One Plus One

On one hand, the math isn't mathing!

On the other hand, love has never insisted that it does.

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The Band Without a Country

“We’re a land that prides itself on being ‘the land of the free and home of the brave.’ I believe that just as much as anyone else does. But for that, we need these different perspectives. We need to see how others think.”

“If we are a society that is suppressing art, we’re a society that is afraid of what it might reveal about itself. If we’re suppressing music, we’re suppressing emotions, we’re suppressing expression, we’re suppressing vulnerability, we’re suppressing the very essence of what makes us human. We are devaluing our own Humanity.”  18-year-old Harvard teenage musician, Rishab Jain

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 

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.

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.

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!"

One Dream

I Have a Dream Speech.

Of course, you know about this one, right?

Reverend Martin Luther King spoke to thousands at the 1963 March on Washington. We are typically reminded of his words on the MLK holiday in January of each year. A full transcript can be found here.

But about a month ago, the email subscription I have to the Center for Action and Contemplation introduced me to another speech that begins with the words, “I have a dream.”

“I have a dream,” God says. “Please help Me to realize it. It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts, when there will be more laughter, joy, and peace, where there will be justice and goodness and compassion and love and caring and sharing. I have a dream that swords will be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, that My children will know that they are members of one family, the human family, God’s family, My family.” Desmond Tutu

Oh, The Noise We Make

If I wanted to start a fight, all I would have to do is walk into a room of people and ask one question. You might think the question would matter greatly. Sadly, it does not. 

Choose a topic, give an opinion, and the room (or your Facebook feed if that’s your venue) will light up with commentary, some of which will be quite unpleasant.

There was once a time when "debate" was a thing. It seemed to be a civilized way to manage differing viewpoints while taking time to listen to the other side. If it was a formal debate, the Affirmative and the Negative propositions were researched prior to the event. Each side presented their case without interruption, counterarguments were delivered, and a summation statement from each closed the debate.

One Way to Love

 Attributing the statement in the video below to Microsoft's Linda Stone, I found her insight to be true and very disturbing.

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

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. 

No More Waiting

 The iPhone 13 is HERE!

You’ve been watching all the leaked photos.  You've been reading about the new upgrades and hardware changes in anticipation of holding the real thing in your hands. It has been killing you. You’ve been waiting like, forever! 

I don’t think I’ll be buying one.  I’m kind of an Android guy which is, on some level, similar to cheering for the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. 

I’m probably going to be looking at a Pixel 5a or Pixel 6 sometime next year if you’re curious.

So then, “Why all this talk about Apple?”, you say.

Turn Around. It's Too Late.

"Turn around. It's too late

This phrase has been running around in my head and heart for the past number of days.  I am convinced that it will be a continual presence for the rest of my life.

Spending our time in some conflict that serves only to separate and divide just can’t be who we are.  Spending our time focusing on polarizing differences just can’t be who we should be. There will come a time when words and actions that serve to validate rightness over righteousness will hurt - all of us. 

There will come an instant when the distance is stretched too far and available time expires too soon..



This past Tuesday, I called my supervisor around 3PM and explained that although I had already taken Thursday off work, I would need to take Wednesday as well.

After packing and taking a short nap, I awoke, showered, and walked out the door with a cup of fresh coffee.  It was about 9:30 PM.  The plan was to drive through the night reaching St. Paul by 9AM Central. 

I didn’t get far.

The call came and my sister said,  “Turn around – it’s too late. Mom has passed."




Mom and I were at peace.  We didn’t have any arguments and experienced no separation.  We talked frequently but had not laid eyes on each other since Christmas.  And now, that moment has been recorded in history as the very last time. 

I say these things for some personal but clearly momentary relief.  I say these things to remind myself and anyone who will listen, that politics never matters as much as people. I say these things to reinforce the idea that small acts of kindness really do matter and that we shouldn’t miss opportunities to display our love for others.  I say these things because nobody wants to hear the words, “Turn around, it’s too late.”

I have one last picture.  It was taken at mom’s nursing home on National Donut Day.  I had thought I could gather together #groupsof10 to send these round deep-fried treats for my mother, the staff, and the residents of her home.  I didn’t push it, though.  And, perhaps because of this, nobody volunteered.  I did it alone – sad that it wasn’t the intent but now delighted as it provided this last photo.

Don’t misunderstand.  There’s no finger-pointing here by any means. 

I’m just trying to say that we need to care for each other in hundreds of small and simple ways while rejecting the culture of societal polarization.  No conflict should ever interfere with showing love to others. 

We are to live as Jesus lived. 

We are to prioritize people over rules, regulations, politics, and opinions. 

I was taught this as I read the stories about Jesus.

I was taught this by my mother.

Rest In Peace, Mom.  We love you. 

Church-Search

The first note from Cincinnati

How are you!

It's been a while - again.  The last post was a type of goodbye to family and friends.  And, I'll admit, that getting back into a routine has been difficult. I'm working on it.

I'm not settled and cannot claim a 'place of my own'.  I am grateful that the decision could be delayed for a time while investigating neighborhoods, distances, amenities and convenience.  Desperation had not reared it's head.

I'm also not settled in a church community.  But investigating this home has been quite an experience. Some of you have made suggestions as you were able - appreciated, truly!

I've been to well more than a dozen communities - so far.  .

Blame the Brain

You know what to do.

Lessons from the Collapse of a Bridge

In an Instant:  Rush Hour Disaster (ABC Docudrama, 3/7/15)

Interviews captured the memories of horror, helplessness, struggle, disbelief and sorrow as survivors of the 35W bridge collapse battle to keep it together in front of the cameras. Memories of this event are vivid.  It's almost as if today were August 1, 2007.

Video recorded the sudden loss of life for 13 and change of life for so many on and off that bridge.

Now THAT'S what I'M talking about ...

A Wal-Mart store in South Chicago on a Sunday morning.

A quick run to get a couple of things for breakfast as the day begins.

Yes, in a hurry.  But there's this woman.

An early morning employee, she's trying to get the carts to stack properly.  But when she pushes the last one to the front, the rest move uncontrollably.

A look of frustration.  It's not the first attempt.

A voice.  Do something.

Two seconds holding the first keeps them from moving away.

Two seconds and the work is done - the carts are lined up.

A woman smiles and says "Now THAT'S what I'M talking about!"

This story is six years old and seems to be unforgettable.  It was just a few seconds of life and yet still carries a lesson.  It says, "listen."  It says, "small things."  It says, "by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  John 13:35.

Customer Experience

I've heard it said, "everybody is in sales".  I can buy that (pun intended, I suppose).

A 'typical' company looks to win a contract (sale) by attempting to make a good impression, provide excellent service and hopefully, begin a long term relationship.  This logo is representative of corporate good intentions.

Rochester Public Utilities - I've had good experiences here.

Companies all promise something.  Will promises made help acquire and retain customers or might companies lose them with this very same promise?

The answer is determined by customer expectations. I've read about these "promises".  I've read about delivering on these promises as well.

There is an  entire range of possibilities within a customer satisfaction matrix.