Flash Mob Christmas

For Unto Us a Child Is Born

Händel - From Messiah - WarsawPhilh Orchestra and Choir, Haselböck

I don’t know if we could exactly call the gathering around the Manger a ‘flash mob’, but sometimes it seems that way to me.  Tradition tells us that shepherds, a few wise men, several animals, and even angels showed up for this event at one time or another. 

It is true, there were no social apps to announce this birth, but apparently bright stars and words preaching, “Fear Not,” was enough to start things off nicely.

Today, we have social media tools and although we hear less of this phenomenon called flash mobs, they still exist.

There’s a particular kind of "mob" that piques my interest.  You’ve seen a couple of these before.  This type centers around orchestras and choirs that show up unexpectedly in various places to perform for the surprised but delighted public. It's always interesting to me when watching these because sometimes, you can't tell the performers from the audience. That's kind of what makes them so spectacular! 

I did a little poking around on search engines and found a few that might be of interest to you. I’d be willing to bet that most will not watch all of them all at once and may even skip a few."Fear not", there will be no quiz. 

These are presented with the idea that we can impact others in significant ways. These are presented as examples of the gifts we can offer to complete strangers.  These are given as praise and thanksgiving for the gift of music and how it touches us throughout our lives.

And to those participants who suffered sleep deprivation, to those self-sacrificial performers who spent time, energy, and resources to bring joy and peace to strangers everywhere, thank you.

Merry Christmas

FLASH MOBS

Five Strings Flash Mob – Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

A little over 4 minutes.
"You'll never know how much light you have within until you try to shine it for others."

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus
I remember the gift. The gift of practicing and finally getting it right. (mostly). 

I remember the gift. The invitation to participate - for EVERYBODY to participate - and they did.

I remember the gift.  Even today, I know my part and just cannot help but sing along with YouTube.

Thank you for this gift!

Five minutes.
Hallelujah in a Food Court.

XMAS Flash Mob @ the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Oh HolyNight)
About 6 minutes

Gloria! – Christmas Flash Mob in Berlin

“Nobody has to sound like angels, nobody has to be an angel, to sing in God’s Choir. That’s why you join in!” And, they do!

A little over 5 minutes

Christmas Flash Mob moves to tears 

“A little girl asking for help. Hardly anyone pays attention. But those who do, experience a touching surprise.” 

4 minutes

*** Just a thought. Everybody Deserves is a platform to recognize 'those who do.' If you know somebody, let me know! (I have a work-related possibility that will hopefully pan out soon. Watch for it!)

Christmas Children's Flash Mob at YVR Airport

It’s a slow start. It’s a little long. Some of the time, it’s a little off-key but all of the time, there are smiles everywhere. It is children doing their very best for a worthy goal - you. It’s children, happy to be offering their gifts. And maybe, even though perfection is usually our goal, maybe – just maybe, that’s not the point at all.

A good 12-plus minutes

Darth Vader conducts Christmas Choir Flash Mob - Carol of the Bells

Why not? Everybody needs a break from exam study.

2-1/2 minutes.

WestJet Christmas Flash Mob
Maybe a little less flash mob and a little more advertisement, but smiles were produced so it qualifies. Especially with those flying the four-plus hour red-eye.

3 minutes.

MISCELLANEOUS 
Nothing "flash-mobby" here, but it is Christmas, after all. 

The Piano Guys - The Sweetest Gift (ft. Craig Aven) (Official Video)

For those who, no matter the reason, experience sadness and grief during this holiday season.

6 minutes

Pentatonix - Mary, Did You Know? (Official Video) 
Always a seasonal favorite. The words, the melody, it just works.

4 minutes

Angels We Have Heard on High (Christmas w/ 32 fingers and 8 thumbs) - The Piano Guys
I will let you vote on what this instrument hails to be. 

• Keyboard.
• Percussion. 
• Strings.

All things are possible but you have NEVER seen a piano played like this.  Let’s just call it a gift of EXTREME talent.

3- 1/2 minutes

Oh my.

So I'm proofreading and almost ready to hit "Publish". And then, I was interrupted by this one.  I gotta' stop watching YouTube!

Over A Thousand People Came Together To Break a Record - Angels From The Realms Of Glory

The Loads We Carry

 

“You don’t always get to choose the load, but you can choose how to carry it.” James Clear, author of Atomic Habits.

Just one sentence.

I decided to stop and think about how often I might apply these 16 words in everyday circumstances. 

I now live in Iowa. I have moved from a place that generally receives 11 inches of snow per season. Temperature discussions in Ohio typically center around the concept of above-or-below freezing. 

Northern Iowa on the other hand, receives between 38 and 42 inches of snow per season and will often discuss above or below zero. Above freezing is hardly worth the effort.

I will now be shoveling snow and if this last week means anything, this scoop on the end of a long stick will be scraping the sidewalk almost every day. You see, even if it isn’t snowing, the wind seems to replace all previous efforts of removal with a firmly stated, “Take that!” Yes, Iowa winds can speak.

A heavy winter coat, boots, gloves, and maybe a scarf begin the preparation. Shovel in hand with a bucket of ice melt and I’m out the door. Baby, it’s cold outside. (Yeah, I had to get the Elf movie in here somewhere – it’s that time of year!) 

So then, let’s see.  What else can I complain about?

But 16 words.

OK. OK. Maybe I will look at this another way. Today, blessed with warm clothing and a shovel in hand, I get some fresh air and exercise. My heart pumps a little more than usual and when finished, there is a safe walkway for the pedestrians that brave the weather to get where they’re going. All in all, a job well done.

I have no doubt that rethinking this task can make all the difference.

I have no doubt that the short phrase that began this discussion should be a mantra. Perhaps this year’s “Word of the Year” will again be a phrase.  Maybe I’ll use, “Sixteen words.” I’m going to give that some thought.

Whether being awarded the “Word/Phrase of the Year” or not, I can only imagine that choosing to remember the advice supplied will help keep attitude and energy focused on better rather than worse. It will seek gratitude rather than condemnation. It will focus on opportunity rather than misfortune. It will reveal blessings while dismissing the perceived curses. 

This will prove to be invaluable as I seek a closer relationship with God. I will find myself living with gracious thanksgiving and abundant life along with the hope that someday, all struggles will cease, all pain will be eliminated, and only love will remain.

As we approach Christmas, the joy of thinking about this seems to demand a chorus of praise.

Andre Bocelli sings, Gloria in Excelsis Deo. 

Merry Christmas!

Muted

A whirlwind of a week – or two.

It’s good that I’m in Iowa now. But the whole process was more than I want to undertake again anytime soon.

It seems that I’ve been working with cardboard boxes forever. Load ‘em up, schlep them somewhere, spend an entire day driving them westward, unload and unpack while trying to find a place for the contents. And, don’t forget the demands of office emails which are piling up beyond imagination.

And it seems that I get to do this all without what anyone would properly describe as a bed. Online ordering isn’t always what we’d like it to be!

The complaints are done, but there seems to be a legitimate topic for this week in spite of everything.

Together. Or, Apart

This is the long-awaited "moving weekend" for me.  YAY!!!!

At this very moment, I am unpacking. There is no more imaginable joy than being able to live close to my daughter, her husband, and my grandkids. As I say goodbye to Ohio friends, I’m also hoping to say hello to family and friends left behind 5 years ago.  

Meanwhile, I thought I’d prepare this article in advance. That, however, means that I’m going to lay the meat of the concept squarely on your shoulders today.

I have two videos for you to watch.  They are each over 3 minutes long. And I’m going to ask you to listen to them - in order.

Ready?

The Egg and I

This article, I will freely admit, is a little bit out there. But please don’t let that stop you from reading!

The title does not reflect a book written in 1945 because well, I have never read it. That doesn’t mean I have "egg on my face" either.

The title does not reflect a restaurant in Minneapolis or any other restaurant of that name. I found so many that it would be a "hard egg to break" with just one article.

The title is merely a statement that I had a ‘moment’ with an egg this week. 

A side note before I begin in earnest, please. Before writing, I usually look to see if I have written on the subject before. You’ll never guess.  This is the sixth time I have written about eggs in this venue. Does that make me an "eggbeater"?  Maybe not but something weird is going on.

I am now getting to the point, and I thank you for your patience.

Millions Are Praying

 

(For those having difficulty viewing the above video, 
please use the “CLICK HERE for the video" from the full article.

Making Gold

I have a backlog of article ideas. Since I can only get one of these out per week, it’s become a reservoir of potential. Although I try to keep things current using situational examples from the past week or so, I do go back and look through the treasures contained in this library of concepts.

So today, we’re talking about a 2016 movie: Milton’s Secret.  

In a story about an 11-year-old boy named Milton Adams, we see a life filled with worry, anxiety, and pain. Life is hard, let’s just admit this upfront.

I Am Thirsty

Fortunes change as did mine.  I am just getting over that which I had avoided for many years, a head cold.  But I recalled the one thing that in those lost years, had helped tremendously.

“The nighttime sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, so you can rest medicine”

Nyquil. My Dear Friend.

But Friday night it seemed that my go-to guardian had abandoned me. 

At 2 AM, I woke. There was little of the phlegm that I’ve become used to (sorry so gross) but I’m not sure that I have ever experienced a dry mouth quite like this.

It’s possible that all these articles are having some impact on me as my first thought was, "I am thirsty” as Jesus died on the cross.  

Reset

Good morning, ALL!

In case you missed it, I missed it last week. Sure, it was busy. Absolutely, it was an exciting weekend. 

But here's the thing. On Monday, I realized that I had not published for the first time in years. Normally, if I am expecting a busy weekend, I will prepare something ahead of time and just set a future date for the email. I never forget it. 

Until - I forgot it. Completely. Never even crossed my mind. 

I am guilty and feeling it.

Wake-up Alarm

 I have two separate morning alarms.

1. The routine, it’s-time-to-get-out-of-bed notice.
2. The you-blew-it-and-now-you-are-going-to-be-running-behind-all-day warning.

I’ve been aware that the first has a large, screen-centered, and very orange snooze button. I’ve also been aware that the second has a small white button at the bottom of the screen for the same function.

The Right of Way

I have a plan to save a little bit of money. 

My current efforts to be thrifty have centered on car insurance. I changed providers and will save $240 this year.   

Enter AARP – we all know about this organization. Refusing to reply to any of their solicitations for a great many years, I eventually acquiesced. 

My new auto insurance provider tells me that I can save more premium costs if I take the AARP Driving Course designed specifically for those of us who – well, you know.

The online course is to take at least 6 hours. The description, “at least” is accurate. They say these words because it is not in their best interest to tell you exactly. If better informed, we older folk would simply say, "Pass."

I was expertly fooled, but I’m almost done.

Rounding

"Rounding" might seem like a strange title. But, if you remember, this blog is supposed to be promoting the concept of living in Christ which includes awareness and action.  God is all around us and I am trying to keep this front and center. That means that sometimes, weird things jump out and say, "Hey!  Look at me!" 

There was a customer order that popped up this week. We could not ship to this account as there was an outstanding balance. The amount was substantial and was quite old.  This was clearly a policy violation, so the results were firmly on our side.

Of course, sales responded in short order. 

Headquarters said, "Open invoice." Sales proclaimed, "Paid months ago!"

And the deep dive began. 

Curse Becomes Blessing

It happened. Again.

It just won’t leave me alone. No matter what I do, no matter what happens during the day, it always returns. With a vengeance. 

There are so many things that trigger it. 

All seems good and then, suddenly, it’s b-a-a-ack!

You might be thinking that I’m talking about some sort of physical pain. You might be imagining that I twisted my thumb or pinky finger. Using these digits in any way would automatically generate torment. 

But it isn’t that kind of affliction.

It’s that melody!  It’s stuck in my head and it’s making me miserable!

The Loss of What Could Have Been

It’s a 50/50 thing today. I am as equally concerned that today is not the right day to pen these words as I am that it is the perfect time to publish this article.  I’ll certainly respect whichever camp you land in. 

Sometimes, we get into conversations that open us to personal vulnerabilities. So, that happened recently.

During casual light banter, I was told that I appear to be sad. I denied it easily enough. I could not think of any specific event that would imprint itself on my facial characteristics screaming, “SAD.”

But then, the chitchat became more consequential.

Dawn vs Dawn

No. Not the sunrise. The dish soap.

Welcome to another Mike-has-lost-it-expose’.

Dawn works. I know this because the ads tell me it works. 

Right. Marketing is often more about the spin as it promotes the good stuff and ignores the downsides. So maybe I am not so very certain that my dishes will be sparkly clean and ready for the next Sloppy-Joe.

We live in a land of choices – and that’s good, usually. But sometimes, it’s just all too much.

Sparks of Life and Teenagers

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

It could well be that I have heard and/or read this verse hundreds of times. You might easily say the same thing. There have been sermons, talks, teachings, songs, discussions, and thought-provoking articles featuring this verse. 

I'm not going to add to the noise today with superfluous words of my own. 

In My Time

I can’t say why, especially since I enjoyed Harry Potter, but I just have never had the desire to immerse myself in watching The Lord of the Rings. Many have said that I’m crazy for purposefully removing myself from this classic. 

I treated this film more like a serving of an unnatural shade of squishy green canned asparagus. Vile.  

Facing my fears, I decided to give it a go.

A Rock is a Rock. Until it's Not.

I have recently been captivated by a second-round viewing of the Scorpion television series. 

Top left to right: Cabe, Walter, Sylvester, Paige, Happy, Toby, Patty, Ralph
Photo: Scorpion TV Series International Fan page

Tom Makes Me Think

TOM (SOLOS) – Season 1, Episode 2

Tom has leukemia and his demise is fast approaching. He’s spent $30k to buy Tom-2, a robot that will take over his life on earth after he passes.  He doesn’t want his wife to be alone. He wants his family to feel comfortable, almost like he has never left. Such is Tom's goal in this sci-fi video.

Considering Sight

I don’t consider myself stupid. That makes it easier to admit that I do stupid things every so often. So, feel free to sit back and enjoy this one but remember, “Be Kind.”

Not long ago, I worked through my morning routines. On this day, I was looking at a television screen rather than a laptop for my daily inspirational video. Finishing one cup of coffee, I got up and traveled to the kitchen for another.

Coming back, something was odd – wrong even. I felt calm, but my mind was taking me to very scary places at the same time. When looking at the screen, my left eye wasn’t cooperating very well. Was this leftover blurriness just the cloudiness of waking eyes or was something more sinister at play?

The Expectation of Sound

Decades ago, I wasn’t a bad Ping-Pong player. We had some pretty aggressive games as I recall.  Some of these matches even involved the destruction of property. I speak of the simple and normal, run-of-the-mill ‘accidents’ leaving their marks: A foot crashing into a door and maybe a paddle tearing into a ceiling panel.

I thought of those games the other day when getting on the scale. (For the sudden shift of topic, I apologize and will happily make a whiplash appointment for you with your Chiropractor.)

The connection explanation below is followed by the required commentary.

Just So You Know

Maddie (Madison Lintz) says, “Dad. Just so you know. When I can't reach you? It scares me. A lot. Because I'm out there. On the streets. And I see all the bad shit that goes on. And it just, it gets in your head, you know?”

Dad says, “I do.”  (Bosch Legacy. Season 1, Episode.9)

Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) is a seasoned detective with many years on the force responding to his daughter, a boot (a new term for me that refers to a rookie in the police department).

I can’t remember what triggered this exchange, but I imagine it was something like dad was too busy fighting crime to respond to his daughter’s cell phone ring. I mean, it’s not easy to call a time-out amid an intense gun battle.

Most of the Time, It Doesn’t Hurt

I made the commitment a while ago after asking myself ad nauseum, “Why aren’t you doing that?”

Including driving time, the whole process takes about an hour and a half every couple of months. And it’s a good thing to do, giving blood.  It helps somebody. Every single time it helps somebody.

A couple of months ago, I placed myself in the lounge chair and the procedure started. But it was obvious that the technician was new. There were a lot of questions directed at a person floating around my station in an effort not to interfere but to be there should the need arise.

We eventually finished and I made an appointment for the next time. I stayed true to that commitment thing. That appointment was this past Friday.

Spend Wisely

Let’s play "What if."

What if:

On a Friday (scheduled to begin a finally-here-long weekend), you’re leaving the office. That used to be normal, but even if it’s not, let’s just pretend. As your co-worker runs by, you proclaim, “Have a great weekend!” However, she's quite frazzled because her boss just gave her a last-minute task that must be completed before leaving. You offer to turn around and help her finish thus allowing her to start her weekend just a little sooner. She accepts.

Good Morning, Everybody!

"Good morning."

It’s something we say all the time. Perhaps we say it so much that it has come to mean nothing, or even worse, an opportunity to disparage the anticipated day.

Perhaps you have been the recipient of these or similar replies.

• If you say so.
• Are you sure?
• Good for what?
• Lucky for you!
• Like you care.
• Could have fooled me
• Is it?

Waves, Clouds, and Love

"Regard yourself as a cloud, in the flesh because you see, clouds never make mistakes. Did you ever see a cloud that was misshapen? Did you ever see a badly designed wave? No, they always do the right thing. But, if you will, treat yourself for a while as a cloud or a wave and realize that you can’t make a mistake whatever you do. Because even if you do something that appears totally disastrous, it will all come out in the wash somehow or another. Then through this capacity, you will develop a kind of confidence. And through confidence, you will be able to trust your own intuition."  Source: Taoism: Way Beyond Seeking, Alan Watts

Those ALL-IN Dads

Happy Father’s Day to all dads: those who act like dads, those who take the place of dads, those who self-identify in any way as dads, and those who might not even realize that some child out there has generously applied this title bringing you into this group called, "Dads".

It Goes a Long, Long Way

I read a story that was published by two different blog authors this week. One referenced the other and now I’ve decided to share it with you. Perhaps you'll view this as a writer's laziness, but I would prefer to think that I'm participating in the idea that "a rising tide lifts all boats." 

In both cases though, the story was shared in the same way that people post to Facebook, Twitter, and (probably) most social media platforms. The procedure is simply to copy/paste/send/done or more often, like/click/share/done for those especially spectacular memes that we all love.

The meme, the copied article, or the video might be well worth the time spent. However, I find that I learn very little about the person who shares when this is the standard operating procedure. I am left with my interpretation only and I may have misunderstood the whole point.

Yeah. You've Heard It All Before

You've heard it before but since you’re now hearing it again from me, you can and should anticipate a little ‘twist’ because well, you know how my brain works!

Some of you know that I follow several churches, pastors, preachers, and even a sage here and there. I mean, I’m looking for ways to follow Jesus and there’s a lot to be learned if you’re open to a variety of opinions.

This week, I watched a sermon from one particular pastor. When he preaches, I tend to turn a deaf ear. This is a struggle because I know that with every book, with every speech, within every moment of life, I can learn something. But this guy? He literally dropped me from this church.  Well, I think he did.  

Blood, Sweat, and Tears

This week I am very grateful for the gift of a new friendship.

Yes, we have been neighbors for nearly a year and have willingly spent a few minutes in over-the-fence-hey-how-are-you-conversations during the past 12 months. But this time, a spur-of-the-moment decision led us to spend a couple of hours talking.   

NOTE: This was not a result of any Mediterranean Egg Salad distribution.  But since I’ve opened this topic, I think I will change that plan by replacing the egg salad for Smores.  As I was thinking about it, I wondered how many people would be appreciative of some homemade item dropped off at their door from someone they really don’t know. And since it’s summer, leaving a dish made with mayonnaise outside in the heat also seemed like potential trouble. In my head, I was hearing, "Danger, Will Robinson." Smores will probably be a safer and more acceptable plan. 

Anyway, back to my new friend and the real reason for writing.

A Heaven on Earth Recipe

It’s almost summer.  I equate that with egg salad sandwiches. There were two things my mother loved for lunch during the hotter season in Minnesota (whether ‘summer’ was for a month or just for a few days). Egg Salad held favored first preference followed very closely by the famous BLT. I had a great childhood!

I suspect that lunchtime with the bacon-lettuce-tomato came in second because of the tomato. They HAD to be garden-grown fresh, or the sandwich was completely ruined. The eggs?  Well, anytime works for eggs.

Impactful Stores 2 - The Styrofoam Cup

Written by Simon Sinek.
Found published by A Learning a Day.

"I heard a story about a former Under Secretary of Defense who gave a speech at a large conference. He took his place on the stage and began talking, sharing his prepared remarks with the audience. He paused to take a sip of coffee from the Styrofoam cup he’d brought on stage with him. He took another sip, looked down at the cup and smiled.

“You know,” he said, interrupting his own speech, “I spoke here last year. I presented at this same conference on this same stage. But last year, I was still an Under Secretary,” he said.

Impactful Stories 1 - Stay on the Bus

I am still working through the “Power” series. It was my goal to publish the second article this morning. Although I’m taking the easy road today, you’re not off the hook.

Graduation season is upon us, and the associated speeches will be quoted by many in the coming months and years.  I wrote about one of these speeches in 2017 with “Airborne Mortar Boards”.  

Only one of the following stories was spoken as advice to graduates. But I believe that as we travel our own paths, we are continually graduating. We learn, evaluate, consider, decide, and improve (or not). Our life's trajectory serves to make these two stories forever appropriate.

I will make no comment on the words chosen by the speakers. I will leave it to you entirely. That’s me being lazy. I have every confidence you'll see something of personal value by the time you're finished.

It's Only a Dollar

I was checking out groceries this past week. When it was time to pay, I was asked if I would like to contribute to a charity. The clerk added, “It’s only a dollar.”

Of course, this was just a little extra nudge from a sales position. It was also a statement that the amount is not significant to me especially considering a fifty-dollar grocery bill. Well, I agreed and one more dollar was added to my total.

The interaction cranked up the wheels of brain activity and silent questions began pinging around inside grey matter.

• Was the sales pitch correct or is that dollar important to me?
• Was I (just a little bit) conned?
• Whether the dollar was or was not significant to me, was it significant to the cause?
• Would the clerk be impressed if I said, “Yes?”
• Would I be impressed if I said, “Yes?”

One Dollar. I decided that it was all about the mindset in which we find ourselves at that point in time. A particularly interesting discovery reveals that the decision is made in a split second.  Not much pondering. No little voice saying, “Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.” Just a heartbeat followed by the affirmative - or not. And at that moment, we have reacted based on, 

• Value comparisons and trade-offs,
• Worldview stories of self-image, generosity, and compassion,
• The tribes (relationships, friends, families) we belong to,
• Fear, scarcity, and security.

In other words, this simple decision (to give a dollar or not) is based on our entire history. What matters at this very moment is based on what has happened to us in the past and what we think will happen to us in the future. 

If we love clipping coupons, this dollar might be quite a score. If we have been donation-burned in the past, we will hesitate. In either case, we are probably more likely to refuse this contribution.

However, if we are just leaving a church after hearing a sermon on generosity, the decision to say no might be overruled in a blink.

In this example, we are completely subject to impulse giving.

If we've said yes to this impulse, we might be patting ourselves on the back as we revel in thoughts of our generous nature as it lifts our spirits and puts a bounce in our step. Our good deed for the day has been realized!

This is truly a good thing we've done!

But let's just reflect on the statement written earlier: 

"In other words, this simple decision (to give a dollar or not) is based on our entire history. What has happened to us in the past and what we think will happen to us in the future matters."

Given the concept that impulse decisions are based on our entire history (worldview, fear, etc.) we will be more likely to accept the challenge of impulse giving if we are already cultivating a spirit of generosity in our daily lives. This is done through deliberate action and prayer. 

Our focus on intentional generosity will effectively create a generous worldview within us.

• We will be more likely to respond positively to impulse giving.
• We will more often feel the satisfaction of a generous nature.
• We will find ourselves becoming more loving as we understand the needs of others.
• We will find that money isn't the only form of generosity as we notice ways to be actively involved with our communities and the entire world.

"Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!" Psalm 119:36

Speaking of generosity, is there anything at all more generous than a good mother?

From Hannah Kardon, Pastor at Elston Avenue United Methodist Church

"To the Moms Who Are

• To the Moms who are struggling, to those filled with incandescent joy.
• To the Moms who are remembering children who have died, and pregnancies that miscarried.
• To the Moms who decided other parents were the best choice for their babies, to the Moms who adopted those kids and loved them fiercely.
• To those experiencing frustration or desperation in infertility.
• To those who knew they never wanted kids and the ways they have contributed to our shared world.
• To those who mothered colleagues, mentees, neighborhood kids, and anyone who needed it.
• To those remembering Moms no longer with us.
• To those moving forward from Moms who did not show love, or hurt those they should have cared for.
• Today is a day to honor the unyielding love and care for others we call 'Motherhood,' wherever we have found it and in whatever ways we have found to cultivate it within ourselves."

Looking at Power, Article 1 – Power OF ONE

This title might scare you because it mentions the word “power” followed by the realization that this won’t be the last time. 

Don’t be. This thing started with a dream. All I know about this dream is that a week ago, I woke up and wrote down the words, “Power of One” and then quietly and uneventfully slid back into the unconscious world of sleep. 

Note: There was no drinking before, during, or after this event.

The next day, I put this topic on ice 

Note: There was no drinking before, during, or after this event.  

The scribbled words of my midnight madness were marked, ‘Pending: Consider for future exploration’.

And then, this very morning, I heard a teaching about, yes it should be obvious, power. The future is here, and exploration has apparently begun. 

If you remember, I chose millimeters as my "Word of the Year" for 2022. This year, I am to review the almost imperceptible adjustments that can be made to create incredible, beautiful, and beneficial results in all areas of my life.

The "Word of the Year" relates to the word power as the word power itself relates to various prepositions (read: millimeters).  And here we are.

I will just start this series with The Power OF ONE. since that's where the dream started.

One is an important number. I am remembering an impactful sermon heard many years ago. I know it was because I still remember it!  Here’s what I said in a post written in 2015. 

“If I put the things in my life before the substance of my life, I'm making a tragic mistake.  If I put my job (in my life) before God (my life), I've put the zero first. If I put my finances, friends, vacation plans, retirement plans, and the other things in my life first, there is no value gained. But, if I put God first, before the zero, the value of both increases. “

To clarify:

• Placing the things of my life first (zero before one - 01, 001, 0001, etc.) will not increase the value of my life nor will it increase the value of my relationship with God. 
• Placing God first (one before zero - 10, 100, 1000, etc.) increases both. 

Credit:
Jacobs Media Strategies

God is the Power of One.

But so am I. And so are you!

He has made us in His image with the ability to love. He has provided the ability to see, hear, and feel the needs of someone else.  With simple actions, we can change someone’s life.

That also is the Power of One.

“Good humans never fail to remind us that there is a lot to be grateful for.” (A Learning a Day)

Just a thought. Perhaps we could spend our power being good humans.

Permanent Records

I’m not so very young anymore, but I still remember the nuns in grade school instilling the fear of God within all uniformed boys and girls; this, in the form of ‘THE permanent record'.

If the young'uns exhibited non-compliance of any type, this record (which followed our every step) would be marked-up with indelible ink (perhaps using a sharpie if the offense was quite severe) for all to see. This ‘crime’ would then become permanent, as in forever. The threat states that,

• Someday, our parents will read it.
• Someday, job interviewers will read it.
• Someday, the government will read it.
• Yes, God will read it – even though I was told that He has His own time-honored workflow for record-keeping.

As a grade schooler, I remember being terrified.  So then, I suppose the intended behavior modification was, in most ways, successful. 

All grown up now.

Collecting Eggs

These pictures came to me as part of a church gathering for kids celebrating an egg hunt. What would we do without kids, right?

Anyway, the images caught my attention for two reasons.

1. I question the word, “hunt”.
2. I found a way to apply this event to my life.

Snooze Button Eye-Opener

I admit to using the invention of the snooze button and often postpone my daily initiatives by nine minutes. It hardly seems worth the effort when I re-read that sentence. Anyway, I have noticed an interesting quirk.

There are some mornings when I just can’t get my head around the fact that I’m already hearing the second reminder. I question whether I truly used the snooze or just dreamed it. My investigation reveals that apparently, these nine minutes have somehow taken only as much time as the nine seconds it took to check. Groggily I fall out of bed, not happy and completely disorientated.

Spoken Word

I am not a poet.

Mostly, I do not understand poetry - never did.

Truthfully, I do not like most poetry - never did.

Now you know. I like writing and I have even tried (with disastrous results) to write poetry. Can't be done. It's just not in me. 

But something happened when I first heard Amena Brown as she performed her "Spoken Word". At the time, I didn't know the meaning of this phrase, but I knew it buried itself deep in my heart and soul when heard.

With Easter fast approaching, a friend introduced me to another artist, Shawndra Lucas.

Ronnie Williams

I think it’s very strange how our mind works. Today, I thought of a friend from 40 years ago and the trigger was a coffee pot.

Ronny was a fun guy.  He was always smiling and joking around even though his life was not what most would call exciting, fulfilling, or even pleasant on most days. But we were friends because, well how could you not be friends with him?

• He had a glass eye. So, you never really knew if he was looking straight at you. He thought that was amusing and used it - all the time!
• He was a diligent employee who seemed to be passed over for promotion more than one might expect.
• I saw him dejected only once.

Serving Simply

In my family, May is a big month for birthdays. I started thinking about all the attitudes we have concerning this designated day.

I have friends who begin shouting about this celebration months ahead of time. No way are they going to allow anyone to miss it. They prepare the landscape with reminders and sometimes even tongue-in-cheek gift suggestions. Well, I ‘think’ tongue-in-cheek is true.

I also have friends that do all in their power to downplay or even mandate feigned forgetfulness about any celebration or even mention of this day.  Maybe it’s the recognition of mortality creeping along with the steadily increasing age that prevents them from enjoying the special day. 

Love 'em or Hate 'em

Squirrels. Yeah, that’s right.  You thought I was going to say mothers-in-law or something.

DIPS

DESCRIPTION (Seth Godin)

"Perhaps it’s related to what you think you deserve:

• Kindness.
• Dignity.
• A chance to speak up.
• A fair shot at achievement.
• The benefit of the doubt"

Nerve Ending Variances

I think it’s been a while since I’ve traveled a little bit off the rails with my thoughts of the week. I figured I’d treat you once again to the strange and twisted but normally hidden landscape of my thinking brain. Wishing to keep comments to a minimum, I thought I’d also let you see the results of a Frank Gehry architectural design called the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. I am just making a point that I am not the only twisted thing out there. And when it comes down to it, the building looks awesomely cool. Maybe my brain does too.

Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas. Designed by Frank Gehry

I+Sum(C+W)=R

The project began in 2018 with the 5th Graders at the Junior High School in Rye, New Hampshire.

The launch was celebrated by the now grown-up 6th Graders and the crew of The SSV Corwith Cramer on October 25, 2020.

462 days later, the project goal is fulfilled in Smola (a small island) in Norway – by a sixth-grader and his class.

This project, a kind of "message in a bottle", consists of a six-foot hand-made sailboat that traveled over 7,000 miles to its surprise destination.  

Information about this educational and inspiring project can be found at Rye Riptides | Rye Junior High School.  It’s a fascinating story worth the time of exploration.

READY. SET. RED 22. RED 22. Hut. Hut.

That title is called a ‘football cadence'.

I’ve read that 2022 is the very first time that Valentine’s Day can be called ‘post-game day’ for the Super Bowl.

This is just too confusing. Just how does one reconcile the Super Bowl with the traditional day which speaks of love? Well, that cadence speaks to it, I suppose.

I think there is less confusion here in Ohio. Yes, the Cincinnati Bengals are playing Rams today. Those of you in Minnesota can probably relate to what is going on here.

Find Your Tree

What kind of a Minnesota-born-and-bread guy breaks both ends of a snowbrush while cleaning off his car?

The half-inch plus coating of ice that had entombed my vehicle was the problem and I just did what I've always done. I turned on the ignition and while letting the car warm up, I started brushing the 3 inches of snow off the car so that I could get to the serious issue of removing ice.

As evidenced by the brush breaking off the pole, the snow was not fluffy and light. It was full of frozen water as well. That's OK. I just used my glove-covered hands and did it the old-fashioned way. 

"Good enough", I thought as I began to work on the ice. The plastic scraper on the other side of the snow removing tool was no less successful when attempts were made to remove the hard-as-diamond encrustation. I heard the now-familiar snap indicating the loss of another feature of my decades-old winter staple.

Cold and a little frustrated, I remembered an article I read this week from "A Learning a Day". 

You can read this anecdote by clicking here. It will take you less than a minute.

Finding a place to leave our troubles behind is good advice for all of us.

Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28

Everybody Wins. Everybody Loses.

Based on the weather today, let’s make plans for a trip! Let’s imagine that we’re going to Hawaii!  It’s quite cold this morning and I think I’d like to be looking at Waikiki Beach rather than my frozen vehicle.

It’s been years since you’ve been out of town.  You’ve worked hard and life has been tough. It’s been almost impossible on some days especially with everything going on throughout the past couple of years. But the reward is in sight. 

Seductive Red Dots

This week, I noticed that I am controlled by my phone. It probably doesn't happen to you, of course, but I feel compelled to look at this pocket-sized life interrupter too many times a day. I started wondering why.

First, let me say that I'm not going to embark on a message seeking to destroy your device because it's evil. I can't imagine the inconvenience of life without it, even having lived through a time when nobody knew what a cell phone was. 

I considered that being subject to FOMO (the fear of missing out) is not a huge factor. I also considered that I could be erroneously self-analyzing.

Fill in The Blank

Please, consider your answer and fill in the blank.

I would be happy if someone would _____________.

BLANK SPACE IS INTENTIONAL

Are you ready with your answer?

Your FINAL answer?

On The Right Path

Last week, I made mention that ‘millimeter’ was my word of the year. I talked about being on the right path and this week, I see James Clear (Author of the best-selling book, Atomic Habits) is apparently thinking about the same thing.

• "It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an expert as long as you’re on the path.
• If a beginner is on the path, all they need is time.
• If an expert is off the path, they won’t be an expert for long." (From James Clear, Thursday 3-2-1 Newsletter, January 6, 2022)

“People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions: doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call. He calls them atomic habits.”   (Book review of “Atomic Habits”, Amazon.com)

“In this ground-breaking book, Clear reveals exactly how these minuscule changes can grow into such life-altering outcomes. He uncovers a handful of simple life hacks (the forgotten art of Habit Stacking, the unexpected power of the Two Minute Rule, or the trick to entering the Goldilocks Zone), and delves into cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience to explain why they matter. Along the way, he tells inspiring stories of Olympic gold medalists, leading CEOs, and distinguished scientists who have used the science of tiny habits to stay productive, motivated, and happy. These small changes will have a revolutionary effect on your career, your relationships, and your life.” Review by the New York Times.

One might think that I’m psychic!

Millimeters Matter

As I was hoping that everyone has experienced safe travels during the holiday, I noticed something. Showers.

You must get annoyed when I purposefully make your head spin when trying to connect things that have no business being connected. I have a plan. Take some aspirin and let me finish, please.

There is always a difference between your in-home shower and the one available to you on on-the-road. Sometimes, it’s more enjoyable and sometimes less. That is not the point here, just an explanation as to where travel connects to showers.  Feel better?

Anyway, when I got home, I once again noticed that the temperature adjustment on my plumbing is made with nearly imperceptible movements. I can travel from being a towel-wrapped zombie looking at a scalding, steam-generating flow of water to a minor character in the movie Frozen with a simple microscopic twist of the faucet.