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Thursday, April 19, 2007

"Do you say what you mean?"


I’m trying to figure out something again today. Maybe you can help me. I’m trying to understand how we misunderstand each other so easily.

I was in 8th grade and Mr. Daughtrey was my Earth Science teacher. I remember him talking about astronomy one day and at the time I had a telescope. So as he talked about a celestial body, I remember him mentioning some of the distinctive features of it. I raised my hand and said, "Can you see it with a telescope?"

"Well, that depends on the telescope," he said.

"What about with one like mine?" I asked. "Can you see it with a telescope like mine?"

"What kind of telescope do you have?" he replied.

Then I realized that I had no idea how to describe my telescope to him. I knew nothing about the magnification power, only the size and shape of it.

Remember that someone else hasn’t had your experiences. Be specific when communicating with them so you both can see life from the same perspective as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living today.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

"Why are you so busy?"


I’m trying to figure out something again today. Maybe you can help me. I’m trying to understand why everyone is so busy.

When my grandfather was a child, he had to split wood to put in the stove, light the fire, and get it hot enough so his mother could fix breakfast. He had to go outside and lower a bucket in a well that was dug by hand and bring water inside the house. He had to take a pail and a stool to the barn to get milk. He had to catch a chicken, kill and clean it so his mom could fix Sunday dinner.

Today you and I flip a knob and the oven preheats. We turn a valve and more water than we can drink pours out. You open the refrigerator and there’s a gallon of milk you bought at the grocery store. You stop by KFC or Bojangles or Popeyes on the way home from work and you’re eating fried chicken.

So if life today requires so much less work, why are you so busy all the time? What are you doing with your time?

Today, take time to sit down with your family and talk. Call an old friend. Write a letter to your high school English teacher. Take time to make a life today.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

"Are you on the prayer diet?"


I’m trying to figure out something again today. Maybe you can help me. I’m trying to understand what’s up with all of these diets.

Everyday lately it seems that there are news reports about how obese Americans are—first it’s adults; now it’s children. Fast food is to blame. Then it’s soft drink vending machines in schools.

The weight loss industry is like a $100 bazillion enterprise in the U.S. Take this pill. Drink this beverage. Buy this book. Eat this food. And yet every expert I’ve ever read—and most of these products—tout the virtues of moderate eating and exercise.

So why not just eat less and walk every day? If it’s bad for you, don’t eat it. If you need to walk a mile, cut the TV off and get out of your chair.

Is that just too simple?

I suppose dieting is kind of like praying. People buy books, prayer cloths, and secrets to pray right, when praying is so simple. Close your eyes. Bow your head. Get still and quiet in your heart and mind. Then listen to life today for what God has to say.

Monday, April 16, 2007

"What's in a name?"


I’m trying to figure out something again today. Maybe you can help me. I’m trying to understand what’s up with toilet paper.

My wife sends me to the grocery store to get a few items. One of those items is toilet paper. She gives me very specific instructions about the brand, and says, and I quote, "Get the big rolls."

So off I go to the grocery store, find the toilet paper aisle, search among a gazillion brands until I find the one I’m supposed to get and discover that there are numerous choices in that brand. So I search some more until I see it—the brand I’m after in a package that says "Big Rolls."

So I take my prized toilet paper home. My wife gets it out of the bag and says, "This isn’t right."

"What?" I say. "But it says ‘Big Rolls’ right there."

"These aren’t big enough," she says and pulls out the rolls we have left. And that package reads "Huge Rolls."

God is a lot easier to find than toilet paper. Regardless of what name you use, whenever you go looking for God in your life, God is right there with you.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

"Have you noticed that there’s a whole lot to life that changes, even blue jeans?"


I’m trying to figure out something today. Maybe you can help me. I’m trying to understand what’s changed about blue jeans.

Growing up in the 60s, of course, I wore blue jeans like everyone else; you know, the kind with patches on them. Back then, my Mom had to buy me "slims" because of my thin waist and long legs.

A few months back, my wife bought me some jeans that were called "relaxed fit." Now frankly I have no idea what that means, but while the jeans were the correct size, they didn’t fit. They were too big. So she went back and got me the same size in a style known as "regular." And they fit.

So does this mean that yesterday’s slim is now today’s regular? And that today’s "relaxed fit" is yesterday’s regular? I mean, my body feels "relaxed." I go to the gym and run and work out a little so I’m not flabby relaxed, but I didn’t think I was "regular" either.

There’s a whole lot to life that changes. I mean, even blue jeans change.

But one thing doesn’t change—God loves you!