He'll go to his grave without ever knowing anything about it. I'm surely not gonna tell him. After all, I don't even know him, and besides that, I'll probably never see him again. He inspired me to write this article, but I'm having to make some assumptions about him to make it work. All he did was walk by with his wife...well, I assume that was his wife. I just happened to notice that he's a fairly small man, and the runner in me triggered the thought, "I'll bet he would make a good runner." Of course, I just naturally assumed that he's not one already. The law of averages suggests that not only does he not run, but he doesn't even have a consistent exercise program. Shame on him! I should give him a piece of my mind!
Oh, I know what he'd say if I did, "Man, I'm so out of shape, I couldn't run a half mile without getting out of breath." He would then have an argument on his hands, because I know better. Yes, I agree that right now maybe he can't, but I also know how quickly he could work up to whatever distance he would want to run. That's when I would tell him about one of my favorite books that has absolutely nothing to do with running. It's called "You Gotta Have the Want To" by Alan Oggs, a man who was born with cerebral palsy, a disease which greatly affected his mobility and his speech. Through God's help and his intense desire, he became a great husband and father, and went on to become a much sought-after speaker, teacher and author. All because he had "the want to."
It wouldn't be fair to try to compare myself with Alan Oggs, but I can say that I'm NOT a natural-born athlete, and I've completed thirteen full marathons. If I can do that, any able-bodied person on earth can do it. If you're OUT of shape, you can get IN shape...if you want to. All it takes is desire. Have you ever stopped to think that the things you genuinely want to do, you usually get it done?
I'd say all of that to the little guy that walked by with his wife. I'd let him know that if I who have to battle my weight every day, can run 26.2 miles at age sixty, then he who is two-thirds my weight and two-thirds my age, can run two-thirds my distance, if he has "the want to." Yep, that's what I'd tell him...assuming he's not already a runner.
Preston
Monday, March 26, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCCXV
What does it mean to be free? Are we truly independent? Can it be called freedom if we're enslaved by choice? If we take an honest look at the trends that we're seeing in our country today, it becomes obvious that with every new law that is passed we're giving up one more little snippet of our liberty, but today's topic is not about politics. I'm talking about personal independence. Let me give you an example of what I mean: I've been reading a book that was written by a young woman who described the plight of her mother. The author told how her dad ruled the home with an iron fist, and her mother lived in fear of making any type of decision lest the dad would disapprove and want to "teach her a lesson"...not physically, but with harsh words, public humiliation and intimidation. It's one thing for a child to grow up in that atmosphere when he will eventually have the option to leave home and make his own way in life, but it's a different story for a spouse who is in that situation "for better or for worse and till death do us part." A woman who finds herself in that situation without a way of supporting herself if she was on her own is living in bondage for life.
Actually, it's not just women who live in slavery, because I can name some men whose lives are made miserable by the actions of their wives. Situations like I'm describing can make for an unhappy home life, but the Bible gives us some instructions in this matter that will help to eliminate these types of problems. It instructs wives to obey their husbands, but, thank God, it doesn't stop there. The next line says, "Husbands, love your wives." Do you enslave those whom you love? I don't think so. When a man loves his wife, her happiness and safety are his utmost concern. When a man loves his wife, he will seek her advice and give her a voice in the decisions of the home. When a man loves his wife, he will encourage her to pursue her dreams, and even assist her in that effort. When a man loves his wife, he will never intentionally cause her public humiliation and he will never belittle her or her opinions.
I really don't know how I would advise a wife who feels that she is living in bondage...that's beyond my field of expertise, but I'm of the opinion that if the husband will adhere to the part of the scripture that pertains to him, it becomes much easier for the woman to obey her part.
Preston
Actually, it's not just women who live in slavery, because I can name some men whose lives are made miserable by the actions of their wives. Situations like I'm describing can make for an unhappy home life, but the Bible gives us some instructions in this matter that will help to eliminate these types of problems. It instructs wives to obey their husbands, but, thank God, it doesn't stop there. The next line says, "Husbands, love your wives." Do you enslave those whom you love? I don't think so. When a man loves his wife, her happiness and safety are his utmost concern. When a man loves his wife, he will seek her advice and give her a voice in the decisions of the home. When a man loves his wife, he will encourage her to pursue her dreams, and even assist her in that effort. When a man loves his wife, he will never intentionally cause her public humiliation and he will never belittle her or her opinions.
I really don't know how I would advise a wife who feels that she is living in bondage...that's beyond my field of expertise, but I'm of the opinion that if the husband will adhere to the part of the scripture that pertains to him, it becomes much easier for the woman to obey her part.
Preston
Monday, March 12, 2012
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCCXIV
At the time that I'm actually writing this article, I'm sitting at a trade show in Jackson, MS. I'm not new to this scene. As a matter of fact, I've now been doing this Jackson show for twenty-six years. It's just natural for me to think back over the last two and a half decades and marvel at how much things have remained the same and yet they are so vastly different now. Some of my clients from those first days are still around, and in some cases their kids who were only eight to ten years old back then have now taken over the business and are ones I'm dealing with. One of the most striking differences, however, is the way the people are dressed.
As I sit here today, I'm wearing a light-weight denim sports shirt with khaki slacks, and I'm one of the most "dressed-up" guys in the building. My how things have changed in just a few short years! In the "old days" I would have been the talk of the building if I had come in here dressed like I am today. Back then every man in the building would've had on a tie with a suit or a sport coat. I've seen only one man dressed like that today, and he's an old man. At least eighty per cent of the people I can see from my vantage point are wearing jeans, and among the females, about half of them are jeans with holes in them. In an effort to at least half-way keep with the trends of the day, I came to work this morning with my shirt untucked, but when I went to the restroom a few minutes ago, I tucked it back in without realizing what I was doing. Old habits are hard to break.
I've been around long enough to know that fashions are cyclical and will eventually come full circle back to the trends of yesterday, but I have to wonder if the dressed up look will make it back in my lifetime. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't. Whatever happens, look for me to be tagging along somewhere about a year or so behind the original trendsetters. I don't know how long it will take, but the fashions that were in style a few years ago will reappear. Maybe I shouldn't have thrown away all my old leisure suits.
Preston
As I sit here today, I'm wearing a light-weight denim sports shirt with khaki slacks, and I'm one of the most "dressed-up" guys in the building. My how things have changed in just a few short years! In the "old days" I would have been the talk of the building if I had come in here dressed like I am today. Back then every man in the building would've had on a tie with a suit or a sport coat. I've seen only one man dressed like that today, and he's an old man. At least eighty per cent of the people I can see from my vantage point are wearing jeans, and among the females, about half of them are jeans with holes in them. In an effort to at least half-way keep with the trends of the day, I came to work this morning with my shirt untucked, but when I went to the restroom a few minutes ago, I tucked it back in without realizing what I was doing. Old habits are hard to break.
I've been around long enough to know that fashions are cyclical and will eventually come full circle back to the trends of yesterday, but I have to wonder if the dressed up look will make it back in my lifetime. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't. Whatever happens, look for me to be tagging along somewhere about a year or so behind the original trendsetters. I don't know how long it will take, but the fashions that were in style a few years ago will reappear. Maybe I shouldn't have thrown away all my old leisure suits.
Preston
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCCXIII
If you're a parent with kids at home, I've discovered an eye-opening television show that you need to watch. It's really a miracle that I found it, because I prefer to spend my evenings with my nose in a book rather than with my eyes glued to the TV. Just a couple nights ago, however, I was in a hotel room in Little Rock, AR, and I finished my book before bedtime, so I flipped on the television to see if I could find anything that would catch my attention. Before I tell you what I found, let me give you a little background.
I grew up in a very conservative Christian home, and though things have changed somewhat in recent years, in those days the majority of the people in our church, including us, did not own a television because of the influence it could have on our lives. As I look back, it seems a little odd that TV was prohibited in the days of "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Andy Griffith Show," and now it is much more accepted in the days of MTV and "Sex in the City." Upon further reflection, however, I have to wonder if maybe they had some insight back then that we have somehow lost down through the years.
Now, let's get back to the show that I'm recommending you watch. The trouble is I don't know the name of it. I can't even recall what it was that made me stop there. It was on MTV during the 9:00 o'clock hour (Central Time). The reason I think you should watch it is I believe parents need to see first hand what type material is being targeted toward their kids. It seemed like every third word had to be bleeped, although they would bleep out just a fraction of the word, and it left no doubt in anyone's mind what was being said. Then there were a couple of bedroom scenes where, even though they were under the sheets, it was obvious what was going on. I didn't watch long, but when I started flipping channels again, I found another show on the "Oxygen" channel that was almost the same thing I had seen on MTV.
When I was a teenager, I laughed at the "What's this world coming to?" rantings that I would hear from the older generation, and maybe that's the way I sound today, but I now know from observation down through the years that "what one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace." I'm not suggesting that we go back to the days of no television....we're beyond that point....but I do believe that as parents, if we don't monitor what our kids are watching, we'll live to regret it in future years. It worries me to look at European countries, such as the godless society of The Netherlands, and realize that that's what America could look like in just few short years if we don't reverse the direction we're heading.
I hope I'm not coming across as a know-it-all old guy who's trying to dictate to young parents how to raise their kids. As a matter of fact, I believe that the majority of the younger generation of parents that I know are doing a good job with their children and are doing all they can to train up their children in the way they should go so they will not depart from it when they are older. I'm just trying to sound an alarm in case there are some who haven't been checking to see what type of entertainment is being aimed at their kids. I hope I'm not too late.
Preston
I grew up in a very conservative Christian home, and though things have changed somewhat in recent years, in those days the majority of the people in our church, including us, did not own a television because of the influence it could have on our lives. As I look back, it seems a little odd that TV was prohibited in the days of "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Andy Griffith Show," and now it is much more accepted in the days of MTV and "Sex in the City." Upon further reflection, however, I have to wonder if maybe they had some insight back then that we have somehow lost down through the years.
Now, let's get back to the show that I'm recommending you watch. The trouble is I don't know the name of it. I can't even recall what it was that made me stop there. It was on MTV during the 9:00 o'clock hour (Central Time). The reason I think you should watch it is I believe parents need to see first hand what type material is being targeted toward their kids. It seemed like every third word had to be bleeped, although they would bleep out just a fraction of the word, and it left no doubt in anyone's mind what was being said. Then there were a couple of bedroom scenes where, even though they were under the sheets, it was obvious what was going on. I didn't watch long, but when I started flipping channels again, I found another show on the "Oxygen" channel that was almost the same thing I had seen on MTV.
When I was a teenager, I laughed at the "What's this world coming to?" rantings that I would hear from the older generation, and maybe that's the way I sound today, but I now know from observation down through the years that "what one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace." I'm not suggesting that we go back to the days of no television....we're beyond that point....but I do believe that as parents, if we don't monitor what our kids are watching, we'll live to regret it in future years. It worries me to look at European countries, such as the godless society of The Netherlands, and realize that that's what America could look like in just few short years if we don't reverse the direction we're heading.
I hope I'm not coming across as a know-it-all old guy who's trying to dictate to young parents how to raise their kids. As a matter of fact, I believe that the majority of the younger generation of parents that I know are doing a good job with their children and are doing all they can to train up their children in the way they should go so they will not depart from it when they are older. I'm just trying to sound an alarm in case there are some who haven't been checking to see what type of entertainment is being aimed at their kids. I hope I'm not too late.
Preston
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCCXII
Have you ever visited an old home place of a famous person in history? I've done it a few times, and I find it fascinating. One of them was the home of General Robert E. Lee, located in Arlington, VA. One thing that struck me about his home, which has been the same in practically all of the old homes I've visited, is how small everything is compared to the sizes of the same type of items that we see today. The staircases, the dishes, the beds,and even the homes themselves are much smaller than what we normally find in today's world...at least in our country.
If you are married, what size bed do you and your spouse sleep on? I dare say that the vast majority of you sleep on a queen or a king size bed. Both of those were unheard of a hundred years ago. I'm not complaining, because I prefer a bed larger than full size. As a result, however, the larger bed requires a larger room, which means a larger house. One does have to wonder, though, if we will ever reach a stopping point on everything getting bigger. Will king size beds ever become too small for us? Is bigger always better?
Why are our dishes larger than they were a hundred years ago? It's because the population demands it. That reminds me of something that I've learned about myself. When it's only Angie and I at home, we just fill our plates from the pots on the stove, and if I will use a smaller plate, I end up eating less. When I use a larger plate, I just naturally get larger servings....hence, more food is consumed. What I've discovered about it is, although I eat less on the smaller plate, I'm still satisfied at the end of my meal.
American restaurants have discovered that we are willing to pay higher prices for our meals if they give us larger portions, and that results in larger profits. We've now become so spoiled that we complain about smaller portions, even if the price is less. So, how is this affecting us? Well, obesity is running rampant in our society as we enter into this new millennium, and that results in a less healthy populace. Yes, everything is bigger now than it was a century ago, including the people. So, is bigger always better? You tell me.
Preston
If you are married, what size bed do you and your spouse sleep on? I dare say that the vast majority of you sleep on a queen or a king size bed. Both of those were unheard of a hundred years ago. I'm not complaining, because I prefer a bed larger than full size. As a result, however, the larger bed requires a larger room, which means a larger house. One does have to wonder, though, if we will ever reach a stopping point on everything getting bigger. Will king size beds ever become too small for us? Is bigger always better?
Why are our dishes larger than they were a hundred years ago? It's because the population demands it. That reminds me of something that I've learned about myself. When it's only Angie and I at home, we just fill our plates from the pots on the stove, and if I will use a smaller plate, I end up eating less. When I use a larger plate, I just naturally get larger servings....hence, more food is consumed. What I've discovered about it is, although I eat less on the smaller plate, I'm still satisfied at the end of my meal.
American restaurants have discovered that we are willing to pay higher prices for our meals if they give us larger portions, and that results in larger profits. We've now become so spoiled that we complain about smaller portions, even if the price is less. So, how is this affecting us? Well, obesity is running rampant in our society as we enter into this new millennium, and that results in a less healthy populace. Yes, everything is bigger now than it was a century ago, including the people. So, is bigger always better? You tell me.
Preston
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