Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXVIII

How old is too old? It obviously depends on what we're talking about. Is it fair for the government to set an arbitrary age limit on issuing drivers license? It depends on the individual. Some people have passed the point of being a safe driver while they're in their early seventies, while others may still do okay at age one hundred. I guess the best scenario would be for each person to realize on their own accord that he or she has reached that stage of life, although I believe it will be a sad day for me if I ever have to come to that conclusion about myself. There are countless other areas where age becomes a factor in how well an individual can perform, and sometimes it's a decision that the person can decide for himself, and other times that decision has to be made by others.

It's hard for me to get my arms around the fact that I will be turning sixty years old next summer, and as bad as I hate to admit it, I can feel the effects of aging on many of my activities. One of those activities that seems to become more of a challenge with each passing year is the ability to run a marathon (26.2 miles). But, just for the record, I'm not giving up yet. In fact, by the time that many of you read this, Angie and I, along with several of our good friends, will be on board a Southwest Airlines flight en route to Minneapolis to try it one more time. If I can complete this one, it will be my tenth time to achieve that goal.

I remember so well after I had completed my first one that I said, "I ran this marathon because for a long time I've wondered if I could do it. Now I don't have to wonder any more...I did it!" Eventually, there will come a time when I'll have to face the fact that I've passed the stage of my life where I can run 26.2 miles, but even then I just can't see me stopping. More than likely what will happen is I will just lose that desire. Now that I think about it, I think that may be the way elderly people make the decision to discontinue many of the things that used to get their blood pumping. Hopefully, when that time comes for me, I'll just pull back slowly and begin to run half-marathons instead.

As of right now, I still have the desire...if for no other reason than to just prove that I can still do it. I have no illusions that my completion time will be anywhere near as fast as it was eight years ago in Chicago when I ran my first one, but it will be my fastest time since I've turned fifty-nine,whatever it is. Believe me, ladies and gentlemen, this is a challenge, but it's one that I believe I'm ready for. So this Sunday, October 3, at 8:15 AM CDT, please think about my friends and me and say a little prayer as we begin this journey one more time.

Oh, and let me add one more thing...regardless of how I do on this attempt, I don't expect it to be my last.

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXVII

This is not the first time I've talked about this, and without a doubt, it will not be my last. It all goes back to a statement that I've heard from so many people, but it's one that I've also said that I have a hard time believing. Now that I think about it, however, it's becoming more and more believable. That statement is, "I don't care what other people think about me." Since I do care what they think about me, I always found that statement a little hard to accept. I think my opinion really began to change when I first got on facebook, and I starting reading what everyone posted as their status. I was not prepared for the number of misspelled words and grammatical errors that were showing up on post after post and, I must admit, I was a little surprised at just who some of them were coming from. Now I have no doubt that there are many people who will be reading this article that can point out a number of mistakes I've made in this one writing alone, but I think the difference is, I do care and I want to do it right. None of us will get it perfect every time, yet I'm convinced that the ones who are concerned about how it makes them look will have much fewer errors in their writing.

Several weeks ago in one of my "Thinking Out Loud" columns, I made the statement that we will reap what we "sew." Then one of my really good friends pointed out that, when used in that context, the word should have been "sow." I knew the instant that I saw it that she was right, and I had to resist the temptation to send out a correction. When we speak or write, our words, and how we use them, will automatically give an impression of us and our level of intelligence, whether we like it or not. I don't know about you, but that concerns me.

Probably the most common error that I see on facebook is the misuse of the word "your." For example, someone will say "Thank you" and the response will be "Your welcome." The correct way to say it is, "You're welcome." "Your" shows ownership, while "you're" means "you are." That example is just the most common error, but it is not the only one by a long shot. Coming in at a close second place is the failure to separate sentences with periods. I have a hard time figuring out what a person is trying to say when all their sentences run together. Now, let me mention just one more thing before I get off of my soap box: Speaking with a southern accent does not make a person seem dumb, but butchering the English language does.

I just thought I'd mention a few of the things that "jump up" at me, because when I mess up, I want someone to point out my error so I'll be less likely to make the same mistake twice. But, of course, none of what I've been talking about really matters unless we care.

Okay, so now I'm worried that maybe I sound angry...but I promise I'm not. See, I told you that I care about what other people think.

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXVI

It's a question I've been asked many times, and it's easy to answer. However, I have to admit that I feel a little awkward when I do have to answer it, because it's difficult to do without sounding a little like an elitist, or maybe like I think I'm better than everyone else, but believe me, this is not about me. Since Labor Day Weekend, when we had somewhat of a family gathering for my niece's wedding, it's been on my mind, so I've decided to just hit it head-on, get it out in the open, and let everyone know how I feel.

Here's the question that I was talking about: "What kind of family do you have?" It's not about just my wife and I and our offspring and their spouses, I'm also talking about siblings,aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. I guess the best way to start out is by saying that I feel like I'm extremely lucky to have been born into the family that I was. We can all name some very wealthy people who are rich simply because they were born into a wealthy family...rich people have kids, therefore some kids are just lucky enough to be born into wealth. Monetarily speaking, our family is just like any average ordinary family; we earn enough to get by and that's about it. But in other areas, we are wealthy beyond even our own dreams. So that I can give you an example of what I'm trying to say, let me tell you what you would experience if you were to tag along to one of our reunions.

You're going to laugh...a lot...because you will be around some of the funniest, wittiest people on the planet. I'm not talking about people who act stupid and silly...you won't see anyone wearing a lamp shade on their head...they are simply people who can make some of the funniest statements you've ever heard. Maybe after we've laughed a while, someone may come up with an idea for us to sing a while. Prepare to hear a surprising number of accomplished musicians and singers who will blow your socks off; playing and singing a variety of styles of music. Then a big group will start singing together in perfect harmony. (I've heard it said that family harmony has a quality that is hard to match.) You will be around a number of people who have been in recording studios numerous times in their lives. Then it will be time to eat. (Actually, we'll probably do that first.) Again, prepare to be impressed with not only the quality, but the quantity of food that you will experience.

I just told you some of the things that you will see and hear at our reunions. Now let me tell you what you will not see nor hear: There won't be any fussing, fighting, arguing, or profanity anywhere around. Maybe if we all lived closer together and saw each other more often, there would be some of that (profanity excluded), but it's something I've never experienced at any of our get-togethers.

I wanted to list both the positives and negatives, but I have to be honest and say that I just can't think of any negatives, unless you count the massive quantity of food that we consume as a negative.

I personally have so many flaws and imperfections in my life that are too numerous to mention, as is the case with practically every individual that you would see at one of our family reunions, but when you look at us as a unit, we're a great bunch of people, all with our own unique talents that we can offer to the group as a whole, that makes one of our gatherings a memorable experience.

If I sound like I'm boasting, well, maybe I am, but I haven't said anything that's untrue. Here's the good thing about it: our family is not the only one like this...we're just one of millions. But I'm sure happy to be connected to the one I'm with.

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXV

My brother and I have reached an agreement. Since we both write articles on a regular basis, we sometimes take each others' ideas and use them for our own articles, but we compensate each other when we do that; we pay fifteen per cent of our net profit from each article. When I told him that I would be using one of his thoughts today, he wanted to negotiate for sixteen per cent, and I agreed after I made some quick mathematical calculations in my head. So far, we've both earned exactly the same amount of money, and if you're interested in knowing how much it is, just figure fifteen per cent of zero. Anyway, thank you, Stan, for the idea for today's article.

Let's take a quick look at how the human body was designed. My eyes are in the front of my head, which makes it easier and more convenient to look forward. Next we'll examine the way my arms are attached at my shoulders. I can swing my arms backward for a short distance, but they swing farther the other way. Now, with that in mind, when I consider how my arms bend at my elbows, it's obvious that I was also designed to reach forward. What about my legs? There again, my legs are attached at the hips so that I can swing them much farther forward than I can swing them backward. The way my legs bend at the knees is also part of a design to move forward. In fact, when you get right down to it, even the way my legs attach at the back part of my feet, with my feet and toes on the front side of my ankles and heels, it is much easier for me to move forward.

Now if we are to believe the Bible, which I do with every fiber of my being, we find that we were created in the image of God; which means He made us the same way that He is designed. It's possible for me to look back, but I have to turn my head around to the point that it's uncomfortable. I can reach back, but only for a very short distance; and if you think I run slow, you should see me when I try to run backwards. Even our cars are made so that we can move in reverse for only a short distance at a very slow rate of speed, and when we do back up, it's very inconvenient. Many years ago, humans invented mirrors so that we can see behind us, but when you stop to think about, even the reflections we see in the mirrors are backwards...the reverse of the way things really are. Here's the point: Even though it's inconvenient, it is possible for us to look behind us, reach backward, or move in reverse, but when we do, we're never going to be what God wants us to be, because we're going against His grand design. The placement and function of our eyes, arms, legs and feet are like they are for a single purpose: So that we can look, reach and move FORWARD!

Have you ever stopped to think about the fact that every time we back up, we are going back over ground where we've already been, and if we want to make progress, we'll have to go back over it again. Let me give you an example that many of you can identify with: If I'm on a weight loss program, every time I gain an unwanted pound, that is a pound that I will have to lose again. Every inch of territory that I surrender is territory that I'll have to re-conquer.

We all have the option to back up if that's what we insist on doing, but if we want to efficiently reach our goals and the plans God has for our lives, we must follow our grand design to look, reach and move forward. The less we back up, the faster we'll reach our destination.

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXIV

One of my favorite quotes of all time is something John Wayne said in one of his movies, "Courage is when you're scared out of your mind, but you saddle up and ride anyway." I guess the reason I like that so much is because I've had to apply it to my own life quite a number of times. For example, as a result of being the oldest and heaviest member of our running group, I am also now the slowest, especially during the summer months. Therefore, when we are going to be running eight miles or more, I sometime will start out 15-30 minutes ahead of the main group, so that we can all finish closer to the same time. That means that I may be starting out as early as 4:00 AM, running alone down some dark, desolate roads. Although it has never happened when I'm totally alone, there have been times when we've seen some unsavory looking characters walking down the road at that time of the morning; and there have been times when we've come across some vicious acting dogs that are out running loose. I shouldn't really say that I'm "scared out of my mind" when I'm out there alone, but there is a feeling of uneasiness sometimes when I'm alone on the darkest, most desolate parts of the route. Here's the good news: Most of the time, I have a friend with me, and that makes all the difference in the world. There is comfort when I'm not alone.

Sometimes all it takes is having someone beside you to make you feel more secure when you're traveling on uncertain terrain. Other times a little more may be required. I'll give you an example of this and it also has to do with running. There is a phobia that runs in our family that I inherited, passed on to my kids, and now I can also see it in my grandson: a fear of heights. The Louisville Bridge crosses the Ouachita River and connects Monroe to West Monroe, and up until just a few years ago, it was a regular part of our Saturday running route. Although most people would never notice it in a car, if you're on foot, you realize just how far above the water you are at the highest part of the bridge. At that part of the bridge, there is a rail, but there is nothing beside your feet...it just drops off into thin air. I can remember my daughter getting to that part of the bridge, and she would just freeze up. I tried words of encouragement, but they were to no avail. So I said, "Let me try running beside you, and I'll get between you and the rail." It didn't work. Finally I said, "Let me run beside you, between you and the rail, and I'll hold your hand." Success! I'm sure the people driving across the bridge at that time were wondering what was going on with a fifty-something year old man running across the bridge holding the hand of a twenty-something year old woman...but it worked and we did it.

Like most people, I enjoy times when I can be alone, but as humans, we are social creatures and there are some roads we have to travel when we need someone else beside us, encouraging us, or maybe even being there for us to hold on to. And that makes me wonder how many times someone else has needed me to walk beside them, and I wasn't there. Most of us, when we get to those places, just go ahead and "saddle up and ride," but it sure does help when someone is riding with us. I don't mind when I have to run down those dark roads alone, I really don't. If I did I wouldn't do it. I'm just saying that I feel braver when someone is with me. But there are some roads that we have to travel that are a little more serious than going for a morning run, and I want to do my part to be there for others so they don't have to go it alone, because I know there are those who will do it for me.

Lord, please help me be sensitive to the needs of others, so I can be there for them when they need me.

Preston