Tag: #faith

Signed, Sealed, and “Maybe” Delivered

Seeing things through is not merely a sign of maturity but also a mark of strong character. Unfortunately, we live in an age where a handshake and one’s word often mean nothing. There was a time when such a gesture was as binding as a legal contract—a bond or an agreement signifying that an obligation would be fulfilled and a job completed in its entirety.

This carefree attitude of going wherever the wind takes you toward commitment spills over into many areas, especially concerning character. People have become lax in matching their words with their actions. Many profess to have good character, yet their actions rarely bear the “fruit” of their beliefs. True character yields visible results, most clearly demonstrated through integrity, responsibility, and respect. This foundation is strengthened by humility, and self-discipline, while further elevated by a commitment to compassion and caring- all enriched by a steady flow of love, joy, patience and kindness. In a world increasingly defined by divisiveness and hatred, society needs to deliver on these tangible virtues.

United By A Dad Joke?

If we follow current national trends, we could easily be swept into a cycle of hatred and division. Alternatively, we can make a conscious choice to “stand in the gap” by unifying through love, kindness, and grace—virtues that begin with our words and are made evident through our actions. Speaking of words, consider the simple dad joke: What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta. What did the ocean say to the beach? Nothing, it just waved. Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.

I can almost hear the resounding sigh or courtesy chuckle that inevitably follows these corny, punny jokes. Pun intended. Whether you love them or hate them, they rely on a straightforward approach and a complete lack of subtlety; it is always easy to “pick up what the dad is laying down” when it comes to the punchline. In a way, this generation is facing a world that is just as blatant, but instead of laughter and unity we see division and  abrasiveness. Subtlety has vanished from our public discourse, and everything is now front, center, and quite candidly in your face, regardless of who is right or who is wrong. In an era where tact has been lost and every voice is amplified despite the damage it may cause, we have become defensive, unforgiving and on the attack.

However, just as a simple joke can elicit a common, unified response, we as a nation must determine if we are willing to unite around the theme of treating others with respect, regardless of our differences. This doesn’t mean we will always agree, but our instinct for contention must transform into acts of kindness and the wisdom to “turn the other cheek.” Our strength as a nation lies in our unity and our weakness by our divisions. As a “dad” joke enthusiast would say, we need to be more like birds that stick together…..the vel-crows.

Action Requires Movement

Pablo Picasso once stated that “action is the foundational key to success.” While he likely wasn’t referencing the Second Amendment, his words find a striking parallel in the world of firearms. For the gun enthusiast, “action” refers to the central functional mechanism of a breech-loading gun—the “breech” being the rear end of the barrel where the cartridge is loaded. This mechanism is responsible for the critical movement of loading, locking, firing, extracting, and ejecting cartridges. Because this movement is the heart of the machine, a gun owner must prioritize regular assessments and upkeep to ensure the rifle remains in top working order.

For the outdoorsmen, this Henry lever-action, Golden Boy silver rifle serves as a perfect metaphor for how success requires intentional motion. If movement is something we desire in our own lives, we must take the proper steps to initiate it. This begins with casting a vision, which acts as our target; without a clear target, we have nothing to aim for. The next step is to move forward by implementing small, measurable objectives. In essence, this is where we begin “loading” in preparation to fire.

At this stage, accuracy is developed. The process may require a few failures or missed “planning shots,” but the key is to never lose focus on the target. When we lose focus, we risk giving up or failing entirely; consistent movement is the only way to avoid both. You may find that your early practice shots hit only the outer rings, but with each attempt, you reevaluate your movement and adjust as necessary. Ultimately, if the movement is continued with persistence, the goal will be attained……..but without that “action”, like that of a fine firearm, none of this will be achieved!.

Change Comes By Bringing The Right Attitude

“This perennial plant, with its reddish-green fibrous stalks, is known for a sharp bitterness caused by oxalic acid. While the stalks are edible, the large green leaves are toxic and must be avoided, as their high acid concentration can cause severe illness. On its own, the raw stalk mimics the consistency of sour celery; however, when harvested between April and July and paired with the right ingredients—like sugar and strawberries—it transforms into a celebrated tangy-sweet pie.

The parallel is clear: life presents us with circumstances and people that can feel sour or even toxic. Just as a sour attitude cannot fix a bitter plant, reacting with negativity will never improve a challenging situation. To create the change you desire, especially when navigating diverse perspectives and backgrounds, you must introduce the right ‘ingredients.’ It all begins with your attitude—be the ingredient (grace, love & kindness) that transforms the world around you.”

Is Anybody Sorry Anymore?

In today’s generation, the simple phrase “I’m sorry” is used far less than it should be. Instead, many people play the blame game or deflect responsibility rather than taking personal accountability for their actions and choices. Receiving an apology for an unprovoked action of another is nice, but the crucial question remains: Does an apology reflect true sincerity, or is it a strategic avoidance of consequences, or quite possibly just a passive statement with no depth.

Google defines an apology as “a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure.” Taking this definition a step further, Google defines “regretful” as “feeling sad or repentant.” This leads us to the core of the issue: what does it mean to be “repentant”?

According to Google, to be repentant means “to feel a sincere regret for wrong doing, leading to a sincere change of mind and a commitment to turn away from error and toward a better path and a demonstrated change in behavior.”And there it is: a changed behavior. Is this what an apology truly entails, or has the genuine “I’m sorry,” as evident by a realized change of behavior, become a relic of the past?

Keep Your “Stupid” On A Leash

It’s hard to believe my goofy dog, Cliff, still gets to claim the ‘puppy’ card. He’s pushing 90 lbs and is only a little over a year old—his paws are practically snowshoes, and his body is diligently working quickly to catch up to their size.

Leash training has been an absolute joy with Cliff. And by “joy,” please note the heavy, dripping sarcasm that would make a jaded comedian proud: HE IS A MENACE! He’s easily one of the biggest and strongest labs we’ve ever owned, and again, he’s just a one-year-old.

He pulls like a freight train, his mighty paws sometimes losing traction as he chuff, chuff, chuffs, dragging his human workout partner along for a ride. It often feels less like a walk and more like trying to lasso a bull in full stride; your only real option is to hold on for dear life and pray you stay upright. This usually leads to unclasping the leash and allowing him to run free.

I know, I know. All you classical conditioning gurus out there are probably sighing so hard your lab coats are flapping. Go crazy on the leash, and eventually, we let you run free. Taught him a great lesson indeed. 

Now, “running free” is an entirely different kind of monster. Cliff doesn’t just trot politely by your side; he enters a blistering paced hyper-exploration mode, running non-stop circles to investigate every single scent, puddle, butt, field, brush, or forest in his line of sight.

Before you jump to conclusions—no, the title of this story is not referring to Cliff. The truth is, we all have an inner “Stupid” that constantly tries to be let off its leash. While it really should be kept in a high-security kennel at all times, the reality is that we all make “Stupid” mistakes, “Stupid” decisions, and “Stupid” statements and the list goes on and on…..

I believe the true mark of maturity isn’t that we finally stop doing dumb things (let’s be honest, we’re human; that’s not happening). Rather, it’s how we handle ourselves when our unleashed “Stupid” decides to go for a run.  

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you

Shore-ly You Can Walk On Water

In the 1980s, the dream of strapping on shoes and walking on water was alive or so it seemed. An invention emerged that promised this modern day miracle, but it was less a pair of “shoes” and more a set of “personal styrofoam rafts that required professional-level core strength” to navigate. Forget your imagined size 8-10, high-tech sneakers; these things were a comedic masterpiece of engineering (or lack thereof). 

Imagine if you can a modern stand-up paddleboard—the length, the width—then add two feet of thickness. Now double that (because you need a pair), make both of them entirely out of squeaky styrofoam, and slap a neoprene foot strap onto the top of each. You didn’t just wear them; you committed to them. The undersides featured several three-inch, perpendicular, louver-like slats. These were designed for “traction,” an extremely generous term for the resistance you felt as you attempted to “walk” on water in what amounted to two behemoth, yellow, banana boats strapped to your feet.

Mastering these buoyant behemoths was a high-stakes comedy of errors. Getting started required a stable dock or a shallow shoreline. The “skilled” user would gingerly slide one foot in, then the other, hoping for the best but typically resulting in the worst.

Falling in over your head was a guaranteed game over. Trying to reboard was like wrestling two greased dolphins; the slightest wobble and you were back in the drink and swimming to shore. Once upright (a miracle in itself), the actual act of moving was a pathetic, slow-motion trudge across the water.

The technique or trick of the trade was to keep your head down, eyes glued to the water’s surface, maintaining a laser-like focus on not falling over from the gentle breezes or the waves lapping under your feet. The moment you dared to glance up—perhaps to see if anyone was watching your graceful performance—you were toast. Many failed the task, their dignity only partially salvaged by the notches, nicks, dents and floating yellow styrofoam shavings leaving their successes and mostly failures marked in history.

With all “Water Shoes” antics and levity aside, the Bible talks about keeping your eyes on Christ and seeking Him first. We all know the story of Peter walking on water but the moment that he took his eyes off of Jesus he started to sink. This is an excellent parallel to how we can lose our focus by the challenges, distractions and numerous voices found in this world vs following and prioritizing one simple scripture in our lives, which will keep us safe, prepared and balanced for anything that is thrown our way.

Matthew 6:33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Learn To Be Skillful

“Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee”…….Anyone familiar with boxing instantly recognizes this famous phrase by Muhammad Ali. Ali stands as one of the sport’s greatest, finishing his career with 56 wins (37 by knockout) and only 5 losses. He combined nimble footwork with incredible power. Crucially, Ali mastered defense, understanding the necessity of avoiding punches that could cause injury or a knockout. Simply put, his brilliance lay in evasion; in a sport where getting hit is a path to failure, he was a master of not getting in the way.

This philosophy mirrors life itself. We will inevitably face jabs and absorb a few punches; we will celebrate victories and, unfortunately, confront losses. The key is to learn and grow from each round of life’s experiences. We must master a good offense and develop a skillful defense which includes the art of evasion. You don’t step back into the ring after a defeat and use the same failed strategy; doing so will quickly leave you against the ropes. Instead, you learn, you grow, you prepare better for navigating or even avoiding future challenges so that you float by the punches like a butterfly or at times skillfully sting like a bee.

Holding Back vs Letting It Fly

Wisdom is frequently developed through memorable experiences that necessitate changed behavior. These powerful, experiential learning opportunities are often connected to uncomfortable situations, ensuring the required connection is made to modify or adjust one’s behaviors.

I recall, as a school administrator, an instance where a kindergartner was absent due to a simple digestive issue—an ailment older students could easily manage without taking the day off. The parents’ candid excuse provided a moment of levity (and a few laughs) but also a valuable correlation for a lifelong lesson: sometimes we grow so comfortable that we neglect the importance of demonstrating fundamental values and good character. This is immediately evident in modern society by the manner in which we have started to omit basic courtesies for one another. As a generation, we must actively restore a baseline of care and respect and avoid the complacency that allows common courtesy to erode. We also must learn when it is time to hold back versus expelling everything (from our mouths and social media) that comes to mind and return to providing each other grace regardless of our differences in opinions…..for we are all God’s creation living together on this rock.

The excuse, by the way? Never trust a fart.

Just A Bunch Of Nuts

A sudden blast, like a shotgun, shattered the silence of the night, crickets included. With my heart racing, my mind—and likely those of any neighbors—rushed to the extremes. Who is out there? Is this a threat? As the minutes ticked by, I spiraled through “what-ifs” and worst-case scenarios, debating the next steps.

Bang…..Bang! There it was again. Already pounding, my heart leaped as the sound seemed to draw closer and grow louder. Fear attempted to take hold, only to be instantly dissolved by my father’s voice outside the room: “You up? You hear those walnuts falling on the metal shed roof?” 

Perspective changes everything. When we allow alarm and fear to dictate our thoughts, we fall prey to misjudgment, poor decisions, and a loss of confidence. However, when you know who you are in Christ, your perspective shifts. If He is for you, nothing can stand against you,  Romans 8:31.