Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXVI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXV

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

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

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

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

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

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXIV

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

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

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

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

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXIII

I need some help here. There are some things I can understand and some things I can't, so maybe someone can bring me up to date in the areas where I'm confused. Just let me warn you however, I'm not gonna be an easy sell. One of the things that I think I do understand is about addictions and how they come about. And let me pause here long enough to say that I'm not going to condemn or convict anyone because of their addictions, and here's why: I believe addictions are the result of people who make some mistakes in judgment for a whole variety of reasons, those mistakes become habits, and then the habits eventually turn into addictions. Another thing I feel pretty sure about is that when that person smoked their first cigarette, took that first sip of alcohol, clicked on that first porn site, or put that first coin in the slot machine, it certainly was not their intention to become hooked. The reason I can't be too critical is because of the number of mistakes in judgment I've made in my own past...it's just that I was lucky enough to overcome them before they took control of my life. (It's possible that I may be addicted to coffee...I've never tried to give it up, so I don't know for sure.) If I was without sin, then maybe it would be okay for me to cast a few stones.

I am of the opinion that some vices are prone to become addictions, and then there are others that become habits and don't have an addictive nature. And when they're merely habits, it's much easier to successfully make a mental determination to walk away from them. I also know for a fact that addictions can be conquered, but if they can be caught while they're still just habits, it's a much easier victory to win. In fact, I believe that we all have the power within us to break bad habits if we have the desire to do so.

One of the vices that I believe does not have an addictive nature, and this is bringing me to my main point, is the use of profanity. I'm aware that it's a habit, but for the life of me, I just can't see where it's addictive. These people with their so called "colorful vocabulary" can be interviewed on radio or television, or may be in the presence of children or preachers, and their language will be as clean as any nun you could meet. So why then can't they talk like that all the time? Profanity has to be one of the most unnecessary "bad habits" around. Here's what I don't understand: Why do people curse? I accept the explanation that it can be one of those "errors in judgment" that I was talking about earlier that maybe a juvenile will make in an effort to be cool, but hopefully when he or she reaches maturity, they will realize just how "uncool" it really is. I've heard people say, "I can't stand to talk to a woman with a foul mouth." I agree. But I also find a potty-mouthed man to be just as repulsive. If it's bad for one gender, it's bad for both. I firmly believe that if anyone wanted to clean up their language, it could be done without too much effort. And that leads me to believe that when people curse, it's because they WANT to. But why? I'll tell you how I feel, and I know without a doubt that there are countless others who feel the same way I do: When I hear anyone, male or female, issuing a string of profanity, my opinion of that person immediately takes a drastic drop.

It is not my intention to offend anyone today, and I certainly hope that all of you can understand where I'm coming from. I just have one small request that I think could be easily delivered: Please clean up your #@^*~#* language!

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXII

Coke had a problem and they weren't quite sure what to do about it. It's easy for us to look back in hindsight now and know the correct plan of action for them, but I'm sure glad that it wasn't me that had to make that decision for them at that time. We know they made a bad decision, but given the set of facts that they had to look at, how many of us can say that we wouldn't have made the same mistake they made?

Those of you who are old enough to remember the mid-seventies will probably remember when this event took place, but you may not know the whole story. Coca-Cola was the king of cola, but second place Pepsi was fighting hard to take as much of that market share as they could; and that's when they decided to offer what they called "The Pepsi Challenge." They would set up a table in a place where there was a lot of foot traffic and invite random people to a "blind folded taste test." They would then give the volunteer a sip of either Coke or Pepsi, and then they would let them taste the other. Then that person would tell them which taste they preferred, and consistently people were picking Pepsi over Coke by a substantial margin. Coca-Cola didn't really believe those results, so they start giving the same "sip" tests, and sure enough, the majority of the people tested preferred the taste of Pepsi. That's when Coke made the big blunder...they changed their formula and introduced "New Coke." Pepsi tastes a little sweeter and is not quite as strong as Coke. So basically what Coca-Cola did was change their formula so it would taste like Pepsi. The backlash over that decision came from all parts of the globe.

By now, the people at Coke were extremely puzzled, not knowing really what to do. They thought they were giving the people what they wanted, but there was one small fact that they were overlooking. That's when one man at coke had an idea...he would offer that challenge again, but this time, instead of the volunteers taking a sip, they would drink an entire bottle. This time the results were entirely different and the world was re-introduced to "Coke Classic." They learned the hard way that there's a vast difference in taking a "sip" of Coke and drinking a whole bottle, and the consumers couldn't really tell what they liked best until they had the whole thing.

Is there a lesson in that story? I think there is. Hopefully none of us would make a decision whether or not we wanted to marry a young man or woman after only a single date. Anything taken out of context of the entire picture fails to give an accurate reading of what you're actually looking at. You can't take any random scripture from the Bible and choose to base your life on what it says without looking at the entire context in which it was written. My job requires a lot of travel, and I've learned that if I'm staying in a particular hotel for the first time, I don't make my reservations for the next trip to that city until I've checked out and can make my judgment on the entire stay. If you're moving to a new city and you're looking for a church home, it's probably a good idea to visit each potential church several times before making your decision. On my first trip to a Thai restaurant, I tried the coconut soup and made an ugly face after the first sip, but before I was done with that bowl, I was practically drinking it. The first time you meet someone new, you can't tell if you and that person will become good friends or not...it takes time.

So if I decide to sing for you, don't turn me off after just two or three lines. You need to listen to the whole song...then turn me off.

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXXI

The act of being a gentleman brought me good luck. The same could not be said of the two ladies who were the beneficiaries of my gentlemanly act. I arrived at the door of the pancake restaurant at the same time they did, so I opened the door for them, which allowed them to enter ahead of me. The hostess seated them in a booth that was being serviced by a waitress named Dot. The waitress at my table was Tranisha. When we arrived, Dot and Tranisha where busy rolling silverware into napkins. Within seconds, Tranisha had greeted me, filled my cup with coffee, and was generally making me feel like a king, while Dot continued rolling up her silverware. Finally the two ladies asked for some service. Dot grudgingly got up, walked over to them and asked them what they wanted to order. For the length of time that I was there, I didn't see Dot smile a single time. I'm not sure what the rest of the dining experience for those two ladies was like, because I had finished eating before they ever got their food.

I have no reason to believe that Dot is not a nice lady, and since she stayed busy the whole time I was there, she is apparently not a lazy person. But she certainly gave me the impression that she does not enjoy being a waitress. If I'm your customer, I want to see some enthusiasm! I want your face to tell me that taking care of my needs is exactly what you want to be doing at that moment. If you're performing a service for others, whatever it may be, the ones being served need to feel that you're doing that service because that's what you WANT to be doing.

Nothing can take the place of delivering a quality product or service that fills the needs of the consumer, but whether or not we want to admit it, there are other people out there besides us who can do that; so I have to make sure that my enthusiasm in performing my service is what puts me over the top. A couple years ago, I was walking through the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and I passed a stage where a band was performing. There's no denying the fact that they were good, but I've heard plenty of good bands in my time; yet there was something about them that stopped me in my tracks. I was so captivated by the combination of the quality of their music and the expressions on their faces that said "I love what I'm doing," that I told the two guys that were with me, "You two can do what you want, but I'm staying here a while."

I've been in sales for most of my life, and during that time, I've learned that if I want to be successful, there are two things my customers have to be sold on: I have to sell them on my product, and I have to sell them on me. They could go somewhere else and buy a quality product, but there's one small problem...if they did that, they wouldn't have me to sell it to them.

I wish Dot the best and I hope she lives a long happy life, but the next time I'm back at that pancake house, I'm asking for Tranisha.

Preston

Thinking Out Loud, Volume CCXXX

I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and there is one group of people that really helps to make the world go 'round, yet they never get any recognition; so today I want to personally thank them for their contribution. First of all, however, I would like to build a foundation that will help you to understand why I believe this particular group deserves our gratitude.

Have you ever heard of the concept called "survival of the fittest?" Here's how it works: Let's say there is a herd of gazelles out grazing on one of the plains of Africa, and there is a lion crouching down in the tall grass watching and waiting for the right moment to attack. Suddenly, without warning, she makes her move, and when she does, the gazelles also spring into action as they flee for their lives. One of those gazelles is about to become that lion's dinner, but which one will it be? Chances are, it will be the slowest, weakest member of the herd. If it had not been for that slow, weak gazelle, the lion would have had a much harder time getting her meal. Just as in nature where the creatures of prey feed off of the weak, the same holds true in our human society.

Throughout her life, that lion has watched and studied gazelles, so she knows their habits and how they are likely to react to a certain situation. Businesses study the habits of consumers for the same reason. Have you ever been to Las Vegas? Or Atlantic City? Or even Biloxi? Do you think the owners of those gigantic casinos can build such huge operations off of what their customers win while they're there? Would Wal-Mart have as many stores as they do if people only bought what they need? Of course not! There is a sizeable segment of the population who would be much better off financially today if they weren't so gullible when it comes to the big "Blowout" sales, outlet malls and impulse items. If people were more careful with their money, we wouldn't see nearly as many garage sales as we do, for two reasons: Buyers would not be as willing to spend their money on junk that they don't need just because it's cheap; and we wouldn't have that stuff to sell in the first place if we had really needed it when we bought it. If I buy an expensive item that I can't afford just so I can impress those around me, I have wasted my money. If I buy an item I don't need just because it's half price, I have foolishly wasted my money. I know about the group of people that I'm talking about because for too many years I was numbered among them. For example, I remember one time, many years ago, when I bought an entire set of four tires at an auction for only $9.00 (one regular tire and three mudgrips). Fortunately I was able to find someone to buy the three mudgrips for $5.00, but I was still out $4.00 for a tire that stayed in my storage building giving a home to spiders and other creatures for about six years until I finally threw it away. I decided that the spiders could find their own home without me spending money to provide one for them.

Maybe I should go back and re-word some of what I had to say in that last paragraph, because I'm making it sound like I'm being critical; when actually the purpose of this entire article is to express my gratitude. Just recently I heard the President urging citizens to spend their money instead of opening savings accounts, and without a doubt there are multiplied millions who will heed his request. I certainly hope so, because they help my business tremendously, and I need that money so I can get ME one of those savings accounts.

I've heard it said that if you took all the money in our country and divided it up equally among every person, within five years that money would be back in the same hands it came from. I believe that, only because of the group of people I've been talking about. So to all the weak-willed shoppers and impulse buyers, our nation applauds you. We appreciate you more than you'll ever know.

Preston