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
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
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
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