We Become – a New Mantra

1. “We are our choices.” Jean-Paul Sartre
2. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
3. “Decisions shape our lives more than circumstances.” Steven Covey
4. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Most will see a pattern when reading the first three quotes but will question how the fourth dovetails with the others.

No matter the size or the perceived impact of any decision, all are significant. Not looking for a philosophical discussion, I simplified this as a self-spoken training mantra, “We become the decisions we make.” And yes, I admit this is too often forgotten in the busyness of life. 

With my mantra in mind, interpreting that bible verse as a to-do list made sense to me. I reasoned that working toward achieving these goals (love, joy, peace, and others) one at a time would be the correct path. But, in a way, that created another mantra: "Try harder!"

• Be peaceful today.
• Be more loving, hold your tongue and be a listener.
• Work on kindness this week.
• Be understanding – and happy!
• Be, do, and act the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ and God will be happy with me.

The truth revealed; I can’t just wake up and perform. I can’t force these virtues by checking them off a list. I have no magic wand to wave over my flaws to create perfection. I will fall short, always. 

As I am no Biblical scholar, I sometimes find that looking to other translations helps. 

”But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message)

An observation then. Forget the list. Instead, adopt a certain way to live. If made carefully and intentionally with the right motives, each decision, each spoken word, will guide us toward a maturity that includes goodness, kindness, loving, and well, you get the idea.  

This is when those ‘gifts’ begin to show up. Like fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, we care for the orchards, vines, and shrubs of our lives (the decisions, thoughts, and words) seeking the elements of life – sunlight, water, clean air, and fertile soil. The fruit ripens with a life-long commitment to create the desirable future person we imagine. 

On our own, none of us would believe that we could change the world. But we can change ourselves. And one at a time, the example, the model we become, can change this world - one person at a time. 

I have, you’ve probably noticed, become disheartened with what I see in the world today. I’ll admit my blindness to the underlying causes. I labored under those rose-tinted glasses. No more. I will reaffirm my decision-making mantra and pay attention.

I will approach every decision a little differently now. 

• LOVE: There will be a cost, but the goal remains: Make every decision reflect love toward myself and others.
• JOY: See that my decisions bring fresh eyes and a joyful presence to the room.
• PEACE: Decide that all spoken words bring shalom (calmness, wholeness, completeness, harmony) to others.
• PATIENCE: Pause. Forgo the immediate response. Decisions must value ear over mouth. 
• KINDNESS: With every opportunity, decide that all words and actions promote friendship, consideration, generosity, comfort, and unity. 
• GOODNESS: Always interact in a way that is benevolent and virtuous. 
• FAITHFULLNESS: Trust in the possibility of a better world. 
• GENTLENESS: Realize that it never works to be loud and in-your-face. Look to present positive emotions, especially compassion and empathy. 
• SELF-CONTROL: Some decisions need to be delayed. They need reflective examination. It is better to walk away until negative emotions have dissipated leaving room for rational outcomes.

I think this is a good way to move forward. But as I was typing, I started noticing (again) my propensity for list-building. What you see in bullet points above is just another checklist. 

Eventually, I found something that helps.

“Abundant life is not at all about “having,” but about giving, and giving to the full. From a full heart. For the sake of others, which immediately refills the heart to overflowing.” John Marboe.

Ahh. A new mantra, perhaps. This should be much easier to remember than the to-do list without sacrificing any value provided by bullet-points. 

“Abundant life is determined by the decisions we make.”

May good fruit appear in your orchard.

 

A Blanket Cover-up

Our brains love short cuts. Making things simpler, they organize similar things together. Pliers, wrenches, and hammers are found in the same toolbox. Tulips, Orchids, and Roses are categorized together as flowers. 

But, especially in the spring, we have a decision to make. 

The Most Trusted Man in America

Our news was delivered twice a day when I grew up. The St. Paul Pioneer press hit the doorsteps before dawn each day. And in the evening, The St. Paul Dispatch was there to wrap things up.   

In the world of black and white television, before the Peacock of Color (NBC) made its presence common to household viewers, the first 30-minute nightly news broadcast hit the airwaves on September 2,1963. 

We did not abandon the ink-smudged fingers from newsprint, but we enjoyed having a shortcut to the activities and events of the day. We religiously watched Walter Cronkite from his lead story to his iconic sign-off, “And that’s the way it is, on (day and date).”

As Far as East is from West

He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed. 

Happy Easter!

Masses of people will celebrate this holiday with colored eggs, chocolate bunnies, and ham, while gathering with family. We celebrate with you!

Masses of people will celebrate this holiday remembering Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. We celebrate with you!

For those who are remembering, I have a couple of comments. But nevertheless, the remarks are useful for all of us, spiritual or not.

Knee-jerk Responses

 “Don’t run with that knife!”

A television show. The protagonist is chasing his nemesis. But the good guy is holding a knife! The quote above screamed through a voiceless consciousness. No forethought. No careful analysis. Just the conviction – immediate and determined. (Whether I am alone or with others, I make it a point never to scream at a screen.)

During my childhood, I was reminded on more than several occasions that running with sharp items is dangerous. Those past warnings were immediate, determined, and certainly not voiceless. Urgent admonitions had effectively been drilled deep into my unconscious behavior. I will never hurt myself by running with a knife and I stand very still when slicing tomatoes. 

Rainbow Reminder for Current Times

2,348 BC, Or 5,700 BC, Or 50,000 years ago, Or. . .

Paramount Pictures added a disclaimer to marketing materials in February 2014, which read:

“The film is inspired by the story of Noah. While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values, and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide. The biblical story of Noah can be found in the book of Genesis.”

Memories That Steal

It’s a nice little town. Rural, quiet, and peaceful, the population of around 2,600 is notably diverse.

On the surface, nobody would care if I chose to visit or to avoid this place. Afterall, it is just one of approximately 600 similar towns in the State of Iowa. It would matter only to me.

I chose not to go. 

Transformational Timelines

• “I know him! He’s a friend of mine.”
• “She’s really nice. I work with her. Sure, I know her.”
• “They’re OK. I see them walking their dog. How bad could they be?”
• “Well, all I can say is that he IS my boss, but I know his type.”
• "You know them. They all drive like that. None of them should have a license."

We might claim that we ‘know’ these people because of our interactions with them here and there. Our social cognition rings true because our brains are wired to categorize people and groups within milliseconds. (For more: Google Search, "How our brains categorize people and groups.")

The Warning of Dissonance

A couple of months ago, while visiting my first grandchild's soon to be post-secondary home-away-from-home, we wrapped up the day by attending the Iowa State Symphony Orchestra's performance of “Pictures at an Exhibition” by M. Mussorgsky. 

Discussing the event on the way home, I mentioned that one of the 10 movements was still gnawing at my nerves. I suspect this piece was difficult for the orchestra to play but for me, listening was intolerable. My research suggests that this piece might be “Catacombs.” Ear attention will be adamantly refused should I cross paths with this piece again. 

The problem? Dissonance. The music just never resolved the clashing notes. Unfinished business had left me rattled. 

The Concluding Edification

Google Search: The Running Man, 2025 movie.

“Plot: In the near future, the United States is a dystopian authoritarian police state ruled by corporate media networks, where most people live in poverty with little access to healthcare. People are kept pacified by FreeVee, which bombards the population with trashy, violent reality and game shows.”

“In the near future, "The Running Man" is the top-rated television show, a deadly competition where contestants must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins. Desperate for money to save his sick daughter, Ben Richards is convinced by the show's ruthless producer to enter the game as a last resort. Ratings soon skyrocket as Ben's defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite, as well as a threat to the entire system.”

Made for Darkness

Wait. What? Made for darkness?

NOTE: Today’s article is directed more toward those identifying with the term ‘Christian’. At the same time, relevance applies to nearly all readers. 

On my mind today is an easily recognized prayer, commonly known as “The Lord’s Prayer’, or perhaps, the “Our Father’.

Spell Greed

This poem is often about grief. It is sometimes repeated with stories at funerals, airports, or when saying permanent goodbyes. We read, contemplate, and occasionally we cry. We promise to use ‘enough’ as a prayer for peace and contentment. We look to recognize all we have been given. We want to appreciate “enough” in every area of our lives. We want the same for every person that matters to us.

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright, no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.” 
Bob Perks (1950-2023)

Espresso Cup - Retired

Last week, the article was early. This week, it’s late. My apologies. As I was putting this together, something didn’t make sense. Eventually, I realized I was merging two concepts that needed to be separated. That done, here you go!

Les Animaux Aiment la Musique

New Grips

It’s been decades.

As a kid, I spent countless hours at Hillcrest Golf Club in Maplewood, Minnesota. I started as a caddy—three dollars a day if you were lucky, six if you carried two bags. When the pro shop offered me hourly wages, I jumped. I pulled clubs from storage, prepped carts, shined sticks, stocked shelves, and even tinkered with my own grips and weights.

Then came the “demotion.” I became a driving range attendant. My job was to wander a hilly, rutted, overgrown field and pick up golf balls by hand. No machinery. Just bend, grab, repeat. Both backbreaking and hot, I was miserable.

Black Ice

An opportunity to experience winter driving presented itself the other day. Heading south, we had a few stops to make. On dry roads, we began our boy’s day out with coffee and treats. Our second stop: Indoor golf. Yes. Golf, but for the peace of all readers, this particular discussion must be delayed for another time. 

Leaving the ‘links’, we walked into what had become a blurry winterscape. Just one hour had completely transformed the environment - and the drive. Admittedly, it felt odd to be carrying a bag of golf clubs while walking through a practice blizzard. And, brushing a couple of inches of new snow from the car after exiting the 'clubhouse' has also never been my experience.  

Carefully, we began the next leg of our journey. Our destination required another 35-mile drive, which eventually rewarded the boys with a 3-story, 70,000 square foot attraction designed for very active (young) people. Myself? I sat in the mezzanine tracking the movements of those with untold energy. I won’t say they moved faster than the speed of light, but I must say that metaphor crossed my mind.

It was a great day, but the story to be told here involves this 35-mile journey.