Sometimes ya never know

Ran into a neighbor at the gas pumps today. We chatted for a few minutes about the usual stuff. Details aren't necessarily important, but she related something to me that we had done for them over the course of several Christmases years ago when their kids were little. She said her grown daughter still remembered that, and acted on it this year. We were just being neighborly. We like them. It was fun. It was no strain to do that with them those years. I was amazed to hear that the daughter remembered that, and that she acted on it, this many years later. We're talking about single digit number of years ago, not decades or anything, just so ya know.
As I drove off on my way to the store, I thought, wow. We did that, and then she did this, and it keeps going. I'm not bragging here, just relating a story that came back around. Epiphany was this week. History tells us that the Wise Men didn't exactly show up the night after Jesus was born. The Magi showed up several months later. This tells me that the Christmas Spirit should last awhile after the lights and tree come down, the cookies and pie are all gone, and the presents have found a permanent place in the house. Just the simplest gesture, with really no specific intentions other than some Christmas cheer, has acquired a life of its own. I have a sense that stuff like that happens all over, but in a day and time when things are so tight and stressed, and people seem to be so busy, and especially after what happened today, its reassuring to hear something good once in awhile. Peace on Earth!

Things I've learned this year

In no particular order...

• people are good
• despite what I just said, we are all bad, and do bad stuff. That's why Jesus was born last week.
• Good music makes me feel good, even when its bad news. It stirs me up, makes me think, helps me to get off of what I am hung up about, even for only 3:48. Ya gotta put up with some bad music to find the good stuff, but its worth it.
• things might be as bad as they seem, but you can always make lemonade. if you look, you can usually find someone who is worse off.
• My 90+ year old step-father said don't sweat the small stuff. It's not worth it. Works for him. Maybe I should do better at that. (I think I should point out that that doesn't mean sweat the big stuff. that's a whole 'nother matter)
• My kids keep me young. I get a kick out of being with them and doing stuff with them, even when the pace is nuts, things don't go right, they are complaining or don't listen, and I am missing other stuff - like golf.
• I enjoy kids. They are our future. It's mine and your job to help them along so that they turn into the leaders and faithful people that the earth will need at another point in time. Someone else's dad or mom can be a great influence on a kid you know, even just by being there. Some will latch on. I know  that to be true.
• My kids are like me, but they aren't me. don't try to make them that way. Remember how you got where you are. You screwed up plenty on the way to not being perfect!
• Lots of these things are for me more than for you. But take any of it you like. Most of it isn't mine in the first place! I will attribute where I can.
• The Founding Fathers were very wise, and were willing to be guided by Almighty God. We should follow more in their footsteps.
• The pace is easier to handle if you don't let the pace get to you. BREATH...
• easier said than done!?!?!?!?!?!?!
• I am blessed. Even in troubled times and situations, I know that God is above, below, in front, behind. Wherever I need. Just like the cloud and pillar of fire. Because of my choice to believe in Him and accept His grace, I have a special dispensation that He allows. He may not fix everything, especially the way I  think it should be, but He is protecting anyway.
• I am finding that alot more people think the way I do, generally, than don't. That means most of us have alot in common. Knowing that should  give us some hope, and kick us in the backside to stand up and say something. whatever that means at the time. All it takes for bad men to succeed is for good men to do nothing. --- Edmund Burke (paraphrased)
• see, told you I would attribute. done it twice already...
• some time with my God, both alone and with others (corporately, as some say. but that seems out of place) and in His Word, is good for me for the rest of the week.
• Use your gifts. they are there to help you fulfill your purpose. Probably to help someone else out in some good way.
• It's ok to have alot of fun while being a Christian. God doesn't care if you are goofy sometimes. I think He likes it frankly. I know He has a sense of humor. He made me for cryin' out loud. (I almost said "for Pete's sake," but I thought I would spare Pete the attention...) I learned a new "goofy" from my kids.
• The Feast/Occasion of Epiphany is God's way of reminding us that the Christmas Season ends, but the Christmas Spirit should keep going.

Peace on earth.
I'm curious what you have to say about any of this. Ya can't offend me, so speak the truth...

Its a New Year - 2011

2010 was a weird year. Trying in some ways, good in others. more exaggerated than in the past.This is my attempt to make some sense of it, especially going forward. Depends on how 2011 turns out. Jury is still out, but I am keeping my head up anyway.  Read it and pass it on. I'm not gonna be PC here, cuz that doesn't do any good. And I am biased, just like everybody else. I point it out as I see it. Hence the name. I don't claim to be right all the time, or that mine is the only viewpoint. However, truth is truth and fact is fact. Let's just deal with it and get along. Pass it on as you like, follow or just observe. Sometimes I think we don't see or realize what is going on right in front of us. We're too busy, uninformed, sometimes misled, or just aren't paying attention. Maybe we can all figure this out together.

Happy New Year!