"As a young woman, I did my thinking with a youthful mind that was housed in an energetic, youthful body." Those words were spoken to me by a lady that I only knew as Mrs. Pitre. She was an older lady at the time, speaking to me as a young man full of vim and vigor. I never forgot what she told me, but as I look back on that conversation from about thirty years ago, it's now easier than it was then for me to identify with what she was telling me. The ideas, values and opinions that we hold today are the ones that we expect to cling to for the rest of our lives, no matter what stage of life we happen to be in at the time, but let me assure you, some of those ideas and opinions will change with the passage of time. Let me give you a couple of examples that will help you understand what I'm talking about. When Valerie, our daughter, was a little girl, we gave her a subscription to "Highlights Magazine." One day she said to me, "I love Highlights! I want to keep getting this magazine even after I'm an adult." I'm 99.99% sure that subscription was dropped years ago, even several years before she grew up. Then, just one day last week, Lake, my five year old grandson, was talking to me about some books that he likes, and he asked me what books are my favorites. When I told him, he wanted to see one of them, and he asked, "Why do you like books that don't have pictures? I like books with a picture on every page." I replied, "That's because you're five and I'm sixty." He responded, "Well, when I grow up, I'm still gonna like books with pictures."
I'm sure you're aware that we're about to enter into the year 2012. Have you thought about how old you'll be on your 2012 birthday? I've thought about my age, and I've also thought about how differently I view the world than I did thirty years ago when I had that conversation with Mrs. Pitre. Let me fill you in on just a little bit more of what she told me that day: "When we were young, my husband and I had just started our business and we made a conscious decision to pour our lives into it so that by the time we got old and decided to retire, we'd be financially able to do anything we wanted to do. Well, here we are. We're old and ready to retire...and just like we planned, we can basically afford to do anything we want. The problem is, we're old and we don't feel like doing any of these things we dreamed of doing when we were younger. If we had it to do over, we would've enjoyed life a little more when our energy levels were higher."
What are your goals and dreams? As a younger man, wealth was one of my life's objectives, but like I was telling you earlier, with maturity, my thought process has changed. I now find myself agreeing with a statement I heard my dad say one time: "I wouldn't have any use for money if I didn't need to buy some things sometimes." Kudos to my friends who have dreamed and set out to make those dreams come true while they still have the time and energy. Our good friend, Sondra Hartt, dreamed of riding her bicycle from Mobile, Alabama to Niagara Falls, and Angie and I were privileged to join her husband, Mike, as we traveled to Niagara to see her finish that five week journey. Another good friend, Janice Lally-Gonzales, is now in the process of fulfilling a dream to run a full marathon (26.2 miles) in each of the fifty states, and I have no doubt that she will see that goal accomplished. (She's well over half way there already.) We'll be joining her for a couple of them this year as she adds Oklahoma and Illinois to her list, and Janice, we plan to be there for number fifty, when ever and where ever it is.
Hiking the entire Appalachian Trail (2,174 miles) at one time has never been a dream of mine (I just wouldn't want to be away from home and family for the six months required to make that journey.), but hiking a portion of it has been, and I'm putting plans in motion now to make it happen. You see, I know how old I'll be on my next birthday, and if I don't start making some dreams become reality now, I'll wake up one morning to find that it's too late. I must say that I've already accomplished some goals...I wanted to see if I could run a full marathon, and now, twelve marathons later, I'm still at it. It's just that I never want to get to the point to where I have no challenges left to look forward to.
Do you have any goals and dreams? It might be a good idea to go ahead and begin preparations to make them come true.
Preston
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCCII
Does it seem to you like the attacks on Christmas are becoming more intense with each passing year? I don't know if I just never noticed it before, or if all these anti-Christmas forces have just started making their voices heard so loudly in the past decade or so. Who are the people that make up these groups, anyway? I'm convinced that there aren't nearly as many of them as they would like us to believe. Just this morning I heard on the news about a town in New Jersey that has a banner that was created by the Knights of Columbus that hangs in the downtown area that says "Keep Christ In Christmas," but the group that is suing to have the sign removed is located in Wisconsin. New Jersey and Wisconsin are not exactly next door neighbors.
The primary reason that I'm hearing for wanting to eliminate the word "Christmas" is that it is offensive to members of other religions, but I'm skeptical of that rationale. I have some good friends who are non-Christian (primarily Jewish), and I can assure you that they're not the least offended that I choose to celebrate the birth of Christ. I think the fact that they send me a Christmas card each year is proof enough of that. By the same token, I take no offense that they like to celebrate Hanukkah. It appears to me that the most noise in opposition to the celebration of Christmas is not coming from other religions, instead it's a small minority of agnostics who have decided to declare war on Christianity. If they are so concerned about me offending a non-Christian by celebrating Christ, then I would like to register a complaint that I find it offensive that they're trying to limit my ability to do so.
There is no doubt that our side is in the vast majority, but if we continue to sit back and let the naysayers nibble away at our freedoms, and if we don't elect politicians who have the backbone to stand up against the few who oppose us, then we will wake up one morning and find our freedom to worship as we please will be a thing of the past. I wish that everyone would believe in God the way I do, and I'm willing to spread the word about my salvation to anyone who is willing to listen, but I'm also realistic enough to know that there will always be non-believers in our midst. But that doesn't mean that we can't all share the same streets and neighborhoods in harmony.
It's the Christian way to treat our fellow man with a cordial respect, but I refuse to stand idly by and allow a few others to steal away my rights to celebrate my Lord. I'm not gonna get nasty about it, but there are just some things that cannot be taken from me. So if you see where someone is using the word "Xmas," you can rest assured it's not me. When I say I'm going to keep Christ in Christmas, I really mean it!
So the greeting you'll hear from me this and every December for the rest of my life is: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Preston
The primary reason that I'm hearing for wanting to eliminate the word "Christmas" is that it is offensive to members of other religions, but I'm skeptical of that rationale. I have some good friends who are non-Christian (primarily Jewish), and I can assure you that they're not the least offended that I choose to celebrate the birth of Christ. I think the fact that they send me a Christmas card each year is proof enough of that. By the same token, I take no offense that they like to celebrate Hanukkah. It appears to me that the most noise in opposition to the celebration of Christmas is not coming from other religions, instead it's a small minority of agnostics who have decided to declare war on Christianity. If they are so concerned about me offending a non-Christian by celebrating Christ, then I would like to register a complaint that I find it offensive that they're trying to limit my ability to do so.
There is no doubt that our side is in the vast majority, but if we continue to sit back and let the naysayers nibble away at our freedoms, and if we don't elect politicians who have the backbone to stand up against the few who oppose us, then we will wake up one morning and find our freedom to worship as we please will be a thing of the past. I wish that everyone would believe in God the way I do, and I'm willing to spread the word about my salvation to anyone who is willing to listen, but I'm also realistic enough to know that there will always be non-believers in our midst. But that doesn't mean that we can't all share the same streets and neighborhoods in harmony.
It's the Christian way to treat our fellow man with a cordial respect, but I refuse to stand idly by and allow a few others to steal away my rights to celebrate my Lord. I'm not gonna get nasty about it, but there are just some things that cannot be taken from me. So if you see where someone is using the word "Xmas," you can rest assured it's not me. When I say I'm going to keep Christ in Christmas, I really mean it!
So the greeting you'll hear from me this and every December for the rest of my life is: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Preston
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCCI
I don't use the mail all that much any more. I just went to the post office earlier this week and bought twenty of the "Forever" stamps, and the picture on the front is a Christmas scene, which means I'll be using Christmas stamps all through the summer. It hasn't been all that long ago that I had to go to the post office to buy stamps every couple months, and I would buy them in rolls of a hundred, but those days are gone. Now the post office is losing money by hundreds of millions of dollars, which is causing them to go up on postage and cut back on service, which in turn drives more customers away, causing them to lose even more money. It would have been unthinkable just a few years ago that the post office may be about to become a thing of the past. There was even a time in our nation's history when the office of postmaster general was a part of the President's cabinet.
I was thinking about that on the way home from the post office this week, and I've come to the conclusion that we who are alive today are witnessing a cultural revolution like no other generation before has ever experienced. I can foresee a time in the not so distant future when banks won't have so many branches any more. We've already reached the time where we no longer have to take a check to the bank to make a deposit. All we have to do is download an app on our smart phone so that we can take a picture of the check with the phone and send it to the bank, and it is instantly deposited for us. I now pay all my bills online, and on some of them, I actually get credit for the payment immediately. I don't even write checks to my church any more...I make that payment online as well. Remember how we used to count on "float time" with our checks...the period of time between the time we would write the check and when it would clear the bank? Don't try that now! I also believe fax machines are on the verge of becoming extinct, which makes me think that some of the new technology that is blowing our minds today may be already outdated tomorrow.
I could go on and on about how all the technological advances we're seeing today are changing the way we do business, but aren't we also seeing some big changes in the way we live our lives from day to day? I grew up in the era of "Andy Griffith" and "Leave it to Beaver," when certain topics were not discussed in mixed company, much less in front of small children. Now people talk about anything in front of anybody. Not only that, I don't believe friends visit each other the way we did when I was a kid. As I look back on my childhood, it seems like at least every other week, we would go visit friends or those friends would come to our house, and the adults would sit on the porch and drink coffee while the kids were having a great time playing in the yard. We don't do that any more. I can also tell you that all our homes were very simple, and with three or four kids, I can assure you our houses were not always immaculate. I just don't think all that mattered as much back then. Sometimes I wonder if it's because I grew up in a rural area, and now I'm living in the city....or has is changed everywhere?
When I was a kid, there's no telling how many miles I would ride on my bicycle each week, yet I was an adult the first time I ever even saw a bicycle helmet. I stayed hydrated by drinking my water straight from the faucet; I'm not sure if bottled water had even been invented by then. I was probably a teenager before I ever saw the inside of a "sit-down" restaurant....99.9% of our meals were eaten at home. Does it sound like I grew up in an era when life was boring? If it was, I sure didn't know it....I had a terrific childhood and life was good.
I'm really not complaining about all of the advancements in technology; I actually like most of them. But I do have to wonder if life will ever get back to being as simple as it once was. Are we just in a cycle that will eventually rotate back to the slower pace that we used to live? And if so, how long does one of these cycles last? Chances are, my own grandchildren will some day look back to the way things are today and reminisce about how simple their lives used to be. I will say, however, that I'm glad I grew up when I did. I'm one of the lucky ones.
Preston
I was thinking about that on the way home from the post office this week, and I've come to the conclusion that we who are alive today are witnessing a cultural revolution like no other generation before has ever experienced. I can foresee a time in the not so distant future when banks won't have so many branches any more. We've already reached the time where we no longer have to take a check to the bank to make a deposit. All we have to do is download an app on our smart phone so that we can take a picture of the check with the phone and send it to the bank, and it is instantly deposited for us. I now pay all my bills online, and on some of them, I actually get credit for the payment immediately. I don't even write checks to my church any more...I make that payment online as well. Remember how we used to count on "float time" with our checks...the period of time between the time we would write the check and when it would clear the bank? Don't try that now! I also believe fax machines are on the verge of becoming extinct, which makes me think that some of the new technology that is blowing our minds today may be already outdated tomorrow.
I could go on and on about how all the technological advances we're seeing today are changing the way we do business, but aren't we also seeing some big changes in the way we live our lives from day to day? I grew up in the era of "Andy Griffith" and "Leave it to Beaver," when certain topics were not discussed in mixed company, much less in front of small children. Now people talk about anything in front of anybody. Not only that, I don't believe friends visit each other the way we did when I was a kid. As I look back on my childhood, it seems like at least every other week, we would go visit friends or those friends would come to our house, and the adults would sit on the porch and drink coffee while the kids were having a great time playing in the yard. We don't do that any more. I can also tell you that all our homes were very simple, and with three or four kids, I can assure you our houses were not always immaculate. I just don't think all that mattered as much back then. Sometimes I wonder if it's because I grew up in a rural area, and now I'm living in the city....or has is changed everywhere?
When I was a kid, there's no telling how many miles I would ride on my bicycle each week, yet I was an adult the first time I ever even saw a bicycle helmet. I stayed hydrated by drinking my water straight from the faucet; I'm not sure if bottled water had even been invented by then. I was probably a teenager before I ever saw the inside of a "sit-down" restaurant....99.9% of our meals were eaten at home. Does it sound like I grew up in an era when life was boring? If it was, I sure didn't know it....I had a terrific childhood and life was good.
I'm really not complaining about all of the advancements in technology; I actually like most of them. But I do have to wonder if life will ever get back to being as simple as it once was. Are we just in a cycle that will eventually rotate back to the slower pace that we used to live? And if so, how long does one of these cycles last? Chances are, my own grandchildren will some day look back to the way things are today and reminisce about how simple their lives used to be. I will say, however, that I'm glad I grew up when I did. I'm one of the lucky ones.
Preston
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCC
The White Rock Chronicles
"Well, there's one goal that's gone down the drain." I didn't actually say those words out loud, but I thought them time and time again. You know, when you're passionate about something, you want to try to spread that passion to your friends whenever you get a chance, and this was the chance of a lifetime. I wasn't even in on the meeting when this idea first came up, but the people who were involved, all close friends of mine, came to me with their idea right away. "Hey Preston, a couple of us want to run a half marathon, and a couple more want to try the full." (In case you're not familiar with what that means, a half marathon is 13.1 miles, and a full marathon is 26.2.) "Wonderful," I replied. "Count me in." So when we started looking for the right one to run, we discovered that the White Rock Marathon in Dallas even had a five-man relay, which could potentially involve quite a few more people. (The relay covers the entire 26.2 miles, but it is divided into five sections, each of which is covered by a different runner.) To make a long story not quite so long, Emily Stansbury, one of the originators of this plan, created a facebook page called "CLC Marathon Runners," and within twenty-four hours, it exploded into something bigger than we could've ever imagined. (CLC is short for Christian Life Church.) People that we never dreamed would be interested in running were saying, "Hey, we want to be in on this!" By the time marathon day came around, we had a total of twenty-eight runners involved, with the vast majority of them being members of our church. The age range of our runners went from age eleven to sixty, and almost every age in between, fairly evenly divided between male and female. I like to give credit to the proper people when I can, and I think it was Emily who designed our running tee shirts with our church logo on the front, and a neat design on the back that included a line from one of our favorite praise and worship songs, "I am free to run."
December 4th, 2011, marathon day, dawned with heavy rain, high winds, and the temperature was hovering at around forty degrees. That's when those negative thoughts began to invade my mind. For the majority of these friends who had trained and made the trip to Dallas for the big event, this was their first experience with anything of this magnitude, and all I could think was, "They're gonna be coming away from this with a deranged view of what running is all about." And who could blame them? Buses took the relay runners to their proper exchange points and dropped them off, leaving them to stand outside to shiver in the cold wind and rain while waiting for their turn to run when their team member would arrive to hand off to them. Then when they finished their leg of the relay, they would have to stand around waiting for a bus to arrive to take them back. For the full marathoners, half marathoners and the ones running the first leg of the relay, once they moved us from the shelter of the building where we were waiting for start time, it seemed like we stood around forever in the wind and rain waiting for the race to begin. Although I was wearing gloves, my fingers were so cold I couldn't grip the water cups when the people at the water stations would hand them to me, so I finally figured out that the only way I could work it was to hold out my hand with my palm facing up and have them place the cup in my hand. One of our first-time full marathoners took a spill when he was tripped up by someone jumping over a large puddle. One relay runner passed up her finish point without seeing it, and had to turn around and go back. The entire transportation system with the buses seemed to be total chaos, with people wandering around trying to find the proper place to go to find the bus, and then trying to figure out which bus to board. So you can see how understandable it would've been to hear phrases like, "I'll never do this again." There's no way I can take the time or the space to tell you everything I DID hear, but here are some examples of the unsolicited comments I've heard from my friends from postings on their facebook pages:
Leah Gordon: I just finished my leg of the relay!! By far one of the coolest experiences of my life.
Freddy Box: Humbled by the whole experience, but I had a great time with some great friends in Dallas! Cowtown may be next? (Cowtown is a marathon in Ft. Worth, Texas.)
Danny Chance, Jr.: I actually really enjoyed the run despite only 3 hours sleep. I would like to try and run the half.
Lee Ann Box: Didn't get a photo, but my very wet, cold leg of the Dallas White Rock relay is finished! Had a blast, Big D.
Elizabeth Williams: I had the pleasure of running with the Christian Life Church Members. I was touched by their excitement and unity which they had toward each other for the relays, half marathon and full marathon runners.
Emily Stansbury: I think we all were miserable, but the feeling of accomplishment is amazing!
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm pumped!! If they're talking about how much fun they had through the harsh conditions they faced in Dallas, I can't wait till they get to do it again under better circumstances, and that time may come fairly soon...they're already talking about the next one!
One other quick note: I wish I could remember how many compliments I received about my shirt! One couple caught up with me at around mile 12 and told me that they "loved" my shirt; then they started singing "I Am Free to Run." So the three of us ran along side by side for a while singing "Free to Run" together.
It was a day I'll never forget!!
Preston
Note: Today marks the 300th consecutive week I've sent out "Thinking Out Loud."
"Well, there's one goal that's gone down the drain." I didn't actually say those words out loud, but I thought them time and time again. You know, when you're passionate about something, you want to try to spread that passion to your friends whenever you get a chance, and this was the chance of a lifetime. I wasn't even in on the meeting when this idea first came up, but the people who were involved, all close friends of mine, came to me with their idea right away. "Hey Preston, a couple of us want to run a half marathon, and a couple more want to try the full." (In case you're not familiar with what that means, a half marathon is 13.1 miles, and a full marathon is 26.2.) "Wonderful," I replied. "Count me in." So when we started looking for the right one to run, we discovered that the White Rock Marathon in Dallas even had a five-man relay, which could potentially involve quite a few more people. (The relay covers the entire 26.2 miles, but it is divided into five sections, each of which is covered by a different runner.) To make a long story not quite so long, Emily Stansbury, one of the originators of this plan, created a facebook page called "CLC Marathon Runners," and within twenty-four hours, it exploded into something bigger than we could've ever imagined. (CLC is short for Christian Life Church.) People that we never dreamed would be interested in running were saying, "Hey, we want to be in on this!" By the time marathon day came around, we had a total of twenty-eight runners involved, with the vast majority of them being members of our church. The age range of our runners went from age eleven to sixty, and almost every age in between, fairly evenly divided between male and female. I like to give credit to the proper people when I can, and I think it was Emily who designed our running tee shirts with our church logo on the front, and a neat design on the back that included a line from one of our favorite praise and worship songs, "I am free to run."
December 4th, 2011, marathon day, dawned with heavy rain, high winds, and the temperature was hovering at around forty degrees. That's when those negative thoughts began to invade my mind. For the majority of these friends who had trained and made the trip to Dallas for the big event, this was their first experience with anything of this magnitude, and all I could think was, "They're gonna be coming away from this with a deranged view of what running is all about." And who could blame them? Buses took the relay runners to their proper exchange points and dropped them off, leaving them to stand outside to shiver in the cold wind and rain while waiting for their turn to run when their team member would arrive to hand off to them. Then when they finished their leg of the relay, they would have to stand around waiting for a bus to arrive to take them back. For the full marathoners, half marathoners and the ones running the first leg of the relay, once they moved us from the shelter of the building where we were waiting for start time, it seemed like we stood around forever in the wind and rain waiting for the race to begin. Although I was wearing gloves, my fingers were so cold I couldn't grip the water cups when the people at the water stations would hand them to me, so I finally figured out that the only way I could work it was to hold out my hand with my palm facing up and have them place the cup in my hand. One of our first-time full marathoners took a spill when he was tripped up by someone jumping over a large puddle. One relay runner passed up her finish point without seeing it, and had to turn around and go back. The entire transportation system with the buses seemed to be total chaos, with people wandering around trying to find the proper place to go to find the bus, and then trying to figure out which bus to board. So you can see how understandable it would've been to hear phrases like, "I'll never do this again." There's no way I can take the time or the space to tell you everything I DID hear, but here are some examples of the unsolicited comments I've heard from my friends from postings on their facebook pages:
Leah Gordon: I just finished my leg of the relay!! By far one of the coolest experiences of my life.
Freddy Box: Humbled by the whole experience, but I had a great time with some great friends in Dallas! Cowtown may be next? (Cowtown is a marathon in Ft. Worth, Texas.)
Danny Chance, Jr.: I actually really enjoyed the run despite only 3 hours sleep. I would like to try and run the half.
Lee Ann Box: Didn't get a photo, but my very wet, cold leg of the Dallas White Rock relay is finished! Had a blast, Big D.
Elizabeth Williams: I had the pleasure of running with the Christian Life Church Members. I was touched by their excitement and unity which they had toward each other for the relays, half marathon and full marathon runners.
Emily Stansbury: I think we all were miserable, but the feeling of accomplishment is amazing!
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm pumped!! If they're talking about how much fun they had through the harsh conditions they faced in Dallas, I can't wait till they get to do it again under better circumstances, and that time may come fairly soon...they're already talking about the next one!
One other quick note: I wish I could remember how many compliments I received about my shirt! One couple caught up with me at around mile 12 and told me that they "loved" my shirt; then they started singing "I Am Free to Run." So the three of us ran along side by side for a while singing "Free to Run" together.
It was a day I'll never forget!!
Preston
Note: Today marks the 300th consecutive week I've sent out "Thinking Out Loud."
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCIX
I'm going to give you a list of three names. There are obviously more names on this list than just these three, but for the sake of making my point, I'll just mention three. Here they are: Denise Gulde, Roland Davidson and Stan Davidson. There's one thing all the people on this list have in common: If you have anything negative or derogatory to say about them, you should make sure I don't hear it. The names I mentioned are the names of my sister and my brothers. They are people I love. We stick up for each other. Although Roland is now deceased, I'm thankful for the fifty-six years that he was a part of my life. I'm thankful that Denise and Stan are still in my life. When they hurt, I hurt. When they are happy, I rejoice with them. That's what brothers and sisters do.
The four of us came from the same mom and dad. We grew up in the same home....the same environment. What our parents taught one of us, they taught us all. As a result, we have similar outlooks on life. However, the word I want to focus on in that last statement is the word "similar." I haven't taken the time to see how Webster defines "similar," but I can give you my definition: "Mostly the same, but somewhat different." Yes, even though we were raised in the same home by the same parents, there are a few topics where we may disagree. That, too, is what brothers and sisters do. When we were children, we would place more emphasis on those differences, but now that we've matured, we have learned to focus on the things we have in common.
I'm glad we've learned how to cast our few petty differences aside and concentrate on the areas where we agree. Life is so much easier that way, and we can get so much more accomplished. It should set an example for us to follow in other areas of our lives. If I'm waiting on the candidate whose philosophy is in one hundred per cent agreement with mine, I'll be waiting a while. If I can only share a pew at church with someone who sees everything the way I do, I may have to sit alone. If I can only go out to eat with friends who are willing to eat at the restaurant of MY choice, I may end up eating by myself. You see, God only made one of me, and He only made one of you. Here's a thought: What if I vote for the candidate whose philosophy is "similar" to mine? Or what if I go to church with people whose convictions are "similar" to mine?
At the time I'm writing this, my brother, sister and I are planning a family getaway in some remote place in the mountains of North Georgia. I have no doubt in my mind that we'll make the necessary compromises to come up with a date and a location for this event, but whatever we decide may not be the first choice of any of us. All I know is we'll make it work, and we're all gonna have a good time. That's what brothers and sisters do. I can be their brother without being their identical twin.
Preston
The four of us came from the same mom and dad. We grew up in the same home....the same environment. What our parents taught one of us, they taught us all. As a result, we have similar outlooks on life. However, the word I want to focus on in that last statement is the word "similar." I haven't taken the time to see how Webster defines "similar," but I can give you my definition: "Mostly the same, but somewhat different." Yes, even though we were raised in the same home by the same parents, there are a few topics where we may disagree. That, too, is what brothers and sisters do. When we were children, we would place more emphasis on those differences, but now that we've matured, we have learned to focus on the things we have in common.
I'm glad we've learned how to cast our few petty differences aside and concentrate on the areas where we agree. Life is so much easier that way, and we can get so much more accomplished. It should set an example for us to follow in other areas of our lives. If I'm waiting on the candidate whose philosophy is in one hundred per cent agreement with mine, I'll be waiting a while. If I can only share a pew at church with someone who sees everything the way I do, I may have to sit alone. If I can only go out to eat with friends who are willing to eat at the restaurant of MY choice, I may end up eating by myself. You see, God only made one of me, and He only made one of you. Here's a thought: What if I vote for the candidate whose philosophy is "similar" to mine? Or what if I go to church with people whose convictions are "similar" to mine?
At the time I'm writing this, my brother, sister and I are planning a family getaway in some remote place in the mountains of North Georgia. I have no doubt in my mind that we'll make the necessary compromises to come up with a date and a location for this event, but whatever we decide may not be the first choice of any of us. All I know is we'll make it work, and we're all gonna have a good time. That's what brothers and sisters do. I can be their brother without being their identical twin.
Preston
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCVIII
What happened? I don't know. Was there a fight? Not that I recall. Where are they now? I have no clue. I wonder if I would recognize them...or if they would recognize me. Probably not. Would we still have enough in common to carry on a decent conversation? Who knows.
The lingo that is used now to describe who I'm talking about, is "bff." I think that means "best friends forever," but I could be wrong. When my daughter was a little girl, I remember seeing her writing a note to her best friend, and she signed it "BF4ever." How many bff's have you had over the course of your life? How many of them are still around? I know sometimes families move to another city or school district, resulting in the demise of some close friendships, but what about the other ones? Can you think of some bff's you've had and you really can't give a good explanation as to what happened to them? I can think of several, and all I can say is we apparently just drifted apart. I wonder if that other person sort of lost interest in me, or did I lose interest in that other person? As I think back and wonder about that, I hope that loss of interest was mutual, because I'd sure hate to know that there were some hurt feelings over the ordeal, and I was not even engaged enough to notice.
In my line of work, there's one scenario I've seen played out time and time again: I'll see a new store opening up, usually a children's clothing store or gift shop, and when I meet the owners, I discover that they are lifelong friends. Although I don't say it out loud, I usually think, "Well, that's about to end," and that's usually exactly what happens....those two best friends end up becoming bitter enemies. But I believe that in the majority of situations, friendships terminate simply because the two parties just drift apart, with no real explanation as to the reason. At this moment I'm thinking of a couple who used to be extremely close to Angie and me, but over time, we drifted apart....until we finally just stopped communicating. We had not seen them in a few years until we saw them one night at a wedding reception. It was great to see them again, and we sat at the table with them so we could get caught up on what had been happening in their lives. What we discovered, however, was that over time our lives and our interests had gone opposite directions, and there really wasn't that much to talk about. We went home that night feeling a twinge of sadness over how things had turned out.
As you're reading this message, you are probably thinking back on some of your old "best friend" relationships and trying to recall what caused them to end. Maybe it's just human nature. That causes me to think about the people in my life right now that I consider my close friends, or "good buddies." At this point, it's hard for me to visualize a time in my future when every one of these relationships will no longer exist, but reality tells me that some of them will eventually end. That makes me sad. I wonder who it will be. I sure hope it's not you!
Preston
The lingo that is used now to describe who I'm talking about, is "bff." I think that means "best friends forever," but I could be wrong. When my daughter was a little girl, I remember seeing her writing a note to her best friend, and she signed it "BF4ever." How many bff's have you had over the course of your life? How many of them are still around? I know sometimes families move to another city or school district, resulting in the demise of some close friendships, but what about the other ones? Can you think of some bff's you've had and you really can't give a good explanation as to what happened to them? I can think of several, and all I can say is we apparently just drifted apart. I wonder if that other person sort of lost interest in me, or did I lose interest in that other person? As I think back and wonder about that, I hope that loss of interest was mutual, because I'd sure hate to know that there were some hurt feelings over the ordeal, and I was not even engaged enough to notice.
In my line of work, there's one scenario I've seen played out time and time again: I'll see a new store opening up, usually a children's clothing store or gift shop, and when I meet the owners, I discover that they are lifelong friends. Although I don't say it out loud, I usually think, "Well, that's about to end," and that's usually exactly what happens....those two best friends end up becoming bitter enemies. But I believe that in the majority of situations, friendships terminate simply because the two parties just drift apart, with no real explanation as to the reason. At this moment I'm thinking of a couple who used to be extremely close to Angie and me, but over time, we drifted apart....until we finally just stopped communicating. We had not seen them in a few years until we saw them one night at a wedding reception. It was great to see them again, and we sat at the table with them so we could get caught up on what had been happening in their lives. What we discovered, however, was that over time our lives and our interests had gone opposite directions, and there really wasn't that much to talk about. We went home that night feeling a twinge of sadness over how things had turned out.
As you're reading this message, you are probably thinking back on some of your old "best friend" relationships and trying to recall what caused them to end. Maybe it's just human nature. That causes me to think about the people in my life right now that I consider my close friends, or "good buddies." At this point, it's hard for me to visualize a time in my future when every one of these relationships will no longer exist, but reality tells me that some of them will eventually end. That makes me sad. I wonder who it will be. I sure hope it's not you!
Preston
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCVII
Kites can't talk. I know that, but please allow me to use my imagination just a little and pretend that if a solitary kite had an opportunity to speak to humanity one time on behalf of all kites, what would its message be? Here's what I think it would say:
"We want to fly. That's the purpose of our existence. If it's a breezy day, please take us out and allow us to soar as high as we can up toward the sky. We want you to give us as much string as you can, but please, please, never ever turn loose of your end of the string. We know that it is was you who created us, it is you who mend us when we are broken, and when we fly, that string is our only connection to you. Also, as we are flying, we ask that you never take your eyes off of us, because we must depend on you to rein us in when you see us headed for danger, such as trees or power lines. When you tie the string to us, please tie it with a knot that is so secure it can never be untied. And even if means we can't fly as high as we might like to at times, we ask that you use a string so strong it cannot be broken, even in the fiercest winds. We realize that you, our creator, made us for your own pleasure, and we hope that we can fulfill our purpose on a much more grand scale than your original intentions. As much as we love the feelings of freedom that we experience as we soar up toward the heavens, we are aware that if we ever get to feeling so independent that we desire to break that connection to you, we are doomed to disaster. Yes, humans, we have learned from watching some of our brothers who have broken that connection to you so they could fly freely with no restrictions, that if we want to live to fly another day, our string must never be broken. We know that if it ever gets to the point where you are no longer a part of the equation, and it's just left up to us and the wind, a terrible crash is inevitable. Please restrain us when we need to be restrained, move us when we need to be moved, and bring us back down to earth when it's in our best interest to do so. We want to never forget that you're unhappy when we're broken, and you're sad when we fly off on our own, headed toward our own demise. Once again, we realize that it was for your pleasure that we were created, and we've discovered that we find our own greatest pleasure when our purpose is achieved. Mr. Human, without us, you could go on living, but without you, we cease to exist. Our only hope is in you! Please never let our connection be severed."
That's what the kite would've said. Maybe I should go back and read it one more time...I think I might can use it as a guide for a message I need to deliver!
Preston
"We want to fly. That's the purpose of our existence. If it's a breezy day, please take us out and allow us to soar as high as we can up toward the sky. We want you to give us as much string as you can, but please, please, never ever turn loose of your end of the string. We know that it is was you who created us, it is you who mend us when we are broken, and when we fly, that string is our only connection to you. Also, as we are flying, we ask that you never take your eyes off of us, because we must depend on you to rein us in when you see us headed for danger, such as trees or power lines. When you tie the string to us, please tie it with a knot that is so secure it can never be untied. And even if means we can't fly as high as we might like to at times, we ask that you use a string so strong it cannot be broken, even in the fiercest winds. We realize that you, our creator, made us for your own pleasure, and we hope that we can fulfill our purpose on a much more grand scale than your original intentions. As much as we love the feelings of freedom that we experience as we soar up toward the heavens, we are aware that if we ever get to feeling so independent that we desire to break that connection to you, we are doomed to disaster. Yes, humans, we have learned from watching some of our brothers who have broken that connection to you so they could fly freely with no restrictions, that if we want to live to fly another day, our string must never be broken. We know that if it ever gets to the point where you are no longer a part of the equation, and it's just left up to us and the wind, a terrible crash is inevitable. Please restrain us when we need to be restrained, move us when we need to be moved, and bring us back down to earth when it's in our best interest to do so. We want to never forget that you're unhappy when we're broken, and you're sad when we fly off on our own, headed toward our own demise. Once again, we realize that it was for your pleasure that we were created, and we've discovered that we find our own greatest pleasure when our purpose is achieved. Mr. Human, without us, you could go on living, but without you, we cease to exist. Our only hope is in you! Please never let our connection be severed."
That's what the kite would've said. Maybe I should go back and read it one more time...I think I might can use it as a guide for a message I need to deliver!
Preston
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCVI
I like to read when I fly, but on a recent business trip to California, I finished my book on the way over, so I spent the rest of the trip over, and all of the trip back, looking out of the window. Have you ever done that? You can see some interesting sights from a perspective that's undetectable when you're on ground level. I saw what appeared to be farm land, yet the way the crops were planted formed perfect circles...hundreds of them. I saw what looked like highways that would just end abruptly. What was that all about? I could see lines on the ground that went on for miles and miles, and I assumed that it must have been either clearings for power lines or pipelines. I actually think I had more questions about what I saw than I did answers. Then I began to daydream, wishing I had Lake, my five year old grandson, with me. I know his inquiring mind would've been hard at work. "What is that shiny thing over there, Poppa?" "That looks like a school to me." "Why is it so shiny?" "It must have a tin roof." "What is that big blue thing down there that's shaped like a dinosaur?" "That's a lake." "Why is it shaped like a dinosaur?" "I don't think it's shaped like that on purpose. If you were down there beside it, you wouldn't know it's shaped like a dinosaur." "What is that really crooked thing down there?" "That's a river." "Why is it so crooked?" Why IS it so crooked? That question jarred me back into reality.
It's not that I didn't know the answer. I knew the answer...it was the answer that started my mind whirling. I'm sure that I could've found a way to explain to a five year old that rivers are crooked because water follows the path of least resistance. It's one of the characteristics of water. If you put water in a pan, and tilt the pan slightly, all the water runs to the lower side of the pan. Tilt the pan the other way and the water changes sides. Water is not stable.
Well, it just so happened that the next morning after my flight back from California, I was at church, sitting in our LifeFocus class, where we were discussing "Character," and my friend, Matt Gordon, quoted a statement he'd heard his grandfather say many times, "Following the path of least resistance makes men and rivers crooked." Was is a coincidence that I had given that subject so much thought one day, and I heard that quote the next? Maybe. Maybe not. I know I've thought a lot about it since then. I don't want to be like water. I'm reminded of a scene from an "Andy Griffith Show" where Barney was sitting in a trial. When he heard the prosecution, he was totally persuaded of the defendant's guilt. Then, when he heard the defense, he was totally persuaded of his innocence. Basically, he went along with whoever spoke last. Am I that easily influenced? I don't think so. I sure hope I'm not.
The Bible speaks of people like that. James 1:8 says "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." I Googled the question, "What is a double minded man?" The answer is simply, "A man who cannot make a decision and stick with it." That sounds like water...it just goes whichever way the pan is tilted.
In reality, Lake was not with me that day on that flight, so we didn't actually have that conversation. I hope that someday I can explain to him how "following the path of least resistance makes men and rivers crooked," and how a stable man will follow the straight path, even when it's the most difficult. Better yet, I'll just show him.
Preston
It's not that I didn't know the answer. I knew the answer...it was the answer that started my mind whirling. I'm sure that I could've found a way to explain to a five year old that rivers are crooked because water follows the path of least resistance. It's one of the characteristics of water. If you put water in a pan, and tilt the pan slightly, all the water runs to the lower side of the pan. Tilt the pan the other way and the water changes sides. Water is not stable.
Well, it just so happened that the next morning after my flight back from California, I was at church, sitting in our LifeFocus class, where we were discussing "Character," and my friend, Matt Gordon, quoted a statement he'd heard his grandfather say many times, "Following the path of least resistance makes men and rivers crooked." Was is a coincidence that I had given that subject so much thought one day, and I heard that quote the next? Maybe. Maybe not. I know I've thought a lot about it since then. I don't want to be like water. I'm reminded of a scene from an "Andy Griffith Show" where Barney was sitting in a trial. When he heard the prosecution, he was totally persuaded of the defendant's guilt. Then, when he heard the defense, he was totally persuaded of his innocence. Basically, he went along with whoever spoke last. Am I that easily influenced? I don't think so. I sure hope I'm not.
The Bible speaks of people like that. James 1:8 says "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." I Googled the question, "What is a double minded man?" The answer is simply, "A man who cannot make a decision and stick with it." That sounds like water...it just goes whichever way the pan is tilted.
In reality, Lake was not with me that day on that flight, so we didn't actually have that conversation. I hope that someday I can explain to him how "following the path of least resistance makes men and rivers crooked," and how a stable man will follow the straight path, even when it's the most difficult. Better yet, I'll just show him.
Preston
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCV
Brother Slocum died. He was just sitting at the table and fell over dead. Naturally, the pastor was one of the first people called. When he came over to the Slocum residence that night, he asked for some time with the grieving widow, and so they sat at the table for their little talk...the same table where Brother Slocum was sitting when he met his demise. At first he offered his condolences, and then he got to the point, "Sister Slocum, as you know, I did not know Brother Slocum very well, and I was wondering if you could tell me a few things about him that I could use in his homegoing service." She was quick with her reply, "He was mean and surly." The Reverend squirmed just a little, "Uh, Sister Slocum, the words 'mean and surly' are not words we like to use in a funeral service." She insisted that those terms were what best described him.
That little story is a scene from a movie....I just can't remember the name of it. When I watched that scene, I was laughing out loud, but I think that one of the things that makes comedy so funny is that we can relate to so much of it. I feel certain that the ministers who are reading this blog can identify with the feeling that the pastor was having to deal with at that moment. Have you ever attended a funeral and you knew the preacher was struggling to find the right words to say? Although the movie I just described was hilarious, when it comes to reality, it is far from funny. In fact, it's a scene you'd prefer to avoid.
Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I've been thinking about what will be said at my funeral. First of all, I don't think my family will have any trouble finding a preacher who knows me well. But what will he say? Will he have to struggle to find words to make me look good? Will he be able to speak about any accomplishments I have made? Did I live my life with a purpose or did I just float along? Will anyone be able to say that their life was made better because of me? Have I said anything of enough significance that it will be remembered? And most importantly, did I make proper preparations for eternity? If any of those situations need fixing, it's time for me to get to work on it now.
However, what really matters is not what I do or what I say, but the important thing is what I am. Am I willing to do the right thing regardless of what it might cost me? What kind of person am I when I'm all alone? Do I appear to be one type of person one day and someone totally different the next? In reality, I shouldn't even concern myself with what the preacher says at my funeral...I just need to make sure I'm the person I need to be, and the funeral will take care of itself. So if the preacher who speaks at my funeral happens to be reading this, let me just tell you that although I'm no longer worrying about how easy your job might be, I am working on being the best person I know how, and as a consequence, hopefully your job won't be that difficult.
Preston
That little story is a scene from a movie....I just can't remember the name of it. When I watched that scene, I was laughing out loud, but I think that one of the things that makes comedy so funny is that we can relate to so much of it. I feel certain that the ministers who are reading this blog can identify with the feeling that the pastor was having to deal with at that moment. Have you ever attended a funeral and you knew the preacher was struggling to find the right words to say? Although the movie I just described was hilarious, when it comes to reality, it is far from funny. In fact, it's a scene you'd prefer to avoid.
Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I've been thinking about what will be said at my funeral. First of all, I don't think my family will have any trouble finding a preacher who knows me well. But what will he say? Will he have to struggle to find words to make me look good? Will he be able to speak about any accomplishments I have made? Did I live my life with a purpose or did I just float along? Will anyone be able to say that their life was made better because of me? Have I said anything of enough significance that it will be remembered? And most importantly, did I make proper preparations for eternity? If any of those situations need fixing, it's time for me to get to work on it now.
However, what really matters is not what I do or what I say, but the important thing is what I am. Am I willing to do the right thing regardless of what it might cost me? What kind of person am I when I'm all alone? Do I appear to be one type of person one day and someone totally different the next? In reality, I shouldn't even concern myself with what the preacher says at my funeral...I just need to make sure I'm the person I need to be, and the funeral will take care of itself. So if the preacher who speaks at my funeral happens to be reading this, let me just tell you that although I'm no longer worrying about how easy your job might be, I am working on being the best person I know how, and as a consequence, hopefully your job won't be that difficult.
Preston
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCIV
They're still alive!! Both of them! How can this be? Although I vividly remember each of their deaths, I can now announce that both of my parents are still living....and will continue to do so for years to come. Maybe you're thinking that what I really mean is they've left their earthly bodies behind and are now enjoying eternal bliss in Heaven. I don't have one shred of doubt that that's true; but, no, that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about right here on earth. Before you jump to conclusions, I haven't suddenly lost it and gone off the deep end...well, I'll tell you what I'm talking about.
What I said about them now being in Heaven is true, and although I would love to be able to get one more hug or hear their voices one more time, I'm afraid that's still just as impossible now is was the days after their funerals. Yet, in a manner of speaking, they're still here. Not long ago, we found a jar of pickles that Mom had made. I enjoyed them so much, because it was like I was still eating her cooking. Over the years of his life, Dad had amassed an impressive set of tools, some of which I still use today, and I think of him each time I do. However, Mom's pickles and Dad's tool collection are not what I'm talking about either. As far as money is concerned, there wasn't all that much left for us to fight over. Each of us kids now have something in our homes that belonged to our parents, and they're things that mean the world to us...things we'll cherish for the rest of our lives. But those are all material things, things that will eventually perish. What I'm talking about that is still here is something much more...something that has the potential to last forever, if we preserve it. It's....well... it's them.
What I am, and what my brother and sister are, is a combination of our parents. Their moods, their strengths, their weaknesses, their temperaments, their sense of humor, their beliefs, their work ethic, their manner of speaking, their accents, their physical stature, their value system, and even their methods of dealing with others are all still very much alive in their children. In fact, I can now also say that those same attributes have been passed on down to their grandchildren and great grandchildren. You may say that you never had the opportunity to meet my parents, but if you've met me, then you can get a pretty good idea of what they were like, because what they were is who I am, with their influence surviving for generations to come.
I've heard it said that words are not as important as the attitude with which they are spoken. If that's the case, I may now owe you an apology. Here's why: In my opinion, my parents were the most awesome people I ever knew, and if it's true that they still live through me....well, maybe I'm bragging a little bit. Sorry about that. But it's still true.
Preston
What I said about them now being in Heaven is true, and although I would love to be able to get one more hug or hear their voices one more time, I'm afraid that's still just as impossible now is was the days after their funerals. Yet, in a manner of speaking, they're still here. Not long ago, we found a jar of pickles that Mom had made. I enjoyed them so much, because it was like I was still eating her cooking. Over the years of his life, Dad had amassed an impressive set of tools, some of which I still use today, and I think of him each time I do. However, Mom's pickles and Dad's tool collection are not what I'm talking about either. As far as money is concerned, there wasn't all that much left for us to fight over. Each of us kids now have something in our homes that belonged to our parents, and they're things that mean the world to us...things we'll cherish for the rest of our lives. But those are all material things, things that will eventually perish. What I'm talking about that is still here is something much more...something that has the potential to last forever, if we preserve it. It's....well... it's them.
What I am, and what my brother and sister are, is a combination of our parents. Their moods, their strengths, their weaknesses, their temperaments, their sense of humor, their beliefs, their work ethic, their manner of speaking, their accents, their physical stature, their value system, and even their methods of dealing with others are all still very much alive in their children. In fact, I can now also say that those same attributes have been passed on down to their grandchildren and great grandchildren. You may say that you never had the opportunity to meet my parents, but if you've met me, then you can get a pretty good idea of what they were like, because what they were is who I am, with their influence surviving for generations to come.
I've heard it said that words are not as important as the attitude with which they are spoken. If that's the case, I may now owe you an apology. Here's why: In my opinion, my parents were the most awesome people I ever knew, and if it's true that they still live through me....well, maybe I'm bragging a little bit. Sorry about that. But it's still true.
Preston
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCIII
Dear Politicians,
I have good news and bad news. The good news is I've been hearing what you've been saying, and that means I've been hearing a lot, because lately you've had a lot to say. The bad news is what I'm hearing and what you're saying may not be the same thing. Now it's time for ME to talk and YOU to listen. First of all, let me tell you that I'm just an average citizen...probably about as average as you can find...I'm right in the middle as far as income, intelligence, education, etc. And I vote. I don't base my vote so much on what you say, but I base it more on the message I receive from your words. Let me explain:
You've asked me for my vote time and time again. That's fair. I expect you to do that. But my question is "Why?" Why do you want that office? And you say you want to fight for me. Oh, really? You're doing all of this for me? Well, in case you didn't know it, each one of your opponents said the same thing. So, naturally, that leads me to ask this question: "If every one of the candidates is in this strictly for me, why should I vote for you instead of one of them?" This is where it starts to get interesting. You then tell me that each one of the other guys is a sleaze bag. Well, I hate to pop your bubble, but I just heard from more than one of them that you are too. So then you tell me that you have a plan. Great! Now we're getting somewhere. What is your plan? You're going to announce it later? Well, that stinks! I want to hear it now! "Oh, you'll love it when you hear it," you say. Would I love it if I heard it now? I think I'm starting to smell a rat.
If you want my vote, let me tell you what I'm looking for in a candidate. I want someone who can handle the job, but, equally important, I demand honesty and integrity. In other words, I'm looking for someone with character, and I'm having a hard time finding that. Here's what I AM finding. I see someone who tries to build himself up by tearing other people down....and in my book, that's a total lack of character. I also see someone who, in order to get elected, is willing to spend more than ten times the listed salary for that position over the next four years. That tells me two things: One, there must be some hidden benefits for you that you're not willing to talk about; and two, when you get into office, you would have no problem spending a lot more money than we're taking in. Now about this plan you say you have. You know, the one you refuse to reveal until later. Here's my conclusion: Either you really don't have one or you're afraid it won't hold up to scrutiny. Oh, and there's one more thing....when you tell me that you're doing all of this for me, you are insulting my intelligence.
Yes, I know that I'm just an average guy, and maybe over the years we average people have been too easily deceived, but let me also say that more and more of us are starting to pay attention, and we don't like what we're seeing. If you don't hear us now, you WILL hear us on election day.
Preston
I have good news and bad news. The good news is I've been hearing what you've been saying, and that means I've been hearing a lot, because lately you've had a lot to say. The bad news is what I'm hearing and what you're saying may not be the same thing. Now it's time for ME to talk and YOU to listen. First of all, let me tell you that I'm just an average citizen...probably about as average as you can find...I'm right in the middle as far as income, intelligence, education, etc. And I vote. I don't base my vote so much on what you say, but I base it more on the message I receive from your words. Let me explain:
You've asked me for my vote time and time again. That's fair. I expect you to do that. But my question is "Why?" Why do you want that office? And you say you want to fight for me. Oh, really? You're doing all of this for me? Well, in case you didn't know it, each one of your opponents said the same thing. So, naturally, that leads me to ask this question: "If every one of the candidates is in this strictly for me, why should I vote for you instead of one of them?" This is where it starts to get interesting. You then tell me that each one of the other guys is a sleaze bag. Well, I hate to pop your bubble, but I just heard from more than one of them that you are too. So then you tell me that you have a plan. Great! Now we're getting somewhere. What is your plan? You're going to announce it later? Well, that stinks! I want to hear it now! "Oh, you'll love it when you hear it," you say. Would I love it if I heard it now? I think I'm starting to smell a rat.
If you want my vote, let me tell you what I'm looking for in a candidate. I want someone who can handle the job, but, equally important, I demand honesty and integrity. In other words, I'm looking for someone with character, and I'm having a hard time finding that. Here's what I AM finding. I see someone who tries to build himself up by tearing other people down....and in my book, that's a total lack of character. I also see someone who, in order to get elected, is willing to spend more than ten times the listed salary for that position over the next four years. That tells me two things: One, there must be some hidden benefits for you that you're not willing to talk about; and two, when you get into office, you would have no problem spending a lot more money than we're taking in. Now about this plan you say you have. You know, the one you refuse to reveal until later. Here's my conclusion: Either you really don't have one or you're afraid it won't hold up to scrutiny. Oh, and there's one more thing....when you tell me that you're doing all of this for me, you are insulting my intelligence.
Yes, I know that I'm just an average guy, and maybe over the years we average people have been too easily deceived, but let me also say that more and more of us are starting to pay attention, and we don't like what we're seeing. If you don't hear us now, you WILL hear us on election day.
Preston
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCII
It was a dark and stormy night. No, really. It was dark and stormy....and it was night. Our kids were small at the time, and we had just finished tucking them into bed. We decided that we had better check the weather to see if there may something serious headed our way when I heard my little girl call, "Daddy!!" I went into her room to see what she wanted, and she said, "I'm afraid an airplane is gonna crash on our house." I replied, "Darling, do you hear that weather outside? There's no way anyone is going to be flying an airplane in a storm like this." "Okay," she said. I gave her a little pat and told her there was nothing to worry about. Within a matter of a few moments I heard the familiar drone of an aircraft flying overhead. "Daddy!!" What is that sound?" Now what was I supposed to say? "That's a reconnaissance plane. It's a weather plane they send out during storms to make sure everyone is okay," I lied. That satisfied her and she soon fell asleep.
Near Oklahoma City there is a tourist attraction known as Frontier City. The last time we visited it, our son was about four or five years old. One of the attractions they have is an old wild west gunfight. "The kids will enjoy that," we thought. We made sure we were at the right place at the right time, and sure enough, right on schedule, here came some mean looking cowboys headed our way; and when we looked the other direction, we saw some more. Within a matter of a few minutes, shots were being fired and dead cowboys were lying all around us. I looked down at my son and quickly realized he was NOT enjoying the show. He was shaking all over. I tried to explain that those guys were just playing and those guns didn't even have real bullets, but convincing him was not an easy task.
Years passed and the kids grew up. My daughter and her husband were living in an apartment in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the family decided to spend last Thanksgiving with them. Angie and I stayed in the guest bedroom, while my son and his family got a hotel room downtown. Sometime during the night, a fire broke out in the kitchen at the hotel, and as a precaution, they evacuated the entire building until they were sure they had it all under control and it was safe for all the guests to re-enter their rooms. To the majority of the hotel patrons, the entire episode was simply an annoying inconvenience, but to my four year old grandson, it was much, much more. The following night, he wanted no part of that hotel, so he slept with me at the apartment. Several times before he finally fell asleep, he asked, "Poppa, is this apartment gonna catch on fire?"
Sometimes I think that as adults we forget what it's like to get inside the mind of a child. Things we don't even give a second thought are major events to them. It may be no more than a vehicle making a loud noise that scares them, and when we try to soothe them with our explanation, we inadvertently use words they don't even understand. I can remember a couple of events in my own childhood that absolutely terrified me. As a pre-schooler, I went to school with my uncle one day. I was fine until the last class of the day. The teacher, Mr. Brooks, was crippled and walked with a severe limp. That scared me, and I started crying. I thought he was drunk, and I'd never been around a drunk person before. (In later years, Mr. Brooks became my principal, and I adored him.) The following year, when I was in the first grade, some kids on my school bus were saying that the next night, Russia was going to bomb the United States. At bed time that night, I informed my parents about that situation, but they assured me it was not true and the Lord was watching over us. I went to bed unconvinced, because Mom and Dad had not been on my bus to hear everything that was being said, even by some of the third graders, who definitely knew what they were talking about.
Why am I saying all of this? I guess it's because that's what's on my mind right now. I'm trying to purpose in my mind not to ever forget that all of those countless questions are being asked due to an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and those small impressionable minds view the world from an entirely different perspective. "Training up a child the way he should go" requires wisdom, and if I want to be as successful as I would like, I will have to re-train myself to see the world through the eyes of a child.
Preston
Near Oklahoma City there is a tourist attraction known as Frontier City. The last time we visited it, our son was about four or five years old. One of the attractions they have is an old wild west gunfight. "The kids will enjoy that," we thought. We made sure we were at the right place at the right time, and sure enough, right on schedule, here came some mean looking cowboys headed our way; and when we looked the other direction, we saw some more. Within a matter of a few minutes, shots were being fired and dead cowboys were lying all around us. I looked down at my son and quickly realized he was NOT enjoying the show. He was shaking all over. I tried to explain that those guys were just playing and those guns didn't even have real bullets, but convincing him was not an easy task.
Years passed and the kids grew up. My daughter and her husband were living in an apartment in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the family decided to spend last Thanksgiving with them. Angie and I stayed in the guest bedroom, while my son and his family got a hotel room downtown. Sometime during the night, a fire broke out in the kitchen at the hotel, and as a precaution, they evacuated the entire building until they were sure they had it all under control and it was safe for all the guests to re-enter their rooms. To the majority of the hotel patrons, the entire episode was simply an annoying inconvenience, but to my four year old grandson, it was much, much more. The following night, he wanted no part of that hotel, so he slept with me at the apartment. Several times before he finally fell asleep, he asked, "Poppa, is this apartment gonna catch on fire?"
Sometimes I think that as adults we forget what it's like to get inside the mind of a child. Things we don't even give a second thought are major events to them. It may be no more than a vehicle making a loud noise that scares them, and when we try to soothe them with our explanation, we inadvertently use words they don't even understand. I can remember a couple of events in my own childhood that absolutely terrified me. As a pre-schooler, I went to school with my uncle one day. I was fine until the last class of the day. The teacher, Mr. Brooks, was crippled and walked with a severe limp. That scared me, and I started crying. I thought he was drunk, and I'd never been around a drunk person before. (In later years, Mr. Brooks became my principal, and I adored him.) The following year, when I was in the first grade, some kids on my school bus were saying that the next night, Russia was going to bomb the United States. At bed time that night, I informed my parents about that situation, but they assured me it was not true and the Lord was watching over us. I went to bed unconvinced, because Mom and Dad had not been on my bus to hear everything that was being said, even by some of the third graders, who definitely knew what they were talking about.
Why am I saying all of this? I guess it's because that's what's on my mind right now. I'm trying to purpose in my mind not to ever forget that all of those countless questions are being asked due to an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and those small impressionable minds view the world from an entirely different perspective. "Training up a child the way he should go" requires wisdom, and if I want to be as successful as I would like, I will have to re-train myself to see the world through the eyes of a child.
Preston
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXCI
It made news around the world. Three Americans had been hiking in northern Iraq and they inadvertently crossed the border into Iran...a nation that has a long history of hostile actions against anyone or anything American. It created a worldwide sensation when they were arrested, accused of spying, and subsequently jailed. Naturally, there was a huge outcry across our nation as our citizens were screaming over this obvious injustice, yet the first question that came to my mind when I first heard the story was, "What kind of idiot would go hiking along an unmarked border of a country that is considered to be a part of the "Axis of Evil?" I've thought about it a lot since that time, and I still haven't come up with a satisfactory answer. Was it the thrill of the risk involved? They had to have been aware of the danger.
As it turned out, a million dollars had to be paid to the Iranian government for their release. When we stop to think about it, our initial reaction may be to say, "They brought this upon themselves...now let them suffer the consequences." But that's not the way we operate in this country. How many times do we hear stories of hikers who get caught in a blizzard on some mountain in Colorado? If they would've had any sense, they wouldn't have been out there during the time of year when snowstorms can come upon you without any previous warning. Yet thousands of dollars and countless man-hours are spent in their rescue attempt. That's how we do things.
The thought has occurred to me from time to time that when we rush to rescue those people who were somewhere they shouldn't have been in the first place, we're really encouraging their irresponsible behavior, but then I think about it just a little more. How many times have I found myself in an unpleasant situation, in need of someone's help, yet I'm in that predicament strictly because of my own recklessness. Has anyone ever helped you out of a jam that you got yourself into? Yes, I know that when we become "grownups," it's time for us to start taking responsibility for our own actions, but sometimes even reasonable adults make stupid decisions. One of the most common mistakes we make is opening our mouths when we should be remaining silent. Then we end up crying for someone to come to our rescue.
There have been times when I was ashamed to ask for help, simply because I knew it would be obvious to everyone involved that all my troubles were self inflicted. But there have been other times when I was so desperate for help, I was beyond caring what anyone else may think about me. The most stupid thing any of us could ever do is willingly violate the laws of God, especially when we know what the penalty will be, yet there have been periods in my live when I took that risk time and time again. I'm happy to report, though, that God came to my rescue, although the expense to Him was enormous. With that in mind, I guess I really have no excuses to ignore someone's plea for help, regardless of whose fault it is.
Preston
As it turned out, a million dollars had to be paid to the Iranian government for their release. When we stop to think about it, our initial reaction may be to say, "They brought this upon themselves...now let them suffer the consequences." But that's not the way we operate in this country. How many times do we hear stories of hikers who get caught in a blizzard on some mountain in Colorado? If they would've had any sense, they wouldn't have been out there during the time of year when snowstorms can come upon you without any previous warning. Yet thousands of dollars and countless man-hours are spent in their rescue attempt. That's how we do things.
The thought has occurred to me from time to time that when we rush to rescue those people who were somewhere they shouldn't have been in the first place, we're really encouraging their irresponsible behavior, but then I think about it just a little more. How many times have I found myself in an unpleasant situation, in need of someone's help, yet I'm in that predicament strictly because of my own recklessness. Has anyone ever helped you out of a jam that you got yourself into? Yes, I know that when we become "grownups," it's time for us to start taking responsibility for our own actions, but sometimes even reasonable adults make stupid decisions. One of the most common mistakes we make is opening our mouths when we should be remaining silent. Then we end up crying for someone to come to our rescue.
There have been times when I was ashamed to ask for help, simply because I knew it would be obvious to everyone involved that all my troubles were self inflicted. But there have been other times when I was so desperate for help, I was beyond caring what anyone else may think about me. The most stupid thing any of us could ever do is willingly violate the laws of God, especially when we know what the penalty will be, yet there have been periods in my live when I took that risk time and time again. I'm happy to report, though, that God came to my rescue, although the expense to Him was enormous. With that in mind, I guess I really have no excuses to ignore someone's plea for help, regardless of whose fault it is.
Preston
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXC
I guess you'd have to be one of us to understand us. It's really not possible to comprehend this passion unless you have once experienced it for yourself. Could it actually be an addiction? Hmmmm....Well, I don't know if I would take it that far, but I will admit that it does have an addictive nature. Once it gets a hold on you, you're never quite able to break free, and like an addiction, it will cause you to spend large amounts of time and money just to satisfy the craving, the yearning. However, it is not something that we try to hide....we'll talk about it for hours to anyone and everyone who is willing to listen, although the average person, the layman, will wonder what can there be to talk about. Just hang around us for a few minutes and you'll begin to understand. As a matter of fact, if you've read my blog very many times, you probably already know where I'm going with this. We are runners.
Your next question may be, "Other than running apparel and shoes, what can there be about this "condition" that would cost so much money?" For the answer to that question, just try following me around today, but if that's what you want to do, you'd better hurry up and get moving, because that's what I'm about to do...get moving. And if everything goes according to plan, when I go to bed tonight, I'll be a long way from where I am right now. That's why I'm in such a hurry to get this message posted....I've got "miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep." In just a little while, Angie and I, along with eight good friends (10 total), will be headed to the airport. Our first stop will be Atlanta, where we will board a fight bound for New York; but we won't be staying there long either. There in New York, we will board another flight that will take us to our final destination....Portland, Maine. And yes, we're going there to run.
Tomorrow promises to be a fairly easy day. We'll sleep late in the morning. At least we call it "sleeping late." But what can you expect for a group of people who are accustomed to rising at 4:15 AM...to run? After a leisurely breakfast, we will head to the expo for a little while to pick up our race packets and see if we can find some good deals on some running gear, have lunch, and then maybe do a little bit of sight seeing, before having dinner and returning to the hotel so we can get to bed early, although we're usually so keyed up the night before the big day that we don't sleep well. Sunday morning, we'll be up very early, making all the last minute preparations for the big race, because, in case you're not aware, planning a 26.2 mile run requires a lot of preparation. Then, before 6:30, we'll be on our way toward the starting line. And I think I know what the next question will be, "What will you do after you finish running?" What would you do if you had just run 26.2 miles? Well, one thing we WILL NOT be doing is going dancing....or running. I predict we'll go back to the hotel to crash for a little while, and then head out to find some fresh Maine lobster. We will feel like we deserve it. Monday will be a day of fun, before our trip home Tuesday.
Yes, I know we could take that trip without the running part, but let me repeat the statement I made in the beginning: In order to understand us, you have to be one of us. And there's one more thing--we're a group of close friends, but it was running that brought us together, and running is what keeps us together. We can't imagine taking a trip like this without going for a run. That's what we do. That's who we are. Some may call it an addiction, but I choose to go back to the first term I used: a passion. Whatever it is, may I never lose it!
Preston
Your next question may be, "Other than running apparel and shoes, what can there be about this "condition" that would cost so much money?" For the answer to that question, just try following me around today, but if that's what you want to do, you'd better hurry up and get moving, because that's what I'm about to do...get moving. And if everything goes according to plan, when I go to bed tonight, I'll be a long way from where I am right now. That's why I'm in such a hurry to get this message posted....I've got "miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep." In just a little while, Angie and I, along with eight good friends (10 total), will be headed to the airport. Our first stop will be Atlanta, where we will board a fight bound for New York; but we won't be staying there long either. There in New York, we will board another flight that will take us to our final destination....Portland, Maine. And yes, we're going there to run.
Tomorrow promises to be a fairly easy day. We'll sleep late in the morning. At least we call it "sleeping late." But what can you expect for a group of people who are accustomed to rising at 4:15 AM...to run? After a leisurely breakfast, we will head to the expo for a little while to pick up our race packets and see if we can find some good deals on some running gear, have lunch, and then maybe do a little bit of sight seeing, before having dinner and returning to the hotel so we can get to bed early, although we're usually so keyed up the night before the big day that we don't sleep well. Sunday morning, we'll be up very early, making all the last minute preparations for the big race, because, in case you're not aware, planning a 26.2 mile run requires a lot of preparation. Then, before 6:30, we'll be on our way toward the starting line. And I think I know what the next question will be, "What will you do after you finish running?" What would you do if you had just run 26.2 miles? Well, one thing we WILL NOT be doing is going dancing....or running. I predict we'll go back to the hotel to crash for a little while, and then head out to find some fresh Maine lobster. We will feel like we deserve it. Monday will be a day of fun, before our trip home Tuesday.
Yes, I know we could take that trip without the running part, but let me repeat the statement I made in the beginning: In order to understand us, you have to be one of us. And there's one more thing--we're a group of close friends, but it was running that brought us together, and running is what keeps us together. We can't imagine taking a trip like this without going for a run. That's what we do. That's who we are. Some may call it an addiction, but I choose to go back to the first term I used: a passion. Whatever it is, may I never lose it!
Preston
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXXIX
There's a fact of life that I've never really given much thought until just a few days ago. It's not important where I was when this realization hit me, but for the sake of this story, I'll tell you anyway. I was sitting alone at breakfast in the Holiday Inn of Springdale, Arkansas. As I was looking over my choices of food, with all the beautiful fruit, the selection of cereal, and the different kinds of bread and pastries, my mind went back to the meal I'd had the night before. Then, almost unintentionally, I went back one more meal to the previous day's lunch. Well, at that point, there was no reason to stop, so I began to recall all the different types of food that had sustained me all my life, and it dawned on me that there was one common denominator in all of it. Before I get into that, however, let me go ahead and relate some of the questions that then began to pop into my mind: "Can a person receive nutrition from a rock?" "What if I could grind up iron or copper into a powder and mix it with water? Would I be able to survive on that?" The answer is an obvious "No!"
Let's get back to that one common denominator of all the different types of food I've ever eaten. When I thought about it, suddenly some things started making a lot more sense to me, and I immediately grasped a better of understanding of what I've always been taught about both my physical and spiritual life. Here it is: The only thing that can give me life is: Life. I can't live without food, and the only food that can sustain me either is, or has been, alive. It doesn't matter if it's fish, carrots, cows, or wheat...whatever it is, at some point in its existence, it has experienced life.
Now let's take it one step further. In order for me to have life, another life has to be sacrificed. There's no other way. It's God's design. The only way you and I can experience life is when another form of life experiences death. I love to observe the beauties of nature, and some of the sights I love to see are pastures with cows grazing peacefully, cool clear streams with fish swimming lazily through the water, orchards with fruit hanging heavily upon each tree, or just a small vegetable garden filled with a variety of plants beautifully in bloom; yet all those wonders of nature must be devoured just so I can have life.
That leads me to ask just one more question: "Who am I that I would deserve to continue enjoying my life at the expense of so many others?" That's a question that is very difficult to answer, but I think the crux of the matter is I don't deserve it...I'm just blessed beyond measure. Therefore, I must commit myself to expressing thanks at every possible opportunity. "Lord, I thank you so much for Your awesome sacrifice on my behalf, of which I am so unworthy, and also for the way You continuously provide me with 'life' for my own consumption so that I may continue to live. May I be eternally grateful. Amen."
Preston
Let's get back to that one common denominator of all the different types of food I've ever eaten. When I thought about it, suddenly some things started making a lot more sense to me, and I immediately grasped a better of understanding of what I've always been taught about both my physical and spiritual life. Here it is: The only thing that can give me life is: Life. I can't live without food, and the only food that can sustain me either is, or has been, alive. It doesn't matter if it's fish, carrots, cows, or wheat...whatever it is, at some point in its existence, it has experienced life.
Now let's take it one step further. In order for me to have life, another life has to be sacrificed. There's no other way. It's God's design. The only way you and I can experience life is when another form of life experiences death. I love to observe the beauties of nature, and some of the sights I love to see are pastures with cows grazing peacefully, cool clear streams with fish swimming lazily through the water, orchards with fruit hanging heavily upon each tree, or just a small vegetable garden filled with a variety of plants beautifully in bloom; yet all those wonders of nature must be devoured just so I can have life.
That leads me to ask just one more question: "Who am I that I would deserve to continue enjoying my life at the expense of so many others?" That's a question that is very difficult to answer, but I think the crux of the matter is I don't deserve it...I'm just blessed beyond measure. Therefore, I must commit myself to expressing thanks at every possible opportunity. "Lord, I thank you so much for Your awesome sacrifice on my behalf, of which I am so unworthy, and also for the way You continuously provide me with 'life' for my own consumption so that I may continue to live. May I be eternally grateful. Amen."
Preston
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume, CCLXXXIII
I had really intended to eat that banana. I opened the shell, took out the fruit, and was just about to take a bite when my phone rang. It was a business call and required immediate attention. Soon I was engrossed in my work, which took quite a while to complete; all this time that forgotten banana was lying right where I left it, patiently waiting to be consumed. It was not to be. With one project leading to another, I soon found that my day was spent with no more thought being given to that hapless piece of fruit...until the next morning.
I started out my day bumbling and fumbling around, trying to get myself in gear, and I stumbled across that banana....still lying there in all its yuckiness. Since I make it a policy to try to eat at least one banana a day, that would've been a good time to eat one...but not that one. It was worthless. In less than twenty-four hours, that delicious piece of nutrition had been transformed from being desirable to being repulsive. Then I looked over at the bananas that were still in the bowl, and they were still good, although they had been there when I picked up the one that was now about to be thrown into the trash can. Why? What was the difference? They were all from the same bunch....siblings. You see, the ones in the bowl were still encased in their shells, their primary source of preservation and protection. With me being the philosophical person that I am, I thought that there must be some kind of lesson to be learned from that scenario...like when we step outside the surroundings of the ones who are there to protect and care for us, we are expediting our own destruction.
Then I looked back at the banana and I saw something else that up until that point had gone unnoticed...the peel, the protector. It was in worse shape than the fruit itself. Looking back at the others still in the bowl, I saw that all those peels still looked healthy. I thought the protector was supposed to be stronger, more durable. In fact, its only reason for existence was to surround and preserve the banana inside. Although by that time the fruit had deteriorated to a point that I would consider in inedible, it had actually lasted longer than its protector. How could that be? Here's what I think: Although it was now outside its protective surroundings and was completely vulnerable to the world, there was still a chance that someone would want it. There was still a purpose in life. The shell, on the other hand, was no longer of any use to anyone or anything, therefore its death came much more quickly.
So, Mr. Philosopher, is there a lesson in this story? Yes, there is. Several, actually. But here's the one I want to focus on right now: I don't know when, or if, I'll ever decide to retire. Whether I do or don't is really not the issue. What's important is that I never ever lose my purpose for being here. Whether I'm the protector or the protectee, when I get to the point to where I no longer have a purpose in life, I'm a goner. So, if for any reason, you need me, please don't stop. You're what's keeping me alive.
Preston
I started out my day bumbling and fumbling around, trying to get myself in gear, and I stumbled across that banana....still lying there in all its yuckiness. Since I make it a policy to try to eat at least one banana a day, that would've been a good time to eat one...but not that one. It was worthless. In less than twenty-four hours, that delicious piece of nutrition had been transformed from being desirable to being repulsive. Then I looked over at the bananas that were still in the bowl, and they were still good, although they had been there when I picked up the one that was now about to be thrown into the trash can. Why? What was the difference? They were all from the same bunch....siblings. You see, the ones in the bowl were still encased in their shells, their primary source of preservation and protection. With me being the philosophical person that I am, I thought that there must be some kind of lesson to be learned from that scenario...like when we step outside the surroundings of the ones who are there to protect and care for us, we are expediting our own destruction.
Then I looked back at the banana and I saw something else that up until that point had gone unnoticed...the peel, the protector. It was in worse shape than the fruit itself. Looking back at the others still in the bowl, I saw that all those peels still looked healthy. I thought the protector was supposed to be stronger, more durable. In fact, its only reason for existence was to surround and preserve the banana inside. Although by that time the fruit had deteriorated to a point that I would consider in inedible, it had actually lasted longer than its protector. How could that be? Here's what I think: Although it was now outside its protective surroundings and was completely vulnerable to the world, there was still a chance that someone would want it. There was still a purpose in life. The shell, on the other hand, was no longer of any use to anyone or anything, therefore its death came much more quickly.
So, Mr. Philosopher, is there a lesson in this story? Yes, there is. Several, actually. But here's the one I want to focus on right now: I don't know when, or if, I'll ever decide to retire. Whether I do or don't is really not the issue. What's important is that I never ever lose my purpose for being here. Whether I'm the protector or the protectee, when I get to the point to where I no longer have a purpose in life, I'm a goner. So, if for any reason, you need me, please don't stop. You're what's keeping me alive.
Preston
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXXVII
Wow! It's already been ten years! It doesn't seem like it. Kids born on that day are on the verge of becoming teenagers. Fifth graders who were at school that day are now adults. I'm sure we can all think of loved ones who were alive and well back then, but are no longer with us. I can easily remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news...and without a doubt, so can you. As a matter of fact, Angie and I were vacationing on the beach, but all we wanted to do for the rest of the day was sit in our hotel room, glued to the television. Even our vocabulary was altered by the horrific events of that day...we can just say "Nine Eleven" and most anybody will know what we're talking about.
All you have to do is board a commercial flight to see how our lives have been changed. I've now grown accustomed to pulling off my shoes and emptying my pockets every time I board a plane, not to mention all the regulations regarding our baggage, both checked and carry-on. If the goal of the terrorists was to change the way the live and think, while taking away some of our freedoms, then we have to admit that they achieved at least some degree of success. But I must also say that in my lifetime, I have never seen this nation's citizens, both left and right, come together like they did in the weeks and months following those attacks on our country. That unity didn't last as long as I would have liked, but I long to see it again.
It's just natural for our citizens to have differing opinions on how to best solve the problems that our nation faces. That doesn't mean that any of us are unpatriotic. Even as I'm typing these words, I'm thinking of a good friend whose political views are 180 degrees apart from mine, yet he is a great guy who has been a real friend to me, and I know he feels the same. We always enjoy each other's company....we just don't talk politics when we're together. He and I are proof that friends can be friends even while disagreeing. That's the way it's supposed to be...it was the intention of our founding fathers. I spend a lot of time in my car, and I keep my satellite radio tuned to a news channel most of the day. Some of the pundits who are interviewed have political views that are opposite of the way I believe, but I don't mind hearing them because they don't present themselves with an adversarial tone; yet there are others, from both sides of the spectrum, who resort to name-calling and hate speech so much that I don't want to hear them any more, whether I agree with them or not.
The events of September 11, 2001 were beyond terrible, and I hope we never have to experience anything even similar to that ever again. I'm sure there were some who even changed their political stripes as a result of what happened that day, although the majority of us still hold fast to the same value system we had before. It's probably best that we have differing opinions. For a bird to fly straight, it must have both a left wing and a right wing, working on opposite sides for the same purpose. We're never all going to agree, but we can work together for the betterment of our nation as a whole, disagreeing in an agreeable manner. I just hope it doesn't take another "Nine Eleven" to get us back to that point.
Preston
All you have to do is board a commercial flight to see how our lives have been changed. I've now grown accustomed to pulling off my shoes and emptying my pockets every time I board a plane, not to mention all the regulations regarding our baggage, both checked and carry-on. If the goal of the terrorists was to change the way the live and think, while taking away some of our freedoms, then we have to admit that they achieved at least some degree of success. But I must also say that in my lifetime, I have never seen this nation's citizens, both left and right, come together like they did in the weeks and months following those attacks on our country. That unity didn't last as long as I would have liked, but I long to see it again.
It's just natural for our citizens to have differing opinions on how to best solve the problems that our nation faces. That doesn't mean that any of us are unpatriotic. Even as I'm typing these words, I'm thinking of a good friend whose political views are 180 degrees apart from mine, yet he is a great guy who has been a real friend to me, and I know he feels the same. We always enjoy each other's company....we just don't talk politics when we're together. He and I are proof that friends can be friends even while disagreeing. That's the way it's supposed to be...it was the intention of our founding fathers. I spend a lot of time in my car, and I keep my satellite radio tuned to a news channel most of the day. Some of the pundits who are interviewed have political views that are opposite of the way I believe, but I don't mind hearing them because they don't present themselves with an adversarial tone; yet there are others, from both sides of the spectrum, who resort to name-calling and hate speech so much that I don't want to hear them any more, whether I agree with them or not.
The events of September 11, 2001 were beyond terrible, and I hope we never have to experience anything even similar to that ever again. I'm sure there were some who even changed their political stripes as a result of what happened that day, although the majority of us still hold fast to the same value system we had before. It's probably best that we have differing opinions. For a bird to fly straight, it must have both a left wing and a right wing, working on opposite sides for the same purpose. We're never all going to agree, but we can work together for the betterment of our nation as a whole, disagreeing in an agreeable manner. I just hope it doesn't take another "Nine Eleven" to get us back to that point.
Preston
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXXVI
It was all the rage just a few years ago. A big fashion item. It started out as a simple bracelet, but it soon spread to almost every imaginable item where people thought they might could make a buck. I feel quite certain that the person who came up with the original idea did it with the best of intentions, and if these products made some people stop and think, then the idea achieved its purpose. This innovator, the one from whom this idea originated, came up with a simple four word phrase, which was then reduce to four initials, but most everyone knew what they meant: WWJD...."What Would Jesus Do?" It turned out to be a fad, and like all fads, it was here one day and gone the next. But I also have to wonder if the message behind it may have also been just a fad, and just like those bracelets, it's now yesterday's news.
Is it possible to bring something like that back? I don't necessarily mean that I'd like to see all the WWJD accessories come back in style, but what if we could bring that phrase back and let it become a part of our lifestyle? If we could get everybody on the bandwagon to just ask that question before every major decision, our crime problem would disappear. Family problems would go away, everyone would love each other again, and all of us would start getting along with each other much better. Yes I know that the idea that we could get every person to start asking themselves that question is just a dream, but what if just you and I would get back on that program....what kind of difference could we make? Because, you see, I have to admit that I don't always stop and consider what Jesus would do if He were in my situation, and I'm pretty sure that you don't either.
And yes, I know that we could take it too far. What color car would Jesus buy? Would He prefer carrots or broccoli? What time would He have his breakfast in the mornings? Those are non issues, but there are some other questions that could alter how we live our lives. What about "Is this a movie He would watch?", or "Would He say what I'm tempted to say right now?" What would He think about the way I treat my spouse? How would He react when the cashier accidentally gave Him too much change? Does He think I'm too selfish? I could go on and on, but the truth of the matter is, when we stop to ask ourselves those questions, in most circumstances we really already know what the answer would be. Maybe that's why we've quit asking.
I would like to think that in most circumstances, the choices I make would line up with His. And maybe if I compare myself with the majority of the general population, I'm really doing pretty good. But that leads me to ask this question: "Does God grade on a curve?" I don't think He does. When He looks at how I'm doing, the actions of other people never even become a part of the equation. And who do I think I am if I feel that I can approve of something of which He would disapprove? Do I think I can overrule His decisions? I don't have that kind of authority! Nor does anyone else.
Preston
Is it possible to bring something like that back? I don't necessarily mean that I'd like to see all the WWJD accessories come back in style, but what if we could bring that phrase back and let it become a part of our lifestyle? If we could get everybody on the bandwagon to just ask that question before every major decision, our crime problem would disappear. Family problems would go away, everyone would love each other again, and all of us would start getting along with each other much better. Yes I know that the idea that we could get every person to start asking themselves that question is just a dream, but what if just you and I would get back on that program....what kind of difference could we make? Because, you see, I have to admit that I don't always stop and consider what Jesus would do if He were in my situation, and I'm pretty sure that you don't either.
And yes, I know that we could take it too far. What color car would Jesus buy? Would He prefer carrots or broccoli? What time would He have his breakfast in the mornings? Those are non issues, but there are some other questions that could alter how we live our lives. What about "Is this a movie He would watch?", or "Would He say what I'm tempted to say right now?" What would He think about the way I treat my spouse? How would He react when the cashier accidentally gave Him too much change? Does He think I'm too selfish? I could go on and on, but the truth of the matter is, when we stop to ask ourselves those questions, in most circumstances we really already know what the answer would be. Maybe that's why we've quit asking.
I would like to think that in most circumstances, the choices I make would line up with His. And maybe if I compare myself with the majority of the general population, I'm really doing pretty good. But that leads me to ask this question: "Does God grade on a curve?" I don't think He does. When He looks at how I'm doing, the actions of other people never even become a part of the equation. And who do I think I am if I feel that I can approve of something of which He would disapprove? Do I think I can overrule His decisions? I don't have that kind of authority! Nor does anyone else.
Preston
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXXV
Sometimes people go to their graves without receiving the honor they deserve. There are also times when the honor is bestowed, but it comes after the death of the honoree. And then there are times when the deserving party gets to experience the recognition he or she deserves, but it's many years after the event for which they are being honored. Today I want to talk about the latter, and it involves someone who is very special to me. His name is Elliott Fontenot, my father in law. He, along with the other men and women that I want to tell you about are World War II veterans, and there is no way to actually give them the credit they deserve, and although the gift they received was long overdue and could not come close to repaying them for everything they endured during those battles so many years ago, it was a once in a lifetime event...a day they'll never forget.
The big day was the Saturday before Memorial Day, 2011. The honorees, all Louisiana World War II veterans, were told to meet early that morning at the airport in Lafayette, where they boarded a big commercial airliner that had been chartered for this special trip to our nation's capitol. The huge jet was filled to capacity with a diverse group of men and women, and practically all of them were in their eighties and nineties. Some of them had to use walkers, many were in wheel chairs, and others, including my father in law, were in excellent health. After they had touched down at the airport in Washington and were making their way down the hallway, there were hundreds of people of all ages lining both sides of the corridor, applauding, waving flags, shaking hands, and thanking them for their service to the American People.
I'm really not sure where they went first, but one of the stops was the World War II Memorial. As they toured this beautifully touching edifice that was built to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of all those who risked their lives protecting our homeland during that horrific time in our history, many of them posed for a picture in front of the Louisiana monument. Another stop took them to Arlington National Cemetery, where they were able to witness the Changing of the Guard. This is an event I've been privileged to see two different times, and all I can say is, if you've never seen it, I hope you get the chance. After the Changing of the Guard, two of the veterans, both confined to wheel chairs, were selected to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Trips like that are not cheap. Each of these veterans who were selected for this day of honor had someone to sponsor them, but these were more than sponsors. As I've mentioned, many of these heroes have reached a stage of life where they are not as mobile as they once were, so not only did the sponsors fork over the cash for the trip, but each one accompanied the veteran he/she had sponsored, staying by his/her side the entire trip. There's no way I could mention all the names involved, but I would like to give a big shout out to Mr. Skip Arnould of the Entergy Corporation for sponsoring and accompanying my father in law for this once in a lifetime event.
Much too soon it was time to head back to Louisiana, and when they deplaned in Lafayette, there was a band playing and hundreds more were applauding and cheering as soldiers escorted each veteran down the escalator toward the baggage claim area. I've watched the video, and I admit, it brought tears to my eyes. And one thing that is so unbelievable to me is everything I've told you about happened the same day. They had traveled so far, seen so much, and done so many things that it makes me want to borrow a statement from the Bible that's not quite a direct quote, but almost: And the morning and the evening were one day.
Preston
The big day was the Saturday before Memorial Day, 2011. The honorees, all Louisiana World War II veterans, were told to meet early that morning at the airport in Lafayette, where they boarded a big commercial airliner that had been chartered for this special trip to our nation's capitol. The huge jet was filled to capacity with a diverse group of men and women, and practically all of them were in their eighties and nineties. Some of them had to use walkers, many were in wheel chairs, and others, including my father in law, were in excellent health. After they had touched down at the airport in Washington and were making their way down the hallway, there were hundreds of people of all ages lining both sides of the corridor, applauding, waving flags, shaking hands, and thanking them for their service to the American People.
I'm really not sure where they went first, but one of the stops was the World War II Memorial. As they toured this beautifully touching edifice that was built to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of all those who risked their lives protecting our homeland during that horrific time in our history, many of them posed for a picture in front of the Louisiana monument. Another stop took them to Arlington National Cemetery, where they were able to witness the Changing of the Guard. This is an event I've been privileged to see two different times, and all I can say is, if you've never seen it, I hope you get the chance. After the Changing of the Guard, two of the veterans, both confined to wheel chairs, were selected to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Trips like that are not cheap. Each of these veterans who were selected for this day of honor had someone to sponsor them, but these were more than sponsors. As I've mentioned, many of these heroes have reached a stage of life where they are not as mobile as they once were, so not only did the sponsors fork over the cash for the trip, but each one accompanied the veteran he/she had sponsored, staying by his/her side the entire trip. There's no way I could mention all the names involved, but I would like to give a big shout out to Mr. Skip Arnould of the Entergy Corporation for sponsoring and accompanying my father in law for this once in a lifetime event.
Much too soon it was time to head back to Louisiana, and when they deplaned in Lafayette, there was a band playing and hundreds more were applauding and cheering as soldiers escorted each veteran down the escalator toward the baggage claim area. I've watched the video, and I admit, it brought tears to my eyes. And one thing that is so unbelievable to me is everything I've told you about happened the same day. They had traveled so far, seen so much, and done so many things that it makes me want to borrow a statement from the Bible that's not quite a direct quote, but almost: And the morning and the evening were one day.
Preston
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXXIV
I'm not a shopper, but one of my favorite places to visit when I make the trip to Chattanooga is called McKay Books. It is a huge store that sells used books, and you can find a huge selection of books on most any subject at unbelievable prices. (Bill Clinton would be thrilled to know that I purchased his book, "My Life," in hardback for 75 cents.) We went by there this past Sunday afternoon, and when I picked out four books that I wanted to purchase, I had to stand in line for fifteen minutes at the checkout, and they had four cash registers going. I was a small time shopper compared to the average customer, since most everyone I saw was buying more like twenty books at a time. With that in mind, when you first look at it, you might think that a used book store like McKay Books might be a good investment, if they can attract that many buyers, and no doubt the McKays have made a fortune from that business. But I have to wonder what that business will look like in ten years. I believe that books, as we know them, will eventually cease to exist.
I'm not saying that in the next couple of decades people will stop reading....in fact, I believe the opposite is true. It's just that books made of paper may be about to become obsolete, and when that happens we may no longer have a need for bookshelves or even libraries. Modern technology is changing our lives in more ways than any of us could've ever predicted, and if you think we've gone about as far as we can go, I've got news for you: We haven't even scratched the surface. Most of us will live to see scientific advances that we can't even imagine...new breakthroughs that will completely alter our culture and even the way we speak.
Here's another example: How much longer will it be until the U.S. Postal Service is a thing of the past? People don't use the mail any more, compared to the way it was done just a few short years ago. A few days ago, since I had to run by the Post Office anyway, I decided to pick up a few stamps, since I was down to just one. I bought ten stamps. When I got home, I had to ask myself why I had bought so many...it will take me months to go through ten stamps. (I used to buy them in rolls of 100.) It's gotten so bad that the Postal Service is considering cutting back on mail delivery days, reducing service, and raising prices. Do you know what happens when businesses cut back on service and increase prices? They go out of business. Technology has changed the way we live. Fewer and fewer of us are writing checks any more. Most of us don't even receive a check when we're paid our salaries...it's all done electronically. How long will it be until we no longer see a bank located on every other street corner the way we do now? How many of us still subscribe to the newspaper? I don't. We read it online.
When we stop to consider how many jobs will be affected over the next few years by these changes, it will blow our minds. The paper industry will be hit especially hard, which will, in turn, affect an untold number of other industries like loggers, printers, ink manufacturers, etc. The list goes on and on. And yes, I do understand that we are going to have to start thinking more in terms of high tech jobs, but how many of those can be obtained in America? It seems to me that so much of that industry is located in Asia. If we want to continue to hold on to our status as the World Economic Power, we must become more competitive in the field of technology. It can be done, and we have the brain power to accomplish it if we do it right. It just simply boils down to our ability to compete. Capitalism works when we give it a chance.
Preston
I'm not saying that in the next couple of decades people will stop reading....in fact, I believe the opposite is true. It's just that books made of paper may be about to become obsolete, and when that happens we may no longer have a need for bookshelves or even libraries. Modern technology is changing our lives in more ways than any of us could've ever predicted, and if you think we've gone about as far as we can go, I've got news for you: We haven't even scratched the surface. Most of us will live to see scientific advances that we can't even imagine...new breakthroughs that will completely alter our culture and even the way we speak.
Here's another example: How much longer will it be until the U.S. Postal Service is a thing of the past? People don't use the mail any more, compared to the way it was done just a few short years ago. A few days ago, since I had to run by the Post Office anyway, I decided to pick up a few stamps, since I was down to just one. I bought ten stamps. When I got home, I had to ask myself why I had bought so many...it will take me months to go through ten stamps. (I used to buy them in rolls of 100.) It's gotten so bad that the Postal Service is considering cutting back on mail delivery days, reducing service, and raising prices. Do you know what happens when businesses cut back on service and increase prices? They go out of business. Technology has changed the way we live. Fewer and fewer of us are writing checks any more. Most of us don't even receive a check when we're paid our salaries...it's all done electronically. How long will it be until we no longer see a bank located on every other street corner the way we do now? How many of us still subscribe to the newspaper? I don't. We read it online.
When we stop to consider how many jobs will be affected over the next few years by these changes, it will blow our minds. The paper industry will be hit especially hard, which will, in turn, affect an untold number of other industries like loggers, printers, ink manufacturers, etc. The list goes on and on. And yes, I do understand that we are going to have to start thinking more in terms of high tech jobs, but how many of those can be obtained in America? It seems to me that so much of that industry is located in Asia. If we want to continue to hold on to our status as the World Economic Power, we must become more competitive in the field of technology. It can be done, and we have the brain power to accomplish it if we do it right. It just simply boils down to our ability to compete. Capitalism works when we give it a chance.
Preston
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXXIII
I'm a fairly decent guy, yet I'm totally disgusting! I have a lot of good friends, yet at times I can be completely repulsive. Every one of these friends that I'm telling you about are also high quality individuals, although a sizable number of them will do some things that are just as reprehensible as the things that I do. I'm talking about things that would humiliate our mothers if they knew what we were up to. So what traits do we have in common that make us commit such taboo acts? It's this club that we've joined. It doesn't require its members to see just what kind of degrading acts we can perform, but there's something about being an active member that automatically causes us to go completely against our upbringing and do things that we ordinarily wouldn't even dream of doing...in fact we would be glad to participate in a protest against anyone else who attempted to commit some of the acts we've done. We would say they must be out of their minds.
One of the worst things we've been guilty of doing: Some of us will urinate on the ground in the middle of town in broad daylight...men and women, side by side, minding our own business while "taking care of business." We will accept a drink of water from a total stranger...someone we've never seen before and will never see again...drinking from the same bottle that was just used by another complete stranger. We may pick up a used cup from the side of the street, even one that's been stepped on and mashed, and use it do dip into a tub of Gatorade to get us a drink. Yes, our moms would be so proud if they could see us while we're in this "zone" that temporarily moves us outside of the realm of human decency. Oh,and while I'm on this subject, I should mention that I'm in the middle of a recruiting drive to bring more members into this club. Do you think you might be interested in joining? I'd be glad to give a list of names of notable citizens who are members...some of them newly recruited.
The name of this club is "The Marathoners." There's only one simple requirement for membership, but actually meeting this requirement may be more of a challenge than what some may expect: All you have to do is run 26.2 miles. That's it. Just register for an official 26.2 mile run, then go our there on race day and actually perform your required task, and you're automatically a member. The benefits are tremendous! First of all, you get a free tee shirt. But here's the big perk: As soon as you finish, they will hang a nice medal around your neck...that is if you have the strength to continue standing with the additional weight of the medal, which is about four ounces. Just remember however, the medal and the tee shirt aren't really free...you have to earn them, and over the course of 26.2 miles, things can happen. They almost always have adequate supplies of water and cups along the route, but in case of a heat wave, like we saw in Chicago in 2007, the marathon support groups may find themselves unprepared for the excessive amount of water needed by the runners, and desperate times call for desperate measures. And, yes, there will be Port-a-Johns stationed all along the course, but if they have 11,000 participants and 300 Port-a-Johns, runners may find themselves standing in line, and sometimes that's just not an option. During one marathon, after seeing the lines at the Port-a-Johns, I decided to duck into a narrow alley, and when I got there, I saw three women and two men who had the same idea that I had. During desperate times, you do what you've gotta do. That was one of those times.
Maybe this is not the best job of salesmanship that you've ever witnessed, but all in all, completing a marathon is one of the most rewarding challenges I've ever experienced, and I believe it's the challenge that makes it so rewarding. Trust me, if I can do it anyone can. We'd love for you to join us, but when you do, don't be surprised if you find yourself committing an act that heretofore would've been unthinkable.
Preston
One of the worst things we've been guilty of doing: Some of us will urinate on the ground in the middle of town in broad daylight...men and women, side by side, minding our own business while "taking care of business." We will accept a drink of water from a total stranger...someone we've never seen before and will never see again...drinking from the same bottle that was just used by another complete stranger. We may pick up a used cup from the side of the street, even one that's been stepped on and mashed, and use it do dip into a tub of Gatorade to get us a drink. Yes, our moms would be so proud if they could see us while we're in this "zone" that temporarily moves us outside of the realm of human decency. Oh,and while I'm on this subject, I should mention that I'm in the middle of a recruiting drive to bring more members into this club. Do you think you might be interested in joining? I'd be glad to give a list of names of notable citizens who are members...some of them newly recruited.
The name of this club is "The Marathoners." There's only one simple requirement for membership, but actually meeting this requirement may be more of a challenge than what some may expect: All you have to do is run 26.2 miles. That's it. Just register for an official 26.2 mile run, then go our there on race day and actually perform your required task, and you're automatically a member. The benefits are tremendous! First of all, you get a free tee shirt. But here's the big perk: As soon as you finish, they will hang a nice medal around your neck...that is if you have the strength to continue standing with the additional weight of the medal, which is about four ounces. Just remember however, the medal and the tee shirt aren't really free...you have to earn them, and over the course of 26.2 miles, things can happen. They almost always have adequate supplies of water and cups along the route, but in case of a heat wave, like we saw in Chicago in 2007, the marathon support groups may find themselves unprepared for the excessive amount of water needed by the runners, and desperate times call for desperate measures. And, yes, there will be Port-a-Johns stationed all along the course, but if they have 11,000 participants and 300 Port-a-Johns, runners may find themselves standing in line, and sometimes that's just not an option. During one marathon, after seeing the lines at the Port-a-Johns, I decided to duck into a narrow alley, and when I got there, I saw three women and two men who had the same idea that I had. During desperate times, you do what you've gotta do. That was one of those times.
Maybe this is not the best job of salesmanship that you've ever witnessed, but all in all, completing a marathon is one of the most rewarding challenges I've ever experienced, and I believe it's the challenge that makes it so rewarding. Trust me, if I can do it anyone can. We'd love for you to join us, but when you do, don't be surprised if you find yourself committing an act that heretofore would've been unthinkable.
Preston
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXXXII
How in the world are we supposed to make these kinds of decisions? Choosing our leaders is among our most important responsibilities, and should not be done on a whim. To some extent, it will always be a guessing game, but if we do our homework and properly educate ourselves, it will take most of the guesswork out of the equation. The candidates who are running for office will, without a doubt, try to play on your emotions, but the word "emotion" should never be a part of this decision making process. An older gentleman gave me some advice many years ago when I was in the process of choosing between two different paths that had life-changing implications, and I've stored it in my memory and used it time and time again when I was faced with life's most important choices: "Look as far down the road into the future as you can see, and ask yourself this question: 'How will the decision I make today affect me when I get down there?'"
Do you keep up with what's going on in our country and around the world? If not, how do expect to know how to choose your next leaders? What are the primary issues of the day? Do you keep up with the news enough to have an opinion on current events? Ladies and gentlemen, it's time that we all get ourselves up to date on the issues facing our nation, because if we don't, we could end up making decisions that would adversely affect generations to come. Who is Harry Reid? Who is Tim Geithner? What about John Boehner? Have you ever heard of Rick Perry? Can you name the Secretary of State? Can decisions made by the Attorney General affect you? What significance do the words "Fast and Furious" have to us a nation? Should we close Gitmo? Why? Do you even know what I'm talking about? Do you have any idea which news media outlets can and cannot be trusted to give you unbiased, fact-based reporting? Can you distinguish between a politician or pundit who is stating honest facts and the ones who are simply giving you their party's talking points or political spin?
Every question I just asked, I know how to answer; but then, like I've told you before, I'm a news junkie. I know who all those people are and what they stand for, and I have an opinion on "Gitmo" and "Fast and Furious." I admit that the fact that I'm in my car many hours each week, listening to the news on satellite radio, gives me an advantage on keeping up with current events, but even with the knowledge I've acquired, I will still have to do some digging to make sure I'm voting for the candidates who best fit my philosophy. That leads me to ask how can a person have any idea how to vote when they don't keep up with what's going on in our world. Those are the people who vote based on emotion and how good looking the candidates are, and believe me, the candidates know how many of those people are out there, and they'll be playing up for their votes, saying what needs to be said for that particular audience. I find that scary.
Next year is an election year, so if you hurry, you still have time to educate yourself enough to make a proper decision...but you must act quickly. There's a lot to be learned in a short amount of time, but it can be done. One thing I've learned is that just because a person has the same basic opinions as I do, it doesn't mean that he or she would be a good leader. What qualities should we look for in choosing a leader, besides sharing our philosophy? I have a little checklist that I like to use:
Do they have the courage to express their honest views, even to a hostile audience?
What does this person's background say about what type of leader he or she will be?
When this person expresses their faith, is it for real, or for political purposes?
Does this person's record coincide with the views they express during the campaign?
How will my children and grandchildren be affected if this person is elected?
Can this person admit when he or she is wrong?
And there's little statement that should go at the bottom of the page: Never follow leaders who have not shown that they can follow their own leaders.
Preston
Do you keep up with what's going on in our country and around the world? If not, how do expect to know how to choose your next leaders? What are the primary issues of the day? Do you keep up with the news enough to have an opinion on current events? Ladies and gentlemen, it's time that we all get ourselves up to date on the issues facing our nation, because if we don't, we could end up making decisions that would adversely affect generations to come. Who is Harry Reid? Who is Tim Geithner? What about John Boehner? Have you ever heard of Rick Perry? Can you name the Secretary of State? Can decisions made by the Attorney General affect you? What significance do the words "Fast and Furious" have to us a nation? Should we close Gitmo? Why? Do you even know what I'm talking about? Do you have any idea which news media outlets can and cannot be trusted to give you unbiased, fact-based reporting? Can you distinguish between a politician or pundit who is stating honest facts and the ones who are simply giving you their party's talking points or political spin?
Every question I just asked, I know how to answer; but then, like I've told you before, I'm a news junkie. I know who all those people are and what they stand for, and I have an opinion on "Gitmo" and "Fast and Furious." I admit that the fact that I'm in my car many hours each week, listening to the news on satellite radio, gives me an advantage on keeping up with current events, but even with the knowledge I've acquired, I will still have to do some digging to make sure I'm voting for the candidates who best fit my philosophy. That leads me to ask how can a person have any idea how to vote when they don't keep up with what's going on in our world. Those are the people who vote based on emotion and how good looking the candidates are, and believe me, the candidates know how many of those people are out there, and they'll be playing up for their votes, saying what needs to be said for that particular audience. I find that scary.
Next year is an election year, so if you hurry, you still have time to educate yourself enough to make a proper decision...but you must act quickly. There's a lot to be learned in a short amount of time, but it can be done. One thing I've learned is that just because a person has the same basic opinions as I do, it doesn't mean that he or she would be a good leader. What qualities should we look for in choosing a leader, besides sharing our philosophy? I have a little checklist that I like to use:
Do they have the courage to express their honest views, even to a hostile audience?
What does this person's background say about what type of leader he or she will be?
When this person expresses their faith, is it for real, or for political purposes?
Does this person's record coincide with the views they express during the campaign?
How will my children and grandchildren be affected if this person is elected?
Can this person admit when he or she is wrong?
And there's little statement that should go at the bottom of the page: Never follow leaders who have not shown that they can follow their own leaders.
Preston
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXXI
It was a day that changed my life. Wait...let me rephrase that....it was a moment that changed my life. I don't remember exactly where I was when that moment happened, but I do remember that it was early September,1986, and I was driving my car, a white 1984 Buick Century. Just a couple weeks before, I had experienced for the first time that horrible feeling that almost every human alive has either already faced or will have to face...the death of a parent. In this instance, I had lost my dad, and as I drove down the highway that day trying so hard to erase the most recent memories of him as he lay in bed during those final days of life, I was hoping that my recollections of him would be of the happy times we had shared so many times, when he was in good health. Then the thought occurred to me that I was what I was, I believed the way I did, because that's what he believed. That's when that moment came, and it was nothing more than a thought, but it hit me like a bolt of lightning: "That's not good enough!" I could not survive on my own, living off of my dad's experiences or set of values. I had to have my own personal convictions, my own foundation to stand on, and it had to be solid and stable enough to sustain me during the hard times. His influence has always been, and always will be, a powerful force in my life, but I knew the days of being able to fall back on Daddy's standards were over. Beginning that day, I started studying, digging, thinking, praying, and developing my own belief system...something I could stand on.
It would be inaccurate to say that when that moment came, and my attitude made that sudden shift, that I discarded everything my dad had taught me. In fact, the exact opposite is true: I took the tools and materials he had provided for me, and used them to build my foundation. If someone would ask me to describe in one word what was the most important tool he had left me, I would have to say it is "stability." That's a trait that I want to always hold on to with a death grip, even as I pass it on down to my offspring, so that when the storms are raging and the waves come crashing in, we don't falter or waiver....we just hold steady and stay the course. That doesn't mean that if I ever discover I've made a wrong turn that I'm too stubborn to make a necessary correction. What it means is that I set my eyes on the goal, and let nothing distract me from that focus.
I guess what's got my mind going this direction is the fact that I have recently come in contact with some people who can best be compared to water in a pan. You tilt the pan one way, and they go rushing to one side. Then you shift the pan the other direction, and there they go again. They're here today and gone tomorrow. They're undependable, unpredictable, and the only thing consistent about them is that they're inconsistent. Probably the best way to describe them is that they're a perfect example of what I do not want to become. And the most troubling fact of all is they don't even realize they're that way....if fact, I feel certain that they would argue that they're the exact opposite. Can you think of someone who fits that description?
Just this past week I read a statement that really grabbed my attention: "People who are not strong in their beliefs will most likely adopt the viewpoint of the bully." I want to be the type person who can tell you what I believe and why I believe it, whether the topic be on religion, politics, morality, ethics, or life in general. And if you're going to convince me otherwise, you'd better come armed with some solid facts that you can prove beyond a doubt, or you're just wasting your time. Because, you see, I'm armed with a trait that gives me the courage to set my sails on a bold, steady course, and I don't aim to change. That trait is called "stability." And it all goes back to that day in 1986 when I realized that I had to have my own set of values and beliefs, and I went immediately to work developing them. Here's the neat part: Even though this task of constructing my own solid foundation is a perpetual process, when I take the time to stand back and take a look at it, it looks almost just like my dad's.
Preston
It would be inaccurate to say that when that moment came, and my attitude made that sudden shift, that I discarded everything my dad had taught me. In fact, the exact opposite is true: I took the tools and materials he had provided for me, and used them to build my foundation. If someone would ask me to describe in one word what was the most important tool he had left me, I would have to say it is "stability." That's a trait that I want to always hold on to with a death grip, even as I pass it on down to my offspring, so that when the storms are raging and the waves come crashing in, we don't falter or waiver....we just hold steady and stay the course. That doesn't mean that if I ever discover I've made a wrong turn that I'm too stubborn to make a necessary correction. What it means is that I set my eyes on the goal, and let nothing distract me from that focus.
I guess what's got my mind going this direction is the fact that I have recently come in contact with some people who can best be compared to water in a pan. You tilt the pan one way, and they go rushing to one side. Then you shift the pan the other direction, and there they go again. They're here today and gone tomorrow. They're undependable, unpredictable, and the only thing consistent about them is that they're inconsistent. Probably the best way to describe them is that they're a perfect example of what I do not want to become. And the most troubling fact of all is they don't even realize they're that way....if fact, I feel certain that they would argue that they're the exact opposite. Can you think of someone who fits that description?
Just this past week I read a statement that really grabbed my attention: "People who are not strong in their beliefs will most likely adopt the viewpoint of the bully." I want to be the type person who can tell you what I believe and why I believe it, whether the topic be on religion, politics, morality, ethics, or life in general. And if you're going to convince me otherwise, you'd better come armed with some solid facts that you can prove beyond a doubt, or you're just wasting your time. Because, you see, I'm armed with a trait that gives me the courage to set my sails on a bold, steady course, and I don't aim to change. That trait is called "stability." And it all goes back to that day in 1986 when I realized that I had to have my own set of values and beliefs, and I went immediately to work developing them. Here's the neat part: Even though this task of constructing my own solid foundation is a perpetual process, when I take the time to stand back and take a look at it, it looks almost just like my dad's.
Preston
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXX
When a baby is born into an English-speaking home, he will learn to make sounds that babies born in other parts of the world will never learn to make. By the same token, those born in those parts of the world can make sounds that you and I will never have the ability to make. Even if we learn to speak their language, we will be unable to mimic the exact sounds that come so easily to those who learn those languages as small children. Here's the reason: When we are born, our tongues and vocal cords have the potential to make many different sounds, many of which are never needed in speaking certain languages, but when we never use our organs for that purpose, the muscles needed to make those sounds never develop and become useless.
That information is something I picked up in one of my social studies classes in college, and I stored it somewhere way back in one of the tiny crevices of my memory; then last week I was thinking about a totally different topic, and that long hidden piece of knowledge came floating back up to the surface. What was on my mind was how I used to take pride in just how many phone numbers I had stored in my memory bank, and now that smart phones have completely taken over our methods of communication, I don't even know my own kids' phone numbers. There's no longer a need to memorize phone numbers...our phones do it for us. Then my mind went another direction: I've been singing in church since I was knee high to a grasshopper, and at one point in my life, there is no telling how many songs I knew by heart...every word. When we learned a praise chorus or a choir song, we learned it....completely. We didn't look at a book or a cheat sheet, but now that all the words are posted on a screen for everyone to see, I don't have to memorize a song any more. We have two big screens for the congregation to see, and then there's one on the back wall that's there strictly for the singers.
Now don't get me wrong--I'm not complaining. I love the new technology, but if they were to suddenly take away the big screens and the mobile phones, it would not be a problem for me to go back to the way we used to do it, because I developed that part of my brain when I was a little boy. Here's my concern: Will the children born today develop the ability to memorize phone numbers, songs, etc. the way I did? If technology does all that for them, will that be a part of their brain that never develops and ends up becoming useless? I don't know, but I do wonder about it. Every generation gains more knowledge than all the ones before, and I have no doubt that it will continue to be that way. I know there will be so much for them to store in their memory, but I'm not sure that "remembering" and "memorizing" are the same things, and I'm wondering if the "memorizing" part of their brains may never develop the way mine did.
I can still recall the words to more of the old songs than I care to admit, but when we're singing the newer songs, which I love, incidentally, I still have to look at the words. At first I just attributed it to old age, but now that I think about it, I believe it's because I never had to memorize the new ones. One other point: I can't hit the high notes like I used to either, but I still attribute that to old age. All I need now is a new idea that debunks that theory as well.
Preston
That information is something I picked up in one of my social studies classes in college, and I stored it somewhere way back in one of the tiny crevices of my memory; then last week I was thinking about a totally different topic, and that long hidden piece of knowledge came floating back up to the surface. What was on my mind was how I used to take pride in just how many phone numbers I had stored in my memory bank, and now that smart phones have completely taken over our methods of communication, I don't even know my own kids' phone numbers. There's no longer a need to memorize phone numbers...our phones do it for us. Then my mind went another direction: I've been singing in church since I was knee high to a grasshopper, and at one point in my life, there is no telling how many songs I knew by heart...every word. When we learned a praise chorus or a choir song, we learned it....completely. We didn't look at a book or a cheat sheet, but now that all the words are posted on a screen for everyone to see, I don't have to memorize a song any more. We have two big screens for the congregation to see, and then there's one on the back wall that's there strictly for the singers.
Now don't get me wrong--I'm not complaining. I love the new technology, but if they were to suddenly take away the big screens and the mobile phones, it would not be a problem for me to go back to the way we used to do it, because I developed that part of my brain when I was a little boy. Here's my concern: Will the children born today develop the ability to memorize phone numbers, songs, etc. the way I did? If technology does all that for them, will that be a part of their brain that never develops and ends up becoming useless? I don't know, but I do wonder about it. Every generation gains more knowledge than all the ones before, and I have no doubt that it will continue to be that way. I know there will be so much for them to store in their memory, but I'm not sure that "remembering" and "memorizing" are the same things, and I'm wondering if the "memorizing" part of their brains may never develop the way mine did.
I can still recall the words to more of the old songs than I care to admit, but when we're singing the newer songs, which I love, incidentally, I still have to look at the words. At first I just attributed it to old age, but now that I think about it, I believe it's because I never had to memorize the new ones. One other point: I can't hit the high notes like I used to either, but I still attribute that to old age. All I need now is a new idea that debunks that theory as well.
Preston
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXIX
Okay, so this may be a biased opinion, but Lake, my little grandson, made a statement that I thought was a pretty good observation for a five year old. He said, "I wish I was an adult. All kids want to be adults and all adults want to be kids." Of course I could've explained to him that adults have now been both and they've figured out that being a kid is better, but I don't think he would've agreed at that point. But doesn't that make sense? People in general never seem to be quite satisfied with where they are at any given point in life, and I guess I'm the same way. I'm definitely not the first person to ever say this, but I would like to take the wisdom I've acquired in the last sixty years and transfer it to a twenty-four year old body. But just like everyone else, I have to make do with what I am right now.
That leads me to ask this question, "Is there a perfect age?" If it was possible for kids to move up to the age they really want to be, and older people could move down to the age they prefer, where would they settle? It stands to reason that if children don't feel that they're old enough, and adults feel that they're too old, there must me an age somewhere in the middle where everyone would be happy. I think I know where the answer lies, but I haven't figured out a method of acquiring that knowledge. So I'll present it to you today, and see if you can help me come up with an answer.
In my few short years on this earth, I've attended funerals for two year olds and ninety-five year olds, and everywhere in between....people who get to experience Heaven before I do. I have, however, read considerably about Heaven, and one thing I've learned is that people who are there will never grow old, although the majority of the people who go there are old before they go. But what about when they get there? The way I see it, they won't be old any more. That leads me to believe that everyone in Heaven is the same age. So now, your homework assignment for today is to devise a formula that can be used to calculate the age of everyone in Heaven. When we come up with that answer, we'll know what the perfect age is. Hint: Keep in mind that there's a possibility that in Heaven, there may be no such thing as age.
If there is a perfect age for us earthlings, how long does it last? Does it last an entire year? Or would it only last for a minute? Whatever the answer, there's not much we can do about it, because every one of us gets a little older with each passing second, whether we want to or not. The only conclusion I can come up with is that the perfect age for Lake at this point in his life is five. The age I am now is just right for me. Tomorrow I need to be one day older. That will be perfect.
Preston
That leads me to ask this question, "Is there a perfect age?" If it was possible for kids to move up to the age they really want to be, and older people could move down to the age they prefer, where would they settle? It stands to reason that if children don't feel that they're old enough, and adults feel that they're too old, there must me an age somewhere in the middle where everyone would be happy. I think I know where the answer lies, but I haven't figured out a method of acquiring that knowledge. So I'll present it to you today, and see if you can help me come up with an answer.
In my few short years on this earth, I've attended funerals for two year olds and ninety-five year olds, and everywhere in between....people who get to experience Heaven before I do. I have, however, read considerably about Heaven, and one thing I've learned is that people who are there will never grow old, although the majority of the people who go there are old before they go. But what about when they get there? The way I see it, they won't be old any more. That leads me to believe that everyone in Heaven is the same age. So now, your homework assignment for today is to devise a formula that can be used to calculate the age of everyone in Heaven. When we come up with that answer, we'll know what the perfect age is. Hint: Keep in mind that there's a possibility that in Heaven, there may be no such thing as age.
If there is a perfect age for us earthlings, how long does it last? Does it last an entire year? Or would it only last for a minute? Whatever the answer, there's not much we can do about it, because every one of us gets a little older with each passing second, whether we want to or not. The only conclusion I can come up with is that the perfect age for Lake at this point in his life is five. The age I am now is just right for me. Tomorrow I need to be one day older. That will be perfect.
Preston
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXVIII
There may be a day when I'll count it as a success that I'm able to walk to the mailbox. I wonder if I'll still be blogging then. You may be reading some high drama account of how I braved a slippery driveway to bring my trash can back away from the street. It may sound a little humorous, but it is a distinct possibility. Overall, I'm an optimistic person, a positive thinker, yet I must admit that I've given some thought to what my mental outlook will be if I ever reach the stage in life where I will be basically immobile. It's a little depressing thinking about it, but I believe I will be better prepared if I have a plan of action to keep myself in a positive state of mind if and when that day ever comes.
I must never stop dreaming. Unless I live to be more than 120 years old, the majority of my life is already behind me, yet I still have so much that I want to accomplish, so many places I still want to go, and so many marathons that I still want to run. There's no doubt about the fact that eventually I will have to scale back some of these challenges, but I never want to reach the point in life where all of my personal ambition is gone and I have no goals that I still want to achieve. Even if I have to endure a little ridicule about how slowly I move and how long it takes me to complete my task, it will be worth it all when I can ask this simple question, "How many other people my age do you see who are even attempting to do what I've just done?"
The reason for writing those first two paragraphs is to make sure you are aware of where I stand regarding my own personal dreams and goals when you read the rest of what I have to say. So let me emphatically declare one more time, "As long as I have breath in my body, I will NEVER stop dreaming about at least one more challenge that I (me, myself) want to conquer. But something else occurred to me a few days ago that I gave a token amount of consideration, then one of my good friends, Nicole Dray, made a simple statement that brought it back to my mind like a torrent. She said, "When your children's dreams come true, yours do too." I guess I was amazed that I had just been thinking almost the same identical thing, and Nicole worded it so well. Thank you so much, Nicole. I'm pretty sure I know why you said it, and congratulations are in order!
I'm absolutely sure why my mind was on that topic. I have two kids, a daughter and a son, and both of them are seeing dreams fulfilled at the same time. My son set sales goals high enough to win a trip to an exotic island for he and his wife, and for the second year in a row, he has achieved that dream. For years my daughter has dreamed of a career that she would love to pursue, but it's a dream that comes with a price. She has now paid that price, and at exactly the same time that my son will be living it up in the Caribbean, she will be graduating with the degree for which she has so long dreamed, with a lucrative job already in the bag. And Mom and Dad feel like we've just won the lottery!
If you have kids, you'll understand what I'm talking about, but there's a little more to it than that. You see, a long time ago, when our kids were tiny babies, Angie and I dreamed of preparing them to make something of themselves, and part of our sense of pride is seeing those dreams come true. What we've learned in the process, however, is that by teaching our kids to dream, we have multiplied our own dreams. She and I both still have our own individual goals that we are working hard to accomplish, yet now that our kids know how to dream and how to pursue those dreams, that's where we've directed our major focus. It's not about us anymore.
Preston
I must never stop dreaming. Unless I live to be more than 120 years old, the majority of my life is already behind me, yet I still have so much that I want to accomplish, so many places I still want to go, and so many marathons that I still want to run. There's no doubt about the fact that eventually I will have to scale back some of these challenges, but I never want to reach the point in life where all of my personal ambition is gone and I have no goals that I still want to achieve. Even if I have to endure a little ridicule about how slowly I move and how long it takes me to complete my task, it will be worth it all when I can ask this simple question, "How many other people my age do you see who are even attempting to do what I've just done?"
The reason for writing those first two paragraphs is to make sure you are aware of where I stand regarding my own personal dreams and goals when you read the rest of what I have to say. So let me emphatically declare one more time, "As long as I have breath in my body, I will NEVER stop dreaming about at least one more challenge that I (me, myself) want to conquer. But something else occurred to me a few days ago that I gave a token amount of consideration, then one of my good friends, Nicole Dray, made a simple statement that brought it back to my mind like a torrent. She said, "When your children's dreams come true, yours do too." I guess I was amazed that I had just been thinking almost the same identical thing, and Nicole worded it so well. Thank you so much, Nicole. I'm pretty sure I know why you said it, and congratulations are in order!
I'm absolutely sure why my mind was on that topic. I have two kids, a daughter and a son, and both of them are seeing dreams fulfilled at the same time. My son set sales goals high enough to win a trip to an exotic island for he and his wife, and for the second year in a row, he has achieved that dream. For years my daughter has dreamed of a career that she would love to pursue, but it's a dream that comes with a price. She has now paid that price, and at exactly the same time that my son will be living it up in the Caribbean, she will be graduating with the degree for which she has so long dreamed, with a lucrative job already in the bag. And Mom and Dad feel like we've just won the lottery!
If you have kids, you'll understand what I'm talking about, but there's a little more to it than that. You see, a long time ago, when our kids were tiny babies, Angie and I dreamed of preparing them to make something of themselves, and part of our sense of pride is seeing those dreams come true. What we've learned in the process, however, is that by teaching our kids to dream, we have multiplied our own dreams. She and I both still have our own individual goals that we are working hard to accomplish, yet now that our kids know how to dream and how to pursue those dreams, that's where we've directed our major focus. It's not about us anymore.
Preston
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXVII
When I recently crossed paths with an old friend that I haven't seen in quite a while, he asked, "So what's been going on in your life?" I gave him a general overview of the direction my life has taken in the past several years, but after he and I had parted, I thought more about the question he had asked me, and I decided to relate to you some things that have been going on...things of which most of you are probably unaware. Angie and I have learned some lessons, and I would like to share some of what we've learned...some things that have given us a new outlook on life.
I often refer to Angie, my wife, as a "private citizen." What I mean by that is when she's facing a problem or a situation in life, she is not the type to share it with the world. In other words, she likes to keep her private life private. I totally understand, because I'm basically the same way. After some discussion with her however, we have decided that we will share some of what's been going on in the Davidson household in the last few months. Hopefully, I will be able to persuade her to give her side of the story in the near future as well, so you can also hear it from her perspective.
A couple months ago she and I volunteered to head up and coordinate a cookout for our LifeFocus class to be held at Kiroli Park. We did it, and I believe everyone who attended had a great time, but that particular weekend was especially stressful for us for more reasons than just having a cookout. I'll explain later why I feel that class outing plays a part in this story. At about the same time that we volunteered to take on that particular project, Angie was having some medical issues that just didn't seem to be getting any better, so she was going through a series of tests to try to find out what was causing her discomfort. When it turned out not to be what we thought it was, an x-ray was ordered, mainly to check her gall bladder. When our doctor checked the results, he called her and said, "Your gall bladder looks good, but I can see something in there that needs to be checked out. There's a spot on your pancreas." Well, that wasn't good news, to say the least. He ordered a CT scan so he could get a better look, and when those results came back, sure enough, there it was. He then referred us to a doctor in Shreveport, a specialist who could go in, take a look, and let us know for sure what was going on. When we went to see him for our initial visit before the actual procedure, he told us that, based on what he had seen, we should go ahead and plan on surgery. He then said, "Whatever I find in there will be sent off for a biopsy, but I do this all the time, and I'll know right away if it's cancer...and I'll tell you what I see." Then when the name "M.D. Anderson Hospital" in Houston was mentioned, it sent chills up our spines.
The procedure was scheduled for early Monday morning, less than a week after that initial visit, and it was also the morning after our class outing. I really believe that having the responsibility of overseeing the cookout was helpful for us that weekend, because it kept our minds occupied. Through all of this, the only person other than immediate family who knew the whole story was Angie's boss, who is a surgeon. Without mentioning her specific needs, Angie went down front for prayer a couple times at church, and I believe her faith was strong due to some events earlier in her life that had worked to increase her faith. I should also add that there is a scripture that I kept quoting to myself that gave me strength. It is Matthew 6:27: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Most of you will remember less than a month ago, Jansen Martinez wrote for me telling her story of how she lost her twin babies, and has since been restored another set of twins, a boy and a girl, the same that she had lost. (The odds of that happening are 3 in 10,000.) Jansen had relayed her story to us the day before Angie's procedure, and it was while I was sitting alone in the waiting room, during the time they were working on her, that I contacted Jansen asking her to share her experiences. I know her story helped a lot of people, but it was perfectly timed for us as a gigantic faith builder.
I must admit that I was really stressed that morning as I sat there in that hospital, but when they called my name and told me the doctor wanted to visit with me, I felt a peace and a calmness that I had not felt in weeks. He went straight to the point: "Well, there's no mass. I checked every square inch of her pancreas, and there's nothing there. It looks good." I could tell by the doctor's demeanor that he was really enjoying giving us that information. All we could say was, "Thank you God!!"
While our report turned out good, we were fully aware that there are just as many people whose news is the opposite. I'm not sure how I would've reacted if what we heard had been different. What would our drive home been like that day? What would we have said to each other? More than likely some of you know from experience what it's like to hear a bad report. I know from exerience that on that one and a half hour drive back home, the things that we had complained and worried about in the past weren't so important any more. We're not sure what that spot on the x-ray was all about...in fact, we may never know. What we do know is that Angie's pancreas looks good, and she is feeling better day by day. For that we are grateful! May the rest of our days be filled with thanksgiving.
Preston
I often refer to Angie, my wife, as a "private citizen." What I mean by that is when she's facing a problem or a situation in life, she is not the type to share it with the world. In other words, she likes to keep her private life private. I totally understand, because I'm basically the same way. After some discussion with her however, we have decided that we will share some of what's been going on in the Davidson household in the last few months. Hopefully, I will be able to persuade her to give her side of the story in the near future as well, so you can also hear it from her perspective.
A couple months ago she and I volunteered to head up and coordinate a cookout for our LifeFocus class to be held at Kiroli Park. We did it, and I believe everyone who attended had a great time, but that particular weekend was especially stressful for us for more reasons than just having a cookout. I'll explain later why I feel that class outing plays a part in this story. At about the same time that we volunteered to take on that particular project, Angie was having some medical issues that just didn't seem to be getting any better, so she was going through a series of tests to try to find out what was causing her discomfort. When it turned out not to be what we thought it was, an x-ray was ordered, mainly to check her gall bladder. When our doctor checked the results, he called her and said, "Your gall bladder looks good, but I can see something in there that needs to be checked out. There's a spot on your pancreas." Well, that wasn't good news, to say the least. He ordered a CT scan so he could get a better look, and when those results came back, sure enough, there it was. He then referred us to a doctor in Shreveport, a specialist who could go in, take a look, and let us know for sure what was going on. When we went to see him for our initial visit before the actual procedure, he told us that, based on what he had seen, we should go ahead and plan on surgery. He then said, "Whatever I find in there will be sent off for a biopsy, but I do this all the time, and I'll know right away if it's cancer...and I'll tell you what I see." Then when the name "M.D. Anderson Hospital" in Houston was mentioned, it sent chills up our spines.
The procedure was scheduled for early Monday morning, less than a week after that initial visit, and it was also the morning after our class outing. I really believe that having the responsibility of overseeing the cookout was helpful for us that weekend, because it kept our minds occupied. Through all of this, the only person other than immediate family who knew the whole story was Angie's boss, who is a surgeon. Without mentioning her specific needs, Angie went down front for prayer a couple times at church, and I believe her faith was strong due to some events earlier in her life that had worked to increase her faith. I should also add that there is a scripture that I kept quoting to myself that gave me strength. It is Matthew 6:27: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Most of you will remember less than a month ago, Jansen Martinez wrote for me telling her story of how she lost her twin babies, and has since been restored another set of twins, a boy and a girl, the same that she had lost. (The odds of that happening are 3 in 10,000.) Jansen had relayed her story to us the day before Angie's procedure, and it was while I was sitting alone in the waiting room, during the time they were working on her, that I contacted Jansen asking her to share her experiences. I know her story helped a lot of people, but it was perfectly timed for us as a gigantic faith builder.
I must admit that I was really stressed that morning as I sat there in that hospital, but when they called my name and told me the doctor wanted to visit with me, I felt a peace and a calmness that I had not felt in weeks. He went straight to the point: "Well, there's no mass. I checked every square inch of her pancreas, and there's nothing there. It looks good." I could tell by the doctor's demeanor that he was really enjoying giving us that information. All we could say was, "Thank you God!!"
While our report turned out good, we were fully aware that there are just as many people whose news is the opposite. I'm not sure how I would've reacted if what we heard had been different. What would our drive home been like that day? What would we have said to each other? More than likely some of you know from experience what it's like to hear a bad report. I know from exerience that on that one and a half hour drive back home, the things that we had complained and worried about in the past weren't so important any more. We're not sure what that spot on the x-ray was all about...in fact, we may never know. What we do know is that Angie's pancreas looks good, and she is feeling better day by day. For that we are grateful! May the rest of our days be filled with thanksgiving.
Preston
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCLXXVI
I just found out some things about myself that make me somewhat less than proud. Now before I start explaining what I'm talking about, let me clarify one point: I think it's a good thing for a person to recognize a few of his own faults that need to be corrected, but there's a big difference between someone admitting that he needs to make some improvements, and someone beating up on himself and putting himself down. What I'm doing is the former; in no way am I low-rating myself...in fact, I've been amazed at how many people have told me that they have made the same discovery about themselves.
Now for a little background that will help describe the circumstances that led me to perform this self-examination: I am a member of a four-person rotation who teaches an adult Sunday School class known as LifeFocus, and this past Sunday was my turn. I began my lesson preparation a little over a week prior to time for me to teach, and as I was contemplating some of the different points that I felt needed to be made, I decided to present myself with a little challenge (It turned out to be a pretty big challenge.): I would see if I could go a whole week without making any negative comments about anyone else. That was on a Saturday, a week and a day before "my Sunday." Then I came up with an even better idea, so the next morning when I got to class, I asked my friend, Rusty Puckett, who was teaching that morning, if I could have sixty seconds at the end of the class to present the same challenge to the entire class, and we would discuss it the following week. I explained to them that I had decided to go on a week-long fast, but it was a type of fast where I could eat anything I want at any time. I called it a "Negativity Fast" and I invited "whosoeverwill" to join me. I was thrilled when the majority of the class agreed to do so.
Ladies and Gentlemen, that was a long week! I completely lost count of how many times I had to check myself as I was about to make some type of negative comment about another individual. If there was any consolation to be found in this saga, it was the comments I was hearing from my friends in the class who were experiencing the same types of challenges that I was facing. "It would be easier to go on a food fast," and "This is one of the toughest weeks I've ever lived through" are just a couple of the many statements I was hearing over and over from my classmates. However, when Sunday came and the "fast" was over, there was one comment that I kept hearing time and again: "I didn't realize just how negative I've become." I made the same declaration myself.
Well, that seemingly endless week is now behind us, and we're all free to go back to our old ways if that's what we desire, but like I said in the first sentence, I'm not proud of the person that I now know I had become. I know what it's like to try to carry on a conversation with someone who is a constant complainer, and I don't want to be that person. Do you know what type person is the exact opposite of a complainer? It's someone who's thankful. That's who I want to be. Now I'm wise enough to know that changing old habits is a daunting task and requires a determination made of steel, but I believe I'm up to the challenge. Whether I succeed or fail is my choice, and my decision is made.
Preston
Now for a little background that will help describe the circumstances that led me to perform this self-examination: I am a member of a four-person rotation who teaches an adult Sunday School class known as LifeFocus, and this past Sunday was my turn. I began my lesson preparation a little over a week prior to time for me to teach, and as I was contemplating some of the different points that I felt needed to be made, I decided to present myself with a little challenge (It turned out to be a pretty big challenge.): I would see if I could go a whole week without making any negative comments about anyone else. That was on a Saturday, a week and a day before "my Sunday." Then I came up with an even better idea, so the next morning when I got to class, I asked my friend, Rusty Puckett, who was teaching that morning, if I could have sixty seconds at the end of the class to present the same challenge to the entire class, and we would discuss it the following week. I explained to them that I had decided to go on a week-long fast, but it was a type of fast where I could eat anything I want at any time. I called it a "Negativity Fast" and I invited "whosoeverwill" to join me. I was thrilled when the majority of the class agreed to do so.
Ladies and Gentlemen, that was a long week! I completely lost count of how many times I had to check myself as I was about to make some type of negative comment about another individual. If there was any consolation to be found in this saga, it was the comments I was hearing from my friends in the class who were experiencing the same types of challenges that I was facing. "It would be easier to go on a food fast," and "This is one of the toughest weeks I've ever lived through" are just a couple of the many statements I was hearing over and over from my classmates. However, when Sunday came and the "fast" was over, there was one comment that I kept hearing time and again: "I didn't realize just how negative I've become." I made the same declaration myself.
Well, that seemingly endless week is now behind us, and we're all free to go back to our old ways if that's what we desire, but like I said in the first sentence, I'm not proud of the person that I now know I had become. I know what it's like to try to carry on a conversation with someone who is a constant complainer, and I don't want to be that person. Do you know what type person is the exact opposite of a complainer? It's someone who's thankful. That's who I want to be. Now I'm wise enough to know that changing old habits is a daunting task and requires a determination made of steel, but I believe I'm up to the challenge. Whether I succeed or fail is my choice, and my decision is made.
Preston
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