Random Thoughts on Changing Time

It's that time of year when we "cut a piece off one end of the blanket and sew it back on the other."  Whoever invented daylight savings time must have had a town job.

I saw a funny meme yesterday in which an agricultural expert was asked by a television reporter about the impact of daylight savings time on plants....  Some of you may not get it.  Oh, well.

If I had a normal 8 to 5 job -- is that really normal anymore? -- daylight savings time might be useful.  It would give me more time to mow the lawn in the evening when I got off of work.  I suppose that is the reason for it.  If I recall, it was originally explained to me that it was designed to reduce energy usage.  I can't figure that one out since everyone is getting up and going to work or, to school in the dark.

Ben Franklin was the first to suggest the idea of daylight savings time in an essay written in 1874 as a method to reduce the cost of light.  It was first adopted by the U.S. to begin March 15, 1918.  It was met by a good deal of resistance.  In 1919 Congress decided to make it optional at each state's discretion.

Daylight savings time was again enforced during World War II, however, after the war it became discretionary once more.  Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (which is something I remember receiving much discussion at the time although I was very young) it was determined that it should be observed uniformly by all states -- if they participated.  Hawaii and Arizona chose not to participate with the exception of the Navajo Reservation which did.  I find that interesting considering the opening comment supposedly attributed to a native American of that persuasion.

I apologize that today's post is going out a little late.  Blame it on the time change.  If it had been yesterday, it would be going out early....my mind and body are still a little confused by this trying to arbitrarily adjust the natural rhythms of the photo-cycle by moving the hands on a clock -- oh, yeah, it's hard to find a clock with hands anymore -- by changing the digits on a clock.

The animals aren't confused except by the behavior of their human caretakers.  They are wondering why they are suddenly being fed at a different time.

Singing in the Rain

Birds up on the highline wire
Greet the breaking day;
They sing a cheerful song
To send me on my way.

No matter what they've been through
As the sun comes peeking out
They're back upon their perch
To give the day a shout.

When the storms roll overhead
They just hunker on their limb
But, when it's past they shake it off
Like it was no big deal to them.

We should learn to look at life
Just like a tiny bird;
No matter what is thrown at us
Let a cheerful song be heard.

Being Patient

Being patient can sometimes be the most difficult work one can do.  Our natural tendency is to want things to happen quickly once we see a course of action.  Allowing the time for things to take their natural path to conclusion can be stressful.  Stress is draining, just like physical labor.  It makes us tired and often, irritable.  Waiting is hard for most of us.

Many things through the years have forced me to be patient.  I suppose that is an interesting choice of words -- forced.  It seems the antithesis of patience.  Enforced waiting would be a better way to describe the situation.  The result is learning to accept that there are times when we must allow events to occur in the correct sequence in order to obtain the desired results.

Impatience is the opposite of faith.

Faith is believing that events will unfold according to a plan that is often beyond our comprehension while accepting that the result will be what is most desirable.  Face it, we are not omniscient, nor are we able to control everything that can affect events leading to a desired outcome.  Sometimes, our lack of knowledge obscures the fact that what we desire may not be truly desirable.  Things don't always turn out to our expectations.  Once again, it is the journey, not the destination.

I believe one of the most important areas of growth for a Christian is faith.  We must learn to accept that God is in control and knows what is best for each one of us.  We must also accept that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."  That is the key -- His purpose.  In choosing to place our faith in Him we choose the position of adopted son, or daughter.  It is a subordinate position, yet a favored one.  He has our best interest in mind, just as we desire the best for our own children.

Patience is faith.

The passage of time is merely our arbitrary measurement of our lack of faith.

Automobiles, People and Politics

I believe we each are placed upon this earth for a purpose
That we are called to fulfill.

Sometimes we spend the majority of our life trying
To figure out what it is.

For those whose part to play is clear and obvious
Take comfort in your role.

Others, though their task is equally important, are forever
Trying to understand how they fit.

Observe a complex machine such as an automobile.
The function of some things is obvious.

The purpose of a wheel is easily seen just as it
Is easily seen on the car.

The purpose of a tiny screw that fastens a wire deep within
The recesses of the dash is also clear, but unseen.

The purpose of the wire which terminates in a plastic plug
That is connected to nothing is unclear but, seen.

That plastic plug is there because on some models
Another part would connect to it.

My purpose here is simply to say that all of us --
Every single one of us --

Plays an important part in life.  Sometimes our role
Is unseen and seemingly small -- like the tiny screw.

Others are placed in prominent roles that carry
Tremendous responsibility -- like the wheel.

Others are there in the event a change must be made
For the overall purpose to be fulfilled.

Everyone is indispensable and should be treated as such.
Each and every person is important.
All are different, yet needed to complete the "automobile."
We come in different shapes, sizes, colors and....political philosophies.
We need to learn to work together to meet the purpose of the whole.

It's time to tighten up a few loose screws in Washington
And perhaps paint some of the old rusty parts.
It might also be time to replace a few of the old ones.
The same applies to many of our attitudes....

People and Climate

Much of the country has been gripped in extreme bitter cold these last few days.  I know it is still winter, but it is time for spring to begin showing its face.  We are fortunate to live far enough south that, although it is the coldest spell we have experienced all winter, our temperatures are not too bad.  We have had to deal with frozen water tanks for the first time over the last few days.

It is amazing how people and animals adapt to the harsh temperatures.  If you are not a part of agriculture, you mostly cope by staying indoors rather than being out in it.  If you have livestock to feed and care for, it is a very different story.  Hopefully, there is adequate shelter for the stock to get out of the wind.  High quality feed helps also, because it provides the energy necessary for the animal to stay warm through biological mechanisms.  They should be carrying more fat and more hair during the cold months that help to sustain them when temperatures drop.

People bundle up in layer upon layer of clothing that holds the body heat.  Cold is the natural state of space and warmth only comes because of the input of energy which is trapped within the atmosphere.  Sunshine is an amazing "heater" only because of our atmosphere.  Otherwise the energy would pass right through and continue on its merry way through space, or be reflected back into the coldness never to return.  Instead, it bounces around between molecules of air and the water and other compounds suspended in it, exciting those molecules to a state of vibration which in turn releases more energy.  (I'm sure my description of the science here isn't perfect, but the gist of it is correct.)

The balance of heat capture versus release within the atmosphere is a delicate thing.  If too much heat/energy is trapped, we experience global warming of the atmosphere.  If not enough is trapped we experience cooling.  The earth tends to regulate itself thanks to the most important molecule to life -- water.  Evaporation due to heat adds water into the atmosphere which forms droplets around particulates suspended in the air -- such as carbon molecules -- which then precipitate back to earth carrying some of the heat from the atmosphere along with it.

It is fear of the long-term consequences that drive many to have an alarmist view of this action.  It is natural and cyclical.  Does human activity affect the cycle?  Probably.  Is it irreversible?  No.  Nature will correct the course.  The correction may be difficult for those who live through it because it will likely cause more and more extreme weather events.  Radical human-driven solutions will not change the natural cyclical nature other than to possibly affect the duration of the cycle in a very limited way.

Fortunately, mankind will adapt.  It has happened many times through the eons that mankind has been on this planet.  Just like the folks and their animals up north have adapted to the harsh conditions this winter, we will figure out ways to live through it.  We are amazing, yet sometimes foolish creatures.  Amazing in our adaptability yet, foolish in thinking we are in control. 

Words and More Words

I truly intended to get a post out yesterday, but sometimes the things we need to do out-demand the things we desire to do.  I won't write twice as much today in order to make up for the missing!

I did learn yesterday that there actually are a handful of people who read the things that I write.  Some of them are obvious, like family and a few good friends, but I am occasionally surprised at encountering those who have read my words and remembered them and make mention to me.  It is gratifying, yet intimidating, because it emphasizes the responsibility we have for our words.  What we say and what we write can have impact on others in ways we may not always be able to predict.

I do try to avoid being especially inflammatory here, although sometimes I will get political.  Politics can be polarizing -- just observe the current situation in Washington.  Even with political subjects, though, I try to keep my thoughts "gauged" and designed more to provoke conversation and thought, rather than vitriol.  Sometimes it even works!

I don't claim to be a teacher, yet each and every one of us is a teacher by the example we set for others and the words of our mouth and mind/hand.  Sometimes what we teach is imbued with wisdom and at other times, folly.  I pray that my words will convey wisdom -- often without my knowledge or, awareness, or even intent that they do so.  God works through the words of man just as He works through our actions.  I pray that my words be empowered with the Spirit of Truth.  Always.  I know I will fail at times, but He never does.

"Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people.  He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.  The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.  The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails -- given by one Shepherd.  Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.  Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.  Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:  Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."  -- Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Serving a Layerd Cake

A number of my contemporaries have retired and a number more are contemplating such.  Although there are times the thought crosses my mind, I don't think it is something for which I am ready.  I can't envision myself in what most consider as retirement.

My career has consisted of a series of periods doing different things.  I won't go into details of the various segments, but suffice it to say that each stands somewhat alone in that they are all dissimilar in many ways -- almost as if they were each a separate career.  Usually a career is built as one continuous advancement after another that leads inevitably up some "ladder" of progressively greater responsibility, or higher function within a trade or industry.  Mine hasn't really looked like that, but each piece could stand alone as if it was a separate book rather than a chapter in a long story.

The consolidating factor between them is that in retrospect, each contributes to the next in the knowledge and experience gained being applicable in some subtle fashion.  It is as if it is a layer cake with clearly separate layers which build upon each other.  I can only hope that at the end there is a generous portion of frosting.

One of my "outside interests" is archeology.  I enjoy delving into the past and it intrigues me to find an object that is from some ancient period and speculate as to its use and those who used it.  I have never been involved in a professional archaeological dig, but it is something I have often thought would be enjoyable.  Perhaps there will be opportunity some day to do so on a volunteer basis.

My mind connects archeology to my career because it too is often a series of layers which build up over time to create a timeline of events.  Human habitations seem to be renewed over time even when cataclysmic events may erase them for a period.  Often, the renewal is located upon the rubble of the ruined.  It seems that certain locations remain attractive in spite of past occurrences that may have led to their demise.  When such a location is discovered, carefully conducted excavation using proper scientific techniques can reveal a history of the people who lived, worked and died on that particular piece of ground.  History is recorded in many ways.  The facts captured in the remains are unchanging even though our understanding is often obscured by the passage of time.

I see the same in my career.  Even though each segment stands alone, in retrospect there is connection that ties them into a cohesive whole -- an interconnected history.  As I look toward the future I can only speculate where the path will lead, but I know that the pieces will all fit together.  Perhaps someday retirement will seem a suitable place to be, but it isn't on my current horizon.

I have never discovered within the Bible any reference to retirement.  Instead, there are many references to serving others.  When you view your career -- your job -- as service to others, it changes your perspective.  It adds a higher level of purpose to your life.  It gives you reason to pursue, to improve, to build, to bring value, to enhance the lives of others.  It impels you to live. 

Retirement, on the other hand, seems to imply, "I have given all I plan to give, now I will take for me."  Maybe we need to redefine retirement as a change of direction -- a change of career.  Let it be the frosting between the layers of the cake which is our service to others.

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-9

Texas Independence Day

The opening lines of the Texas Declaration of Independence read as follows:

"When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted, and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression...."

It was adopted by convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos on this date in 1836 and signed by 59 delegates, each representing one of the settlements in the colonies, on the following day.

The Texas Revolution was brief and seems to have been a result of Divine Intervention in many ways.  The circumstances of remoteness from the center of power and the arrogance of the Federal Government combined with the "brilliance" of a strategic retreat (some might say it was purely luck) allowed the Texians to capture Santa Anna, the self-declared emperor and leader of the Federal military forces and thus bring a swift end to the conflict.

Some might argue, just as is done regarding the U.S. Civil War (aka War of Northern Agression) that the Texas revolution was about slavery.  There is some validity to that argument, however, it is placing a simplistic reasoning on a complex issue.  While true that colonists resented the Mexican Government's ban on the importation and possession of slaves, there were many other issues that precipitated the revolt.  Those issues included suppression of religious freedom, denial of trial by peers, the confiscation of firearms and the capricious imprisonment for various alledged crimes.  Nowhere in the document is slavery mentioned.

When we view history, there is a tendency to place events within the context of current societal trends and thought.  It is a mistake to do so in retrospect, however, it is highly appropriate to place current trends and events within the context of historical occurences which have inevitably led to the present condition.  We tend to look at such things with a reversed hierarchy that places blame rather than creates understanding.

On this day of remembrance it is important to reflect on the struggles of our ancestors that have brought us to a point in the human endeavor where we have much to be thankful for regarding our current state of liberties.  We should remain vigilant, however, to guard those conditions. 

Organizing My Thoughts

One of the problems with the book "300 Writing Prompts" is that it changes the nature of how I spend my thinking time.  It sends my thoughts along the lines of the prompts rather than me allowing them to drift across current events, tasks ahead of me, or other things that are percolating within the murky recesses of the gray matter between my ears.  They lead me down someone else's paths even though I make those paths my own.

One of the best things about spending thinking time in the morning is that it allows me to organize my thoughts.  I am able to prioritize tasks, place new information into the context of previously conceived opinions (which sometimes modifies those opinions) and allow my mind to establish new connections between disparate pieces of information that may provide hints at opportunities ahead.

I probably began to establish the habit of "thinking time" sometime during the 90's.  It likely came out of the book which accompanied the Franklin Planner that I used at the time.  It was a fantastic tool.  The one that I carried was of the larger size and it was expensive, but with it, I established several habits that have served me well.

One was the making of a "rolling" task list.  The planner had an area to the left side of the page that was designed for making a list of daily tasks.  Symbols were used to prioritize those tasks and to denote their disposition.  Some were done, some delegated and some "rolled" forward that might be "in progress."  One of the keys was in the way you handled action items that stemmed from the tasks.  If a "next step" was delayed for several days, such as the follow-up on an item, you would simply turn to that day in your planner and enter the item in the task list for that day as an action item.

To the right of the task list was a daily schedule.  Appointments were entered as they were set -- whether on the current day, or one in the future.  If you needed a reminder about an important appointment coming up, such as a presentation that required preparation, you would enter the preparation time as a task on the task list in the days prior to it.

The back of each task list/calendar page was for taking notes.  That way, the right-hand page was always available for notes.  Additional notes pages could be added because it was in a 3-ring binder.  I learned to keep extensive notes.  Every telephone call, every meeting discussion, etc. was entered into the notes.  It created something like a diary of each day.  It was invaluable for going back and reviewing meeting notes.  It also became critical in one particular incident in which the company for which I worked was sued over an alleged breach of intellectual property.  My notes proved the sequence of events in our favor and the lawsuit was dropped without ever going to trial.  Our company attorneys were amazed by the detail.  It provided everything they needed to counter the suit.

I miss my planner.  I have never fully adapted to the electronic versions of it.  Most of the time the electronic tools are convenient, but for me, the electronic planners are not.  I don't like carrying a laptop into a meeting and it is sometimes a pain to enter events into an electronic calendar -- especially "ticklers" prior to something which requires planning.  It also is difficult to keep the task list coordinated closely with the calendar so that they are conveniently visual in a side-by-side fashion.  Then there is the issue of notes.  I now keep a yellow legal pad on my desk where I record notes of calls, meetings, etc.  I have boxes full of yellow legal pads.  They are not well organized.

I suppose I drifted a bit from the original commentary of this post regarding "thinking time" except that my thoughts definitely drifted along the paths of becoming better organized.  I guess I am organizing my thoughts on personal organization.  But, then there is organizational organization and inter-organization organization and oh, well....

Art in Our Heart

The book of "300 Writing Prompts" asks:  "What is your favorite work of art?  What do you love about it?"

I don't have an answer for the question and I find that odd, I suppose, because I like art.  I enjoy seeing items crafted by the mind and hand of man that exhibit exceptional giftedness.  I also enjoy such items that may not be exceptional, but show a depth of thought and observation that reflects something of the nature and character of the artist.

Keep in mind that I don't limit art to painting, or drawing -- to me it includes many other things.  There is art in writing, in sculpting, in acting, in music, in pottery-making and in the thousand other things normally considered as art, but there is also art in business, in sales, in negotiation, in machine-work, in wood-work, in teaching, in computer programming and in the way a cattleman handles animals.  There is art all around us if we observe closely.

To me, art is more than what we traditionally consider as "the arts."  Art is craftsmanship, it is a depth of understanding that permeates ones work.  It is the "heART" of one's craft -- whatever it might be.

There are many people who know a trade; they can perform a job admirably.  Few attain the status of artist.  An artist, to me, is one who has achieved the pinnacle of their calling.

The answer to the original question must be that I have no favorite, but I see art all around me.  I see it in the design of a small box that sits on my desk.  I see it in the cell phone which is beside it.  It is in the way the wood grains are aligned in the desk itself.  It is all around me in the works of many different hands.

Art, however, is merely imitation.  No matter how flawlessly one presents their work, it never equals what surrounds us in the natural world.  We merely aspire to, but will never achieve, perfection.  The fact that we seek such is heARTening, though, because it demonstrates that deep down we truly desire that which resides only in God -- perfection.

Re-purposing

When do you throw it out?
When it's scratched and battered and worn?
Or, do you find utility
After the luster is so long gone?

We like to have things
All shiney and new to decorate our home
But, sometimes it is better
To keep tried and true where value is well known.

We've become a people
Who just throw it out upon the garbage pile
When there is so much use
Still there you see if we'd just keep it awhile.

There may be a need to repurpose
Instead of just pitching it out
There's lots of life left in that thing
Though it may require thinking about.

It's not just things to which this applies
People get treated the same
As they age and are replaced by somebody new
They just need a new spot in the game.

Enduring Purpose

Purpose is inevitable.
From the hardened crust
Of a molten pool
The molecules form
An enduring node
That is pushed upward
In the violence of
Cataclysmic collision

Where it is broken
From the heights,
By the ice which has formed
In minuscule cracks,
To slide slowly
Down the mountainside
Until the warmth
Of lower atmosphere

Frees it to be washed
Into the accumulating
Waters rushing
Toward the faraway
Basin which holds
The substance of life.

Abrasive time rounds the edges
Of the shard as
Storms roll it onward
Through the torrent
Finally to rest on
Distant shore where
Laughter rings and
Tiny hands grasp
The ancient stone

Only to hurl it
Skipping across
The quiet pool
Where the silvery
Shapes flit
Among the shadows.
It's purpose
Has been fulfilled.

Oscars? Not Me.

I refused to watch the Oscars;
There's no appeal for me.
It's just a bunch of actors
Up there for you to see.
A parade of mental illness.

They spend their lives pretending;
Not revealing who they are
And all you see is lie on lie
As they seek to be a star
In a culture of look-at-me.

They titillate their audience
With outrageous speech and clothes
But who they are beneath all that
No one really knows.
Why would anyone want to emulate?

It's no wonder they are drawn
To certain politicians
Since its all about pretending
And righteous admonitions.
With lie upon lie upon lie upon lie....

Mentally Fixated

Sometimes I become fixated
On a problem
At the exclusion of all others.

My mind attempts to connect
All the dots
When they aren't always apparent.

When that occurs I don't always
Deal with distractions
In a polite or, accommodating way.

I must be wary when that happens
Or, I become
More than difficult to be around.

I've always loved puzzles and
The more difficult
They are the better I like them.

No, this isn't a poem it is just
A string of sentences
That describe where I am mentally.

Cattle, Rain and Blizzards Oh My!

I'm listening to it rumble this morning as a thunderstorm makes a glancing blow across the area.  The fog is dense and other than the sound, the only sign of its presence are the diffused flashes that periodically light up the sky prior to the reverberating tones that seem to move across me.

It is warmer than it has been.  It is very still which lends a spookiness to the atmosphere.

Now, I hear the sounds of rain as it begins to fall on the roof and the vents, making a low noise as if someone is sliding a cardboard box across concrete, but with "sprinkles on top" of drops hitting the vents with a light tinny note.  I love to hear the sound of rain in the night or, the early morning before it is time for the sun to light up the sky.  It is not likely to show its face today.

We are fortunate that it is only rain.  We are on the tail end of a system that is bringing blizzard conditions to southwest Kansas where they are expecting heavy snows that might total a foot or, more, accompanied by winds that will likely gust in excess of 60 miles per hour.  Fortunately, the storm is expected to be short-lived.

I seem to write about the weather more than almost any other subject.  Being involved in agriculture, the weather is critical to the crops, the livestock and the people who care for them.  Today, I empathize with my friends in Kansas who will be out in the storm making sure the cattle are fed.  Some may be searching for drifted cattle once the storm has passed.  Many areas have cattle grazing on wheat pasture which is likely surrounded only by an electric fence.  Conditions like what is expected today will cause the fence to be ineffective and the cattle may wander for miles from their pasture.  It may take days to find them all.  Hopefully, they will find shelter and be in good shape when tracked down.

Again, I am thankful that we are only dealing with rain.  We've had plenty of it though and the pastures are saturated.  Whatever falls now will just run off into the creeks and low places.  It won't do much good this summer when it is dry and hot.

It's a good morning to sip on a hot cup of coffee in a warm house.

Cartoons vs. Video Games

Last night I woke up thinking about old black and white cartoons.  Something must have pulled my mind into the deep, dark recesses of my oldest memories.  I don't recall when we first had color television, but I know I wasn't very old.

One of the best things about many of those old cartoons was the music.  I didn't know at the time, but found out later that most of the musical score was from famous classical compositions by composers such as Beethoven, Bach and others.  We were being educated as we were being entertained.

There was a lot of slapstick humor in those old cartoons.  Often, the punchline was literally that, a punch, or getting "whacked" over the head, or something similar.  It was a sure-fire way to get a laugh.

Later on, Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote took that theme to an extreme when the entire cartoon was about coyote's failed attempts to catch roadrunner and his being blown up, or crushed, or otherwise maimed by his own failed inventions.  It was funny because he was clearly the bad guy and the good guy always won.  He always came back for more.

As we had children and they watched cartoons, I was dismayed by the fact that the ones I had enjoyed as a kid were no longer considered acceptable because of the "violence" they portrayed.  They were replaced by lessons in how to treat each other and all about "feelings" while violence was condemned.  Children of that age and now, their children, have been taught, through cartoons and other children's programs, that violence is unacceptable, yet they have been freely allowed to play video games that portray graphic violence.

I don't know what caused me to wake up thinking about those old cartoons, but I enjoyed the memories.  Our generation has a healthy understanding of violence and its proper place in the world.  Younger generations struggle to separate reality from the fantasy of a video game.

Many people think banning weapons is the answer.  I suspect banning violent video games would be much more effective.  We need to go back to portraying the struggle between good and evil in a way that causes children to want to be the hero -- the good guy.  Instead, they are taught to have "feelings" that don't match reality.  It is a sad state we have fallen into.

A Bigger View

Perhaps it is the cold, rainy weather we have experienced and expect to see more of, but it comes to mind that it would be nice to get away for awhile.  It isn't likely to happen any time soon, but it is an appealing thought.  I know my better half would be all on board as she has expressed similar sentiments in recent days.

It is fun to speculate on where to go, but it seems that either time, or financial considerations have a large influence on the decision.

If time and money were not an issue, there are lots of places I would like to go.  My first choice would be to spend some time on the British Isles.  I would like to spend a few weeks exploring England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.  I suppose it is because I view them as the source of my genetic roots, but they also are the source of the political roots of our country which was founded and populated by large numbers of immigrants from those islands.  There is much history and beauty to be found there.

I also would like to spend time in Australia and New Zealand.  Having a language in common would make travel there easier, but I have always been drawn to Australia.  It might be the animals, or the vast stretches of wide-open spaces, but for some reason it has always held a mystique that is attractive to me.

To be quite honest, there are very few places in the world that I would not like to see.  I could spend years traveling to far off lands.  Some of them are still dangerous places, but at my age that is less of a fear than it once might have been.  I want to see how other people live.  I want to see the landscapes that I have viewed in books and on television.  I want to expand my view of the world.

The American people, for the most part, have a very narrow view of the world.  They see the U.S. as the center of everything and the only place of value.  Most people have little or no grasp of world history.  The existence of this nation is just a blip on the timeline of man's occupation of this planet.  I want a bigger view.  Travel is a good way to achieve it.

We Are What We Think

This morning I again turn to the book of "300 Writing Prompts" for inspiration.  Today's question: "It has been said, 'You are what you eat.' Rewrite that phrase: 'You are what you _______.'"

To me, the obvious answer is that "You are what you think."

Our mind is such an amazing thing.  Without our awareness, it controls our bodily functions.  Deep within its recesses it stores information as a record that includes everything we have ever seen, heard or, experienced.  It then establishes connections between those things it has stored in new and different ways that give us insight.  It reasons through scenarios that may, or may not, be similar to previous experiences and guides us through them.  It analyzes information and inspires new creation.

When you consider such things, it becomes evident that we must be careful what we feed our mind.  Since it utilizes the information stored therein -- and literally every piece of information we have been exposed to is stored in some form or, fashion -- it is critical that we fill it with good things.  If we fill it with evil, it will regurgitate evil.  If we fill it with good, it will spout good things.

The more information we pack into our experience, the more we have to draw from out of the well of our stored memories.

We can influence how those bits of information connect.  If we focus on the good, the positive, the inspiring, we will be more likely to have a positive outlook.  If we allow ourselves to dwell on the negative, we will have a negative outlook on life.

The Bible provides very clear advice:  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things." -- Philippians 4:8

Traveling Into the Past

Today has been one in which I find it difficult to settle on a topic about which to write.  I am therefore turning to the book of "300 Writing Prompts" for inspiration.  Today I choose: "Imagine you are planning a trip across the continent on which you live.  Assuming you have unlimited time, resources, and energy, what will be your mode of transportation?"

I'm going to "twist" this topic a little bit and move it in time to the year 1880.  I will assume a starting point of New York City and the termination at San Francisco.  The journey will be by multiple conveyances.

The fastest mode of travel across the continent is by train, however, I want to experience some of the local lifestyle along the way so, I will vary conveyance at times.  The trip does begin by train in a private car.  The first major destination is Pittsburgh where I will catch a riverboat down the Ohio River to Cairo, Illinois, then up the Mississippi to St. Louis and then the Missouri River to Kansas City.  A riverboat trip is still on my bucket list.

From Kansas City, I will travel by train again to Dodge City, Kansas, and then south into the Texas Panhandle by horseback to Tascosa, Texas.  From Tascosa I will continue west to Las Vegas, New Mexico and then south and west to Silver City, New Mexico, and then to Tombstone, Arizona.  From Tombstone I will head north and west to Tucson, Phoenix and Prescott before heading north into Utah and then west to the Nevada mining district of Carson City.

From Carson City I would head west across the Sierra's at Donner Pass to Sacramento where I would catch a stagecoach for the last leg of the trip into San Francisco.

The year 1880 was a transition time for the western United States.  It was the end of the "heydey" of Dodge City.  The wild west was still alive in Tascosa where one might possibly have run into Billy the Kid at that time.  Doc Holliday, the Earp brothers, Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, and many other famous "gunmen" were slowly moving into the last vestiges of the "wild" of New Mexico and Arizona.  Lawlessness was coming to an end and the "frontier" was becoming a safer place.

The Texas Panhandle had finally been opened to the beef industry with the roundup of Quanah Parker and his Quahadi band of Comanche in 1875 by Ranald S. Mackenzie.  They still occasionally would come and visit Charles Goodnight at the ranch in Palo Duro Canyon that he managed in partnership with James Adair.  Tascosa was still a wild a woolly watering hole for the cowboys of the Canadian River range.

1880 was the peak population of Carson City, Nevada, thanks to the Comstock Mine and others like it.  It didn't recover that level of population until 1960.  The trail across the Sierras into Sacramento was well traveled and travelers were sometimes waylaid by bandits seeking gold from the mines.

That period of history has always intrigued me.  I suppose my "dream trip" would have been to see it first hand.

Refuge or Trap?

Yesterday, my mind was exposed to at least two references to a World War II bomb shelter.  The first was in a book I am reading and the second was in a movie we watched last night.  I am quite certain they are what triggered a dream I awoke to sometime during the night which included a WWII bomb shelter.

The dream was strange because it began with some type of museum tour of an ancient building complex that was little more than foundations.  It was laid out in a circular pattern somewhat like ancient pueblo dwellings (which I also saw a photo of yesterday).  I was following a tour guide through the ruins as the trail wound around a bowl-shaped structure and began to descend underground.  There was no one else to be seen anywhere among the ruins.

As we proceeded to enter an underground area there were a few people scattered about looking at the exhibits which were much more modern than I had anticipated.  It was fairly roomy inside the structure as the pathway continued forward.

We then descended additional steps into a cramped room filled with people in which there was an additional trap door leading into an even deeper room.  The guide was explaining that it was a WWII bomb shelter that had been constructed beneath the ruins.

It was at that moment my claustrophobia kicked in and I headed back out as quickly as possible.

Tight spaces don't bother me too much unless there are lots of people.  I have always wondered why that is the case.  It happens sometimes in a crowded room.  I think it is more about being too closely surrounded by people than walls, but the combination of the two is difficult for me to handle.  I don't like the feeling of being trapped.  I need a clear "flight path."  Maybe it is simply survival instinct.

I think all of us have phobias of one kind or, another.  Some people fear snakes, or rodents, or certain types of insects.  Many have a fear of spiders.  Such fears intrigue me.  What is it that makes us focus our fears on very specific things?  Is it an experience sometime in the murky past?  I suspect that is often the case, but don't know.

In spite of the "fear trigger" in my dream, I found it interesting.  I often think preparedness in the form of some type of emergency shelter is wise.  With the strange things going on in Washington and other places across our country I wonder sometimes if we all should construct a place of safety -- of refuge -- against the potential storms which might be unleashed in the form of political turmoil.

A physical refuge is great, but ultimately we need a spiritual refuge.  I am thankful that mine is in place.  I hope yours is too. 

"Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge." -- Psalm 16:1

Clean Water Needed

Yesterday we had an interesting discussion with a couple of friends about differences between cultures.  They have lived in numerous places and he traveled a large part of the world with the military.  Our experiences are much more limited, but we have been to a couple of other countries.

As we talked, one of the things that came up was the issue of water when traveling to other places.  We take water for granted.  In this country we are blessed with water systems that are sanitary and for the most part the water is free of harmful chemicals and parasites.  We can drink water directly from the kitchen faucet without concern that we will become violently ill.

We take water for granted because it is abundantly supplied and clean.  We use it without thought or, fear.  That is not the case elsewhere.

One of the reasons the life expectancy in many countries is low is due to the heavy parasite load that most people are carrying.  Many of those parasites are contracted through drinking water, or from eating food items that have been washed in that water.

In my limited travels to other countries, I was given advice to never drink the water, never eat fresh fruit or, vegetables washed in the water, and never rinse my toothbrush with tap water.  Always drink only bottled water and use it even for wetting my toothbrush prior to brushing my teeth.  Also, it is necessary to make certain the bottle of water had an intact seal before opening it.

This issue was truly brought home to me in Niger where I observed young women drawing water from a community well in the center of a village.  Upon looking into the well I observed trash and even dead rodents in the water.  It is a wonder to me how any of them live so long.

There are many opportunities for "doing good" in this world.  They surround us if we would only look and observe.  One of them is helping to provide clean drinking water to those in need.  There are a number of organizations devoted to that purpose.  If you really want to make a difference in the lives of others, it is a good place to start.  Seek out one of these groups and help them financially, or better yet, take a trip with them to help provide a good source of clean water to people in need.

We are all created in God's image.  We are all called to help our fellow man.  Quit admiring yourself in the mirror and look around.  If you know of a reputable organization, please post their contact information in the comments.

Purposeful Pursuit

Each and every day
We must set aside some time
To learn.

It must be deliberate
And purposefully lead toward some destination
We have set.

Without a plan
We merely drift along with whatever current
Pushes us.

Set your eye
On a worthy destination and remain focused
On the prize

While building
On knowledge gleaned by others and recorded
By them.

Read with purpose
In order to fill the gaps in your own toolkit
As needed.

Reach high.
Dream big.
Achieve greatness.

The Socialized House Cat

A good friend suggested an appropriate analogy for describing the new breed of democratic socialists that seem to be rising in this country.  He described them as a house cat.

I know that many people have pets they keep in the house.  I'm not one of them.  I believe animals belong outdoors.  Most of you agree with me but seem to make exception for one species or, another.  I suppose one excuse for keeping a cat would be to control an infestation of rodents.  I mention rodents specifically because I don't know of anyone who wants them in their house.  I must remind you, however, that their presence really isn't any different than having some other furry creature underfoot.

Throughout much of history mankind has dealt with animals in ways that meant they often shared space.  Typically it was because they were protecting them from something -- either the environment, or perhaps some predator.  The purpose was to preserve them for personal consumption rather than to lose them to the elements or, some other elemental force which tended to cull the weak, or slow, or merely inattentive.

The problem with house cats is that they serve no purpose.  Oh, I suppose they are good for petting, or talking to if one is lonely.  They can at times be amusing to watch when being taunted with a toy on a string, but they really have no purpose in life except to meet some unfilled need of their master -- if a cat can truly have a master.

House cats tend to lose their survival instincts.  Perhaps it is a matter of selective breeding that chooses for domestication rather than useful skills.  Some small semblance of desire for their natural environment must exist deep within them, however, because they are often seen sitting on the furniture gazing out the window.  It is as though they know there is more to life than their sheltered existence but, they have no clue how to survive within it.  That view extends even to the neighbor's German Shepherd which is often seen romping across the yard in pursuit of a squirrel which usually, but not always, escapes up a tree.

The pampered feline gazes in wonder and perhaps curiosity at the occurrence while never making the connection with his own mortality and the danger presented by the scenario.  It does however, see the freedom of movement and perhaps somewhere deep inside longs to escape the confines of the walls which contain its entire world and enter into the "make-believe" land viewed through the window -- much as a human might daydream about some television presentation.

Many have been led to believe that democracy -- which is literally mob rule -- is the basis for our form of government.  That isn't the case.  We live in a Constitutional Republic which is designed to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority.  Democracy doesn't even work within a family.  If the parent fails to retain control by veto, the children would vote themselves ice cream and movies and fail to recognize the impending loss of health and shelter due to wasteful and inappropriate spending.  The street would find them living in boxes while attempting to survive among the true predators which stalk and destroy.  Unfortunately, among our elected officials there are those who are both predators and democrats.

Socialism also has its appeal.  It reaches into the envious heart and says, "you should have what they have."  It pays no heed to true justification of the disparities that exist or their purpose within society.  It merely says, I deserve.

By educating the masses to serve as replaceable parts in the assembly line of productive enterprise which fills pockets with wealth unknown throughout the history of mankind, our system has created a huge number of "house cats" without survival skills and without knowledge of the dangers lurking beyond their sheltered existence.  Charles Darwin's theorizing regarding survival of the fittest has been circumvented -- at least temporarily -- by an affluence that finds house cats to be acceptable because it no longer fears the vagaries of a natural order that would find them easy prey if required to survive beyond the protective walls.  The allure is strong, but the consequences deadly.

We have created our demise by failing to educate succeeding generations of youth to the dangers beyond the walls. 

Teaching Thinking

Once again I am drawing from the book, "300 Writing Prompts."  Today's question is:  "If you were to teach as a career, what would you teach?"

I come from a family of educators.  My dad and several of his siblings were educators -- one of them at the college level.  My brother is in school administration after many years of teaching.  My sister taught for awhile after graduating from college.  My mother worked as a teacher's aid for many years.  I was the "black sheep" for not choosing to be an educator.  I instead went into business.

The funny thing is that as I look back over my career, I spent much of it teaching.  I educated others about products, I educated people on financial decisions, I educated employees on various aspects of their job -- products, processes, general business principals, sales, etc.  I found that to be effective in business, one must be a teacher.

Now to answer the question:  If I could figure out how to do so, I would teach people to think.

Most people want to follow a recipe.  Reasoning out a process, or making a decision seems to be difficult for many.  They are dependent on someone else to do those things for them.  To some extent, I blame our education system for that mindset.  I don't think kids are taught to think for themselves.

Part of the reason for the failure to teach this most fundamental of skills lies in the foundations of our educational system.  It arose in order to train future workers with the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic so they could fill factory jobs.  Additional skills were taught through apprenticeships which were specific to their function as an employee.  Only at the college level were basic thinking skills emphasized and even that emphasis has faded over time.

The focus was on learning to behave in certain ways.  Children are taught "facts" which they are expected to regurgitate on a test.  They are not taught to reason through a scenario and determine probable or, desired outcomes.  They are taught to repeat what they have been told, or to follow a recipe with known outcome.

Over multiple generations the problem has become entrenched very deeply because those now doing the teaching were taught using those very principles.  How can one be expected to teach thinking skills when they were never taught thinking skills?

History is a subject that I found to be very dry and boring when in school.  It seemed to be merely about memorizing dates of events.  Today I find history to be interesting.  Instead of merely learning that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, triggered World War I, I would ask the question, "How did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand lead to the outbreak of World War I and is there a connection to the events that led to the War in Bosnia in 1992?  How do those events affect the political landscape of Eastern Europe today?"

Some would argue that I am asking graduate school level questions of children who need first to master basic facts.  The problem is that children need to understand why they are asked to learn those facts, otherwise they become disenchanted and fall into the trap of "studying for the test" and not for the knowledge.  When we see the importance of something we remember it for long periods and integrate it into our thought processes.  When we deem something as relevant only for the moment, we quickly forget it.  We need to teach that there is purpose in learning.  The purpose is not merely to receive a certificate that we consider our "ticket" to a job, it serves the purpose of creating an understanding that can lead to advancement of the human race.

Thinking is about "connecting dots."  There is an interconnectedness within and between almost every event that occurs.  The earth and all that is in it is one giant integrated organism in many ways.  This includes human events through time.  Until we begin to understand that interconnectedness, we merely pass through events that swirl around us.  Thinking gives us the ability to thoughtfully affect our surroundings -- hopefully in a positive way.

Mentally Escaping to a Resort -- or Two

Today's post is again inspired by the book of "300 Writing Prompts."  The question asked is: "If you could build your own vacation resort, what is one attraction you would definitely include?"

I can't really think of "one" attraction that would be above all others, but will instead describe the type of resort that I would build if money was no object.

It would be a corporate-type retreat set somewhere in northern New Mexico with a view of the open plains in one direction and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains behind.  It would have a huge lodge with a 5-star restaurant.  The bar would be out of some old west saloon and have a brass rail.  It would be entered through swinging doors such as are on the Palace bar in Prescott, Arizona.

Lodging would be in cabins of various sizes.  Some would accommodate larger groups while others would be designed for 1 or 2 people.  All would have fireplaces of river rock.  All would contain modern conveniences.

There would be trout streams in which to fish as well as a couple of lakes.  I would have a stable of horses and mules for trail rides, or for more extended pack trips into the wilderness.  It would also be a working ranch and the cattle would dot the plains that stretched to the horizon.

Hidden behind nearby hills, but only a short distance from the lodge, would be an airstrip.  All arrivals would be picked up at the strip by horse and buggy for the ride to the lodge.  Anyone who arrived by automobile would park at the airstrip and also be carried to the lodge by horse and buggy.  No motorized vehicles would be obvious anywhere on the place.  Deliveries to the lodge would arrive by a back entrance hidden from sight.

There would be a sporting clays course as well as a rifle and pistol range.  Hunting trips would occur in season.  There would not be a golf course or, swimming pool.

In the lodge would be an area with pool tables.  On the weekends would be live music featuring acoustic instrumentation.  With prior arrangement, groups could experience chuckwagon cooking in an isolated area near the lodge.

I know there are places very much like I describe.  I've never been to one, but always thought it would be great.  Such experiences are expensive and always beyond what I felt was prudent to spend.  Since the question is hypothetical anyway, I figure one might as well dream big.  While I'm at it, I think I'll include a 2nd resort.

My "other" resort would be in Belize on the coast.  It would include a private dock, private beaches and world class fishing.  Sigh, another one out of reach....

The Green Gambit

Gambit: a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage. (Google Dictionary)

An example of a gambit is "The Green New Deal."

Many of the concepts expressed in the document have been around for a lot of years.  I enjoy reading science fiction and in that genre there are generally four basic scenarios for the future of earth.  1)  It becomes one massive, all-encompassing city and we exploit outer space to support it.  2)  Through war, or other global catastrophe, we devolve to a more primitive age of small tribal enclaves surviving against an extremely harsh environment and fighting each other for the limited resources.  3) There is some scientific breakthrough in the realm of energy research that provides unlimited power without dependence on fossil fuels.  4)  Some form of power such as nuclear energy is utilized to power the cities while the agricultural sector is dependent on horses, oxen and people for food production.

All of the scenarios focus on energy/fuel/power -- whatever you want to call it.  Utilization of energy drives our economy.

Fossil fuels such as coal and oil (or, its derivatives) is problematic.  Burning it (which is the only way the energy is released) frees carbon that has been sequestered into the earth, to circulate back into the carbon cycle.  Too much carbon, or other particulate matter, pollutes the atmosphere in a manner that causes a slow and general rise of temperatures.  It is basic science.

This heating occurs in natural cycles which can be detected through examination of the geologic record through time.  Part of it is connected to solar activity and part to volcanic activity on the earth.  It also has been theorized that a meteoric impact could cause a sudden escalation of the effect and may have contributed to the demise of various life forms such as dinosaurs at some time in the distant past.

The science and logic behind an effort to curb or, virtually eliminate the release of sequestered carbon is sound.  Many of the predictive models, however, are just that, predictive.  Predictions, by their nature, are often inaccurate.  They are "educated" guesses.

In the case of "The Green New Deal" we are seeing an exploitation of a developing global mindset that is properly motivated to reduce dependence on the release of sequestered carbon to fuel our economy.  It is much like profiteers who exploit any global event of a catastrophic nature.  In this case, it is a move toward communism (not socialism which is a pie-in-the-sky concept that has never been achieved on a large-scale basis.)

Gambits are often designed to exploit ignorance.  In a business deal it is frequently the knowledge by one side of some piece of information that materially affects the outcome which is believed to be unknown by the other side.  It is a high-stakes bet based on perceived advantage that may, or may not, be real.  "The Green New Deal" is a high-stakes gambit designed to expand power.  The groundwork has been laid over the past 30 years.  We are just now seeing the opening moves of the "game."

Yes, we need to find alternative sources of energy.  It doesn't need to be wind turbines, or ethanol.  Nuclear is a much better bet.

We also need to be vigilant against those who would exploit ignorance in an effort to gain power.  "We the people" are being manipulated by those we have elected to serve.  They in turn are being manipulated by those who have power and wish to expand it.  We must become better informed of both the science and the political systems that seek to exploit us.  It is all about power and control of it.

The greatest appeal of "The Green New Deal" is to those who are most isolated from the beauty that is the natural state of this earth.  Those whose lives are surrounded by concrete, people and pavement -- i.e. live in the cities -- long for the opportunity to touch that natural beauty.  Those in the country still get to experience it on a daily basis -- if they are paying attention.  The appeal of "The Green New Deal" is to those in the cities.  It is also the environment most ripe for a reform of some kind that would improve their lives -- even for the most affluent.  "Socialism" appeals to those trapped in inner-city ghettos.  They also vote.  They are frequently ignorant.  They are angry at their circumstance yet feel powerless to escape.

We need to do something about it.  Instead, we complain about their ignorance, their violence and their perceived unwillingness to do something about their circumstance.  When you have no hope, it is nearly impossible to change without help.  The promise of socialism is a life preserver floating just out of their reach, but visible.  We must provide an alternative.

History, Science and Art

I am back to the book of "300 Writing Prompts" for inspiration this morning.  The question is: "Would you rather spend the day at an art museum, science museum, or history museum?"

My answer is a resounding, "Yes."  I like all three.

We don't go to museums frequently, however we have been to all three types through the years.  When it comes to an art museum, my favorite is probably the Amon Carter in Fort Worth.  It holds works by both Remington and Russell who are my favorite western artists.  The action and authenticity of their work amazes me.  They aren't "like a photograph" but, they convey even more, I think, than a photograph could do.  The figures seem to leap off the canvas for me.

As for science museum, my most memorable experience was the museum at Los Alamos National Laboratory when the museum was still located on the laboratory property outside of Los Alamos.  I went as a youngster and was amazed even then at the nuclear technology.  We have since been to it after it was moved to the Bradbury building in downtown Los Alamos and it was very good, but it was too "programmed" to suit me.  Modern museum displays are all the same with buttons and interactive gadgets.  The original museum had a much more "raw" feel to it.  To me, it was as though you were truly "touching" history, whereas the modern exhibits feel more "educational" in nature.

My favorite history museum is the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas.  There are many reasons for this choice.  1)  It is primarily focused on the area of the country where I grew up.  2)  It is very "western" in nature.  3)  It includes many amazing pieces of art as well as historical artifacts.  4)  It is one of the largest historical museums in the country.  I have visited many times through the years and they change their displays on a reasonably regular basis.  It also has evolved through time to have that more "educational" feel about it, but many of the artifacts remain the same such as Charles Goodnight's original chuckwagon.  It is definitely worth the trip if you are ever in the Amarillo area.  It is also only a short distance from Palo Duro Canyon.  If you visit one, I would encourage you to visit both.  If during the summer season, make plans to take in the outdoor dramatic presentation of "Texas."  It is worth your time.

Historical museums (which include science museums) are important for giving us perspective.  Understanding where we have been helps us to understand why things are as they are today.  Most change is gradual and technology evolves through stages -- this includes weapons which evolved from rocks and clubs to modern rockets and space-based weaponry.  It includes tools such as those used in the cattle industry which range from the lariat to modern DNA analytic technologies.  Every industry develops through an evolutionary process.  Even political issues go through an evolution over time.

To me, art museums, although overlapping in some areas with history, are a different creature altogether.  They allow us to touch a "higher" self.  Quality art is uplifting, it is enlightening and it is inspiring.  Some of what is passed off as art today is not enduring except as a curiosity.  The better museums, however, will have works that have endured for centuries alongside more modern works that are likely to endure or, which represent current "fads."  Often, the displays portray history.  Viewing a Revolutionary War battlefield from the perspective of an artist of that time -- who witnessed the battle -- provides insight into our historical perceptions.

Perhaps, upon reflection, I would prefer to spend my day in an art museum.  All three appeal to me, but as I have written this, my thoughts have clarified.  Man's attempt to "touch" perfection is most clearly displayed through art.  I think down deep, that is something we all desire.

What's Love Got to do With It?

Out upon the raging sea
There rides a tiny boat,
Bobbing on the waters
The little craft did float.

In it was a helpless man
Wracked with burning thirst
Asking the Almighty
Why he had thus been cursed.

Sharks were circling 'round him
As he waited in his gloom
Expecting any moment
To meet his final doom

And he cried out to the Father
As he baked in misery
Beneath the blazing orb
That hung for all to see

Up in the clear blue sky
Where not a cloud did show
To cast a cooling shadow
On the man who lay below.

In his mind an answer
Slowly taking shape
Rose to fill his thinking
And his mouth fell agape

At the forming realization
It was he alone to blame
Because of his poor choices
There was no one else to name

And he hung his head, forlorn,
Wishing he could die
Way out in that murky sea
Beneath the clear blue sky.

But, then on the horizon
There came a growing dot
That seemed to be heading
To the very lonely spot

Where he floated on the water
Out on the vast expanse
Wishing for the end to come
And he did not so much as glance

As a ship bore down upon him
Slowing as it came
With people standing at the rail
Calling out his name

But, he, so lost in suffering,
Ignored their mighty pleas
And hung his head in silence
As he sat there on his knees

Crying for an answer
From his God above
Never understanding
He had answered him with love

Shown through his caring neighbors
Who had chartered a great ship
To go out on the ocean
And save him from this trip

He had embarked upon
Alone and unprepared
That left him lying helpless
In his boat, so very scared.

But, he ignored them
As he floated on the sea
Consumed there in his anguish
Thinking it is only me.

Then his vessel started moving
Being towed by a long rope
And he began to think
There may at last be hope.

Hands reached down to lift him
From the place of his great doom
Up the side to the deck
Which above him did loom.

They placed cool salve upon his skin
And water to his lip
Slowly bringing him to life
There on the mighty ship.

He raised his head and looked around
To see wherein he lay
At all the smiling faces
That surrounded him that day.

To his dismay there looking at him
Were his friends and family;
The ones he had rejected
When he embarked upon the sea

And he thought that he was dreaming
Or, perhaps had even died.
Emotion rose inside him
As he broke down and cried

Thinking that his life was over
And how he'd wasted time
Pursuing what didn't matter
Chasing every dime

While all about him people
Were crying out in need
And God was speaking to him
That he must change in deed

And be the hands and feet
That went upon the sea
To rescue those perishing,
An answer to their plea.

Right there in that moment
He made a mighty vow
Before that crowd of witnesses
And God to whom he did bow

That he would change his focus
Away from selfless greed
But, work at helping others
Who were crying out in need.

The Almighty smiled upon him
As He looked down from above
And the man's heart that was hardened
Was filled with Holy love

Matthew 28:18-20

A Political Marketing Campaign

I've given a good bit of thought to the "Green New Deal" resolution offered by the Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Occasio-Cortez (AOC).  I am certain she likely didn't realize the brilliance of her approach but merely fell into it out of some "pie-in-the-sky" dream of youth -- or, her strings are being pulled by someone else which is entirely possible.  It is almost as if she took a page from the President's playbook, "The Art of the Deal."

Sometimes in negotiation, it is best to start with an extreme position.  Anything given up is seen to be more moderate, or even conservative by comparison.  Perhaps the only true goal is a carbon tax.  If that is the case, as each of the points of the proposal are negotiated away, that goal will begin to stand out as the non-negotiable one.  It will be the "line-in-the-sand" across which there will be no movement.

I fear AOC has been underestimated.  She ran an effective campaign, has made and continues to make national and international headlines.  She is establishing her "brand"by appearing as the absurd while effectively moving into a position of power.  Her Green New Deal isn't a power grab, it is marketing.  Marketing creates brand identity and begins to define the environment in which a sale will occur.  The transaction is yet to come and it will come with a high price tag.

Alongside the Green New Deal resolution we are hearing calls for extreme levels of taxation which are ostensibly aimed at the most wealthy.  Again, they are negotiating positions.  If the current level of taxes is at 30% and you believe they should move to 50%, you begin by asking for 70% or, higher.  Then begins the "horse trade" that will likely end up at a point somewhere in between 30% and 70% -- the midpoint being 50% which was the goal.

Don't underestimate these incoming freshmen Congressmen and women.  They are being coached and they will be effective.  They may be pawns, but often in a game of chess it is the pawn that takes the King.  I don't for one minute believe Socialism is the goal of AOC.  The textbook description of Socialism is appealing to minorities and to the poor.  It promises a redistribution of the wealth which has accumulated into the hands of the few upon what they perceive as the oppressed backs of those at the bottom rungs of the economy.  Socialism has never been implemented by a single government on this planet.  What began as a Socialist appeal has always evolved into Communism which is something very different indeed.

There are many things occurring that fit within a framework for a marketing campaign for Communism.  1) Continued erosion of the value of life -- i.e. late term, or post-birth abortion (New York and Virginia). 2) Calls for wealth redistribution (70% - 90% tax rates on wealthy). 3) Global climate alarmism that seeks centralized economic planning (Green New Deal). 4) Vilification of religious beliefs (confirmation hearings).  5) Lock-step adherence to political leadership/platforms (the white-clothed women).

It is time to wake up and smell the danger. 

Scouting the Horizon

Frequently on social media you see games that entice with phrases like, "What Old West character would you be if you had been alive in the 1870's?" or something similar.  I say "entice" because they are primarily a way for someone to gain access to your profile and your contacts.  They are bait.

Although I don't click on them, they do sometimes cause me to speculate.  The question above is one that has intrigued me throughout my life.  I have always been a "fan" of the old west and have many books related to the history of that time during the westward movement of "civilization" across our country.  We will set aside the debate about "stealing" the land from the natives, etc. for another time.

My answer to the question is that I think I would have been a Scout/Tracker.  Scouts were employed by wagon trains, the cavalry and law enforcement.  Their job was to stay ahead, searching out the trail, water holes, food and danger.  They tended to be loners and they were often familiar with the country and the natives because it wasn't their first time to cross the area.  They were usually good at reading "sign" and able to tell a good deal about potential danger from tracks and other evidence left behind.  I suspect they spent a lot of time thinking.

The reason I believe that role fits is because that's where I like to be -- out ahead, looking for the path, watching for danger and for opportunity.  It is part of what drives me to spend time each morning thinking about the day and the future.  I examine the current situation and then think about the various paths forward and often speculate on what might happen depending on different scenarios that could develop.  It isn't "daydreaming" about things, it is deliberately thinking through potential consequences of present actions.  It is a  form of flexible planning.

That mindset is part of the reason I like to write.  I suspect you will see signs of that speculation in the things I record here on this blog as well as elsewhere, such as the column I write for CALF News.  I like to think about the future.  That's where opportunity resides and being among the first to spot opportunity gives one an advantage.  If our focus is merely on the present, or even worse, strictly on the past, we miss much of what life has to offer.

Well, enough of that for this morning.  I need to head on out and see what's over the horizon.  Y'all drink your coffee....

One Issue to "Trump" Them All, No Issue to Bind Them

Today's subject, chosen from the book of "300 Writing Prompts" is, "What one issue is most important to you when voting for political candidates?"

I choose this topic today simply because I think it is a mistake to be a single-issue voter.  The trouble is, that is the mindset of a large number of voters -- they have one or two "hot-button" issues that drive their decision.

No one is perfect -- except me of course (just kidding) -- which means that no candidate will have the correct position on all issues.  No two people are alike which means that no candidate will have the exact same position to which a specific voter could agree on all issues.

Upon further reflection, there might be one issue that would be at the top of my list; it would be that "he who governs least, governs best."  Strict adherence to this position would put me firmly in the Libertarian camp.  I probably lean that way, but there are too many areas where I believe we need regulations, or programs that provide either constraint on certain activities, or assistance to overcome barriers.  Both should be very limited in nature, allowing the free market and natural selection to take its course.

An example of constraints to which I agree are basic laws such as those prohibiting murder.  When the actions of an individual directly harm others, there must be constraint.  The "Nanny State" attitude of many extends this to almost every activity of life.  I personally think it should be limited to a brief set of laws similar to the Ten Commandments which seem to cover it adequately.

An example of assistance would be protection.  This should be limited to those activities necessary to "provide for the common defense" or to protect the rights of the individual.  The greatest embodiment of this is in the Electoral College system which prevents a majority from diminishing the rights of the individual or, the minority.  Those advocating pure democracy are actually advocating for mob rule.  Our system of government is designed to prevent such from occurring.

When people focus on single issues, divisiveness is the result.  We break into groups, or "camps" and point fingers and call names like a bunch of school children.  That's pretty much what has happened in Washington these days.  Labels are put on things and become entrenched in the positions.  The most recent example is a "wall" on our southern border.  "The Wall" has come to stand for much more than a physical barrier, it has become a mantra, much like "Remember the Alamo" was for Sam Houston's army.  It symbolizes the hatred for one man that is driving a lot of strange behavior.

It is sometimes difficult to step away from "personalities" and to evaluate things on their merits.  It happens all the time in many aspects of life.  We sometimes find ourselves opposing something merely because of who proposed it rather than our agreement, or disagreement with the proposal.  It may even be something for which we previously advocated.  In Washington it is seen as "flip-flopping" on a position.  There seems to be a lot of that going on right now.

I think it is time to clear the playground and send everyone back to class.  The studies need to be focused on government (The Constitution), economics (how could anyone think Socialism will work given its history?) and ethics (lying, stealing, cheating and civility).  In the words of the youth of today, "smh."  (For all you older folks like me that means, "shaking my head.")

[For those not familiar with J.R.R.Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, the title is a play on the phrase, "One ring to lead them all, one ring to bind them."]

The Supreme Ruler's Advisor

This is one of those days when the "300 Writing Prompts" book comes out because nothing seems to "catch" in my mind as a good subject about which to write otherwise.  This one is interesting:  "If and when you become the Supreme Ruler of the World, who will be your top advisor?"

There is a lot packed into that subject.  1)  It assumes a one-world government which is something I think is a bad idea -- at least at this point in history.  There is too much inequality of thought, of experience, of affluence and of values for it to work without a heavy-handed approach.  2)  It assumes I would want to be Supreme Ruler of the World which I think would be an overwhelming burden.  3)  It assumes that any one person or, their advisor is capable of ruling the world.

We are each very different from the other.  This is a key point that one-world enthusiasts refuse to accept.  I suspect it is because they see themselves as the ideal and believe others should be just like them.  It is a very self-centered view that is inaccurate because, quite simply, although we are all made in the image of God, we are not God and therefore imperfect.  The imperfections we each carry are the variation.

Because of our differences, we each see things differently.  Sometimes we even have ambivalent opinions within our own minds about some issues.  How can we expect agreement when there are differences in how we view things?

Setting all of that aside, let's focus on what I see as the more interesting part of the question -- "...who will be your top advisor?"

To come up with one person is a challenge, so first I will list some qualities that I would deem important.

1) Wisdom.  Wisdom is earned through age and experience, however, wisdom is also something we perceive in others and therefore somewhat dependent on our own perceptions.  Psalm 111:10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.  To him belongs eternal praise."  Based on that alone, the advisor would have to be someone who acknowledges the supremacy of God and is devoted to Him in every aspect.  Now, to many it gets tricky because they would argue that there are many different gods and different approaches to him -- i.e. Judaism, Christianity, Budhism, Islam, etc.  I believe there is One God and only One Way to approach Him and that is through belief in Jesus Christ as Savior.  Two thirds of the world would not see that as wisdom and there would be immediate resistance/division.

2) Peace-loving.  My advisor would have to desire peace.  What is peace?  I can only answer that by saying I am most at peace when I accept that God is in control and place my complete trust in Him to resolve whatever issues I may face.

3)  Warrior.  Although this seems to conflict with the previous attribute, it does not.  Sometimes peace is only achieved through a willingness to defend what is right.  Sometimes it is only won through conflict.

4) Humility.  When one focuses only on self they cannot see the impact on others.  I would want an advisor who is able to set their own glory aside so they can see the cost and benefit of each and every decision to others who may not think like them.

5) Empathy.  Not only must they see and know intellectually the impact of decisions, they must be able to feel compassion for others.  If you cannot recognize joy or pain in others, you cannot help them.

6) Initiative.  Doing what needs to be done without waiting to be told is crucial.

7) Action-oriented.  An advisor must also be an actor -- not in the Hollywood sense, but in making things happen.  They should not just "talk a good game" but, live it, do it, be it.

8) Coach.  Everyone needs a coach.  They need someone to help them to be better.  Period.

9) Patient.  Waiting on others or, events to occur in the appropriate time is critical.  You cannot force things to happen before the proper time, or there will be failure.

10) Honest.  Being willing to provide appropriate advice no matter how it will be taken is crucial.  If I am wrong I need to know it.  If there are issues that need to be handled, I need to know it.  If I won't like what I hear but, it needs to be brought into the light it should be.  There is no place for deception.

I'm sure there are other qualities that would be desirable, but these are the ones that come quickly to mind.  I think these attributes are important for each of us to develop within ourselves.  I will never be the Supreme Ruler of the World and I frankly hope we never see one but,  I can be a better person and more effective in what I do.  I need someone who can be there for me who has each of the listed qualities no matter what role I might play in this old world.  We all do.  Perhaps the highest aspiration we can have is to be that person.

Miraculous New Life

There upon

The grassy turf

A brand new life

Has come to earth.

With shaky legs

And unsure feet

He searches for

Something to eat.

While circling in

The bright blue sky

A vulture watches

From on high

Hoping that

This life will fail

But, now he waits

To no avail.

I smile as mother

Licks him clean

And welcomes him

Upon the scene.

With gentle nudges

Of her nose

He's urged out of

His brief repose

And pointed to

The milky treat

Dripping from

A swollen teat.

But, those first bites

Are fairly small

As he responds

To mother's call

Who makes him use

Unsteady limbs

That must be strong

Against the whims

Of nature who

Has made him prey

But, hopefully that

Won't be today.

As he slowly

Gains control

She leads him 'cross

The grassy knoll.

With sometimes pause

For him to drink

She gets away

From birth's fresh stink

That draws them

Circling overhead

Still searching for

What they hope dead

'Til in the trees

She lets him take

All the milk

That she could make

And then she tucks him

On the ground

In hidden copse

Where he won't be found

While I in awe

Watch this new birth;

A miracle

Has come to earth.

Super Opportunity Lost

I must admit that I ended up watching the Super Bowl last night.  Well, that's not entirely accurate.  It was on in front of me but, I paid it little attention.  The only reason it was on is that we couldn't find a movie that interested us as an alternative.

The ads probably received more of my attention than the game, although they really were not particularly interesting.  The only one I thought had merit was the one set at an awards banquet which had all of the old players in attendance that ended up scrambling for the football.  It was creative and entertaining.  I don't know what they were advertising though.

I really wanted to see the halftime show and was much more focused on it than I was the game.  I wanted to hear the music and listen to the words.  All of the hype prior to the game had me expecting something a bit more profound.  What I heard instead was noise.  Lots of noise -- except of course the parts in which the profanity of the rappers was muted by the broadcaster -- thankfully.

I think every "successful" musician needs to periodically watch the movie "Pure Country" in which George Strait plays a musician that becomes lost amid the glitz and glamour of spectacular shows.  In the end the movie brings the message that it should be all about the music because it is the reason he took the path in the first place.

I had no idea who Adam Levine and Maroon 5 were until I saw him on The Voice.  I am not a fan of his music, but he is extremely talented both vocally and as a guitarist.  I didn't hear that last night.  What I saw was an attempt at "wowing" the crowd with fire and drones and a subtle social message of multiple races dancing and singing together on stage beneath a drone message of "one love."  I really just wanted to hear good music.  I couldn't even understand the words.

Probably the best concert I ever attended was Ricky Skaggs in which he did a purely acoustic set alone on stage.  There was no band to back him, no crazy lights or glitz and glamour -- just his pure, amazingly talented performance of music.  Nothing beats live music for lifting the spirits or, conveying a message.  Too bad the musicians themselves have lost that knowledge.

Super Bowl Motivation

It's Super Bowl Sunday and I don't care.  I know that a lot of people get excited about the "big game" but, it really doesn't interest me.  I suppose if the Dallas Cowboys had made it, I might make some effort to watch at least part of it, but it is just "noise" to me.

I saw that tickets for the game were around $3,000 apiece and higher.  I can't imagine paying that kind of money to be "entertained" -- especially when I can watch it on television for free (I'll pay the cable bill whether the game is on or not so, there is no extra charge incurred for watching the game.)  How can people afford the tickets let alone the outrageous prices that will be charged by hotels in Atlanta for the big night?  I'm sure that rates which normally would be in the $120 to $150 range will soar to the $300 to $500 range or even higher.  Of course there are also travel and meal expenses to include.

For those who stay home and make a party of watching the game, at least there is the value of fellowship with friends.  That would make it redeemable.  Often such events are something of a potluck type of affair.  I'm not a particularly "social" person so they don't hold much appeal to me, but it is a good excuse for many to have a party.

The outcome of the game this year is controversial even before it begins.  A particularly widely questioned call in one of the playoff games has caused many to protest quite loudly that the system is rigged.  I don't know.  It looked like a bad call to me, but we all face "bad calls" in life.  It happens.  Get over it.

It's too bad people don't get as excited about things that really matter as they do about the Super Bowl.  There are plenty of issues facing this country and the rest of the world that need attention of "super bowl" intensity, but are ignored.  It's probably because of the general affluence of the majority of people.  When you have plenty to eat, a warm bed, a closet full of clothes, a $1000 cell phone, a $30,000 car to drive -- you know, the necessities in life -- why get excited about the problems around you?

We are "wired" to be passionate about something.  I think too often that passion is misdirected to things that allow us to "escape" the realities around us -- the need for caring about others.  We are so self-focused, we don't see the suffering of people both here and around the world.  Jesus saw the hurting around Him and ministered to those in need.  He asked us to do the same.

Many verses come to mind as I write this:

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." -- Psalm 37:4

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness amon the people." -- Matthew 4:22

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." -- Matthew 9:36

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sik and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." -- Matthew 25:35-36

...and many more.  The theme of caring for the poor and needy is common both in the old and new testaments.  It was emphasized as expected of God's people, but clearly not the means of salvation.  Jesus alone is the means of salvation.  "For God so loved the world He gave his only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but, have eternal life." -- John 3:16

"I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me." -- John 14:6

That is something about which we should truly get excited.  Let it be our passion to share The Truth to others.

Groundhog Shadows

I step into the darkness
Here at the end of night
And behold in the near distance
A faintly glowing light

On the back porch of a neighbor
Less than a block away
And I feel the misty silence
Of this cool and foggy day.

It's as though I've been enshrouded
In a pearlescent veil
That reveals a world of wonder
Like some far Arabian tale.

The sense of one transported
To the center of a cloud
Floating far above the planet
And the ever maddening crowd

Fills me with a peacefulness
That rests upon my mind
Until my thoughts are bubbling
And quickly there I find

The sun won't soon be shining
Though the dawn is oh, so near
But, I know there'll be no shadow
On Groundhog Day this year.

Patience and Persistence

It's hard to keep an open mind
As one begins to age;
Accumulated knowledge
Makes one feel like a sage.

Experience informs our thoughts
About the way things work;
We hear of some strange new idea
And reject it like a jerk.

But, sometimes we should stop and think
Of how when we were young
We often sought a different path
Along the ways unsung

And in the journey 'cross the sea
Of trackless wilderness
We learned about so many things
That God would often bless.

Persistence paid us dividends
And patience brought us luck
Though failing on our journey
We rose above the muck.

With just those two to lead us
Upon our merry way;
Patience and persistence
Made what we are today,

Which is a form of wisdom
Filled with the things we learned
As we travel on this journey
To the rest we've dearly earned.