thoughts on the news of the day: pinching pennies

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            There’s an article on the internet today about extreme penny pinchers.  Some of the ways people save are; eating off the fast food dollar menu; raising pigs and picking up vacuum cleaners off of curbs and reselling them on Craigslist.  But my favorite is the family who decided to make their kids pay for half of dinner on their vacations.  The first night of the new plan, the restaurant bill was $73.  After the sticker shock, the kids went to water instead of soft drinks and found a restaurant where they could eat for $26.

            I think it is a good policy to teach kids about money – and how much things cost.  When my daughter was 12, I instilled a policy that to this day has served her well.  Her father sent me a $60 each week for child support – not much money to raise a youngster on – but a fortune to a 12 year old.  I fielded complaints from him for years about where the money went and finally decided to allow my daughter to manage the resource herself with the stipulation that the money would buy all of her clothes (including expensive jeans and athletic shoes). It would also buy her school lunches and any other entertainment expenses that were incurred during the week.  I encouraged her to save some too.  The idea was, that if she chose to spend all of her money on CD’s, then she would have to go hungry for school lunch, or pack one from home.  She learned to make wise decisions about money.

            The benefits were many.  First, I got out of the conversation with her Dad about where the money was going – that was now between them.  Second, my daughter learned to be the all-time best bargain shopper in the world.  She ferreted out sales and managed to live like a princess, plus save quite a bit for her future needs.   

             It may not work for many children and parents, but in our case it was the answer to a big problem and the beginning good money management skills for my daughter.

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: spin

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            My puppy, Roxy, has learned a new trick.  Her fluffy Pomeranian tail has gotten long enough that now she is chasing it.  She whirls around spinning, sometimes reaching the end of it with her mouth.  As she dances and twirls she does a kind of doggie dance.

            Seems like some days as I read the news, those who line the photos and stories are like my little puppy, twirling and spinning, but going nowhere.  Take for example, Anthony Weiner.  He was ridiculed by the public and media and even his own colleagues, but seemed to believe that if he could just get a good spin on the truth, then all the bad publicity about his inappropriate behavior would go away.  It did not, and he finally resigned yesterday. 

            As easy as it is to criticize a public official for their behavior, we do that spinning dance, too, don’t we?  We find ourselves in situations where we can’t seem to get ahead, maybe where we have made a mistake; and instead of simply owning up to the discretion, we try spinning until only dizziness remains.  We go round and round in circles, hoping that we might eventually catch up, but we never do. 

            Still, the spinning dance goes on.  I suspect Roxy will chase her tail most of her life.  She will probably never learn that her tail doesn’t have to be chased, that it is already attached to her.  And on top of that, it will hurt if she actually catches it with her mouth and bites it too hard.

            She will probably never learn.  But maybe Mr. Weiner will ….

            hmmm…..

          

           

           

thoughts on the news of the day: 250

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            Today marks 250 “hmmm…..”s   That’s a big accomplishment for me!  I am not sure how I have managed to get up early every single day for 250 days and compose my thoughts in such a way that they make sense, but I have.

            The blog came about because I prayed.  I asked God to give me something to write – an idea or a theme – a column or maybe a book.  I wanted to put my writing skills to work.  The next morning I woke up and went to my computer and there it was – the news of the day!  It occurred to me that I could write something very brief – say 250 words – on whatever topic appeared on my screen.  It has since been expanded to searching for a news item from several online news sources.  Very rarely has it taken long to discern a topic and build on it; I try for spiritual principles that are reflected in the stories of the day.

            I have had many positive comments on my blog – and one critic from California who doesn’t like anything I write.  He gets prayed for when his comments come – that love and joy and light would enter into his life.  That he would find peace.

            My goal now is to write 365 daily blogs – a whole year’s worth – blogs that are short and to the point and hopefully inspirational.  And since you are reading this blog, thank you so much for your attention and your support.  God bless all my readers!

            hmmm…..

           

thoughts on the news of the day: batteries

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            The Zhejiang Haijui Battery Factory which makes lead-acid batteries for motorcycles and electric bikes is in the news.  This manufacturing plant in a tiny eastern China village is responsible for lead emissions which have poisoned employees and residents of the small town of Mengxi.  The factory had ignored government regulations for over six years and that has resulted in over 300 adults and children being adversely affected.

            Can you imagine the rage and despair you would feel if the company you worked for was killing you and even damaging your young children?  China is a long way away and adults taking responsibility for their own lives is one thing, but we all touch the lives of dependent children almost every day.  We see them playing on the playground, with their parents in stores and with their teachers in schools. Children in China aren’t so far away.

            But we also need the batteries to power our tools and our toys.  I don’t know about you, but when I buy a battery, I don’t really think about what it took to make it.  It would never occur to me that someone’s life was on the line for the battery I needed to run my alarm clock.    

            The world is getting smaller.  People who live thousands of miles away, who we may never meet, touch our lives.  What is our responsibility to them?  Didn’t Jesus say love your neighbor?  Nowadays, isn’t China right next door?   I will be thinking about all those things next time I buy a battery.

            hmmm…..

           

           

thoughts on the news of the day: middle ground

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            The Republican Party held its first official debate last night in New Hampshire.  Many aspiring candidates were available for questions and voiced opinions about politics in general and the currently sitting president in particular.  I am not one who is big on debate.  Actually, I have never gotten the hang of it.  A friend of mine was a master debater in college and won all sorts of awards.  She claims that a good debater can argue either side of an issue with equal skill. Seems like everyone today has an opinion – just check the comments on any internet blog if you don’t believe me …

            When I was growing up, we had big dinners on every Sunday following the  church services.  After the dishes were cleared, my uncles and my father and occasionally a few ladies would sit around the kitchen table and debate the topics of the day.  It was an early version of the “hot topics” on The View.  I don’t remember anyone ever changing anyone else’s mind.  And I don’t remember ever feeling like I was heard when I offered my thoughts.  No one really listened; we were all too busy mentally forming our own arguments to really hear what the other person was saying.  The object was to win the debate, not to come to any middle ground. 

            I like middle grounds.  I like coming to consensus on issues that matter.

            But then, that’s just my opinion ….

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: serenity

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            The NBA final game was last night and the Dallas Mavericks won it 105-95.  it was a sweet victory; one that the Mavs had coveted for many years.  You would think that the players would want to savor every moment of the success of the game and the season. But one of their star players, Dirk Nowitzki walked off the court as the buzzer sounded.  What would cause a player to miss so personal and historical moment as their team’s first championship win? 

            Dirk was overcome with emotion and overwhelmed by the excitement of the circumstance.  He said, “I had to get a moment.  I was crying a bit.  I was a little emotional …..I actually didn’t want to come out for the trophy, but the guys talked me into it.”

            Sometimes life is like that.  Our emotions get the best of us.  We become overwhelmed by a situation and have to step back for a minute or two.  As Nowitzki can attest, there’s nothing wimpy about it either.  Whether it be joy or sorrow, anger or remorse, fear or courage; there is something to be said for moving out of the situation and recovering our composure before we act.

            Next time you are in that emotional place, no matter if it is in a room with a few or your closest friends – or if it is in a crowded stadium of thousands of fans, step back. Make your space and your emotions will subside. Find your serenity and be at peace.

            hmmm…..

         

thoughts on the news of the day: pentecost

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            Pentecost Sunday happens to be today.  It’s a day that is traditionally known as the time when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and the time when Christianity came together to be known as “church”.  The word “Pentecost” means 50 days in the original Greek.  Traditionally, the descent of the Holy Spirit happened 50 days after the Resurrection of our Lord.  But it is also a response to the Jewish festival, Shavuot, which commemorates God giving the Ten Commandments to the Israelites 50 days after the Exodus.

            All of this probably sounds a little silly to someone who is not Christian.  Exactly 50 days after?  The exact beginning of the church?  Fire descending upon heads?  And what exactly is the Holy Spirit anyway?  Maybe it’s all just a bunch of hocus pocus …

            Well, whether you believe the historicity of the event; whether you believe in the actuality of the coming of the Holy Spirit, you have to admit that there is something beautiful about commemorating a time when people gathered together and felt a spiritual presence they had not felt before.  There is something wonderful about celebrating a time when people were so close and so connected that the usual common language barriers did not exist.  And there is something down right holy about being so fired up by this feeling of unity in spirit that you might have had felt like you had actual fire burning on your head.

            The spirit comes to us every day.  It is powerful, warm and unifying in its energy.  So what could be silly in celebrating a special day when spirit might have been born in the hearts of many?  What could be wrong with that?

            hmmm…..