Craig Fowler
We love to celebrate in America. We have the opportunity to celebrate well over 100 people or things throughout the year. Everything from New Year’s Day to New Year’s Eve. The second Sunday in May we celebrate mothers. The third Sunday in June we celebrate fathers. We have days for grandparents, mother-in-laws, sweethearts and pets. Is it overkill? Probably. At the same time, if bringing focus to an event, person or thing helps raise awareness and shine a light on it, maybe that’s not so bad either.
Earlier this month I received a touching text from my son on Father’s Day. It helped me reflect on my own father. My dad worked for 50 years. He’s been retired for 27. He was the main bread-winner helping to raise five kids. He was consistent, solid, dependable and hard-working at his profession. Despite his leadership roles throughout his career, I’d classify him as an introvert.
He was usually available to play catch after work, but I don’t remember him being in the bleachers during sporting events. Mostly because he was working. When I was a teenager, golf became the sport that connected us. Despite his current physical condition, that connection remains today.
We didn’t have deep discussions on world events, politics, religion or issues of the day, like civil rights. My most vivid memories of my dad revolved around how he handled his tough times and adversity.
The first memory was when he lost his job after more than two decades and numerous awards. We had returned from a little league game where my team had lost by a large margin. My mom was in the kitchen crying and my dad was in the shower singing. I said to my mom, “Why are you crying, we have lost by worst scores than tonight.” At that remark she burst into sobs and told me about my dad’s debacle. The fact that my dad was singing in the shower gave me comfort. His resolve proved correct as he was employed quickly after we enjoyed a vacation to Texas.
Another strong memory occurred following the death of his father. I had been with my grandfather a few days before he passed. I was alone with him and he wanted some whiskey to help with his cough. I called my dad and he calmly said, “Give him whatever he wants.”
A few days later my dad was called to his parents home as his dad passed away about 4 a.m. As the sun was coming up, I drove my mom to her in-law’s home. The black hearse was backed into the driveway. It was Halloween morning and the macabre scene was not lost on my senses. An hour later I was about to head for school when my dad returned home. Once again he got in the shower and got ready for his day. No words were spoken and no tears fell. I didn’t take his lack of emotion as a negative. I took it as an enormous strength.
By now, you may be wondering why I’m sharing these memories of my dad. I’m doing so for several reasons. I’m not like my dad. That’s not a good or bad thing. We are two different people and we always have been. We moved several times as I was growing up. Some might be upset or have resentment to attending six different grade schools. However, I believe that shaped me as much as anything. I was forced to make friends and be a joiner.
I don’t regret not having deep conversations. I learned as much by watching him. Observing how he didn’t judge others. Instead he lifted people up and tried to understand and see the best in them. He has always loved to laugh and I’m grateful to say that trait has rubbed off on me.
We don’t see eye-to-eye on everything. That makes me very pleased as well. I wouldn’t want to be exactly like him and he is likely glad I’m my own man.
My son and I are not the same either. Like me, he is his own man. He is intelligent, humble, a tireless worker, creative and his attention to detail is second to none. I have told him he has been successful despite the 18 years he spent with me.
It seems to me a father and a son can be a microcosm of any relationship. You might look like someone, but that may be where the similarities end. And if the similarities are few in any relationship then you must figure out how to make that relationship fruitful and successful. One must be able to do as my dad has done, not judge, but find the goodness in people.
Finding what we agree on instead of what divides us is something the world needs to do. Cutting through the weeds to get to the fruit is challenging, but worth the effort.
I have a very dear friend whose pigmentation is different from mine. His upbringing and career were starkly different from mine. We don’t think alike on every ideology and issue. But the respect and admiration we have for one another makes our relationship rich and fulfilling. I’m blessed to have this relationship.
I’m also blessed to still have relationships with my father and son. Not everyone is as fortunate as I am when it comes to having a legacy and watching it grow despite distance and differences in our lives.
Until next time…
Twenty-three years ago I was in Denver, Colorado. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris were in Littleton, Colorado. On April 20, they killed 13 innocent people and 24 others were wounded. Those Columbine High School Seniors, those who survived, are now in their 40’s.
Politicians railed against this senseless tragedy. But little has changed.
Mass shootings slowed to one a year for the next two years. Then zero in 2002 and one each in 2003 and 2004. From 2011 to 2019 there were 65 mass shootings. Since 2013, a mass shooting has been defined by Congress as murder of three or more people in a location close to one another.
I think about the victims of the Columbine mass shooting every April. I wonder how life has turned out for the survivors and the families of the victims. Frankly, I can’t imagine the challenges they have faced. The loss, the trauma, the memories.
I only knew one family personally involved. Their child survived. They were blessed and fortunate.
As of last year I now know a relative involved in a shooting. It couldn’t be defined as a mass shooting because only two people died. There were other victims who survived, including my relative. They are each dealing with physical recovery as well as PTSD in one form or another.
No one can put themselves in the shoes of a survivor. Whether it’s a mass shooting or someone dealing with PTSD as a result of service through law enforcement, first responders or the Military. Cliches like “You are blessed to be alive,” “It just takes time,” “You just have to tough it out,” “You need more faith,” not only do not help, they are detrimental to the mind of the individual.
Every survivor has a different road to travel. They need time, space, patience, understanding and a listening ear.
In my effort to better understand I was made aware of a book by Sgt Q entitled “Healing thru Service.”
It was written for veterans dealing with PTSD, but the principles and key points are applicable to anyone dealing with trauma, drama and anxieties in their lives. I’d strongly recommend reading this book. It would be a worthwhile investment of time to anyone dealing with anxiety or PTSD. Or for anyone who knows someone who has gone through a life-changing stressful situation.
Stress of a hundred types seems to surround us daily. We should be looking for answers to deal with stress.= of all kinds.
Over the years I’ve given many talks on Servant Leadership. Service can be an enormous healing mechanism. If you don’t know Damon West, check him out. He’d agree with me. I’d also recommend a plethora of scripture as it relates to healing and service. Particularly Chapter six in the book of Ephesians.
There are so many ways to help others deal with stress and anxiety. Taking the first step down that path to healing is always the most challenging. But that is where the journey to not only surviving but thriving begins.
Until next time…
Good morning. That’s the question I’ve been getting. I haven’t been hiding. I’ve been trying to decide what to write about. The world has not been conducive to positive messages lately.
Roaring inflation. Skyrocketing gas prices. Rising crime rates. Crisis at the Southern border and now a war in Ukraine. It was actually events in Ukraine that became my tipping point. The images from the war, the carnage and devastation are beyond my comprehension. The entire situation seems so hopeless. But the people of Ukraine are proving that not to be true. Their courage, resolve and perseverance has inspired the world. A silver lining in this horrible cloud of despair, death and destruction has been the migration of Ukrainian Christians west into other countries. The welcoming response from Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and even Germany has been overwhelming. This spread of Christian beliefs and values to the west is counter to what Putin likely had in mind when he invaded Ukraine.
From the United States, Christian organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse and ReachGlobal are stepping up, as they regularly do, to provide medical and financial support. My research indicates both of these organizations have low administrative costs, thereby providing a larger percentage received to the needs of the people of Ukraine.
How long will this continue is something I don’t have a guess on. But the resolve of the world is led by the resolve of the people of Ukraine. Unlike the Afghan people, the people of Ukraine, are showing what it means to fight for what they believe. It certainly makes me question myself. Would I have the same courage, conviction and resolve to fight for my freedom, my values, my beliefs?
We all would be wise to pause and ask these questions. Things are bad here in America, but nothing compares to what is happening in Ukraine. Despite the price increases in everything, the supply chain problems and so many other things we face every day we are blessed.
Every spring we have this gorgeous renewal of color and life. We need to take this renewal to the next level. We need to stand up for what we believe just as our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are doing every day.
Until next time…
I had the good fortune of spending some time with one of my dearest friends recently. He dedicated his career to teaching young people. He was meant to be a teacher and was tremendously successful at it over four decades. His teaching style, like his lifestyle is laid back. He uses subtle humor, honesty, and straightforward facts to make his lessons not only interesting, but the kind that stay in your memory years down the road.
I was just a tad surprised when he brought up the Biden administration. We don’t normally talk about politics, but apparently the goings on at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue were too much for him to let pass silently.
He began by telling me how bad things have gotten in this country over the last nine months. He said, “Every time I think things can’t get any worse, the next day they do. I recently made a list of everything that could be attached to this administration in the last nine months. After making a list, I decided to alphabetize it. And do you know what?”
I immediately replied, “No. What?”
“I found an issue or a problem for every letter in the alphabet. For many letters I was able to come up with more than one thing.”
“Everything from Awful to Zany?” I retorted with a smile.
“Absolutely” He replied.
“I’d like to share with my readers, if you don’t mind,” I said.
“You’re welcome to share, but it’s a long list.”
So written below is the list from A to Z of what has happened to America during the Biden administration’s first nine months.
A – Afghanistan. A foreign policy debacle costing 13 American’s their lives. Untold hundreds of Americans left behind. An embarrassing first in the history of the United States. The vacuum this has created in Afghanistan and the danger it has spawned in our country remains to be seen.
Honorable mention to Antifa and Amnesty. Those can be covered as well under other letters.
B – Border and BLM. The Border frankly doesn’t exist anymore. Unless you live in Canada. The over one million people who have entered our country bringing crime, disease, and the need for social services is unprecedented and unsustainable. The effects of this bonehead buffoonery will be felt by our grandchildren and their children.
Black Lives Matter. The most misunderstood and radical faction to hit the U.S. in years. Sadly millions of citizens, corporations, educational systems and sports franchises don’t understand the root of BLM is made up of Marxists principles. These people want to destroy our country and are using Blacks as a shield of protection to their long term mission.
C – China, Cuomo, Cartels, Crime and this list could go much further. Crime, particularly violent crime continues to rise. Especially in cities like Chicago. (Also a “C”) Cartels have taken over the border and appear to be thriving. Cuomo was labeled by Biden as the “Gold Standard” for handling the Pandemic until he was exposed for the hundreds of senior citizens who died in nursing homes. Then he was later forced to resign for creepy behavior toward countless women who were brave enough to come forward. China is the “Big C” in this category. Between Joe and his family they have been in bed with the Chinese for decades and not holding the CCP responsible for the Pandemic is the best example of chicanery that has gone on between the administration and the Chinese government.
D – Drugs. This ties to the Border and the Cartels and Fentanyl. (See “F”) As anyone with any vision can see, one Debacle ties to another. Drugs have been a problem for years, but they are now reaching epidemic proportions with what this administration has mishandled.
Honorable mention – Dr. Seuss and Drone bans. We hear about bans on drones over the border and Dr. Seuss Books but Iran, China and the Taliban still freely express themselves on Twitter and Facebook.
E – Executive Orders and the Economy. Biden signs more executive orders in his first month in office than any other president in history. To the detriment of Americans he doesn’t know more than half of what he has signed. He had no idea of the damage he is doing to the country and doesn’t appear to care. The Economy can’t be left off this list because it’s a disaster. The price of food, gas, building materials and just about everything else is rapidly increasing. I know I am paying more than a dollar a gallon for car fill ups than I was a year ago. Again, these price increases are not sustainable to middle-America. Biden says he isn’t going to tax the middle class, but the gas increase alone will total more than $1000 dollar annually for me this year.
Honorable mention – Environment. I had to leave off Climate Change under the “C’s” so I need to at least mention the errors being made under the heading of the environment.
F – Fauci and Fentanyl. I’ve already covered Fentanyl so let’s focus on the flip-flop, fibber Fauci. Many people don’t realize this guy has been around a lot longer than Covid-19. He’s been lying and covering up his screw-up since the AIDS epidemic. He’s the most overpaid bureaucrat in D.C. and that’s saying a great deal. He may be in denial on his research on “Gain of Function” but someday his lies will catch up with him. His specific ties to Bill Gates and Barack Obama may come out, but I suspect he’ll be dead and gone before they do.
G – Gender Policies. The media and the administration has gone off the rails with gender policies. From “birthing person” to 58 gender options for Facebook users, can things get any worse? I’d say yes. I’ll have more to say about this when we get to “W.” But for now I’ll just conclude by saying we are confusing the heck out of our young people. And in some cases doing long term mental (and sadly in some cases, physical) damage to them.
Honorable mention – General Milley the most partisan and incompetent Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in the last 100 years.
H – Health Care and Hunter. Not sure which is in worse shape. The health care system is broken. Americans may not realize it until they use it. It’s expensive and a real shell game. If you don’t believe it ask yourself why members of congress are exempt from it.
Hunter Biden represents a microcosm of the Biden legacy. Everything he has done is swept under the rug. Just like his dad’s escapades throughout the last five decades. Where his dad has been synonymous with under the table deals, plagiarism, gaffes and creepy touching of young girls and women, Hunter has taken it to another level. His work with players in China, Russia, Ukraine and Iran dwarfs the dollars old Joe made 40 years ago. Like his dad, Hunter is never left to account for his drug use, his falsifying federal weapon’s application, his laptop, or his need to step up to support an out of wedlock baby. It’s astounding but not surprising the media ignores it all. Just as they ignore everything his dad screws up.
I – Illegals and Inflation. Illegals at the border never go home. They just disappear into the country. Many by the hundreds. This is costing American taxpayers millions and millions of dollars.
Inflation is a very serious concern and we shared our thoughts on it under “Economy.”
J – Jobs and Justice. Yes there are jobs to be had, but unemployment stays high because of Biden’s policies to keep people at home collecting unemployment and being dependent on the government.
The Justice department has turned into a partisan pit. Merrick Garland is pathetic and will continue to throw shade toward each and every over reach Biden performs.
K –Kamala and Keystone. We’ll focus on Kamala and hold onto Keystone till we get to “X.” Cackling Kamala was put in charge of the border. Since then, like the wicked witch of the west, melted away and was never heard from again. She is at least 100 times worse than the power brokers thought she would be. And now they doubt her competence to succeed Joe once they decide to push him out of the way.
L – Large government and Lies. The Biden administration is all about expanding the government and making Americans dependent upon it. Especially for health care and social services.
I can’t let the letter “L” go by without a word about lies. Biden has spent a lifetime lying. Not sure when it began but it came to light publically when he discussed his record at Syracuse Law School. The running joke about Joe is you know when he is lying when his lips start moving. I always heard “if you always tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said.” Joe can’t remember what he says from day to day, so his current day lies go unabated and denied by everyone covering for him.
M – Masks & Mandates, Mexico and Major. “Wear your mask.” “You got a vaccine? Okay, don’t wear your mask.” “Even if you got the vaccine wear your mask.” “Wear two masks.” Fauci and Biden deserve each other. They both have a forte for lying and flip-flopping. And now the unconstitutional mandates are driving people apart. They’ve taken a medical issue and turned it into a political one. Businesses and hospitals are losing employees in droves. The military is threatening court marshals. The hypocrisy is routinely evident when politicians and celebrities flaunt mandates in public settings. Hopefully the public is smart enough to know the mandates were Biden’s way of changing the subject from the tragic events in Afghanistan.
Mexico, see “B, C, I & K.” Mexico is the gateway to America. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Statue of Liberty didn’t get moved to McAllen, Texas.
I can’t leave “M” without talking about Major Biden. That dog has taken more bites out of Secret Service agents than a mosquito at a swamp draining event.
N – Nord Stream 2 pipeline and National Security. First Biden takes away our energy independence then he allows (lifting sanctions) Russia to connect the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany. Now he is begging OPEC to help the United States out. When the pipeline on the eastern seaboard was hacked earlier in the year gas was either not available at all or the price was wildly inflated.
Events in the Middle East and our own southern border has put our National Security in a precariously dangerous position. As a matter of fact, experts say we are less safe than we were prior to 9/11. Thank you Joe Biden.
O – Out of Town. This is the quintessential Biden strategy. When the trouble began in Afghanistan Biden went on vacation. When the Haitians invaded the southern border he went bike riding on another weekend vacation. He goes to Wilmington, Delaware on a regular basis. What the heck is he doing in Delaware? Maybe he is loading up on his Ginkgo Biloba. Or maybe he’s just socializing with his financial credit card buddies who have financially backed him for 47+ years.
P – Pandemic, Pelosi & Psaki. Joe promised to banish the pandemic. As things have gotten progressively worse he has blamed everyone but himself. The vaccine he railed against a year ago is the same vaccine he is tyrannically trying to force everyone to take now. As mentioned earlier, Fauci is only making things worse,
Pelosi reminds me of Cruella DeVil without the Dalmatians. She is ditsy and diabolical at the same time. She is ruthless and reckless. She can’t control the squad, but she can lie with the best of the swamp creatures.
Psaki is the face of the White House. Which is like saying Bozo is the face of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Well at least Psaki and Bozo both have red hair. Biden lies and Psaki swears to it. She has no moral compass and a line of BS that would make a snake oil salesman blush with pride.
Q – Questions. Usually Joe doesn’t take questions. But if he does they are embarrassingly scripted. The little cards he carefully carries in his breast pocket have the reporter’s name, their question and his answer. All he has to do is read. But rarely do his handlers even take the risk.
R – Restaurants. Thousands have closed because of the rules and mandates derived from the pandemic. They represent the failure of our government to handle crisis properly.
S – Small Business Shutdowns and Socialism. Restaurants are a microcosm of the tragic failures of small business and all the other businesses that have shuttered and shut down. Drive by or walk through your local malls and you’ll hear the echoes of a bygone era when businesses were thriving.
Socialism. The Green New Deal and Critical Race Theory, are mirrored images of what a small minority is trying to do to bring capitalism down and spawn a socialist society. Bernie Sanders is alive and well and the squad are his cheerleaders. Had the democrats believed he could have won the 2020 election he wouldn’t have been pushed a side. His reward was the manifesto he agreed to with Biden and it is a blue print for the new society that leads to socialism in America.
T – Tax hikes and Traffickers. Biden’s tax hikes are allegedly only going to affect the top one percent. We know that is a lie. Tax increases affect everyone because businesses and corporations raise their prices to absorb the tax increases and middle-Americans pay for it. The tax increases will be touching every bracket including people who have passed away with an increase in the death tax. Someone needs to tell Biden and Bernie that you can’t tax people enough to even put a dent in the 27 trillion dollar deficit.
Traffickers are everywhere. They specialize in drugs and humans. It is a disgusting criminal behavior that is getting worse and nearly completely out of control.
U – Unifier. Another huge Biden lie. He is the most divisive president in the past two centuries. I can’t think of a more alienating, vindictive leader.
W – Wuhan and Woke. Will Biden ever hold China accountable for the Wuhan Virus? NO WAY. He and Fauci (and for that matter the NBA) has been in the pockets of China for many years.
X – XL Keystone Pipeline. The first of many executive orders that told America where Biden’s true north really is. By stopping the construction of the pipeline Biden showed it didn’t matter how important it was to the American people for jobs and resources. What he wanted to do was destroy anything derived from the prior administration.
Y – Yellen. One of the worst treasury secretaries the Economy could possibly have. Janet represents a notoriously terrible Cabinet. Blinken, Austin and Garland are three more examples of a cabinet that reminds me more of Morris Buttermaker’s Bad News Bears than the leaders of an administration.
Z – Zigzagging. This is what Biden and his administration has been doing for nine months. The march to the beat of the media. You think they know what they’re doing, but the zig becomes a zag. Reminds me of the clip of Biden trying to find the door at the White House and ignores the direction of his secret service and winds his way through the bushes before finding the sidewalk. If you haven’t seen it I’m sure it’s out on YouTube.
After reading this list I couldn’t help but ask my educator amigo how he’d grade Joe Biden’s first nine months.
“I’ve seen better results from a fourth grader. I definitely think he has flunked his ABC’s.” He reported.
The ABC’s of Joe Biden are not elementary. They are ridiculous and frightening. Keep in mind, all this has scarred America in less than a year. The pundits say things will change after the mid-terms. My question is at this rate can our country survive till January 2023? I have grave doubts we can.
I’ve been on the road the last several weeks. Thought it might be a good time to report back in.
During a particular presentation I’ve given in the past I would tell my audience the only constant is “change.” That is still true today. Having said that, my travels reminded me of a few other things that are constant, reliable, predictable, and for me – comforting.
The Rocky Mountains are just as majestic and awe inspiring in 2021 as they were three years ago when I last saw them. As a matter of fact, they are as breathtaking as they were more than 25 years ago when I first saw them. Their sheer size reminds me of how small I am on this planet. I never take their grandeur for granted and always feel a bit of sadness when they disappear in my rearview mirror.
Cornfields and bean fields in the Midwest continue to paint the landscape green every summer. Despite the hardships farmers face – be it weather, pests or demand – their fields always produce in the summer months. In my opinion, farmers are under appreciated. They feed the country and the world year after year. Driving on county roads gives an appreciation of what a farmer does and the beauty of their work. Seeing those same fields from the air gives an artistic perspective of the patchwork quilt they create and cultivate every year.
Mark Twain once said,
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
That quote reminded me of driving through the country on the 4th of July looking for fireworks shows across the prairie horizon. We were actually flabbergasted by the number of displays exploding across the sky. As we admired the show above we were also treated to a spectacle of hundreds of fireflies across the fields. It was as if they were letting us know a firework and a firefly can provide two different, yet enchanting displays, for our personal enjoyment. Two more constants.
So what’s the point?
Mountains, prairies, fireworks and fireflies. Despite everything this country and the world has been going through these things persist. Oh I’m sure you can think of many more examples. Just wanted to share what touched my heart and head in my recent travels.
It’s that predictable, consistent, comforting feeling we long for when the world seems to be going haywire. We want to know the mountains are still standing majestically. We feel comfort the prairies are consistently yielding crops and the fireflies still light up a summer night.
The fireworks? The fireworks remind me of the freedoms we have as Americans. As they transform the sky they illustrate the beacon we must be for one another. You cannot light a path for someone else without brightening your own way.
As Americans, we should be reliable like the crops and the farmers who grow them. We should be steadfast and strong like the mountains. My friend Buck impressed upon me years ago to say what I mean, mean what I say and walk my talk at all times. We should expect this of one another and especially of our leaders. As I have said before we need to ask the hard questions, seek the truth and be courageous in the pursuit of it.
Until next time…
I had the good fortune to receive a text message this morning from my longest, dearest, and most faithful friend. Within the text message was a devotion from Pastor Paul Tripp. The timing of the text and devotion were not lost on me. I don’t think I’ve ever shared a devotion, but this one seems to capture the essence of our world. It also asks a very meaningful question. A question we would all be encouraged to ponder and pray about today.
“If you mourn the fallenness of your world rather than curse its difficulties, you know that grace has visited you. Life in this terribly broken world is hard. You are constantly dealing with the frustration of this world not operating the way God intended. You are always facing the unexpected. Almost daily you are required to deal with something you wouldn’t have chosen for your life, but it’s there because of the location where we live.
Life right here, right now is like living in a disheveled house that has begun to fall down on its own foundation. It is still a house, but it doesn’t function as it was meant to. The doors constantly get stuck shut. The plumbing only occasionally works properly. You are never sure what’s going to happen when you plug an appliance in, and it seems that the roof leaks even when it’s not raining. So it is with the world that you and I live in. It really is a broken-down house. Now, there are really only two responses we can have to the brokenness that complicates all of our lives: cursing or mourning.
Let’s be honest. Cursing is the more natural response. We curse the fact that we have to deal with flawed people. We curse the fact that we have to deal with things that don’t work right. We curse the fact that we have to deal with pollution and disease. We curse the fact that promises get broken, relationships shatter, and dreams die. We curse the realities of pain and suffering. We curse the fact that this broken-down world has been assigned to be the address where we live.
It all makes us irritated, impatient, bitter, angry, and discontent. Yes, it’s right not to like these things. It’s natural to find them frustrating, because as Paul says in Romans 8, the whole world groans as it waits for redemption. But cursing is the wrong response. We curse what we have to deal with because it makes our lives harder than we want them to be. Cursing is all about our comfort, our pleasure, our ease. Cursing is fundamentally self-centered.
Mourning is the much better response. Mourning embraces the tragedy of the fall. Mourning acknowledges that the world is not the way God meant it to be. Mourning cries out for God’s redeeming, restoring hand. Mourning acknowledges the suffering of others. Mourning is about something bigger than the fact that life is hard. Mourning grieves what sin has done to the cosmos and longs for the Redeemer to come and make his broken world new again. Mourning, then, is a response that is prompted by grace. This side of eternity in this broken world, cursing is the default language of the kingdom of self, but mourning is the default language of the kingdom of God.
Which language will you speak today?“
Pastor Tripp references Romans 8 in the devotion. I’d also recommend Romans 12. The chapter is only 21 verses. It provides Paul’s guidance on living with and relating to one another in this broken, imperfect world.
My hope for this country and this world springs eternal. The camellia bushes continue to bloom in the front yard and the dogwoods and azaleas are beginning to bud. All signs of renewal. Signs, to me, that this broken world can be a beautiful place.
We need one another. Mercy, grace, forgiveness, humility, empathy, compassion are all words to live by. They may be aspirational words, but I believe they are all words which will bring us all closer together. Learning to understand one another’s differences and accepting those differences is the first step.
Until next time…
W. Mitchell taught me a long time ago, “It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it.” You can lament about all that is wrong with your life or you can do something about it. The choice is up to you. Simple, yet quite challenging. If you don’t know about W. Mitchell, I’d recommend reading “The Man Who Would Not Be Defeated.”
There are literally hundreds of stories around the globe of people overcoming huge obstacles in their lives. These stories inspire and encourage me. On a smaller scale we all face daily hurdles. It may be something we said, things we believe or decisions we make. Our words or actions may get twisted or misinterpreted from our initial intent.
It seems to me, society the last forty years, has evolved to address hurdles. Not necessarily in a good way.
Janis Ian spoke of hurdles she faced as a teenager when she wrote and sang:
“To those of us who know the pain
Of valentines that never came
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago and far away
The world was younger than today
And dreams were all they gave for free
To ugly duckling girls like me”
That ballad was 46 years ago. It garnered her two Grammys for song and album of the year. After her teen years, Janis overcame many hurdles in her life. She has survived spousal abuse. She epitomizes the W. Mitchell quote. Janis is happily married, continues to perform, and turned 70 recently.
I don’t blame Ralph Macchio or the movie the Karate Kid. Many attribute the movie for the movement to “Participation Trophies.” That movement was supposed to increase the self-esteem of inner city youth in California. There is no hard evidence that it increased self-esteem. I contend it caused additional parental pressure on children to participate in sports they may have had no desire to play. It did however, turn the trophy manufacturing business into a two billion dollar industry.
This leads to the question, who or what has caused this shift away from tough love and personal accountability to lowering or eliminating high and low hurdles?
A) Parents
B) Siblings
C) Teachers
D) Social Media Apps and Technology
E) All of the above
I’ll select “E.” Although I contend “D” is likely the most prominent culprit. An enormous amount of people rely on cell phones and social media apps for their identity and their existence. Some hide behind their usernames. They appear to avoid what is hard by communicating only through an app. Unfortunately, their best friend seems to be their cell phone.
Janis Ian was right, people do want to belong. Belong to some thing. A club, a clique, a team, a troop or any other organization you may know. Social is vitally important to human beings. Frankly, even more important to young people. This is one reason why “Zoom Education” has been detrimental to young people. And why it is critical to get kids back in school.
Social Media has accentuated the desire for people to celebrate themselves. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Weibo, Twitter, just to name a few. All these platforms allow individuals to feel good about themselves.
At least until “cancel culture” rears its ugly head. It’s at that point, the mob takes over. Seems like someone always is watching and waiting for any kind of a misstep. Intentional or unintentional error is irrelevant.
I see three choices to handling cancel culture.
- Walk on eggshells
- Stay quiet and be coddled
- Stand up to the bullies.
I’ve always felt number three was the best way to handle bullies. Growing up, I was always on the smaller side. This forced me to learn how to deal with bullies. I wasn’t always successful, but I earned respect to go with a few bruises.
Dennis Prager has said, “People yearn to be taken care of.” As a matter of fact, if given a choice, they would rather be taken care of than to be free.
This is a scary commentary for our future.
Where do we go from here?
I believe the majority of people will do the right thing. I don’t buy into the ‘squeaky wheel’ syndrome. The ‘squeaky wheel’ is synonymous with social media to me. If they make enough noise we think it’s a real problem. The problem lies within listening to the squeak. Use your personal tribulum to separate the wheat from the chaff. Focus on the main thing. Build relationships with people who are different than you.
I will continue to seek and speak the truth. I will care enough about a situation or individual to confront injustice with forthright grace. I’ll honor the courage of my values and convictions. I’ll apply the “Golden Rule” daily. Personal accountability starts with me.
I have many more questions in my bucket. But Spring is around the corner and the ‘ugly duckling’ floating on the lake has become a swan. The dock is calling my name. I’ll go watch grace in action and pull some more questions out of my bucket another day.
Until next time…
As I wrote last month, I’m working diligently to seek the truth. I know it’s in the Bible, but where else might I find it? There are hundreds of sources at our fingertips. For example, platforms, websites, apps, programs, articles, columns, books, and so many authors and pundits spreading their views for all to absorb.
Who do you follow? What do you believe? Who do you trust?
I’ve been told my sources and resources are not necessarily the best. I’m not sure why. I suspect it’s because the sources I use aren’t being relied upon by anyone who might disagree with me.
The worst part of this debate is when two people disagree and I am one of those two, then I am wrong. Or even worse I am a liar. How can you be a liar for believing a source? I may be wrong, nevertheless, I’m not a liar. And I’m also not in a mental state where I need to be deprogrammed or reprogrammed.
The age old adage “There are two sides to every story” is the bottom line here. As Americans, we need to be able to have a discussion and share both sides of a discussion, debate, or disagreement.
I want to know how I am wrong and to understand why what I call facts are considered theory by those who disagree with me.
In a recent interview, Senator Rand Paul shared this when challenged on his views about the 2020 election:
“I won’t be cowed by liberals in the media who say there’s no evidence here and you’re a liar if you talk about election fraud,” he continued. “Let’s have an open debate this is a free country.”
As it relates to me, the words “liberals in the media” could be exchanged with the word “anyone.”
Reading and writing is something I enjoy doing. It involves researching the many sources I mentioned above. I want to know my sources are truthful, factual and reliable. Someone needs to prove to me that people like Thomas Sowell, John Solomon, Dinesh D’Souza and Mark Levin are not good sources of information. I believe they are.
I said I was going to seek the truth in 2021. It will be a challenge. Too many are trying to shutdown the other side of the story. Like Senator Paul said, “Let’s have an open debate this is a free country.”
We need to be civil, respectful and open to hearing one another’s views, regardless of the topic.
Until next time…
My dear friend and mentor Frank was laid to rest a year ago this past weekend. It’s been 12 months we’d all probably like to forget. Frank was born in Pennsylvania and for a time worked in Philadelphia. I can’t help but wonder what he would say about all that has transpired during the last several weeks in his beloved state.
I found this quote from Charles Colton which seems appropriate for our times.
“The greatest friend of truth is is time, her greatest enemy is prejudice and her constant companion is humility.”
I hold this quote as a beacon of hope to my future and the future of this country. Sometimes I feel like the beacon is very faint. But any pica of light provides hope. This quote motivates me to be a seeker of truth. A commodity which appears to be in rare existence. I frequently ask myself these type of questions
- What is the truth?
- “Who is telling the truth?”
- How does anyone know what to believe?
- If I don’t agree with you does that make me automatically wrong?
I’m to the point where I believe half of what I see, a quarter of what I read and even less of what I hear.
I never had to question what Frank told me. He always spoke the truth. Often times it was with a heaping spoonful of grace. Reflecting back on those bygone days lifts my spirits in some respects. Yes, there was a time when you could believe what someone said or wrote.
As I’ve shared before, Frank taught me there are no levels of integrity. You either have it or you don’t. If you lie in 1967 or 1987 but assure people in 2020 you are telling the truth how do they know you really are? Yes, people do change, criminals are rehabilitated and many individuals see the errors of their ways. But I believe, by-in-large, the stripes stay on the zebra.
What do you do…
- When facts don’t seem to matter.
- If you don’t trust sources of information.
- When information shared by the media, medical experts or representatives of the different branches of our government are proven false or misleading.
Where do you go from that point?
Speaking only for myself, I’ve always said “there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.” I plan to keep asking questions. I will continue to challenge information that comes to me. If I trust the information I will verify it. We’ve been fooled too frequently for too long.
Human beings are put into positions of power for their knowledge, communication and leadership skills. That doesn’t mean they deserve their status or leadership role. Rather it means they need to be held to the highest standard of integrity and truth.
We can be disappointed, demoralized or disgusted. Or we can be diligent, determined and driven to hold others to that high standard.
As a seeker of the truth and a citizen of this nation it is my duty to hold people with information, expertise and power accountable for their decisions and their remarks.
We all have that duty. It’s now more apparent than ever. I’m certain Frank would agree.
Until next time…
Have you ever had one of those days when nothing seemed to go right? Sure you have. Everyone has. You miss that all-important first stoplight on your way to work. This of course, makes you uptight and tense. You blame the car in front of you. They were reading their phone and the electronic sensor moved from green to yellow, stranding you behind them. When you get to the parking lot all the good spots are taken and you recall that first stoplight once again. The day proceeds in a negative way and you know why. Or at least you think you do.
Did you stop to think all the negative things you think are happening specifically to you are actually your fault? Or more likely, a figment of your imagination.
A few weeks ago I wrote how I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster. If you’ll recall the point of the blog was once you know you’re not in control things get a great deal easier.
That point has been driven home several time for me recently. I often lay in bed thinking of the things I want to do the next day. Not in anguish, but in anticipation. Regularly those plans are derailed by 9 a.m.
I don’t know if you’ve ever hit a curveball. Many major league players have had their careers abruptly halted because they couldn’t master the art of hitting the curve. It takes patience, understanding your opponent, and faith in your conviction. You must hang in the batter’s box knowing the ball is going to break across the plate at the last second.
Not approaching the curveball in the right way can make the batter look pretty silly. And so it is when things don’t go the way you planned.
I agree with W. Mitchell, “It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it.” It may be cliché, but it’s also true. You make your own future.
I reconnected with a wonderful person recently. It was good to hear how they were surviving the pandemic. We touched upon a variety of topics, including the future state of things. One of the pearls of the conversation was this quote. “Nothing is ever exactly as we imagine it will be.”
That quote is SO true and has stuck with me.
Whether it’s the car you just bought, the career you chose, the person you married or the day you planned for yourself; when events or situations don’t meet our own expectations we need to do a few things.
- Step back and display patience
- Have faith in our convictions
- Understand what changed and why
- Accept it
- Do something positive about it
Reconnecting with my quotable friend was a joy. It was also serendipity. Just like today, with the knock on the front door. It was the landscaper who had promised to level my driveway rock a year ago. Today was the day.
With patience, faith, and a positive outlook, serendipity can be a regular part of your life.
Until next time…