thoughts on the news of the day: uncertainty

hmmm…..

            “I deal better with rejection than uncertainty.”  That’s a quote from a self-published author named Darcie Chan.  Her novel has sold more than 400,000 copies on line without ever being printed in hard copy.  She was referring to the possibility of her novel being picked up by a publisher and that it was easier to be turned down by them than to wait for their decision.

            Is rejection easier that uncertainty?  Maybe that’s a good question to ask.  And maybe it is.  Maybe that is why we sometimes seem to sabotage our best efforts – because it is easier to hear “no” than to sit in the dark wondering what will happen next.  There is no anxiety in rejection, only sadness.  Then, you get on with it.  But waiting day after day, sometimes year after year, can cause life-threatening anxiety and stress.

            Our denomination is famous for that.  We stew and stir about things that need immediate answers; or at least deserve immediate answers.  There are lives and careers that hang in the balance.  Anyone is allowed to bring up any just cause for thinking about it further and then a plan gets bogged down in the goo.  Leaders seem to be reluctant to make decisions because it is easier to just talk about it.

            And maybe to a degree that is what even our government has done.  The truth is that in most cases, we know what the right thing to do is.  But leaders would rather debate, and people continue to suffer.

            I am not saying there is anything wrong with carefully considering an issue.  I am saying that it is easier to talk about something than actually do something.  Let’s get off the bench.  Let’s make a move.  A friend used to say, “Sometimes you have to do something, even if it’s wrong.”   Maybe that time is now.

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: youth

hmmm…

            You are never too young.  You are never too young to live your dream.  Rachel Crow, a 13 year old contestant on X-Factor was eliminated last night in a tear jerker decision by the judges.  She was devastated but composed herself and said that she loved her family and her voters and commented, “I know this is not my ending.”

            Usually dreams are fulfilled after a lifetime, or at least a decade or so of struggle and effort.  “Over night” successes are usually achieved after long hours, long days and long waits for the dream to happen.  But in some cases, it seems almost magical.  And even though Rachel didn’t accomplish her ultimate dream, certainly performing in the national television spotlight before millions of fans has to be close.

            We think we might be too old to try for a goal; but sometimes we think we are too young, too inexperienced, too untrained.  We are never too young in our experience to try again to fulfill those wants that inspire us.  Many times, God calls us into a new challenge.  God calls us to take on something we had never dreamed possible.  In January I am beginning a Doctor of Ministry, usually referred to as the “D Min.”. Hopefully, I won’t come to call it the “de-mon” program before its completion.

            It’s a dream I have had for years, and never thought possible.  But because of encouragement from friends, relatives and the financial assistance of several supporters, I am embarking on this new challenge.  My maturity in things theological will be challenged and I will probably feel like a young pup all over again.  There is even a possibility that like Rachel, I will not achieve my ultimate goal. 

            But I am going to try; because, after all, you are never too young.

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: colors

hmmm…..

            What’s THE color for 2012?  It’s called Tangerine Tango!  That’s a sort of orangey/red color that actually has been popular for a while.  I have a leather purse that my daughter bought me a couple of years ago that is pretty much that shade – I love it, but it’s not exactly new.

            Do colors matter?  Some say that your favorite color can tell a lot about you.  Does blue mean you are blue?  Does sunny yellow mean you are happy all the time?  What about if your favorite color is black?  I once knew a minister whose favorite color was beige.   Actually that was the color of his personality, too.

            My favorite color is green.  I like it because it reminds me of spring, my favorite time of the year.  I love the freshness and newness of it.  Some say “green is the color of money”  and that’s why it is their favorite color.

            Maybe all of this talk about color doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things.  But I think paying attention to little details does.  Like the tiny violet’s vibrant color.  Or the murky gray on a cloudy winter day.  And while we are talking about winter, what about a fresh fallen snow?  Have you ever looked up to see an endless blue sky and wondered how it got that way?

            God made all of the colors of the world.  I guess it is our job to stop and look at the roses.

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: ice and snow

hmmm…..

            It’s December 7, for heaven’s sake and there is white stuff on the ground again this morning.  That’s supposed to be reserved for mid-January and February in our part of the world!  I know that there are lots of folks who are used to snow by mid-November – but not us – not usually.  We need clear roads for folks who are traveling over the holidays.  These mountainous roads are not conducive of moving along when there is snow on the ground.

            I remember getting caught in an ice storm north of Dallas one year at Christmas time.  We made it as far as Durant, OK and had to give up because the ice was just too slippery for travel.  Christmas Eve was spent in a lonely motel room and Christmas morning met with no breakfast because the café was closed – it was Christmas after all.  There was a Chinese restaurant in town that opened for an early lunch; then it was on to the highway again as we slowly made our way to Tulsa and family and friends.

            Just about everyone has their own story about being stuck somewhere during the holidays.  A few years ago, my daughter had to go to OKC the day after Christmas for her job and got stuck in the worst ice storm of their history.  I worried the whole time, but she did finally arrive safely at her destination.

            So I suggest you use common sense this season.  Stay home until the weather clears.  Take care on the highways.  And have a safe and blessed holiday.

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: dog rescue

hmmm…..

            An airport baggage handler in Reno, Nevada refused to board a dog and in this case it was a good thing.  The dog, bound for Corpus Christi, TX was emaciated and covered with sores.  Lynn Jones, the employee, noticed the dog in its carrier and refused to load it on the plane.  She said that if the dog was put on the plane, it would die in transit. Bad news and good news:  Jones lost her job and the dog was rescued and recovered from his abuse.  Good news and bad news:  the company is reconsidering reinstated her and the dog is going back to its owner. 

            Dog rescue has become a prominent and necessary thing.  I know of two families who are engaged in this endeavor and it is time consuming and costly.  But it is also worthy and admirable.  One family has taken in so many dogs that they have had to build extra housing on their property.  The otherwise impeccably groomed yard has little grass left in the dog runs because of the wear and tear.  Their home has all but been destroyed by angry and hurt dogs who are just acting out their frustration on window sills and couches. 

            But I admire those who are committed to rescuing dogs from abuse and hardship. They make great sacrifices, spending their own money on food and shelter for the canines and often traveling far distances to keep dogs from abuse and in some cases euthanasia.   

            You may not own a dog.  You may not even like dogs.  But you have to admit, they have the right to a safe and healthy environment, just as all God’s creatures do. 

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: john boy

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            Remember “The Walton’s of television fame?  They recently came together and held their 40^th year anniversary of the show being broadcast in prime time.  The Waltons  were a mythical family who lived in the country in the early 1940's days and survived mostly off the land.  There was a passel of kids ranging from almost adult to little almost toddlers.  And a Mom and Dad who deeply loved them and wanted the best for them.

            We all wanted to be like the Waltons, didn’t we?  We wanted to have siblings who annoyed us but loved us and stood up for us too.  And we wanted a Mom and a Dad who were like the Walton parents, strict but kind, generous but thrifty, honest but forgiving. 

            I wanted a Walton family as much as the next guy.  When she was born, we even named my daughter Mary Ellen – a name she rebels against even to this day.   But instead I got a broken family as a single, divorced Mom raising one child by myself.  Life works that way sometimes; we think we know what we want but it turns out to be something completely different.  In spite of my disappointment, I learned to be a a strong and independent woman, a trait which I have passed on to my daughter.

            Every evening, at the close of the show, the family would snuggle under their covers.  A litany of siblings would say “good night” in the order of their birth.  It was a ritual that was a hallmark of the show.  And it was always comforting and reassuring to hear the concluding refrain. it's one that some of us still say today:  “Good night, John Boy.” 

            hmmm…..