When I recognized that I am different from most people I had to ask, "what am I?" The heavens did not answer. It was up to me. I pondered the question for a long time. Eventually I came to a few conclusions.



Some will say I'm a bumb or a quitter or a ner'do well. I rarely get a positive response when I talk about the life I've lived. It has certainly not been conventional. Whatever one's opinion might be about all I've done nobody can deny I've experienced a great deal... far more than the average guy. I've actually earned a living in a dozen different professions, give or take. I've moved from one end of the political spetrum to another. I've traveled. I've studied. I've read. I've learned. From my youthful employment in a grocery store to my current incarnation as a freelance writer, father and homeschooler, I 'been around. I've challenged every belief ever taught to me and reached different conclusions about faith. I've thought about these things.



Is this an odd thing for me to call myself? Not really. The generic definition of bohemian is "a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices." I am certainly a person and a writer. And I do act free of regard for convention. I question everything. Most assume acting "free of regard" means completely disregarding convention or living some kind of hedonistic, humanistic lifestyle. That assumption is entirely wrong. I have no regard for convention because "convention" is more often wrong and counter-productive than it is right and useful.



Through the years I've been a communicator. I've spoke to groups, preached a little, been a singer and worked in broadcast radio. I'm ok in any of those mediums but I'm best at a computer keyboard. I've learned a lot about a lot. I've seen a lot. I reminisce a lot. I've discovered Truth. What I've learned, what I've seen, what I've considered, what I've discovered, I write about.


If I am anything, I am a Voice in the Wilderness. I don't "see things," but I do see things differently. I am compelled to share what I see. Maybe what I say will make sense. Maybe some folks will understand and respond. Maybe some people will find answers, validity, truth in what I share. Maybe not. I think. I question. I write. I have a voice. I have forever lived in a wilderness, a vast, empty space where few dare to tread. This has given me a different perspective. I could be a hermit, unknown to all, destined to live a life of solitude. I could be, were it not for my unsupressable urge to share what I've learned, what I think, what I understand. So, instead of being a recluse quietly hoarding my thoughts on a dusty shelf I am a Voice, speaking from a Wilderness, to the world beyond my door. Listen if you can. Consider if you will. Accept if you are willing. Believe if you dare. Share if you have the courage.


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About The Author... such as he is...

PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE

The Trailerpark Scholar website is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, World Peace, Faith, and Truth. On this site you will find more information about The Trailerpark Scholar, aka Ted Gresham, than anyone might ever want to know!

Ted is the erstwhile thinker, half-baked writer and tinkerer who put together this website. If something intrigues, startles, astounds, or cracks your whip, please feel free to write and say so.

Ted has many and varied interests and experience in a dozen professions, give or take. He's on a continual quest for Truth. Opinions shared on this website are his own. If someone can learn, be inspired, be enlightened or entertained by some of this stuff, good! Take a look around, read, comment (via email!), complain (via voice... say it very loud so Ted can hear you!) or congratulate. Have a magnificent day and do come back!

WRITING

Ted has been putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) ever since he was a teenager. When other forms of expression didn't come so easy Ted found he could depend upon the written word to say what needed to be said. His interests are many and varied. He's studied many subjects both formally and informally. He has many hours of college work, most requiring a lot of reading and writing. He has studied many subjects from history and government to counseling and law. He received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Corpus Christi State University in 1989. His studies continued well into the 1990's. Ted also has training in Air Conditioning / Refrigeration and Truck driving. Ted has studied and continues to follow religion and philosophy, the paranormal, poetry and the classics, science and current affairs. He's traveled extensively throughout Texas and beyond. Ted is a veritable jack-of-all-trades. His hands-on abilities, coupled with a diverse work history, gives a rich texture to his writing. Altogether Ted's skills, abilities and training mix with a God-given talent to allow him to paint exquisite pictures with a verbal palate.

Ted is as well versed in the tools of writing as he is with words themselves. He moved forward with technology from the pen-and-ink and typewriters of the seventies to PC's and the internet. He's skilled at word processing software and many other computer software applications. He's been on the web since there was one and was an avid participant on BBS systems before then. Ted developed research skills during college and honed them by an assortment of personal projects. He's adept at brick-and-mortar library research and online research.

Ted has written in almost every format there is, from advertising copy and news to legal documents, nonfiction articles, fiction and web pages. There's no form of writing Ted isn't comfortable with. He's done his best work in fiction and travel writing and has articles about Texas featured on a major Texas travel website. Ted loves to travel and is a proud Texan. He has a strong faith. He often speaks out through letters to the local paper on important subjects. He's written articles and a book sharing his faith and political views. On assignment he works diligently to provide the precise type of work requested. When writing for himself or his website he pulls no punches but writes with respect and regard for all persons, choosing to lay out his case carefully without stooping to insults and derogatory or defamatory attitudes towards those he does not agree.

Ted will be the first one to say that his writing ability is a gift. He is a writer's writer, putting words together for love of the craft and not for personal recognition. He readily admits he's far better at writing than he his promoting himself. Born with the "gift of gab," Ted always has plenty to say but he lacks the vanity and self-promoting instincts many writers possess. He's not afraid to take center stage or stand in the gap for the less fortunate if necessary but he's not one to push himself to the top in self-promotion. He's humble with praise and appreciative with compliments. Criticism doesn't bother him. There are those who will vehemently disagree with his viewpoints and will not appreciate his style. Such is the way things are. He doesn't try to be all things to all people, refuses to succumb to the insanity of extreme political correctness and will not compromise Truth or his faith to please anyone. It's not having his name at the top that matters. What matters is reaching an audience, affecting readers in a positive way, and getting a message across.

BRIEF BIO...

Ted's bio isn't very easy to write. What does one write about.... career? family? faith? Ted is extraordinary. He's worked many places, traveled quite a bit, always been a man of faith but not sold on a particular belief or buried in dogmatism. He's experienced failure more than success but at least he's tried when so many others would not. He's persevered in his pursuit of Truth and righteousness. His has not been a very easy life but considering where he is today he is reluctant to say how he might change anything if he had the chance.

Ted was born in August of 1957 in Lufkin, Texas. He married Regena B. Hopson in June of 1998. Their relationship has grown stronger over the past three decades as they've weathered plenty of storms together. Ted and his wife have three beautiful children still living at home. Ted's primary goal in life is to bring up his kids in the knowledge and faith of God the Father and Creator and teach them the skills to survive in an increasingly hostile and difficult world.

At present Ted is a freelance writer though he's been spending less time at a keyboard and more time working around the house and caring for his children. He's written articles on varied subjects which he's sold to web outlets. He's written two books which he self-published along with a third volume of short stories. Whatever else Ted has done to earn a living he has always considered himself first and foremost a writer.

Most people's lives are defined by their career, as in the type of income-producing job they've done. This is not possible with Ted because he's worked in a considerable number of jobs in many different professions, changing and moving on for many reasons. His first few jobs were in grocery stores where he did a little bit of everything. During his military service Ted trained in Air Conditioning / Refrigeration installation and repair. He put his training to use through the years working for several different Air Conditioning companies or in maintenance. Ted had a passion for radio broadcasting from his earliest childhood. His father taught him much about the profession. He worked as a disk jockey at several stations and once as a program director. Throughout much of the 1980's Ted concentrated on getting a degree rather than a career. He worked at many different jobs from food service to computer data entry. Since leaving college Ted has been a long-haul truck driver and a welfare caseworker among other things.

Two interests have shaped Ted's life more than all others: politics and religion. His actions and decisions have always been molded by what he believed to be the right thing to do. The true nature of Ted's life has been shaped by his views of politics and government, religion and faith. Where most people put politics and faith somewhere in the lower top-ten or even further down in priorities Ted has always believed his responsibility as a citizen and a man of God is paramount. To know Ted one must understand a bit about his politics and faith and how they've changed through the years.

Politics

Through the years Ted has always believed in the political process. His original college major was Political Science. He changed to history when he realized the key to understanding the political process wasn't to study the current situation but to go back and understand how the American political system and American society developed. The American system grew and evolved into what it is today. In order to affect changes within it Ted realized one must understand the how and why, not just the who, what and where.

For a long time Ted was a conservative. He was a Reagan supporter. He believed in a strong military. He thought at one time that welfare and social programs were crutches for those who depended upon them instead of working hard to care for themselves and their families. But in the nineties dogmatism and self-righteousness came to dominate right-wing politics. Conservatism became the politics of exclusion and judgmentalism. Most important in the re-direction of Ted's political views were his more than three years behind a desk at the Texas Department of Human Services where he fought the bureaucracy, struggled with office politics, and became frustrated at the lack of compassion and total inequity of the welfare system. Day after day Ted interviewed people whose needs were beyond their ability to meet. He encountered the occasional fraud which he worked diligently to combat but more often he had the sad duty to deny benefits to individuals who truly needed help because the system was so rigid, inflexible, and unfair. By the time Ted left the agency his political views had moved far to the left.

Ted has always believed in fairness, equality, justice, freedom, and truth. He's always cared about his fellow man, too. Eventually he came to understand that conservative politics while promoting freedom and fairness lacked compassion and failed to understand or care about the needs of the poor. The marriage of conservative politics and religious fundamentalism was another development Ted found disturbing. As a Christian he'd long rejected the Fundamentalist view. He saw how fundamentalism mixed with a somewhat incompatible wealth-favoring conservatism and became a form of political/religious dogma that polarized the nation. In fundamentalist style, conservative politicians and pundits started saying anyone who opposed the closed-minded, corporate-heavy right wing was not just wrong, but evil. Ministers joined self-serving politicians in denouncing "the Left" as if it was the devil incarnate. Ted saw that this was extremely unfair and completely inaccurate. Ted found himself breaking free not only from his conservative roots but also from his religious roots as well.

First as a caseworker and later as a foster parent Ted's personal experiences have reshaped his political views. Every issue is interconnected. No matter if the subject is energy, foreign policy, education, or law, every political act affects every person. More often than not American policies in virtually every area have increased the hardship of the poor. Many have increased the burdens of the middle class as well. Less government translates into a loss in benefits and assistance while economic initiatives promote wealth and business growth at the expense of a fair wage. Ted sees this is a tripple-whammy, pulling out the safety net while wages stagnate and the cost of living in a corporate business world keeps rising. Those who suffer the most are children in poor families and the elderly whose sweat and blood built the country that has abandoned them to an inadequate Social Security system. Ted believes there's nothing fair or just in having the deck stacked against the neediest while the more fortunate continue to get a free ride.

Some issues reach into the moral fabric of the country: immigration, equal rights, and religious liberty. Ted once agreed with the doctrinaire conservative platform but, again, has taken the time to consider each issue and has realized that his views were exceptionally one-sided and often impractical. On immigration political reality meets political idealism. Ted believes a solution must be found that considers all parties. There is no easy answer but no answer will be found unless all sides are willing to work together. The only workable solution is to make a path for the millions already in the U.S. to reach legal status while borders are secured and business is not allowed to exploit the invisible undocumented population.

Equal Rights is one of those issues that the Right Wing has often used to hammer the left with using flaming religious rhetoric. Ted believes the hateful and judgmental epithets hurled by conservatives at their perceived enemies is unacceptable. Religious conservatism wants freedom only insofar as it allows them the freedom to live according to their faith but not to extend to freedom of all persons to be whomever they wish to be or what they wish to be. Ted believes the two most debated issues, those of sexual orientation and women's rights, are moral issues that should be dealt with within society, not through governmental policy. Even as Ted's personal religious views do not support the practices of homosexuality and abortion he does not believe these are subjects that the government should be involved in. Sufficient protections already exist to prevent descrimination. Roe v. Wade is highly unlikely to be overturned. The community, especially religious community, should concentrate on abstinance and preventing pregnancies rather than abortion which is not an issue until there is an unwanted pregnancy. The key to changing personal lifestyle views is to set an example according to the principals of faith and love rather than bashing anyone believed to be living outside the norm.

Ted believes a government of the people in a free and independent state has neither the right nor the duty to enforce moral laws above and beyond those which protect the safety of the population. He says a government that dictates moral standards based upon a particular religious viewpoint is not a government of all the people but rather a religious oligarchy. Every citizen's rights should be protected and no citizen should receive favor of any kind for any reason be it race, color, religion, origin, sexual orientation or whatever.

Religious liberty strikes very close to Ted's heart. He believes in absolute religious liberty. Once in favor of religious practices and events sponsored by government and public schools Ted has come to realize that any form of religious observance promoted, sponsored or performed by government, including public schools, does in fact work against religious liberty. There is liberty only for those who agree with the views of a particular observance when the observance is government sponsored. Having withdrawn from the conservative evangelical community Ted has come to recognize how the thinking of conservative evangelicals dominate institutions in some parts of the nation even on an informal level. Keeping kids from being confused is difficult when there's an informal link to a particular faith. It becomes almost impossible when the link is formal. Ted says governments should concentrate on governing and public schools should focus on teaching. Neither should expend time and resources promoting anything religious.

The most important function of government is protection of its citizens and enforcing the rule of law. Ted believes protecting citizens includes protecting them from themselves on occasion and also providing basic health and human services to those who can't afford it. The current free-market corporate for-profit medical system in the U.S. favors those who can pay over those who can't. All of society is at risk, Ted believes, because the poor and lower-middle-class are unable to seek health care and, more importantly, preventive care. The poor have become victims of circumstances. Ted believes that if the American health care system continues as it has been going, favoring the rich and leaving the poorest to live less healthy, suffer more and die younger, it will be one of the greatest factors in America becoming an Orwellian nation of Prole's, Party Members and Big Brother.

Government must enforce the rules of law, such things as traffic laws, drug laws, civil disobedience and etc., to prevent society from descending into anarchy. All law has an element of morality; some more than others. Ted believes law must be enforced equally and without regard to any person's age, status, race, economic situation or geographical location. The American judicial system is not administered fairly, Ted believes. The poor suffer while those who have status and money are able to walk free. Ted believes far too much time is spent putting out the fires of crime and violence. Not nearly enough effort is put into crime prevention which would include lifting the burdens of the poor and working for family preservation.

Last of all, Ted once heralded the strength of America's armed forces, believed in "Peace through Strength," and subscribed to the Teddy Roosevelt school of "walk softly and carry a big stick." But Ted has concluded that America's military strength and world dominance has been misused. It is important to maintain an adequate national defence but beyond that the use of American military forces abroad should be limited only to protecting the soil and citizens of the nation. Ted believes war should never be an instrument of foreign policy and certainly never be a means to secure markets for American corporations. Diplomacy, not war, is the only acceptable means to deal with other nations, Ted believes. He is, for the most part, a pacifist, accepting the necessity of using violence or war on a very few occasions but believing violence and war are horrific, inherently contrary to the will of God, and never anything worthy of promotion or glorification.

The U.S. should not shun or refuse to have diplomatic relations with any nation on earth. Neither should the U.S. become involved in the internal politics of any nation in any way either by propping up regimes favorable to the U.S. or trying to destabalize those opposed the United States or its policies. The peoples of all nations have the right and the obligation to choose their own government. There are effective ways to deal with despots and dictators, Ted believes, without resorting to subterfuge or war. On an individual level Ted believes God expects neighbors to be their brother's keeper. At a national level, however, Ted believes such a policy is impractical and inherently unfair. A nation that dominates others whether for good or ill sets itself up as an unwanted global power, a Big Brother, forcing its own brand of government and morality upon lesser nations rather than allowing self-government and self-determination.

The challenges are many. The number of people who have the drive and desire to work for positive change are very few. Ted is entirely willing to do all he can as long as there is an effort to work within.

Faith

Faith has been the most important part of Ted's life since his teen years. Honesty and ethics are his guides. They've sometimes thwarted a career or brought an end to a job. If the choice was do the honest thing, the right thing, or the safe/expedient thing Ted has always chosen the former. Though his understanding of God has grown and matured his desire and drive to serve God has rarely wavered. Through the years Ted has been involved in several different ministries and church activities, sometimes sacrificing income and security for the work he believed in doing.

Ted has not followed a particular belief system blindly. He's discarded beliefs and doctrine which conflicted with the Truth of God. In the end, after reaching a crisis of faith, Ted discovered the universal nature of God the Creator, learned that neither the expression of God nor the worship of God has limits. Most important, Ted learned that above all the law of Love and the law of Right are the supreme guides for all of humankind. These laws are found in many faiths and followed in diverse ways but when followed precisely they always lead towards an understanding of Truth and a deep knowledge of God the Creator.

Ted's family is the most important part of his life. He believes in teaching them a practical faith. He strives to set an example of how fallible humans can reach God's ideal by adhering to the Truth and not by obsessing on dogmatism, doctrine, or arbitrary rules. Every day Ted's children grow in faith and understanding. He feels humbled and honored to have been given the opportunity to lead his children and overwhelmed at the love they give him. Ted and Regena are true partners in raising their children not in conformance with community standards but according to the highest standards possible, those of the Creator.

People with strong religious views are often accused of being narrow minded or self-righteous. Some have levelled those accusations at Ted. In his earlier years he may have deserved them as he zealously adhered to what he believed to be Truth. Interestingly enough, Ted's fundamental beliefs and his moral standards are more strict than they were when he was younger but his level of tollerence is far higher. He rejects the "I'm forgiven so I can fudge things" attitude of evangelical Christianity, believing that God doesn't simply request but demands individuals live a moral life. In evangelical Christianity accepting Jesus as Savior is the end. Ted believes it is only the beginning. He believes that one cannot be true to Christ without being true to his teaching, which is the Law of Love and the Golden Rule. The duty of a Christian isn't to go around "telling," it is to live a life of "doing." The words of an old song says it all, "they will know we are Christians by our love."

Ted believes there is a Creator God who is the only God worthy of worship. He accepts the mission of Jesus the Christ, God's Son, as being two-fold. Jesus became a human to fulfil a sacrificial obligation that opened the door for humans to access the Kingdom of God directly. Jesus never fully explained this part of his mission. The second part of Jesus' mission and the only part that has any bearing on how people should live, Ted believes, was to serve as an example and teach the true way to worship and serve God.

Ted believes God is far bigger than any one religion or all religions combined. His law supercedes religious creeds. God's law is written within the very heart and soul of every human, Ted says. Individuals choose a faith or are raised in a religion according to their birth, family, or heritage. A person's religion is often an accident of biology and geography rather than the results of choice. Ted is convinced that every person has within them the seeds of faith and an understanding of God's moral code. How God deals with every individual has nothing to do with how well they follow any particular religious teaching and everything to do with how well they follow the Truth written upon their own heart.

Ted understands that the faith he follows, the standards he teaches his children, while based on his best understanding of God's Truth, are not absolutes. He refuses to judge anyone whose beliefs are different, prefering to live in harmony with and respect of every person. Many religions contain nuggets of truth. Ted believes it is absurd and self-righteous to assume his way is the only way. He treasures all teachings no matter their source as valuable insights into humankind and the relationship between God and humankind. Ted does not believe it is his duty or obligation to spread a particular belief system or demand others follow his particular path. Instead he believes his responsibility is to lead by example. This is the way Jesus taught. Change in people's lives come not from preaching and exhortation, Ted believes, but by showing them the logic and benefit of following the Truth by following the Truth himself.

Concluding Remarks

It is not possible to describe Ted's life adequately in such a small space. Ted has had some of the most important aspects of his life and beliefs described here but there's no room to flesh out his story in order to explain how his life and his views came to be what they are today. Even if a thousand pages were written describing his life in minute and boring detail one would not learn who he is. The only way to discover the real Ted is to read what he writes. In everything Ted writes he puts pieces of himself. He makes no effort to hid behind a pseudonym nor create a false-persona. Ted is what he writes.

Within the life and works of H.J. Ted Gresham one will find honesty, determination, faith and love. He'll admit he very often falls short of the ideal but he never considers himself defeated. His words can be trusted, his love is sincere, his dedication to Truth unwavering. He has no pride or vanity. Ted refuses to mold himself in the shape of others. He follows no fads and does not go along with the crowd. He does not measure himself against the flawed and self-serving human ideals of success. His goal is less of himself and more of others and love without end. He knows he will never quite measure up according to the ideals of Truth but rests in the knowledge that above all else the Grace of God provides sustenance, strength and courage to those who seek the Truth and worship the glory of God.

Ted is unique. He is often out of step with society. The actions of people and nations baffle him. But it is his very unique nature that makes his life intriguing and his writing full of insight. He calls himself a "bohemian," which, according to dictionary.com, means "a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices." It's easy enough to find written works that merely reflect, expound and elaborate the views of others. Even the most vainglorious writers are often formulaic and given to putting a slightly different spin on popular opinions. Ted's quixotic life and unconventional beliefs push him to create written works of distinctive viewpoint and character. One may accept or reject his points of view but one must always admit that they are imaginative and extraordinary, worthy of the bit of time and effort to read them and consiser their import.

GOALS ~ OBJECTIVES

In his words:

Peace. The word itself sparks a sliver of hope. All the world's ills could be solved...

...were we able to instill that single concept in the hearts and minds of everyone on the planet. From child abuse to war to world hunger, one by one these issues could be resolved if only the world had true Peace. My goal is to work for Peace. My objective is to make it happen, one person at a time.

Through decade after decade I've been involved in various efforts to change the world. Most were not very successful. It's been a learning process, often painful, usually frustrating. Now, as I cross into the next half-century of my life I am not giving up. I am determined. I am dedicated. But the difference is that now I understand.

One day, some months ago, while listening to words of wisdom during my daily walk I learned an invaluable lesson. The subject was meditation. The speaker said meditation doesn't change the world. We as individuals cannot change the world by "doing." But we can, through such things as meditation, prayer and contemplation, change ourselves. If we change ourselves then we have changed the world for we are part of the world.

Since then I've begun to learn more about myself, to reach inward and restore the harmony we must all have with our world and universe to serve others effectively. This effort has led to a new perspective. Peace begins within the heart of peacemakers. This is the message. This is where everything must begin. If peace is going to come it will come through individuals, one, then another, then another, then ten, a hundred, a thousand, all recognizing the need to have peace within themselves and dedicated to sharing that peace with others.

So many people do not have peace within themselves. They hunger, they live on adrenalin, they strive for all the worldly possessions they think will solve all their personal problems, feed their hunger, and make their lives happy and fulfilling. Peace of mind, to them, is a nice idea they simply do not have time to seek. The key to success in bringing peace to the world, then, is revealing to them how fruitless is their search for satisfaction and how satisfying will be their search for peace.

Western society, especially American culture, is riddled with misconceptions and false notions. Convincing people steeped in consumer-driven, self-centered ideals won't be easy. The only way to change their minds is by showing them rather than telling them. Waving placards, shouting slogans and banging drums will do very little. There are so many making such noise for so many "good causes" that efforts to instill peace by these methods have little chance of success. The only way a true peace effort will succeed will be through the efforts of individuals dealing with other individuals, serving, giving, caring, and providing. This is the effort I seek to be a part of. Living in peace, serving in peace, giving in peace, striving for peace. In this way we can change the world and bring lasting peace, like I said, one person at a time.


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