Karma Apples

Yummo!

 I think perhaps the first example of Karma at work was with Adam and Eve. Ok, I know it never said the tree was an apple tree, but that's what they told this Greek girl in bible school, so that how's I'm rolling.According to the NIV version of the bible,  Genesis 3:6 "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." This is why I called today's blog, Karma Apples.

It doesn't matter if it involved apples, oranges, figs, kumquats or anything else, Karma is sometimes referred to as the "moral law of cause and effect." We have all heard someone say when they were wronged by another person that revenge is not necessary because Karma will get them. At least, that is how I feel sometimes.

Karma is both an encouragement to do good and to avoid evil, because man, it sucks to be on the receiving end of bad Karma - receiving good Karma, that's another story. So either way, Karma is sometimes an explanation for whatever good or evil befalls a person.

In Buddhist teaching, the law of karma, says only this: "for every event that occurs, there will follow another event whose existence was caused by the first, and this second event will be pleasant or unpleasant according as its cause was skillful or unskillful."

However, I do not personally believe what the Buddhist believe that Karma has its hand in every situation. Sometimes it is just way too easy for us to place the blame of a negative situation on Karma. For example, is it really Karma that my manager Mr. Bricks has a lazy eye or did he just sit way too close to the TV and read his Dr. Seuss books in the dark when he was little? I'm sure his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Bricks warned him about the danger of them both. I know my parents warned me about them and might I add, in a very Greek flamboyant fashion.

So as actress when I audition for a role and don't get it, I don't assume that it's Karma coming back and slapping my Greek little butt for something I did wrong. What I do assume is that the casting director had another idea in mind of what they wanted for that particular role. Likewise, when I audition for and get a role, (like the national TV commercial that I currently have running right now - you know the one that everyone emails me 100x a day that they "just saw me on TV") I do not assume that I got the role because of good Karma. I got the role because they liked my Greek Blonde look, what is in my coconut and what I brought to the role. I do believe there is a difference between Karma and God's grace.

We can not do enough to earn God's grace. It is just something he graciously gives us.

Have a blessed day -

Ava

xox

Promise Keepers

What is it about some people who have no problems not keeping their promises? I'm talking about situations where deal points have even been agreed upon, contracts have been signed -- and yet some people seem to think that it is OK -- that not keeping a promise is "no biggie." News flash - it is a "biggie." It's a huge deal to me!

I don't want anyone to read into my ranting here. My life is not spinning out of control and no my manager Mr. Bricks is not the reason for my rant...this time! (I'm watching you like a hawk Mr. Bricks) It's just I recently had someone break a promise and not live up to what they said would do for me and it's kinda left me speechless. I was blindsided. I did not see it coming. You know me, I'm Greek. I like to talk. So if someone's broken promise to me left me speechless, you know it was a big deal - just sayin'

So what does a person have if they do not have their word or their honor? I say they have nothing. No one will trust them, no one will respect them and most certainly no one will want to be associated with them. When I make a promise to someone -- it's as good as being written in blood. I will try my darndest to live up to the promise I made.

If you make a promise to me and then you find out you're not going to be able to live up to that promise - then come tell me. I'm a big girl, I've got my big girl underpants on. Stuff happens to everyone and I understand that life happens. But don't try to pretend you never made a promise or worse yet, totally ignore me. I'm like an elephant...I never forget. I forgive, but I don't forget. Just to break the promise for no good reason is uncalled for. Especially in this situation where I was depending on someone else and there is no other way for me to get it done. I guess some people do not have a conscience or a sense of responsibility.

Here are a couple of good quotes on promises:

• Promises are like crying babies in a theater, they should be carried out at once. ~Norman Vincent Peale

• A promise made is a debt unpaid. ~Robert Service

• We must not promise what we ought not, lest we be called on to perform what we cannot. ~Abraham Lincoln

• A promise is a comfort for a fool. ~Proverb

• Promises may fit the friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies. ~Benjamin Franklin

I am not saying all people break promises. But for the ones who do, it sure lets down the rest of humanity. However, no matter how often I may be dissapointed by others, with my faith I always remember that God is the one person who will always keep his promises. When God gives an unconditional promise, there are no "if’s," "and’s," or "but’s" about it! God says, "I WILL DO SOMETHING" and it does not matter if men like it or don’t like it, believe it or don’t believe it--God is still going to do it! An unconditional promise means that GOD WILL do what He promised no matter what! And that makes me smile at the times other people's promises go unfullfilled.

Well thanks for listening to my rant about those who don't keep their promises. I will be back tomorrow with a whole new attitude. I promise.

Blessings,

Ava

xox

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