Another “Spirit of Christmas” Message

I know. Christmas is just a few days away. You’ve heard all the uplifting messages, and celebratory suggestions, discussed gifts and gatherings, and heard more than a few requests for donations from those working diligently for the underprivileged as they pull at your guilt strings. You might be tired of it all – before it even begins.

Maybe you don’t feel the Spirit of Christmas anymore. Perhaps you are feeling that it’s just too much work decorating only to shuttle the same boxes of decorations back to storage in short order anyway. Maybe you’d rather enjoy the frozen Stouffers Turkey Dinner alone rather than the family menu of choice and the disruptions that you are confident will eventually come to hard feelings or worse.

Maybe 

And I’ll warn you now, I will also be repeating a common message. 

There is a chance that you’ve already finished your Christmas shopping list. There’s an equal chance you haven’t yet begun! In either case, let’s talk about gifts. In most cases, we hope that what we give to one another will be appreciated and cherished. We know in our hearts that the success of this endeavor is not based on the price of the gift, but I’ll take this one step further.

DocMorris produced an advertising video in 2020 that bubbles up to captivate my attention at this time of year. If you’ve been around here for a while, you have already been invited to view this one. I do not need to watch it again as I’ve seen it countless times. But watch it, I will. I can’t help it.

It reminds us how difficult it is to find that perfect gift while we completely ignore what makes a gift - perfect.

The ad is not about a wrapped present. It’s about anticipating what will be needed when that present is unwrapped. It’s about the required pain and discomfort, the self-sacrificing time and energy to bring the wrapped gift to life. It’s about the gift of oneself to make the desire of another come true. 

It’s about creating joy, smiles, and memories for another at a cost to yourself. It’s about exactly that – my truest definition of love. 

My heart melts each time I see this video. While watching, I can feel the commitment, determination, and sacrifice as shown by this man to fulfill his goal. To me, he is an example of love itself.

And while we’re at it, let’s also remember that this definition of love is what started all this in the first place. The God of all creation bends infinitely low to become one of us. He then offers the sacrifice of this same human life to help us understand Love itself. 

"And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth". John 1:14

Merry Christmas

In the Driver’s Seat

Control. That's what this is. And we want it.

• We want to ensure things are done exactly how we want them done. 
• We want to be the decision-makers for our life plans and future – and sometimes, we claim this for others too.
• We have the right answer(s). Any disagreement means that others are wrong. And it’s because they are so very wrong, we will step in and fix things to get them back on track.

This controlling worldview probably means that we will have a difficult time ‘letting go’, trusting God, and submitting to God’s will. Does anyone else have this issue? Just me then?

Rules for Robots

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) created the three rules of robotics. Before we begin, I have several background comments. 

• Isaac Asimov first used the word robotics.
• He wrote I, Robot, part of what is known as the Robot Series of fictional short stories.
• Since he was a writer of fiction, the rules of robotics are seen as guides to keep humanity safe with programmed ‘helpers’ – almost friends. 
• It is generally accepted that these rules are not extremely valuable, considering the advancements made in the field, but they are worth considering when developing AI and other technologies.

An Unexpected Lesson

This week, I noticed once again, how my cultural stereotypes have been reinforced. I faced a couple of situations where it just seemed like everyone was unduly angry and had overdosed on entitlement right here in my backyard. What happened to that Christmas Spirit of my childhood that I so vividly remembered?

I started comparing the city of New York and its nearly 9 million people to Manchester, Iowa with its population of 5,000.

In my head, I was tempted to hypothesize that even from 1,000 miles away, the “Empire State Attitude” of New Yorkers was bleeding into rural America. Of course, this is based on a well-known assumption, “New Yorkers are rude.” 

Christmas is for Everyone

In my younger years, I worked at Hillcrest Golf Club in St. Paul, Minnesota. Time spent there included several job descriptions but today, we’ll focus on the busboy/server position. A common starter job, this one included more than most. Of course, we carried 6-8 dinners on trays held high over our heads with return trips including used plates, dishes, cups, saucers, and various utensils that always caused problems. These trays must have, (in my mind) weighed a hundred pounds. 

There were several weekends during the summer when we started working at 7 AM on Saturday and returned home just after dinner on Sunday evening, 34 hours later. Making $0.75 per hour was serious money for us! I don’t remember hearing anything about child labor laws or overtime pay in those days, so all is good.

Between serving and bussing, we re-configured table placements for the next-up celebration dinners, lunch buffets, golfing tournament buffet breakfasts, and dance parties. Many parties required colorful draperies with lace table skirts and under-skirt lighting. This was, after all, an upscale, elegant, and expensive, golf club. 

Everything was expected to be perfectly flawless. Always. 

One Thousand Points of Light

I considered forgoing today's article with all the new 30-second videos being created along with this weekly task. But then guilt popped up for a quick hello. 

I woke up thinking that if I am to write today, I should work on something light-hearted. Perhaps if I needed a laugh or two, you might as well. After a reasonable amount of time, I have concluded that my limbic system is not working properly. Perhaps my humor center needs a reboot.

But there is something on my mind and it’s been there for a couple of weeks. 

Finding Peace - Every Day

There are times in life when calming our spirit is crucial. The world is difficult, and when we experience a shakeup, we automatically seek out our favorite comfort zones. We want peace for our souls, and it's usually found in sensory experiences.

• A warm bath, cozy blanket, or favorite pajamas.
• Lighting vanilla candles, the smell of lilacs growing in a field, or freshly baked cookies.
• A piece of classical music, or the sound of children laughing.
• A photo of Waimanalo Beach or sitting with an espresso watching the sun go down.
• The texture and taste of warm apple pie and ice cream.
• Chocolate, especially when combined with milk cold enough to cause tongue-frostbite. Maybe this one is just me.

Music, art, and architecture also contribute to our inner peace. And let’s never dismiss a calm and peaceful walk through nature.

“Beauty will save the world.” (Dostoevsky.)

Promises > Pink

I’ve been preoccupied this week and have had little time to think about today’s article. When this happens, the post usually becomes more personal. 

This past Friday, the introduction of “concept meeting real world” took place. This notion has been in embryonic form for quite a while now. The incubation period for this exciting, but safely cocooned idea has now been replaced with live hyperlinks, an inventory of creations, and a great deal of apprehension. 

How Quickly I Forget

It’s been almost two years since I moved from Cincinnati, Ohio, with a population of over 2 million, to small-town Manchester, Iowa, with a little over 5,000 residents. I went from a major East Coast city (in my mind) to a farm community in Iowa (again, in my mind), and I am still adjusting.

The other night, I was trying to sleep and the number of trains traveling through town was irritating me. These beasts are required to blow their horn at every intersection. Since I live in the heart of this little city less than 4 blocks from the tracks, those train whistles are a near-constant interruption. I believe that when they reach the city limits, they just set those things to split the night every few seconds. And, let me point out that the ‘whistle’ description is a far cry from the shrieking air horns used today. Did I say 4 blocks? I think that under the cover of darkness, someone moves those tracks into my driveway every night.

Headwinds

The commitment was made, and I am willing to say that it is now habitual. Some say that habits take 21 days to form. I have always questioned that statement based on my own experience. But it’s now been 58 days, and I would miss my daily walk so I think I can safely call this a habit. 

The weather has been very cooperative for this quest. I am grateful. But, if you’ve noticed, the seasons are changing, and fall is giving way to those darkest of days, winter. Arrival is imminent.

Level Up

A 'gulp' moment is today's cornerstone. It's about those convicting, heart-skips-a-beat seconds that make those embarrassing little beads of water show up on your forehead. It's the guilt of knowing, "I could do better."

Those interventions normally sneak up while covered in the skin of reminders. You already know you've let things slide and started living without paying attention. It wasn't on purpose - it's just well, you know, life. Perhaps it's more than that. It could be an unwelcome adjustment of a once-accepted normality.

Are you curious? You are no doubt smarter than this writer and have decided to stop reading so that no interrupter of conscience gets in your way today. I completely understand - see you next week.

For the rest of us, here's the baseline. It's called the Golden Rule. It was probably something you learned in kindergarten.

Missing Fall Colors

Am I yet too early?

It's been years since I remember being wowed by the season of exuberant and lively splashes of red, orange, yellow, green, and brown.

Living in Ohio, I could never find that elusive 'peak'. I rationalized that my mistake was my inability to figure out the timing because I was unfamiliar with this part of the country. But I'm now in Iowa wondering why everything changes from green to brown, sans any inspiring color. The sidewalks are full of dry leaves. I found a couple of examples of the condition of these sidewalk leaves, but when seeking treetops, the only words coming to mind say, "Nothing to see here, folks." 

But the other day, I found one! I stopped in my tracks and took a photo because - I had to! 

Smile - And Serve Pasta

Growing up we hated television commercials – those horrible interruptions to our glued-to-the-device intake of entertainment. I still feel that way, especially when some of these creations seem to be strobe-lights-of-images flashing so quickly that your mind (mine anyway) cannot grasp what might be happening. 

However, several times I have pointed to television commercials that have moved me, made me think about principles, or even generated an emotion or two. The irritation of the general term can easily be ignored when a beautiful song is incorporated into a reason-for-life lesson along with the commercialization of a product. 

The View from Here

 

(Bing Description) "Wulingyuan, China - On such a clear day, this dizzying vertical view to ground level breaks the illusion that made these quartzite towers world famous. More than 3,000 of them ascend to heights of up to 600 feet here at the Wulingyuan scenic area in China's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. When mists gather over the tree canopy and obscure the base of the pillars, their tops almost appear to float in midair. The seemingly suspended summits served as inspiration for director James Cameron, who used images of Wulingyuan to create the floating mountains in his film 'Avatar.' "

We live in interesting times. When I opened my desktop the other day, this is what I saw. The image filling the entire screen also filled me with a slight case of acrophobia. I didn't know that a two-dimensional picture could do that.

This Week's Panic Attack

My PHONE!

I just had it and it’s nowhere to be found. I haven’t left the house, but I’ve searched every room and cannot find it. 

I was on my way to fulfill one of life’s mundane tasks when I noticed the absence of this device. The feeling was identical to the panic when I misplaced a credit card. In both circumstances, the loss could be disastrous! 

Start Chipping Away

Some days are much worse than others. We might be tired or perhaps several outside influences have ganged up placing roadblocks to our progress. 

Sometimes, these days are plagued with issues that are much more serious and life-threatening. 

In any case, we all notice when something is not right. Perhaps we are failing because we lack some nugget of information, a few more dollars or we might even consider thoughts that tell us, “We are not enough.”

When I first read about a way to start eliminating those anxieties, I thought, “Novel idea!” As I continued reading, I found these tips had been around for a decade or more. 

Coffee Anyone?

This is something I've been learning to rely on: God is always available.

Even though research shows that coffee did not exist during the time Jesus walked this earth, I look at this beverage as a gift from God Himself. So why wouldn't He want to share a bit of 'Joe' with me? (Maybe a better question is, "Why didn't He make sure that the Ethiopians and Yemenis got this 'mud' introduced to the Middle East by the time He arrived?") I think I'm going to ask if I get the chance!

It's Sunday. I think it's a good day to send the invitation.

Click the Play Button to watch here 

or

Click This Link to Watch on Vimeo

The Dominant Hand

A while ago, I almost slipped and fell. With no conscious thought, my right hand reacted, grabbed onto the wall, and prevented an accident. 

A whole lot is going on when something like this happens. And it’s all automatic. We didn’t practice so it isn’t muscle memory. We didn’t learn it by reading. We didn’t absorb it by watching other people. We are wired this way.

What Do I Know

Hey - I know things!

• 2 + 2 = 4. Time-tested and proven.
• If I drop a pan of fully cooked lasagna, it will end up on the floor in short order (not a pun).
• We need water to survive, so drink up. 

There’s a place for using the words, “I know!” But in my opinion, we seemingly accept a brutalization of this word in our daily conversations. Like the well-used word love, the definitions have been watered down to a point where both words (love and know) have begun to warp. The words mean less than the combination of letters that make them up.  

I think we all know those 3 examples listed above are true. 

Remembering Covid

It’s never going away. 

Sure, the days of struggling to understand, the confusion, the questioning of whether anything will ever be the same, and the isolation have abated. Although the virus has not departed, we’re better prepared, we understand more, and we have medications and equipment. Yes, we even have toilet paper.

But going through those difficult times will never be forgotten. This dark era has left its mark on us in many ways. We remember.

I remember being so completely disappointed. It wasn’t the things mentioned above, exactly It was things like this:

Owning My Becoming - In the Now

Occasionally, I find it difficult to find a topic. When this happens, I look back at ideas, notes, half-written articles, and even sermon scribbles from the past. There are thousands of these sources now. 

But, in the back of my mind and heart, there is a problem with reviewing old documentation for new article stimulation.

I am trying to use circumstances, situations, and other input from current dates to keep myself focused on living a life true to Jesus in the ‘now’.

Olympic Dreams

As a former member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America, I remember September as the month I began glancing skyward. I never wanted to miss those first few flakes even knowing that they were destined to disappear the moment they touched so much as a blade of grass. Few of you would call that normal. 

As a reminder, I have never proposed that I am any such thing. I guess that has been the case throughout my years on earth as it still rings true. Weirdness reigns.

This week we entered the season of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Traditionally, I have been much more involved in the hype and excitement of the Winter Games, but I will certainly watch segments of this year's experience. It’s impressive to note there are 32 categories of sporting events, but I count 39 different contest activities. I just might have to peek at the newest, breakdancing.

Anyway, back to my reminiscing because of this world-encompassing 2024 event, 

Vocabulary Adjustment

“The kindest people are not born that way, they are made. They are the sounds that have experienced so much at the hands of life, they are the ones who have dug themselves out of the dark, who have fought to turn every loss into a lesson. The kindest people do not just exist – they choose to soften where circumstance has tried to harden them, they choose to believe in goodness because they have seen firsthand why compassion is so necessary. They have seen firsthand why tenderness is so important in this world.” – Bianca Sparacino

Movie Night

 ** We begin today’s project with an interruption. The majority of this article was put together before noon on Saturday, July 13. The finishing touches were added just before submission. But a few hours can have tremendous impacts. Although I considered canceling this post for today, I have decided to let it be. The major premise has not changed even though the political landscape might have. Yesterday’s events have notably revealed that we are experiencing a decidedly sad time in our country’s history. Just mouthing the words, ‘We have no place for political violence in this country’ falls well short of the need. Perhaps this article can in some small way, begin to pacify that need.**

And now, today’s post.

How many people can you name who have the authority to push your buttons?

Maybe we should make a list – each of us. But, of course, if we do this exercise, there needs to be a point to all the work. Many of us will struggle but for others, the task is effortless. It’s quite understandable if the names flow freely. It seems that is the world we live in, today.

Just Business

Annoying.

Except for a final proofread, today’s article was ready to submit. It now sits in an ever-expanding draft folder, as once again, I’m starting over. I’ve said I need to embrace life’s interruptions, and this is just one of them. It will happen again, no doubt.

I can usually pinpoint the beginnings of these ramblings. It’s a little murky today. A decades-old conversation suddenly popped into awareness and here we are.  

Once upon a time, there was a discussion between a self-proclaimed religious person, me, and an observer. I’m fuzzy on the explicit details, but here’s the gist.

The Pull of Black Apples

Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov (Ewen McGregor) tells a childhood story at a gathering of friends in the television series, A Gentleman in Moscow.

“Where I grew up, there was an old legend that, hidden deep in the forest, there was a tree with apples as black as coal. And if you could find this tree and eat its fruit, you could live your life anew.

“Begin the journey again... a tantalizing thought.

That Which Shall Not Be Named

Things are heating up – seriously. And it is time to talk about ‘that which shall not be named.’ 

No, it is not Lord Voldemort. We talk about him all the time now that the Horcruxes have all been found and destroyed. 

I do not say this lightly, but this topic is as scary to me as the ‘Unspeakable’ character was to Harry, Ron, and Hermoine.

What's a Father To Do

We all need help and I thought I’d look online to see what tidbits might be available. There’s a lot of advice out there for fathers and their children. Here are a few examples.

From the World

• Reading to your children regularly will bond you together and kickstart their imaginations.
• Be nice to your children because they are going to choose your nursing home.
• You’ll get 10x better results by elevating good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior, especially in children and animals.
• For the best results with your children, spend only half the money you think you should, but double the time with them.
• To keep young kids behaving on a car road trip, have a bag of their favorite candy and throw a piece out the window each time they misbehave.

Hammers, Bells, and Songs

A period of nostalgia has taken hold of me as last week's memory recap will continue with the words written today.  

The "Oldies but Goodies" lesson referred to gratitude with personal memory tidbits as its base. Today the goal is different, but the intro uses a similar format.

Oldies But Goodies

We live in a fast world. I’ve heard it said that computer speed and power have doubled every 2 years since the 1960s. Since I was just a kid, I can look back and see it. Take cars for example.

We used to sit overlooking a highway when visiting my Grandparents. We counted the number of cars that had air conditioning. One could tell because, at outside temperatures of 90 degrees, the windows were rolled up. We were in awe, especially since we didn’t even have a/c in the house. And, just a side note, they rolled those windows up with a crank.

I won’t go into the wide array of automobile features available today. You already know that the change is staggering.

Something ain’t Smellin’ Right

 "I heard my mom asking our neighbor for some salt. 

We had salt at home, so I asked her why she was asking.

She told me, "They don't have much money and they sometimes ask us for things. I asked for something small that wouldn't burden them. I want them to feel as if we need them too. That way, it will be much easier for them to ask us for anything they need."

Author Unknown: Quoted From James Clear (Atomic Habits) 3-2-1 

This story has been percolating for a while. It bubbles up every so often because it’s confusing to me. At first blush, I was impressed by this idea. To kindly inform someone that we are available to help seems admirable. It appears that we are moving in the right direction. 

“But something ain’t smellin’ right.”

Weird Ones: Shampoo Code and Politics

Weirdness. Let’s not worry about how this happens or where it originates. I promise it will be easier for all of us.

We’ve all heard those three simple commands—the mantra of our daily shower rituals. The shampoo bottles stand at attention, waiting for their turn in the spotlight. It’s a choreographed dance: squirt, lather, rinse, repeat. But today, something shifted. This morning, an error set my eye ablaze.

A drop of shampoo found its way into my peeper, and suddenly, my ocular world was chaotic. As I blinked (and cursed), I wondered about the purpose of eyelids. Those unassuming flaps of skin—usually taken for granted—had failed me. My shut-them-tight-when-shampooing automation misfired. "Must be a bug in the software", I thought

The First Lesson

 

For nearly 70 years, I never heard her say, "You darn well BETTER love me! 

All I do for you? You BETTER!"

Writing. Past, Present, and Future

I remember the impatient anticipation as we approached high school's end of year. 

I remember group study and late nights before finals because, speaking honestly, I spent a lot of time with procrastinators of the first degree. 

I remember a take-home physics test. Six of us were in the basement exploring the hours of darkness working on pieces of this final exam. I remember the scratching of pencil on paper until someone shouted, “I’ve got one!”. We’d all stop what we were working on and wait for the instructions. “Problem 15-B. This is the answer.” Diligently, we’d add the given answer to our test page. 

I still wonder if that was cheating. But it was a take-home test for kids in high school. I can’t imagine that group efforts were unexpected. 

A Better Apology

We have all hurt others. 

We have all been hurt by others.

If relationships are to survive, apologies are necessary.

We know that our please-forgive-me offerings should be sincere. But, like you, I have witnessed white-washed apologies that are forced and sometimes defensive. Our plea is often ambiguous as we try to smooth over our responsibility. We include global terms like anything or everything when presenting our verbal contrition. 

Feed My Sheep

This could be a strange day. I needed something to do since I woke up a few hours early. This story came to mind.

AI-Generated

For an explanation of the source, please see Allegory of the Long Spoons

Oppositional Compatibility

The title might point you to my ignorance, but believe it or not, it was intentional.

Let’s start with the issue of the week. At the bottom of this article, you’ll find links that apply.

I have not given up. I still want to see Everybody Deserves move forward. I have indeed invested a few hundred dollars in this idea. I seek not a return on investment dollars, but a Return On Relationships and Community. 

Starting Point

It begins with, 

• A bang. The pistol has been fired. The runners leave the blocks. The race is on.
• The scraping of metal on dirt. Earth is flung aside revealing a hole. Construction has begun.
• A key is turned (or a button pushed if you’ve got a newer vehicle). The engine turns over and the vacation begins.

Each small action triggers something new. We call them starting points. They are the first thing that turns a goal into reality. They begin a journey that eventually takes us to a finish line, an education, or a new home.

I’ve been getting stuck on that term, lately. More precisely, I’m getting stuck on the timeline for the entire process. 

Understanding that a point-in-time physical action creates momentum to move toward a goal, it seems difficult for me to discard the origin of an idea, the diligent research, and the painstaking preparation that precedes those actions as irrelevant to the phrase ‘starting point’. 

Jerry and Dryer Lint

Unrelated, both events took place on Saturday. 

For a while now, I have shared laundry appliances. But it’s the dryer that I will focus on today. More accurately, it’s the product of that dryer that haunts me.

It's that lint trap. I normally clean it before and after I dry my clothes. But over time, I’ve noticed that ‘others’ do not subscribe to the same procedures. Empirical evidence suggests that ‘others’ remove the lint only before drying their clothes. 

After realizing this, I decided this was quite unfair. As a result, I resolved that I too would become a one-and-done participant. That will teach them. And so, with that mindset, I prepared to do laundry.

With the last turn of the drum, the final load was dry. All packed up and ready to go, my feet stuck to the floor. Perhaps this is the physical manifestation of guilt. At that moment, I hated guilt. Putting the hamper on the floor, I grabbed a paper towel, emptied the trap (again), cleaned off the top of the dryer, and left.

Easter Stories

Decades ago, I spent every waking moment as a Real Estate Broker. “Full-time job” does not come close to explaining what is required. Those who doubt can ask my daughter. Although this occupation gave me the flexibility I needed as a single parent, there were untold numbers of times when the cost of this flexibility was pointed directly in her direction. I can only say that I’m sorry.

But today is Easter Sunday and I have a story to tell.

I remembered an Easter sermon from several years ago. The details are a bit sketchy, but I believe that it went something like this.

Captured on Video

I grew up in an age where it was possible to hide. No video cameras recorded your every act and no GPS tracking devices broadcast your location. A simpler time, perhaps.

Although we’ve made a lot of noise about privacy, we have adjusted to the normalization of ‘visibility’ which has become very prevalent.

This week, I read an article describing one person’s experience with video surveillance. The highlights are briefly described in the bullet points below. The full article is here.

Stop, Stoop, and Serve

 

 I read this quote from Donald Barnhouse, and it has been on my mind all week.

I am convinced that God stoops for each one of us. The evidence is clear. From a divine place to a human baby and from eternal life to death on a cross, God's love knows no bounds. We follow this example of grace when we stop, stoop, and serve others. 

Short Term vs Long Term

Think. 

Find one example that found you blown away when witnessing kindness bestowed on another person. Think about your reaction.

• Were you touched so deeply that you found your eyes watering? 
• Did you wonder, “Why isn’t it normal for the world and its people to be like this – all the time?”
• Do you remember a similar time when you made a difference for someone else?
• Remember a time when you might have, with the best of intentions, tried to make a difference but were rejected or manipulated. Did it leave a bitterness that proclaimed, “Never again!”? 
• Did you find yourself recalling a time when you could have acted kindly, you could have made a difference, and yet did not? 

Not Just About Me

As I work on this concept of hope, I’ve been coming across blogs, sermons, and discussions about hope everywhere. A reference to a similar situation; someone you know buys a new car and you suddenly notice that model at every intersection.

The basis for today was another HuffPost article. Please consider waiting to read the linked article until you're in a good place as it mixes great sorrow with a couple of impactful points that matter to us as we walk through this life.

Look Where You're Going

For most of my life, I’ve thought that the advice given with today’s title makes perfect sense. The phrase reminds us to watch out for hazards. At least that’s what I think when I hear it. 

But, like most of these musings, there’s no direct line from the stories to the point. 

Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours in the halls of a high school for a very cool event. Sponsored by the Iowa High School Speech Association, individuals competed in various categories. These included;

• Radio News Announcing
• Storytelling
• Solo Music Theatre
• Improvisation

As time was a factor, I attended only a few performances, but each was excellent.

I Want to Believe

 I want to believe . . . 

• That the people in our cities and towns would stay on the same side of the road as the Good Samaritan when coming across those experiencing pain and suffering.
• That a choice between a donut and a hungry child would never really be a choice.
• That a voice speaking with a tone of “love your neighbors as yourself” would be our first inclination rather than the murmur of condemnation and judgment. 
• That a delay in our plans would be ‘disruption ignored’ if it meant helping someone through a crisis.
• That the vast majority of us would reject hate-filled speech and self-justified echo chambers in favor of camaraderie, laughter, acceptance, and a peace that surpasses all understanding.
• That an offering friendship could be accepted and embraced without the need for suspicion.
• That all judgment could be withheld until we have stepped into the shoes of our brothers and sisters.
• That lives of gratitude and generosity continue to grow when we consider that where our treasure is, our heart will also be.
• That Simon of Cyrene’s story would lead us to act in the same way when someone’s burden exceeds their ability to carry it.
• And, that these beliefs can be held in my heart and mind with the help of the Spirit of Hope who substantiates my faith in a good and loving God. 

Amen.

The Next Seven Days

Sure. I will hit the “publish” button. But this will happen today (Friday) which is unlike most ‘send now’ events. This is because the “Next Seven Days” starts tomorrow. You won’t receive the email notification until Sunday, but I wanted to keep the integrity of the title. 

The standard procedure is to try noticing God in the week’s events, experiences, thoughts, conversations, and feelings. At this point, I will normally begin to write a lot of words about one of these items and how it might further help me understand what it might look like to live a Jesus-centered life.

What’s different this time? 

Not Once Upon a Time

If you have seen the online Sandals and a Stick blog site, you’ll notice the “Insightful Advice” header. For one reason or another, these bloggers seem to hit the nail on the head for me more often than most. 

Over the years, I’ve noticed numerous articles written about stories. They’re not the once-upon-a-time stories you might be thinking of. A phrase I read often starts with, “The story we tell ourselves.”

After all this time, I am convinced we live by these internal narratives. These ‘stories’ confirm our beliefs and our values. They guide our reactions and they ground us in our comfort zone. I would guess that, to a large degree, they decide who will be a friend or foe. 

dum spiro, spero

OUCH!

Breath quickens as frustration takes hold. It’s just for a second as I examine the damage. Although it was violently clipped, the foot and its toes will be okay. There is no permanent damage. Nothing is broken. 

The remnants of this event are clear. A new landscape has been created in the living room. Rolling hills of black dirt sporting green stems and leaves cover the floor. At center stage in this new scenery sits an upended ceramic pot spilling its contents in a large mound. What was an ancient Spider Plant has crashed and will be in dire need of intensive care. 

I took a deep breath. Not so bad. I can deal. 

Consider The Q and The A

Conversation starters are used to provide the other with a topic to open common dialogue. Generally speaking, these are questions.

I was reading an article that provided, in the writer’s opinion, good questions to be lobbed at someone to initiate a response and continued discussion.

Here are a few.

1. Did you listen to anything interesting today?
2. How much coffee did you drink today?
3. What app did you open most today?
4. Did you give anyone a side-eye today? What did they do to deserve it?

Cold Perspective

You might be expecting something specific with that title. But in a way, it’s a play on words. 

According to the social science of Psychology, decision-making can be hot or cold. Cold perspective decisions are made using only facts and are completely divorced from any emotional influence. “All we want are the facts, ma’am,” says Dragnet’s Joe Friday. (Links below)

A couple of years ago, I flirted with the idea of a series called Perspectives. I still have all the notes, and maybe someday, these articles will find your inbox. I considered things like age, pain, cultural status, the Grand Canyon, viewpoints, and a few more. 

But today, the play on words mentioned above refers directly to the temperature and current weather conditions.

It's Beyond Hope

It's late already today. I am finally getting to this task. I have usually published by now. But up until this moment, I was finding it impossible to decide on today's topic, let alone how I might flesh it out.

My weekly commitment felt beyond hope.

And then I started thinking about that term. The one in the last sentence. The one in the subject line. The one that can be translated as hopelessness.

"Not true", the voice in my head firmly declared.