joes

–          candy corn

–          piers

–          popping balloons

–          when people tell me what to do

–          throwing up

–          poor listeners

–          any flying bugs

–          the smell of eggs

–          drains and anything in them

Dear God, thank you for making all these things, but I just don’t enjoy any of them.

kids say the darndest things :)

August 16, 2010 by SarahLochelt Leave a Comment

1. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

-You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.

— Alan, age 10

-No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.

— Kristen, age 10

2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
— Camille, age 10

3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
— Derrick, age 8

4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don’t want any more kids.
— Lori, age 8

5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

-Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
— Lynnette, age 8 (isn’t she a treasure)

-On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
— Martin, age 10

6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

-When they’re rich.
— Pam, age 7

-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
– – Curt, age 7

-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.
– – Howard, age 8

7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
— Anita, age 9 (bless you child )

8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN’T GET MARRIED?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?
— Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is ………

9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck .
— Ricky, age 10

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
ABOUT ME

I'm Sarah Rose.

I’m a Southern-California native who is passionate about the power of communication and the connection that happens through conversation, especially alongside coffee.

I write and speak about the lies of shame, the truth of grace, and the freedom that comes from relating authentically to one another, especially for women in the church. I have degrees in youth ministry, counseling ministry, and am working on one in English.

I always have at least one book to read in my purse, am infamous for making silly faces at babies in public, and could live on pizza for every meal.

CONNECT WITH ME

Archives