CREAMED CORN CATASTROPHE

On the day that you were born the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true.

So they sprinkled creamed corn in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue.

Just like me, they long to be Close to You. (Close to You–The Carpenters)

Catastrophe–a disastrous event causing great and sudden damage or suffering.

HAVE YOU EVER HELPLESSLY WATCHED AS YOUR WIFE WAS ENGULFED BY A TSUNAMI OF FLYING CREAMED CORN? Probably not.

The explosive disaster got everyone’s attention. The creamed corn looked as if it had been shot out of a cannon. It splattered everywhere…at least, everywhere it was not supposed to end up.

This was a catastrophe.

My wife and I took our grandkids to Rudy’s, one of their favorite barbeque restaurants. You wait in line to order and then eat family style at one of the long wooden picnic tables. Everyone was having an enjoyable time. The food was delicious. The youngest granddaughter declared this to be where she would like to eat every day.

Our oldest granddaughter asked if she could have some more creamed corn. Our entire family loves Rudy’s creamed corn. It’s the perfect accent dish to the BBQ sandwiches. I passed her the creamed corn. That was the plan!

The creamed corn is served in a large Styrofoam cup, about the size of a Quik Trip Big Slurpee cup. I picked up the big serving and stood up.

As I was handing the large cup to my wife, it slipped out of my hand.

The full container of creamed corn fell about a distance of three feet, from the height of my shoulder to the hard tabletop. It erupted like a volcano. It spewed into the air like a windblown dust storm.

The science of Physics has confirmed Newton’s three laws of motion. My Dummies version goes like this.

First Law: An object stays motionless until an external force is applied. The cup of creamed corn will stay where it is in my hand until I drop it, thus, setting it in motion.

Second Law: Force is created that is directly proportional to the weight of the object multiplied by its acceleration. The weight of the creamed corn cup times its acceleration due to gravity creates force. In this case, the force is about three times the impact of the full cup as it hits the table.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The cup goes downward and the triple force of the creamed corn’s impact has a reverse reaction in the direction from which it came. Any Dummy will be able to see that. The creamed corn went down and now it goes up at roughly three times the speed. One second of drop time and nanoseconds of flying creamed corn time.

Here is the kicker. The cup has only a slight bounce on the tabletop. Its contents have a reverse reaction, but no cup to hold it in place. The creamed corn boldly explores new frontiers of space. It was like the Star Trek starship Enterprise boldly going where no one has gone before.

The creamed corn ended up mostly on my wife. In her hair. On her face. On her clothes. On her arm. In her lap. I said it was an excessively big cup of creamed corn.

It was funny. Very funny if it happened in a movie. It would have been a classic comedy skit. But this was not I Love Lucy; this was real life.

Our grandkids laughed. People around us laughed. I chuckled, but only for less than a nanosecond.

The hilarity did not land on my wife with the same force as the creamed corn.

My wife could not see the humor. At the moment her creamed corn eyes could not see anything.

She finally looked at me. That was after she used a napkin to wipe creamed corn out of her eyes.

I thought her beautiful blue eyes matched well with the yellow corn. And it was creamy, so it probably did not hurt much.

I wondered if this is how World War III might start. I guess I should be thankful that Colorado has a No Gun restriction for eating establishments.

My wife was dismayed. She made a funny face at the grandkids, but I considered crying. Begging for mercy would have been more appropriate. I thought that we needed some creamed corn replacement. However, I imagine there was a good chance that would have been poured over my head.

This was not one of my finest moments in marriage. My wife brought up a good thought. Why didn’t I just pass the cup across the table instead of standing up and doing a fly by over our heads?

Well, I never thought of that, dear. I also never expected the creamed corn to go kamikaze on us.

I still love Rudy’s creamed corn. I rarely get to order it anymore. The cost is too high. The memory carries too much baggage.

The whole ordeal made quite an impression on our grandkids. They bring it up at the oddest times. At a recent family meal, a grandchild asked for someone to please pass the creamed corn. It was not even on the menu that day. Apparently, dry humor runs in our family.

The indelible image of my wife covered in creamed corn is seared into my memory bank. Honestly, I had no idea creamed corn could fly. The circumstances defy physics.

Circumstances: Webster’s Dictionary describes them as a fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action.

Neither my wife nor I had prepared for the condition connected to this random action which set off some very unforeseen circumstances.

Circumstances never make us what we are. They should never define us. They might reveal what is inside us.

A face and hair covered in creamed corn could be described as an unexpected circumstance. It did not happen because of a choice made by my wife. That is assuming we eliminate her choice of me as her husband which is the real source of most of her problems.

Babe is not to blame for this fiasco. Things like this just happen to her when I am involved.

Each one of us is caught somewhere in the mid-story of messy circumstances we did not choose. We are left wondering how this situation in life might turn out. Where is the good God promised us? We do not see it. Why? The good on the horizon is buried somewhere under the creamed corn of our circumstances.

When our circumstances are plummeting from bad to worse, we are often haunted by feelings that we should have been able to avoid or stop this from happening. Or our minds are bombarded by questions of why God did not stop this.

We wrestle with thoughts that we failed God or, worse, that God has failed us.

We cannot fix every problem. Sometimes, we can only clean up the mess and learn from the experience.

What happens when some parts of your life do not turn out as you hoped? What happens when someone blows up your plans with a circumstantial creamed corn catastrophe?

Life can be interrupted by some mishap or mayhem. Hurt or heartache can blow in with some storm. Disappointment can make a sudden appearance to interrupt one of your carefree moments.

I like how K.J. Ramsay wrote her thoughts in her book on suffering, This Too Shall Last.

“I imagine we have all bought into the lie at some point that we could avoid suffering. Just be healthier or wealthier. Work harder. Live smarter. Control your diet, your exercise, your environment, your relationships. Guard your heart and save your planet…We march to the cadence of the culture…

You are part of a story much bigger than just yourself. You are an important part of that story. The purpose of faith was never about sustaining yourself. It is dependence on Another who is wiser, stronger, and better than you.”

God really does have everything under control. Even every drop of creamed corn lands precisely as He choregraphed it. God will clean up all your messy circumstances. He always writes the last chapter. The story will be beautiful.

Your true identity is defined by your character, not your circumstances. Those who walk in love imitate their Heavenly Father (#1 Textbook). Lowliness, kindness, longsuffering, enduring in love, and striving to do whatever it takes to preserve unity are traits of Christlike character.

Love First becomes our attitude. Circumstances might slow the process, but they are also used by God to refine our progress.

Love Most translates into actions. God-orchestrated circumstances provide the greater opportunity to display character.

Legendary Basketball Coach and cancer victim, Jim Valvano declared, “If you laugh, and you think, and you cry, then you’ve had a really good day. If you can do that seven times a week, then you have something very special.”

Spilling creamed corn on your beautiful wife can make one laugh, think, and cry. What a day! I am praying your days will be filled with laughter, thoughts, and tears of love.

My wife eventually had a good day as well. She cried…with creamed corn in her eyes of blue. She thought…about killing me. She eventually laughed.

I think I won her over when I put my arm around her creamed corn shoulder and moved closer to her creamed corn cheek as I sang my improvised version of Karen Carpenter’s Close to You, minus her sweet voice.

On the day that you were born the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true.

So they sprinkled creamed corn in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue.

Just like me, they long to be Close to You.

Donuts and Patience

Donuts or Patience? Which one has the shortest shelf life at your house?

Patience is waiting with a smile. At least that is the version I teach my grandkids.

I have committed myself to pursue the most important goal of loving God and loving others first and most. God’s #1 Textbook begins that description with “love is patient…”

Patience! Do you ever forget to smile?

I was recently tested...again. I saw the humor but not sure I smiled.

Learning patience is a process which is more about direction than perfection.

But, what the jeepers? Why does it seem that everyone signed up to be God’s instruments of teaching me patience?

This session is about Donut Decisions and Patience. Why do they both seem to run out when most needed?

This will sound as if it is an exaggerated story. This really did happen the morning God knew I needed patience more than the donuts.

I recently stopped at Krispy Kreme to pick up some donuts for my grandkids. The decision was not too complicated. One dozen glazed, and one dozen chocolate covered glazed.

I arrived with the “Hot” sign flashing in the window. For donut beginners, the “Hot” sign means more than just fresh donuts. If you go inside, you will receive one free hot donut. If you remain in the drive-thru lane, you are required to add two extra hot donuts to your order for immediate personal enjoyment.

Only one car was ahead of me in the drive-thru lane. This would be a quick pick-up, resulting in an extremely popular surprise back home.

Somehow this convenient stop at the donut place with the “Hot” flashing sign turned into a glaze of frustration.

The lady in the only car ahead of me was obviously not in a hurry for donuts or any decision. I listened as the sound came from the speaker indicating the Krispy Kreme employee was waiting for her order.

When there was no reply by the customer, they told her to just order when ready. Long silence. Repeat, “Ready when you are.” Longer silence. “Please order when ready.“

Finally, the lady started an order; then canceled it. She restarted. Paused for what felt like twenty minutes. Added two specialty donuts. Subtracted two regular items. Then she abruptly canceled the entire order…again.

The lady began to ask questions about the menu. She deliberated and then placed a call on her cellphone for suggestions. I decided to back out and go inside for my order. However, that was no longer an option. By this time, I was blocked in the drive-through line. No way out and no way through! I was stuck!

I am not sure whom she called. It might have been her grandkids. Maybe it was her daughter or husband. Perhaps it was the fire station or her church class.

Maybe she called her priest to confess her insensitivity to holding up the other customers. Was she requesting an indulgence for her insatiable desire to order more donuts than could be eaten by the multitude of five thousand? Most of the church people I know just stuff their faces with donuts and ask for forgiveness in the next life.

I understand the desire to please. She wanted to get the order correct and to someone’s satisfaction.

Of course, I was patient. Love first. Love most. This was just a test. Donuts can wait.

Then the store turned off the “Hot” sign. Wait a minute!

I would wait more than another minute. The lady began to read the entire menu to the person on the other end of the call. The phone recipient asked her to read the entire menu…twice. A few items were added to her order. Another was withdrawn. One icing flavored was changed.

Is that all? “Yes. No! No! Wait.” She just spotted the picture with special patriotic donuts. She wanted some of them. She inquired as to what kinds were available. The picture had patriotic “sprinkles” or choice of colored glaze (“red, white, or blue”). Thankfully, our national flag has only three colors. The special offers also came in regular or chocolate, which added complications to each decision.

How long does it take to say, “One dozen glazed, and one dozen chocolate glazed, please”??? Apparently, much longer than I assumed.

I tried to imagine that the lady could have been my grandmother. I would definitely want others to show her patience and kindness. Then it dawned on me that I am now the age of my grandmother. Heavens to Betsy!

The dear lady canceled her order and started over. I texted the home team about the delay. We were more likely to have donuts for lunch rather than brunch.

I mentioned something about the “witch of the west” ordering for all her munchkins. Well, sorry. At least I did not call her the “Wicked Witch of the West.“

Oh, the agony of her dilemma. Back to the phone. She repeated the patriotic options as she pointed to each picture, as if the person on the other end of the cell call could see the multi-colored choices. Yes, she changed the order.

The driver behind me honked his horn and yelled at her, “Hey lady, there are other people waiting to get donuts!”

She leaned out her window and screamed at ME. “Be patient!“

I tried to smile.

Things took a turn for the worse when she arrived at the checkout window. I will spare the details. I asked for a second order of Patience.

Patience is an admired and respected virtue, until it needs to be practiced in our own lives. The gift card balance on my Patience often runs low and even out.

However, there is a separate gift card that came from heaven which has no limits. Yes, patience is a gift card from God. Whenever I choose to use it, patience waits with a smile.

No matter how long. No matter how many times.

I need to remember not to leave home without it.

There is one item that does not appear on any donut sign or restaurant menu. PATIENCE.

Does anyone else wish for a drive-thru where you could pick up one or two dozen minutes of patience? That would be very beneficial when your temperament sign is flashing “Hot.”

Or maybe a PATIENCE Gift Card whose balance could be renewed daily.

??????????

Love is patient. Patience means much more than just passively waiting. In fact, the #1 Textbook describes it as an aggressive activity of inner strength, often associated with running the race of life (Colossians 1:11; Hebrews 12:1).

Patience is also linked to the active words of perseverance and hope.

Perseverance is made up of two words, “Severe” refers to hard times. The “per” signifies “through” the severe times. Steadfastness under pressure. Endurance in trials and tests.

Hope is not wishful thinking, but rather a confident expectation of seeing all the goodness God has promised…somehow…someway…sometime.

God has promised to gift-card us with unlimited patience, perseverance, and hope (Romans 15:5). Why?

Patience, perseverance, and hope all deal with character development. God has promised to make me and you more like Jesus. He always loves first and loves most.

So, here is where the rubber hits the road, not with Goodyear tires, but in our lives.

Every stop light on the road of life is for character building in my life.

Every slow or misguided person on the road or stuck in the Krispy Kreme drive-thru has been placed there by God for character building in my life.

Every incompetent or inconvenient customer service representative was sent into my life for character building.

I fail to see it that way too often as the balance on my Patience gift card quickly evaporates.

Here is the lesson from the #1 Textbook (Romans 5:1-5). The tests will surely follow.

Because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us…we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. 

And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. 

Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel His love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

JESUS LIVES IN US TO LEAD US TO OTHERS HE INTENDS TO LOVE WITH PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND HOPE THROUGH US.

Get ready for today’s test. Remind yourself, it is all about character building.

Rejoice at the red lights and ridiculous people in the drive-thru lanes who slow you down long enough to see the good God is doing in your life.

PATIENCE: It’s a no-brainer Love Test. Love is patient…all the time…every time.

Love First and Love Most. That is a decision. It is your choice, no matter what is on the other person’s menu. I wish I had learned that sooner in life.

POST NOTE: I offer one other option for donut selection. Self-Service. Just do what my granddaughter did when she was three. As I placed my order with the attendant, I realized Channing had disappeared. She suddenly reappeared from behind the donut display case carrying a pink sprinkled donut.

Self-Service.

Now if someone would just invent a Self-Service window for Patience…with no waiting... (and a sarcasm font).

I have to go now. The “Hot” sign is back on at Krispy Kreme. Gotta hurry…with a smile, of course!

EYES UP! LOVE YOU!

The Kentucky Derby…Again

This weekend is the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby.

[Introductory Comment: Should you be interested in placing a bet on this year’s race for recreational purposes or nondisclosure gaming interests, I have enclosed my Sure-Lock Tip on this year’s winning horse…That Guaranteed Winner Tip will be shared at the end of this session.]

Do you realize you are in a race that will define your life? Are you running to win? Are you aware of the only opponent who can stop you?

A BIG HEART CAN DO GREAT THINGS.

I use the true story of Secretariat, the greatest racehorse of all time, as an example of that truth.

The Kentucky Derby was my mother’s favorite sporting event because of her childhood memories watching this annual race with her dad. I watch the Derby every year with memories of my mom. She would tear up with the singing of My Old Kentucky Home.

The Run for the Roses is declared to be “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

I recently visited the famous Kentucky Horse Park with my daughter and oldest grandson. It includes the International Museum of the Horse. I introduced Cooper to the greatest racehorse of all time…Secretariat.

The Triple Crown racehorse story is beautifully told in one of my favorite movies, Secretariat.

My recollection of Secretariat’s championships and movie spurs more than just visions of athletic grace and greatness. It has encouraged me to be better at what God purposed for my life, loving first and loving most. I hope this reminder will encourage you in your life’s race.

A BIG HEART CAN DO GREAT THINGS.

Athletically, heart size is referred to as the X Factor in desire to win. Secretariat was a horse with a big heart, literally and competitively. His heart was more than twice the size of a normal horse which aided his strength, stamina, and speed.

Secretariat was the first horse in twenty-five years to win the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont), all in speed record times which still stand over fifty years later.

SECRETARIAT TRIPLE CROWN WINNER

The legend began at the Kentucky Derby. Wearing blue and white colors, Secretariat took on the challengers. Coming around the first turn, he began passing horses in front of him as he moved from eighth position to right behind the favorite Sham.

As the horses raced into the home stretch heading for the finish line, Secretariat sprinted past the leader and won by 2.5 lengths (one length is the approximate length of a horse which is 8 to 10 feet) in a new record time which still stands today, 1:59.25.

Fascinating observation: The champion thoroughbred ran every quarter of the race faster than the preceding one.

The second race of the Triple Crown at the Preakness was even more brilliant. Secretariat came out of the gate last, but immediately engaged in a full sprint, ignoring the safety warnings associated with the tight turns. His win in record time catapulted him into a cultural phenomenon.

Praised as a super-horse, Secretariat gained celebrity status among the fans, even featured on a Sports Illustrated cover.

The third race at Belmont was the most challenging, a graveyard for speed horses. This longer race favored the bigger and stronger Sham. The opponent’s strategy was to force Secretariat to start fast but falter due to lack of stamina.

Secretariat sprinted right out of the gate; he never stopped. The race was as legendary as it was dramatic. Secretariat and Sham took the lead, leaving the other horses far behind. His trainer feared that Secretariat had started too fast.

Something amazing began to unfold. The movie captured the race announcer’s voice calling Secretariat’s lead at six lengths, growing to eleven.

The broadcaster shouted Secretariat was moving like a “tremendous machine” leading by 17 lengths as he came around the turn. Onlookers were not watching a machine. This was the showcase manifestation of a big heart.

Strength. Stamina. Speed.

The spectators were on their feet, their voices thundered, the stadium began to shake. The movie captured the moment in SILENCE as the camera looked back from the finish line to the final turn awaiting the appearance of the horses.

The off-screen narration reflected on life in the context of athletic contests.

This is about life being ahead of you and you run at it! Because you never know how far you can run unless you run.

Time seemed frozen as everyone waited in anticipation for the climactic end of the race. Could Secretariat finish as strong and as swiftly as he began? How big is his heart?

The theatre speakers began to vibrate with the thunderous sounds of galloping legs pounding the turf as Secretariat appeared on the screen, coming around the final turn, headed for home and victory. The horse with the big heart appeared…all alone…fluid and fast…mighty and majestic.

Everything on the screen changed into classic movie slow motion as a voiceover narrated words from the #1 Textbook.

The horse rejoices in his strength and charges into battle. He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing. He does not shy away from the sword…In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground. He cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.                                                                          

My favorite part of the movie comes next as the music heightens as a choir’s beautiful voices stir the soul.

O Happy Day! O Happy Day! When Jesus washed my sins away. O Happy Day!

As the song continued, the race announcer’s voice filled the background. “Secretariat sprints toward the finish line…20 lengths in front, having run the first mile and a quarter faster than his Derby time. His lead increases to 25 . . .28 lengths.”

He taught me how to walk, fight and pray, and live rejoicing–everyday. O Happy Day!

Secretariat crossed the finish line in record time: 2 minutes and 24 seconds.  Winning margin: 31 Lengths (the distance of a hundred-yard football field)!

As the famous sportswriter, William Nack, penned, “As rhythmic as a rocking horse, Secretariat never missed a beat, a stunning portrait of grace and wonder. No fading. No faltering. No failure.”

This life we live is not about horses, but it is about heart.

There is a race aspect to our lives. It is not a rat race or horse race. It is not even a competitive race with others to climb the ladder or be king of the mountain.

THE ETERNAL GOAL IS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOD-CENTERED PURPOSE TO LOVE.

OUR LIFE VERSUS DEATH RACE IS DOWN TO TWO COMPETITORS. ONE IS A LIFE OF GOD-CENTERED LOVE FOR OTHERS. THE ONLY OPPOSITION THREATENING THE CHAMPION’S CROWN IS THE SHAM OF OUR SELF-CENTEREDNESS.

Self-centeredness is an untiring fierce competitor. The internal opponent will never quit. It must be defeated by a heart overflowing with God’s love. The bigger our heart, the greater we distance ourselves from this great adversary.

We learn to win that colossal race in life’s smaller things.

The X Factor reveals itself in times of testing. We discover limitless love for a spouse amidst changes from honeymoon bliss to vacation stress, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death and then beyond.

Our heart grows to love others more in moments of spiritual disorientation, soap opera drama, or relational tension.

Make no mistake about this. The struggle to love is not caused by the other person’s selfishness, stubbornness, or stupidity. The greatest and only barrier to loving any other person is our self-centeredness.

Use your God-given big heart to love wholeheartedly. Shortcuts never help. Mediocre or half-hearted efforts will fail. Insincere actions will always lose. Good actions from an insincere heart miss the mark. Love First. Love Most. Feel the Beat.

GOD LIVES INSIDE OF US TO LEAD US TO OTHERS HE INTENDS TO LOVE THROUGH US.

God gave you a big heart, bigger than you have yet to realize. A big heart can do great things.

SINCE GOD’S LOVE IS INFINITE, WE CAN ALWAYS STRETCH OUR LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR OTHERS TO WIDER, LONGER, HIGHER, DEEPER LEVELS.

This is a wonderful time to showcase a big heart in your relationships. Give more. Forgive more. Be more faithful. Never give up. Finish Strong. Love first. Love most.

Then, with God’s help, love even more.

Small victories of love are extremely important. The goal is to win bigger. Leave the Sham of Self-centeredness behind in the dust. Break away. Run as hard as you can and then, with God’s help, run even harder. Put some ever-widening distance between love for others and your selfish futility.

And get some blinders so you do not keep checking on others around you. That will only cause you to lose focus of the goal and falter in your steps. Life is not about “Jockeying for Position.” Just do your best and ask God to help you do better.

I finally realized I could do more than just “Eat Like a Horse.” I needed to “Get Off My High Horse.” It was time to “Stop Beating a Dead Horse” while staring at a “Gift Horse in the Mouth.”

I heard that advice “Straight from the Horse’s Mouth. Do Not Put the Cart Before the Horse.”

You were “Born to be a Champion…Chomping at the Bit.”

This is the “Homestretch.”

Let your heart race faster and farther than ever before. Let the beat of your heart be seen, heard, and shared by others.

Listen and love to the beat of your big heart. Hear the roar of the angelic crowd urging you toward the earthly finish line as a stunning portrayal of grace, love, and wonder.

O Happy Day! O Happy Day! When Jesus washed my sins away. O Happy Day!

Love First and Love Most. Love Faster! Love Farther! No limits! No exceptions!

Finish Strong! No fading. No faltering. No failure.

Now for the Bonus Sure Lock Winner Tip for the 151st Kentucky Derby:

PICK THE FASTEST HORSE!

DO NOT PICK THE SLOWER HORSES!

ROAD RAGE…AGAIN

It happened again. Road Rage.

I was neither the victim nor the enraged. This time I was responsible for the situation.

I previously shared my thoughts on Road Rage. I trust that your driving skills have significantly improved, particularly in applying the “Love First, Love Most” techniques. I still struggle.

My recent traffic incident did not make me angry or enraged. My feelings were minimal, but the individual in the other vehicle reacted strongly. Restraint was not a word in his dictionary. He went ballistic!

Anger gets the best of us. It brings out the worst in us.

This was the most recent of my bad driving incidents.

I was awaiting the reduction of heavy traffic to execute a right turn onto the congested street. I intended to safely move into the left turn lane before the next intersection.

Ahead, a driver in the left lane halted to permit an approaching vehicle to make a turn into the shopping center. A nice, thoughtful, and considerate individual. The truck remained stationary for several seconds, which created space for several cars to move into the left turn lane.

I assumed this driver was still pursuing CarWorld’s Mr. Congeniality.

I seized the opportunity. There was no danger of a collision. No near miss. I moved into the left turn lane into tenth place.

It appears that securing the eleventh position altered the driver’s demeanor, prompting him to maneuver his vehicle up against my rear bumper.

I ruined this nice guy’s day. Honestly, I mistakenly thought he was making room for me to get into the left lane.

You have seen these super large pickup trucks. Maybe you own one. Extra wide truck bed. Extended side mirrors. Shiny metallic wheels. Gigantic tires oversized in height and width.

A therapist wrote an article on Yahoo suggesting that big truck owners might be overcompensating for perceived inadequacies. I never considered this until the topic went viral on social media and I do not believe there is any truth to the theory.

My only comment is that the only element absent from this pickup was a huge marque sign stating, “Please notice me.”

Well, I noticed. It sounded as if a flock of geese were doing a flyover. Honk! Honk! Honk!

The big truck horn was blaring!  Not once. Not twice. Not thrice. Not force.

I take that back. There was some force being applied to the horn. It sounded more like the city’s tornado warning siren.

The truck lights were flashing! Quickly changing from bright to dim and back to bright. Many times. Countless times. Near infinity.

There were numerous hand signals. However, they never differed. Just the same one waving at me over and over!

Road rage was in full bloom.

What would you do if you were in the pickup or in my car?

This might surprise you, but I was at peace through all this. My blood pressure did not boil with anger. My lips did not explode with comments. I felt no need to respond or even acknowledge his anger.

I just patiently waited for the road rage to lessen. It did not help that both vehicles stayed in the same spot for two minutes at the red light.

Not acknowledging his anger only made the wait worse.

When the left turn arrow showed green, I followed the nine cars through the intersection. I hoped Mr. Big Truck would also make the turn. He did. His pickup looked as if it were still attached to my bumper.

I hoped Mr. Inferior Complex would calm down. He had made his turn and his point, yet he continued to show his displeasure. He reacted as if his shortcomings had been exposed.

The lights kept flashing. The horn continued blaring. The hand signals could still be seen in every brief glance through my rear-view mirror.

I quickly moved into the right lane so he could pass. He did. Fast and Furious was not just a movie title.

He honked, waved, and shouted repeatedly. He was sure I was blind, deaf, and dumb.

Of course, all the traffic stopped at the red light at the next intersection. We were beside each other, but not in the way my Side-by-Side ministry encourages.

I smiled as I stared straight ahead. My peripheral vision is excellent. The angry man in the super-sized truck was not looking anywhere else except down at me.

He drove into the sunset, still angry. I regretted ruining his day and likely his night too.

I was not being as spiritual as this sounds. I realized my lack of response just made the other driver angrier. He wanted me to acknowledge his road rage.

Hey, sticks and stones can hurt me, but honking and flashing lights do not. Only sometimes do flying birds ruin my day.

My mind raced through things I could do or say.

I am not as deliberate as Siri, and I rarely follow her instructions. In 600 feet, honk your horn. In 200 feet, raise your right middle finger out the open sky roof. Turn left immediately.

It has never been my style to flip someone off. I am more likely to raise my arms and hands in a questioning gesture.

Using profanity has never been part of my anger expressions. I avoid saying “What the H-E-double hockey sticks?” despite my friend Jeff’s insistence that God knows it is what I am thinking.

“Are you an idiot?” is more my style or “You are a dangerous driving moron!

(My young son once asked if someone had to be a moron to play for the BYU football team. “No, son; they are called Mormons. The morons manage the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks.”)

Sadly, my mind can generate many classic put-downs, far from a Love First, Love Most response.

I repeat for emphasis. Anger gets the best of us. It brings out the worst in us.

Anger at a clueless person is probably the most wasted anger of all. They will not get it. It will not ruin their day as much as the encounter will continue to ruin yours or mine.

None of us are strangers to this kind of driving scenario.

Some people are just bad drivers. Many are distracted by texting. Some drivers are clueless that any other car is on the road.

There are speeders dreaming they are NASCAR drivers. There are senior drivers puttering at a snail’s pace.

Impatient tailgating and irresponsible erratic lane-changing are aggravating. All symptoms of the bigger problem…SELFISHNESS.

Each driver believes the importance of his purpose supersedes that of everyone else.

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We all feel that way.

Do not get in MY way. Do not force me to change MY speed or MY direction or MY timing. Everyone plus the stoplights need to accommodate ME.

The reason that does not work is because most everyone else is thinking those exact thoughts…except my grandmother.

In my earlier years, my mom would reprimand my attitude to bad drivers, especially slow drivers. She would say, “Always think; that could be your grandmother.”

My grandmother never learned to drive until she was fifty-five. I can assure you her speedometer never reached fifty-five. NEVER!

That’s right. Share some understanding. The slow erratic driver might be lost or nearly blind. Have some heart!

It would be better to give other drivers the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they are rushing to the hospital or responding to a loved one’s adversity. Probably not, but maybe it is just my grandmother. Please treat her with respect and kindness, the way you would your own grandmother.

And, yes, I know some of your grandmothers. My kids’ grandmother drives like The Little Old Lady from Pasadena. Go, Granny, go!

The degree of anger, like anxiety, shows up in our different temperaments.

We need to be wise.

The difference between anger and danger is the letter “d.” Inappropriate anger can destroy lives and relationships as well as automobiles.

Anger can cause bad decisions. Just a little too much anger becomes dangerous on the roadway and in the home.

The #1 Textbook encourages us to “get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger and replace it with kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.”

Forgive yourself for getting angry and forgive the other person, preferably BEFORE you express your anger to them.

We will need the Lord’s help to do that.

Jesus never had “road rage.” He did ride a donkey through some crowded streets. We know he walked through this world amidst the self-absorbed, hot-headed, rude, and crazy people.

Can you imagine crazy Legion driving in a frenzy on the freeway? Or Peter taking out his sword on another driver’s ear?

Or Siri’s instructions causing the doubting directional delusions of Thomas regarding the right way to go? “Lord, we do not know the way.”

No matter who was on the road, Jesus was always concerned about the welfare of others. He always loved first and loved most.

What Winsday Wisdom can we glean from my latest cause of road rage?

Do all things in love…Be patient and kind…Be slow to anger…Treat others the way you would want them to treat you (#1 Textbook).

Treat other drivers the way you would want them to treat your grandmother. It really does not matter if they do not reciprocate in kind. In truth, that is the challenge.

I do not always know what “love first and most” driving should look like. It definitely involves learning to drive “forgiving first and most!“

“STOP. LOOK. LISTEN.” That is not just a good warning for crossing train tracks. It is great advice for “road rage anger.”

STOP before you say or do something to express your anger to the other person.

LOOK to see if it might be my grandmother…OR ME.

LISTEN to God speak to your heart, “Love First and Love Most.”

Remember. Life is about the journey, not the stop lights.

Praying for Safe Driving and Less Stress!

EYES UP! LOVE YOU!

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WINSDAY HOPE FOR SUNDAY

Where do you find hope to go on in life when circumstances are bad?

The doors were locked; but suddenly the resurrected Jesus was standing among the disciples and hugging them. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger into my hands. Put your hand into my side. Do not doubt any longer. Just Believe!”

Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. But blessed are those who have not seen me and believe anyway.” (John 20:26-29).

I know My Redeemer lives. He lives inside me.

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST MEANS HOPE FOR YOU AND ME TODAY regardless of how dark, difficult, or despairing the present circumstances.

The resurrection of the crucified Jesus is an historical fact based on eyewitness testimony. The event is full of spiritual realities and practical implications for our lives.

Jesus Christ the Son of God, stepped out of the shadows onto center stage in human history not to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. 

The gospels record four specific times (while implying numerous times) that Jesus told His disciples in no uncertain terms that it was a necessity of God’s will for Him to be arrested in Jerusalem, beaten, murdered by crucifixion, and then resurrected in three days.

But even His closest disciples did not understand what Jesus meant when they heard Jesus say, “I will rise again three days later.” They not only did not understand it, they also did not believe it; they could not even remember it. So, when it actually happened that Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and then murdered on a cross, their hearts and minds went into fear, shock, and grief.      

Here are the facts:

  1. Jesus died on the cross and his body was buried in a sealed tomb and guarded by Roman soldiers.

His death was confirmed by the Roman centurion in charge of the execution, as well as numerous eyewitnesses, both friendly and foe.

2. ABSOLUTELY NO ONE EXPECTED TO SEE OR HEAR THAT JESUS WAS ALIVE. No one.

3. THERE WERE HUMAN AND HEAVENLY EYEWITNESSES that the tomb was empty, and the body of Jesus was gone.

An angel was present to announce that Jesus’ body was not there because He had risen from the dead just as He had said.

The women saw Him.  The disciples saw Him. Luke interviewed multiple eyewitnesses with credible testimony who saw the resurrected Jesus.

First Corinthians tells us that, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.  He was buried.  He was raised.  And on the third day, according to the Scripture, He appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve, and after that, He appeared to more than five hundred at one time, most of whom are still alive…He appeared to James, Jesus’ earthly brother. He appeared to all the apostles. And last of all, He appeared to me, Paul.”

4. The resurrection of Jesus affirms JESUS is who He claimed to be; He is the Son of God. He did what He came to do. He came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. He died as our Substitute Savior. He rose from the dead as our Living Lord.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. (John 11:25)

5. The resurrection means there is STILL HOPE for you.

That makes a difference in your life and in your death.

Maybe you are paralyzed or confined by fear, anxiety, depression. By physical limitations or uncontrollable circumstances. Maybe your days are filled with suffering and sorrow or sickness and separation. Maybe your nights are dark, and the mornings are darker. Maybe you are seeking to hide from your problems behind locked doors in your house and in your heart. The resurrection means there is STILL HOPE.

Darkness and Death cannot stop Jesus from being with you and for you.

Death is not some distant reality. It could be near to any of us. But death is not to be feared. It marks freedom from everything bad and worthless. It marks the gain of every good God promised.

Your Living Lord has conquered sin and death. That gives us hope in the struggle against sin and the difficulties in life. Following Jesus is not about perfection but direction. 

6. The resurrection power of Jesus is at work in your life to make you like Christ:

  • limitless love
  • inexhaustible joy
  • undying hope.

You are now united with Jesus.

What does Jesus want us to do?  Love one another first and most the way He loves us just as He said.

The Lord always empowers His instructions. Grace is the life of God living inside of you giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases God (Phil. 2:13).  

Where does faith come from?  Faith comes from hearing the words of Christ. Saturate your mind with Scripture and practice preaching to yourself the promises of God.

The Lord of limitless love is alive. He has promised to give us help and hope.

YOU CAN FACE THE WORST THINGS, THE HARDEST THINGS, THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS IN THE WORLD, AND YOU CAN FACE THEM WITH HOPE AND WITH TRUST BECAUSE OUR GOD IS ALIVE. OUR GOD IS WITH US, OUR GOD IS FOR US, OUR GOD IS LIVING IN US, OUR GOD IS LOVING THROUGH US.

Our Lord is alive. He is unchangeable, He is unshakeable, He is unstoppable. Death can never hold him. Enemies can never limit Him. Circumstances never control Him. The culture can never silence Him.

The Word of God reminds us that things turn around. The darkest days and the most difficult nights will change some morning.

Everything has changed.

The crucified one is now the Living Lord of all. Death, hell, sin and the grave are defeated.

On the Day of the Lord—when God makes everything right, you will find that the worst things that ever happened to you will in the end only increase your goodness and enhance your joy.       

7. CHRIST LIVES INSIDE OF YOU TO LEAD YOU TO OTHERS HE INTENDS TO LOVE THROUGH YOU.

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; love others as you would love yourself.

It is fairly simple but sometimes difficult to grasp.  Just do as He said.

The resurrection power of Jesus is at work in our lives to make us like Christ. Spiritual deadness is changed into life. 

  • Hate is turned into kindness.
  • Intolerance is turned into compassion.
  • Anger is turned into forgiveness.
  • Selfishness is turned into generosity.
  • Self-centeredness is turned into sacrificial love.
  • Fear is turned into hope.
  • Sorrow is turned into inexhaustible joy. 

The resurrection of Jesus is both the source and the object of our JOY and HOPE.

PERHAPS THE GREATEST HUMAN DESIRE IS THE NEED TO BE LOVED. YOU ARE LOVED WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.

THE RESURRECTION POWER OF JESUS IN YOU TRANSFORMS YOUR NEED INTO YOUR DESIRE TO LOVE SOMEONE ELSE FIRST AND MOST.

JESUS IS ALIVE. LIVE LIKE IT.

EYES UP! LOVE YOU!

DREAMS (and a Big Biscuit)

These are the ramblings of a sleepy man.

“I had the weirdest dream last night.”

How many times have you said that?

Sometimes it is the “wildest” or “strangest” or “scariest” or “worst” dream ever. Occasionally, it might be your “best” or “recurring” dream.

Do not worry. I am not going to recall all the dream details to you. But there is something connected to our dreams that has perplexed me.

Why do we feel the necessity and urgency to tell all the “weirdest dream” details to someone else?

We want to share our latest dream. Why?

The other person doesn’t understand how much your dream means to you. They are not interested and often do not care about your dream.

Why do we insist on sharing the names of the people who made a surprising cameo in our dreams? Why the nitty-gritty details? Why the strange scenarios?

Think about that. Are you ever interested or intrigued about the dream details of someone else? I listen to my wife as she describes her dream. I fake interest just as she does when I relate my repetitive dream to her. Even when her dream fascinates me, my mind cannot rise to her level of interest.

So, what is my point? I do not think I have one. I had a really “strange dream” last night with people from my distant past. There were surprising guests in a surreal nighttime drama.

I awakened with a compulsion to tell someone…anyone. Then it hit me like a dream-filled sack of rocks. Nobody wants to listen to the details of my dream. Nobody.

So, I found myself faced with two choices. Write all the dream notes into this Winsday session to waste every reader’s time and trust. Or ask the rhetorical question on each reader’s mind.

Why do we feel the necessity and the urgency to tell someone else all the details of our latest “weirdest dream ever?”

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.

I know you want to tell me about your latest dream. I can sense it. The excitement is building up inside of you. You are a Dream-Topper.

Hey! Go ahead. I do not care.

Have you ever awakened from a dream hoping it was reality? That feeling can be thrilling…or horrible?

We cannot control our dreams. I have fallen asleep to California Dreamin’ and awakened to Nightmare on Elm Street.

I have good dreams and bad dreams. Happy dreams and sad dreams. “Wake myself up screaming” dreams and “Please do not wake up from this thrilling” dream.

My dreams have visited La La Land, Fantasy World, and House of Horrors. I love the nights I revisit the basketball gym. Oh, the sweet sound of swish!

Our dreams are expressions of emotions and experiences. They are expressions of our loves, losses, and longings…. our fears, failures, and fantasies. They even awaken our imaginations of a better life.

Some of my greatest thoughts of life and eternity have been lost in the subconscious cyberspace of my dreams.

All dreams are not just about sleep. Some dreams fuel our hope and motivation to be better or do better.

Sage advice exhorts us to:

  • “Keep on dreaming.”
  • “Chase your dream.”
  • “Pursue your dreams and Never give up.”
  • “May all your dreams come true.”

Our #1 Textbook records some dreamers.

Jacob’s strange dream involved seeing angels going up and down a ladder to heaven. From the top of the stairway to heaven, the Lord promised Jacob’s homeward-bound journey would be safe and successful.

Jacob’s sons hated listening to their brother Joseph’s haystack dreams. When he told them about his intergalactic dream, they sold him into slavery.

Joseph was the only one willing to listen to Pharoah’s weird dream about fat and skinny cows. That led to Joseph saving the whole world from the nightmare of starvation.

After hearing King Neb describe his crazy dream of a gigantic, beautiful tree being cut down to a stump, Daniel just told the king he was going crazy.

It may be advisable to keep your crazy dreams private.

Daniel wrote down his own wild and weird dream about the future. He thought we might be interested in how this lion, bear, leopard, and strange beast with ten horns would rise and fall as empires in order to introduce God’s Son as the one and only true King of kings with an everlasting dominion.

Solomon desired to tell us all about his dream where God offered him a blank check. In his sleep, Solomon chose “wisdom.” Upon awakening, he discovered God blessed him with everything good anyone could desire.

When the eternal king Jesus entered this world as a baby born in a manger, an angel showed up in his earthly father’s dream to warn Joseph to save his family by getting out of Dodge before a showdown with Herod’s soldiers.

I think my favorite #1 Textbook dream story highlights my hypothesis that we all have this innate desire to share the details of our strange dreams with someone else.

In the Book of Judges, God selects timid Gideon for a monumental task of taking on the mighty Midianite army. On the evening before God used Gideon to free his people from seven years of daily beat downs, Gideon sneaks close to the enemy’s camp to survey the situation.

Gideon overhears a Midianite soldier telling his wild and crazy dream to his buddy.

“I had this funny dream last night about this giant biscuit on top of a mountain. This bizarre biscuit starts rolling downhill picking up momentum until it crashes into our camp and smashes our tent.”

That is a strange dream. Like us, the guy felt he had to tell someone about it.

His buddy could not escape the dream weaver or the big biscuit. Here is where the weird dream story gets weirder and even rises to the level of the weirdest off-the-wall dream response ever.

The other soldier surprisingly states he understands the dream about the big rolling biscuit. Then he unravels his explanation.

“That is not a Pioneer Woman campfire breakfast story. It is more like a Stephen King horror novel. There is this guy named Gideon. His God has given him a gigantic sword. He is going to roll into our camp tomorrow and smash our tents like a big biscuit on a soft egg. Then he is going to take us in his hands, place us all in his mouth, and devour us for dinner. Poof. We are gone…finished.”

Gideon gets excited and courageous about this Top Chef saga. He boldly blows a trumpet and adds some gravy to his breakfast biscuit. The rest is history.

We can understand HOPE without dreaming. We have the #1 Textbook that promises we can live with the confident expectation of seeing all the good God has promised us…Somehow…Someway…Sometime.

On tough days, get a big biscuit and remember Gideon’s story for hope.

Now as to that dream you had last night, I ask again.

What motivates you to share the details of your unusual dreams with others who are more concerned about sharing their weird dreams with you?

Listen to one more detail about my dreams.

Daydreaming is my specialty! Come join me anytime.

EYES UP!  LOVE YOU!

TARIFFS and TREASURES

The word for the week is Tariffs. President Trump’s Tariffs have dominated this news cycle.

A tariff is a tax levied by the government on imported goods.

Treasure refers to someone or something of great worth or value.

We all have treasures of some value. We all are affected by tariffs at some level.

My Winsday Wisdom thought is IF YOUR TREASURE IS AFFECTED BY THESE TARIFFS, YOU HAVE THE WRONG TREASURE.

NOTE: The information in this Winsday Wisdom should not be considered personalized financial advice. Consult with a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions. Watch FOX NEWS or CNN for your favorite political opinions. I personally recommend God’s #1 Textbook for both.

Tariffs can help domestic industries and generate government revenue, but they can also create conflicts with other countries which respond with retaliatory tariffs, trade wars, and global market disruptions.

Wall Street’s reaction has been mostly Shock and Awe. This impacts individual investors, family businesses, and global companies, and could lead to higher prices for consumers.

My goal is not to explain, debate, or provide political commentary on the subject. Most of you have an opinion and many of you are experiencing financial consequences, some good, some devastating.

Markets and portfolio values have plummeted while fears have risen. Some people have had their retirement funds rattled. Others of you might possess the economic savvy and nerves of steel to sell high and buy low to increase your portfolios.

I will just summarily describe the financial emotions in this unstable world as nervous.

One benefit of these difficult times is the chance to redirect our focus from temporary things to treasures which last forever.

IF YOUR TREASURE IS AFFECTED BY THESE TARIFFS, YOU HAVE THE WRONG TREASURE.

Every human heart worships something. Every one of us clings to some treasure when times get shaky. We do not want to risk or lose what we value most.

Jesus warned us to anchor our hearts to what lasts forever.

“Do not store up treasures on earth that will fade, erode, or be stolen. Store your treasures in heaven where they are safe and will never lose their value” (Matthew 6:19-20).

REAL TREASURE DOES NOT CRASH OR LOSE VALUE. TARIFFS CANNOT TOUCH IT OR AFFECT ITS VALUE.

Every heart longs to link itself to everlasting treasure.

Tim Keller wrote what others have preached. “If you love anything more than God, even though you may think you are in control of your life, that thing will eventually control you.”

Are increasing tariffs or depreciating treasures controlling your life these days?

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Where is your treasure today?

“Anything you love more than Jesus will either break your heart or become your master” (Jackie Hill Perry).

Please read that again and think about your life.

“Put Jesus first in your heart, and everything else will fall into its proper place. So do not be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time” (Matthew 6:33-34).

Don’t stress about losses or missing opportunities. Instead, focus on God’s generosity—both to you and through you. Your needs will be met, and you’ll have plenty to share.

“When we treasure Christ, we become better stewards of everything else” (Scott Sauls).

Please read that again and make plans to better your stewardship of all your blessings, including your financial responsibilities.

Side note:

  1. Isn’t it wonderful that God’s blessings come without tariffs?
  2. Isn’t it incredible that God gives away His treasure to us for free?

JESUS IS THE ONE TRUE TREASURE THAT WILL NEVER FADE AND NEVER FAIL.

Listen to God’s #1 Textbook:

EVEN THOUGH the fig trees are all destroyed, and there are no blossoms left, nor any fruit remains; EVEN THOUGH the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; EVEN IF the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, YET I WILL BE HAPPY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION.

The Lord God is my strength; He will get me through this time safely and securely (Habakkuk 3:17-19).

Then the #1 Textbook encourages you to sing those treasure song lyrics with a backup choir and full orchestration. Even though…Even though…Even if…I will be happy because my treasure is safe and secure.

IF YOUR TREASURE IS AFFECTED BY THESE TARIFFS, YOU HAVE THE WRONG TREASURE.

IS IT TIME TO REFOCUS?

EYES UP! LOVE YOU!

TROUT FISHING…AGAIN

Oh, the thrill of trout fishing! This session is for all of you. Those who know and love the thrill of Field and Stream and those of you who fail to see the point, much less the fun of the hunt or cast. I can identify with both parties, mainly the latter.

My wife comes from a family of expert sportsmen in the world of hunting and fishing. They are extraordinary in their exploits. I admire them. My wife grew up riding, hiking, and fishing the Colorado territory. I grew up playing basketball in an Oklahoma gym.

My greatest love about fishing is the enjoyment of the flavorful fish fry by friends like Tommy and Charlie. They know what they are doing both in the catching and cooking of the fish. Mark and Big John can fill their boat to overflowing like Peter and the gang in the Bible. Mike and Tarre take fly fishing to another level of success, unless she trips on the rocks. If only there were a doctor somewhere around!

My dad taught me how to fish. We started at his uncle’s pond. The long hike through weeds and the pond’s prevalence of water moccasins probably diminished some of my enjoyment. Dad loved fishing. I loved going with him when the sand bass were running at Kerr or Tenkiller Lake. (I was a novice, but I was pretty sure the sand bass were swimming, not running.)

On those trips, you just put your line in the water and pulled up a fish, as many and as fast as you wanted. It was all action. I loved it. However, I lacked the patience and endurance of the big bass anglers. I spent most of the time unraveling my fishing line from the tree branches, weeds, or fellow fisherman. I would sit there thinking about how many free throws in a row I could have made during this time.

I am definitely not belittling those who love these things. I bemoan that I am just not particularly good at them and, thus, lack the same enjoyment. I only share these examples of my Fishing World shortcomings to set up the thrill of my trout fishing experience.

When our family vacationed along the Rio Grande in Creede, Colorado, it was no surprise that my attempts at fly fishing were futile. I tried for two days without any success. I looked the part. I had the hat and the waders and the fly rod. I became skilled at whipping that line through the air and sending the fly across the flowing waters. My style exhibited the rhythmic grace and beauty of the fly fisherman’s cast. Poetry in motion. I just never caught anything. Not even a bite.

As I made my way back to the cabin in the late evening, I stopped to look at the river from a crossing bridge. I saw a fairly large trout swimming in an area near the bank. Apparently, some larger trout will stay in a pooled spot that provides plenty of food. Their size allows them to withstand the flow of the river stream.

I went down near the sighting and began to toss my line into the water. Several times. I was not fly fishing; I was just dropping my fly and hook into the water and reeling them back in. The sun set and the skies began to darken.

Suddenly, the line moved, and the rod bent. The fish was hooked. I wrestled him to the shoreline. It was a large rainbow trout. Beautiful and big. I was thrilled. Mostly in shock. I looked around for someone or anyone. Every fisherman needs an audience for moments like this.

This trout was much bigger than all the brown trout I had witnessed others catch. It was the largest fish I had ever seen…of course. Isn’t that what a real fisherman always says?

Then I remembered seeing a posted sign warning about some kind of fish that had to be catch and release only. Was it this one? I was clueless. I knew my relatives and the game warden would frown on me breaking the law. I was too far from the cabin to carry the fish home to ask my wife. The rainbow trout would not survive. I needed a picture of the fish, but there was no camera.

Was this a keeper or a throwback? I panicked. I waited. I looked for someone to ask. The fish was in jeopardy. I reluctantly threw the large rainbow trout back into the water.

Catch and Release. Real fishermen go for the thrill, not the food. Someone told me that.

I returned to the area the next evening after going hitless for another day of fly fishing. I could not see the fun in this sport. A thunderstorm broke overhead, and I was getting drenched. I started the long trek to the cabin. A voice called out to me to get shelter under his roof. It was Wallace Johnson, the father of my wife’s best friend in school.

Mr. Johnson welcomed me into his cabin to dry out by the fire as I waited for the storm to pass. He said he had seen me out by the bridge. He told me there was a big rainbow trout swimming around in one of the side areas. People had been trying to land it for two months. It would look great mounted on his cabin wall. What??? Do I dare tell him???

What I learned in those next thirty minutes changed my life. Well, my fly-fishing life. When I confessed my ineptitude at catching trout, the expert kindly taught me the basics.

You whip the line through the air to keep the fly dry. The rhythmic beauty of a skilled fly-fisherman’s cast was not about the length of the throw but the dryness of the bait so it could float on top of the water. Then you wait for the silver streak. What? I had no idea what he was talking about.

My guru told me to watch for the silver streak, a flash of silver in the water. The silver flash signals the trout is moving toward the surface, going for the fly. That is when you set the hook. I could hardly wait for daylight.

I was out in the water along the edge of the river. Suddenly, I saw the silver streak. I set the hook and pulled. I missed it. But now I was hooked. I knew what I was doing. The next sighting of the silver flash landed my first brown trout. By noon, I had a bag full. Fresh trout was on the dinner menu.

Trout fishing was thrilling. I had become…an Angler, the future cover of Outdoors magazine. I made lasting memories fishing with my daughter and sons along the Rio Grande. I understand why this can be so enjoyable, almost addictive.

Learning to love first and love most is also enjoyable and addictive. It also has to be learned because it does not come naturally. Have you ever experienced that thrill? Yes, it is a thrill when done correctly with an unbiased and unharnessed enthusiasm.

I understand the frustrations and the fears. And the failures. I’ve been there.

I just did not know about the “silver flash” in loving others first and most. Loving others is not about going through the proper motions or using the right techniques. It is not about needing to be fully equipped or sufficiently trained.

For me, the “silver flash” is associated with the eyes of the other person. Do I really see them? Do I notice their needs? Or do I just try to “love” because they are in the vicinity? Maybe I can just do the long cast and keep them at a distance. Too many of us just go through the motions.

I have watched the Master teach his disciples and us as He took us to that outcast Legion, alone and ostracized in a scary world. We saw He loved that loveless and hopeless man. We listened in as he talked to the woman at the well, the whore of Sychar. We watched him welcome Zacchaeus, the corrupt and hated government official.

We observed how he took note of the importance of children and how he gave hope to the suffering. We watched him walk through life as the friend of sinners. We viewed him as a breakfast cook for the working men, thrilled with their latest fish story. He did not just talk a good game; He lived it.

He looked into the eyes of Jairus, the distraught dad of a dying daughter and into the weeping eyes of two sisters mourning the loss of their brother. He noticed the blind beggar and the sick elderly woman. He calmed the storm raging fear in the eyes of the men in the boat. He paid attention to the misguided pride of friends arguing about levels of importance. He saw the little boy with his sack lunch. The multitudes were countless. He saw the “silver flash” in each of them.

Jesus lives in you and me to lead us to others He intends to love through us. He will love them first and love them most. Where are they? Look into their eyes! Their eyes show signs of suffering, sickness, sorrow, stress.

“The eyes are an entrance to the heart” (#1 Textbook).

Jesus told the first disciples what He says to us today. “Come, follow Me. I will make you fishers of men. Love them the way I have loved you” (#1 Textbook).

Imitate God’s love. Your home is the practice field. Get better. Take your love out into this world. Every person you see is fighting some hard, and often hidden, battle.

Look for the “silver flash” in their eyes. Be kind. Be caring. Love them first and love them most. Little by little, love them a lot.

I repeat my description of the thrill of loving another person first and most.

The heart pounds. The clouds rumble. The skies flash. The wind roars. The trees sway. The mountains shake. The stars dance. The angels set all heaven ablaze with shouts of praise…when one set of eyes has been loved first and most.

Oh the thrill when you notice that “silver flash” in their eyes!

EYES UP! LOVE YOU!

GUARDIANS of the GRANDKIDS…AGAIN

My son was recently honored by the basketball Final Four as a Guardians of the Game for Leadership. One would think ‘leadership’ would be a noble aspiration for any grandparent.

Reality is more like, “Which way did they go?”

Some of our grandkids are into Marvel movies like Guardians of the Galaxy. The premise for the movie features an adventurer who must unite four misfits against a cosmic threat to destroy this whole galaxy.

That could describe the misfit grandkids of someone I know. I am not pointing fingers or naming names. I plead the fifth.

The Marvel movie Guardians found a higher purpose for their lives and saved the galaxy.

The sequels describe these superheroes as “without a plan, but they get the job done.”

That would perfectly describe my role as a grandparent. No set in stone plan. Always near ice cream.

Grandkids are the best. I will not use this format to make you gag over my prideful exuberance. Just substitute your kids and grandkids into this fable.

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We recently had the joy of having our grandkids around for a while. That does not happen enough. It is fun, entertaining, enjoyable, and tiring. This old gray mare??? (I did not think I should use the more appropriate ‘Old gray stud’) just ain’t what it used to be.

I would not trade the precious and memorable moments for anything.

Unlike Babe, I usually do not have a plan; but I am very good at improvisation that somehow saves the day and keeps the time fun.

Our living area serves as a game room, performance arts stage, gymnasium, wrestling mat, track meet, sports complex, construction site, grandkids’ clothing drop-off center, movie theatre, a gathering place for coloring or reading, and command center for the snack bar to stay open.

It has occasionally served as a medical staging area to stop the bleeding before the trip to Urgent Care for stitches.

Somehow, Babe keeps everything neat, operational, and loving. Since the front of the fireplace serves as the main stage for performers and winners, it has been essential that I clear the area of Babe’s decorative pottery displays before the incoming storm.

This protects the kids and the pottery and the blame Bubba for not being a good Guardian. Before the young company arrives, I move the decorative pieces to a safer area in the corner of the piano room. That space is sometimes used as a doll house or staging area for the next air raid.

The décor is usually protected unless one of our wild rock and rolling Jerry Lee Lewis imitators gets on the piano. Imagine Great Balls of Fire with a Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On.

Chantilly Lace and a pretty face
And a ponytail hangin’ down
A wiggle in her walk and a giggle in her talk
Make the world go ’round

Ain’t nothing in the world like big-eyed grandkids

To make me act so funny, make me spend my money…

Last week, I forgot to move the large red plate and its stand located just left of the fireplace. I noticed a granddaughter leaning up against it as she looked at the family pictures on the shelf behind. At the same time, a bouncing ball and two diving bodies landed near it.

Calling 911 Rescue. I leaped to my feet and quickly salvaged the plate from imminent destruction. It was placed in the safety of the far corner in the adjacent room. It survived the visit just as it had for the previous ten years as each grandchild had his/her opportunities to take it down.

The Guardians of the Galaxy could not have accomplished a better rescue operation. I do feel like a Superhero at times.

After the families were gone and the tears were brushed away, we rested. At least I did until I realized Vicki was cleaning the house. It was time for the Guardian of the Grandmother to step into action.

I pulled out the vacuum cleaner and plugged it in. Vicki said not to do that now. It can wait.

I wanted to help and get everything done so we could both rest and reflect on the good pictures from the time with the grandkids. This was my chance to show how to love first and most. It is not just flowers and candy. Sometimes, it looks like pushing a vacuum cleaner. I did a good job.

As I was putting the vacuum cleaner away, I noticed the large pottery plate. It had survived another Invasion of the Body-Snatchers. This was a good time to get it back to its proper place.

We have a “family truism” that has been passed on to our kids and grandkids:

WHEN WE DISOBEY, ACCIDENTS HAPPEN OR SOMEONE GETS HURT.

There is a reason this saying has survived for subsequent generations. The list is long.

This day, another accident was added to the list.

As I carried the large pottery plate and its stand back to the living area, I bumped a bookcase in the entry way. The impetus started a chain reaction.

Impetus. What a strange word. A powerful force which sets something in motion.

I was hoping this might be a flying saucer. This plate did not fly. It plummeted to the floor like a dive bomber on a kamikaze mission.

In unstoppable slow motion, the plate fell forward and crashed onto the hardwood floor.

Not even a superhero could stop the cosmic damage that exploded my galaxy.

I watched the unstoppable crackup of ceramic pottery bouncing off the wood floor. It went down in one piece and returned upward in several fragments.

The loud crash echoed through the house.

In a nanosecond, I did what my grandkids failed to do in ten years.

Breaking something creates a plethora of thoughts and emotions. Did I do that?

I wished I could fly away. It took every ounce of my manhood not to run for the hills.

When we disobey, accidents happen.

I must disobey a lot. My home was not insured for “Mayhem like this.”

There was no hiding this disaster. There was no way it could be blamed on the grandkids. Trust me. I tried to think of some ways. The grandkids have a bigger storehouse of grace than I do.

The other three matching set pieces stood in motionless mourning for their fallen leader. They were playing Taylor Swift’s song, We are Never Ever Getting Back Together. Never, ever, ever, ever.

My mind was more into the Beatles. Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now I need a place to hide away…

I wish I knew Kintsugi, the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold. It carries the idea that in embracing flaws and imperfections, you can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art. I could only hope that someone close to me would continue to embrace my flaws and imperfections.

I Googled kintsugi. The search suggested I try hari-kari.

I scrambled for a broom and dustpan…and a remote hiding place. Maybe the dog could take the fall for this mishap. She stood there watching with pitiful eyes and wagging her tail. She offered her doghouse for an asylum.

I did not break the law or break the internet. I did not even break the rules. But I felt worse than if I had.

Babe was gracious. Above Bed, Bath, and Beyond gracious. I lived to tell this tale.

SHE ASKED IF I CARRIED THE PLATE AND ITS STAND WITH TWO HANDS.

I can honestly say I never thought about using two hands. Sometimes I struggle to hear.

I recently read the quote:

NO AMOUNT OF REGRET CAN CHANGE THE PAST. NO AMOUNT OF ANXIETY CHANGES THE FUTURE. BUT ANY AMOUNT OF GRATITUDE CHANGES THE PRESENT. (Mark and Angel Chernoff)

I wish it were as easy to drop one’s worries, stress, disappointments, and regrets as it was to drop that pottery plate. The longer you hold them, the heavier they get.

I am grateful for Babe’s grace. She showed me the love first and love most of forgiveness. “It is just a thing.” People are more important than things.

I have too many flaws to be perfect, but far too many blessings to be ungrateful. Every day, I become more and more a Guardian of Gratitude. There are many times I feel as if I am falling apart into little pieces.

Broken. Useless. Trash bound.

God’s grace covers my past regrets and future anxieties. Most importantly, God has a plan to rescue and bless me today. Somehow, God always gets the job done.

“God uses broken clouds to produce rain, broken ground to produce crops, broken grain to produce bread, and broken bread to produce strength” (Vance Havner).

“God does not break things so He can fix them; He fixes broken things so He can use them” to bless other people (Bob Goff).

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:7-9).

You have a Guardian of your soul.

Your life does not have to end up in shattered pieces. God turns those broken pieces into masterpieces. God heals broken hearts, broken dreams, and broken lives. You do not have a broken future.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

God’s grace overflows in your life. I hope you see and sense it. Undeserved forgiveness and unearned goodness. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. I hope you express your gratitude for it.

Our Guardian of Grace gives both Pardon and Power.

Pardon from all our selfish “disobedient accidents.”

Power to Love First and Love Most in every relationship.

Wake up misfit. You are a Guardian of God’s Love. You do not have to become a super-hero.

You have been given a higher purpose in life and infused with an overflow of love. Let it flow!

I love being a Guardian of the Grandkids. I also imagine myself as superhero Guardian of their Grandmother Babe. I am just not very great at it…yet. But I never quit trying!

My tombstone will carry the inscription, “Here lies the Guardian of the Grandkids and their Babe…Bless his heart…He meant well.”

EYES UP! LOVE YOU!

STORMS…AGAIN

LOVE NEVER CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE.

Storms will come in life. The question is not IF, but WHEN.

I want to restate my main point before you finish reading or listening.

LOVE NEVER CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE.

This past week’s news focused on storms. There were strong tornadoes and damaging wind-driven fires.

The word “storm” refers to various kinds of weather disturbances. No matter where you live, you have experienced significant storms.

• Winter Storms
• Thunderstorms
• Tornadic Storms
• Firestorms
• Snow Storms
• Hail Storms
• Ice Storms
• High Wind Storms
• Dust Storms
• Storms…Again…and Again.

Storms can be brief or long. They can be dangerous or damaging. We saw both last week.

The #1 Textbook shares the story about the disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee at night in a boat with Jesus. At least four of the disciples were experienced fishermen aware of the lake’s tendency for sudden raging storms.

When this life-threatening storm appeared, it scared them, making them worry for their lives. As the waves crashed into and over the boat, Jesus slept peacefully in the stern section while water began to fill the vessel.

The disciples had been eyewitnesses to the amazing miracles Jesus performed to help those in need. There were many other wonderful and remarkable things Jesus did. If all of them were written down, the world could not contain all the books that would be created (John 21:25).

However, like most of us, they became very forgetful WHEN this storm swept into their lives. This was a storm which awakened their fears and overwhelmed their faith.

At least, they did go to Jesus for help. Their test of faith in the midst of life’s storms was recorded in the #1 Textbook to encourage us to trust the Lord, not IF but WHEN we go through our storms in life. This specific incident teaches Life Lessons for your stormy situations.

  1. The Lord is always WITH YOU in your life storms.
  2. The Lord is always IN CONTROL of your life storms.
  3. The Lord’s love NEVER CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE from your life’s storms.

These lessons must also be applied when storms pop up in your life.

• Personal Storms
• Marriage Storms
• Parental Storms
• Work Storms
• Health Storms
• Financial Storms

Storms will come in life. The question is not IF storms come, but WHEN. Every relationship will experience storm turbulence.

Remember: Love never cracks under pressure.

In stormy times:  

  • Love is an Anchor.
  • Love is a Lifeline.
  • Love is a Shelter.
  • Love is a Strong Foundation.

When the relationship storms come:

• Love is Patient.
• Love is Kind.
• Love is Forbearing.
• Love is Forgiving.
• Love is Long-suffering.
• Love is Faithful.
• Love is Steadfast.
• Love Never Cracks.

Jesus illustrated this powerful truth when He compared a wise man who built his house on the solid foundation of a rock with a foolish man who built his house on shifting sand. (Matthew 7:24-27)

When the storms came in their lives, the house built on rock stood firm, while the house built on sand crumbled.

Your life will inevitably face storms. Disappointments. Difficulties. Dangers.

Apply the truths of love in your stormy relationships.

• Love never keeps a record of wrongs.
• Love never quits.
• Love always perseveres.
• Love always hopes.

Stormy seasons in life reveal that we are flawed and fearful, just like the first disciples. This does not mean we lack spirituality; it means we are human.

We cannot CONTROL when or how bad the storms will be, and we do not KNOW how to react when new storms hit us. This does not mean we are stuck in the storm; it is a reminder to GO to Jesus.

As Paul encouraged Timothy, “Remember Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:8).

Expect storms in life (John 16:33). They will never last forever.

See your storms in the light of the One who controls the storms.

This is just my opinion. The original disciples, who faithfully and courageously spread Jesus Christ’s teachings worldwide, were surprisingly SLOW LEARNERS. Jesus never gave up on them and His love never cracked under the pressure of their flaws and fears.

What an encouragement to me…to us!

Hey Friends! Let’s keep learning!

Here is this week’s Life forecast. There will be storms…again.