SIR, PLEASE, STEP BEHIND THE LINE

I love the carnival season leading up to Mardi Gras. I enjoy seeing the float designs. I love watching the excitement on parade-goers' faces. The marching bands can liven up a crowd while staying in step and sometimes dancing while performing their much-rehearsed songs.

The way I approach parades has changed as the years have passed. As a child, I would try to catch everything to bring home. Now, in my fifties, I bring a chair to sit and watch. I occasionally stand to catch whatever the revelers on the floats are throwing, but now I give them to any child around. The children love to get these. You can see the excitement on their faces when they receive these beads are trinkets. Seeing their excitement brings a smile to my face.

A few years ago, I went to a carnival parade with some friends. We were standing along the parade route watching as a marching band was approaching. Marching bands have chaperones to ensure the band has enough space on the street, so no one gets hurt.

I was standing behind the white line next to the curb as the chaperone approached. She informed me I had to get behind the white line. As I looked down, my feet were already behind the line.  I said, “I am already behind the line.’” She then informed me my belly was not.  

 My friends thought this was hilarious and still teased me about this. I laughed, as well. It takes much more than that to embarrass me.

The problem was right there in front of me. I did not notice it because I was not paying attention to all of the details. I watched to ensure my feet were behind the line but failed to see that I still crossed the line with my fat belly. How often do we cross lines which we are not even aware we have crossed?

Several years ago, I was unaware of a line I crossed because of a term I used. I thought it was the proper term but was told it was offensive. Now, I am not politically correct but do not want to offend anyone. As Christians, we are called to love not to offend. I no longer use the term except in the proper context.

Sometimes we focus on what we are doing but forget the people around us. Those people matter. How you respond to people matters. Sometimes we do not recognize when we cross lines in our relationships. I ask adults to wait until I finish with the child when they interrupt. I also ask children to wait if they interrupt when I am speaking with an adult. We must treat all people with love and respect.

In business, lines can sometimes get crossed. We focus on the one area of business for which we are responsible but disregard how it affects other departments. It is not intentional, most of the time. We need to make an effort to keep the big picture in mind.   

Traffic can result in people crossing lines. They seem to become other people. An example is a sweet church lady giving the finger to the person who cuts her off. She crosses a line to become something because of an emotional situation.

We need to focus on the big picture. We must know our role in it. We must not think everything revolves around us.  There are many lines in this world. We, ourselves, may sometimes be “out of the box” in the eyes of others, but we must never cross the line.

Snow Day

I wonder if people in the North are laughing at those of us in the South. I know many in the South are laughing at ourselves today.

Today, we have encountered another snow day. The fact that we have had “another” in the past two months is news enough. It rarely snows here. I think this is the fourth snow we have had in about ten years.

Now, this is not blizzard-type snow, mind you. Last month, my house received about an inch and a half of snow. I doubt today’s snowfall can be measured.  I woke up and saw a few small thin patches of snow on the ground and the rooftops were white.

These “wintery conditions” resulted in schools and businesses to close. My company sent alerts to employees that only personnel necessary to restore power should come to work.  

Meanwhile, there are probably people up north who are shoveling feet of snow out of their driveways so they can get to work. I have seen posts on social media about how those in the south are more scared of snow than they are of hurricanes. That might be true.

There is a simple reason for everything shutting down in 20-degree weather with a hint of snow. We are not prepared to handle these conditions.  Some homes up north do not have heaters in their homes. They are not prepared for the heat that we get down here. Similarly, we do not have snow tires, chains, or the knowledge of how to drive when there is ice. Some may even question our ability to drive in normal weather conditions. Our cities do not own snowplows. We do not have the equipment to salt the roads. Driving in these conditions would cause accidents.

Now do not get me wrong; we love the snow. We just never see it. In fact, in three days the temperature will be back in the 60’s.  

In life, unexpected things can happen. Even enjoyable things can change our life’s direction. Suddenly you discover you are pregnant or received a promotion. These things can suddenly change your whole life. We may have been excited about the change, but not prepared for it.

There are also horrible things like disease or the loss of someone you love that can change everything. You do not want these to happen, but occasionally they do.

Whatever life brings you, do not freak out. If it is time to mourn, then mourn. If it is a time to celebrate then celebrate. We cannot possibly be ready for everything that occurs financially, physically, or mentally. However, we need to prepare to be ready to go through the unexpected.

We need to know where our strength comes from to endure whatever happens. Do not let it break your resolve. Do not let it stop you from being you. Learn to adapt to the new situation.

I am a Christian, and the joy of the Lord is my strength. That joy allows me to continue even when things go haywire.

A king had three men thrown into a fiery furnace for their execution, but they knew their strength came from God. They trusted God, and God gave them strength and deliverance. In Daniel 3:26 it says, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.”

Just as God helped them through their change of situation, He will help you out of yours. Will you trust him?

When Being Nice Is Ignorant

Yesterday, I played a word game when a question and the answer struck me as odd. I researched the word’s etymology to verify what I read and was intrigued to find the answer was correct. This was not because I did not believe the game’s researchers but because I would never have thought this word had any connection with its origin. 

The word is nice. It seems to be a simple enough word. It is used to describe a lot of things. By definition, it means pleasant, agreeable, and satisfactory. It is a word that everyone seems to use. However, the word nice comes from the Latin word, nescius meaning "ignorant, unaware," literally "not-knowing.

I thought about this quite a bit. How does not knowing translate into nice? I was unable to find how the word has changed over the years. However, I would like to share what I think is a possibility.

Today, people use the term ignorant incorrectly. Some think the terms ignorant and unintelligent are the same thing. This is not correct. We are all ignorant in certain areas, but we are certainly not all unintelligent.

I believe that the connection between being ignorant and being nice is a willingness. Many things separate us from others. We must choose to forget who we are or who the other people are.

We must willingly put ourselves on the same playing field as those around us. Willingly forget class, ethnicity, background, and anything else that may hinder you from being nice. Those things exist, but when communicating with others, willingly put those things aside. They truly mean nothing anyway.

Jesus willingly laid down what others saw as a higher place to talk to those who were “beneath” him. He talked to the Samaritan woman, something the Jews would never do, first because she was a Samaritan and second because she was a woman. He allowed the children to come to him, despite the thoughts of others that children should be seen and not heard. He spoke to the lepers who were societal outcasts.

Today, we hear of celebrities becoming rude because someone does not know who he or she is. It does not matter who you are. It is more important to treat others as if they are more important than you are.

Let us strive to be nice. Willingly become ignorant of the things that separate us from those around us. Strive for humility. Strive to love.   Regardless of how diverse we may be, we are all part of humankind.

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

2018 > 2017?

Overall, 2017 was a good year for me. I bought a new car, accepted a better position at my job, was able to stop working two jobs, and my second grandbaby was born.  I listed these items in chronological order, not in order of importance. 

Not everything about 2017 was great. Some loved ones left this world. Friends found out they were losing their jobs. People continue to let their political agendas affect their outlook on life and some friendships. 

We always seem to welcome a new year with a sense of hope. This year will be better than the last. Inevitably, I hear more people at the end of the year claim they cannot wait for this year to be over. 

Do people go through an entire year without any good happening to them? Are we so anxious as to grow old? I prefer to look at the good I have experienced and await even better things happening this year.

I, like most, look forward to the new year with hope. 

I recall growing up with certain New Year’s traditions. People would come over to watch college football all day long. We would eat corn beef, cabbage, and black-eyed peas. Black eye peas were to bring you luck. Cabbage would make you richer. I hate those two foods and still do. Fortunately, my wife does not like them either and we do not continue those traditions in my home. 

I am not sure how black-eye peas bring luck. I do not care. I believe that we make our luck. We think, prepare, work, and adjust to certain circumstances. These things bring “good luck.” Cabbage never made me rich growing up. It just gave me gas. I have become rich without eating cabbage. No, my bank accounts are screaming that they are too full. However, I am rich with great family and friends. I am rich with a spectacular wife. (I married up.) I am rich with the ability to enjoy life. I am rich in experience.  Money does not make one rich. Your perception of life does. 

I also quit making New Year’s resolutions decades ago. People resolve to eat healthier, get more sleep, and exercise more. What usually happens is we lose the same 40 pounds we lose every year only to gain it back before the end of the year. However, I give props to those who make resolutions and keep them going to improve their lives. 

Maybe we should start new resolutions such as trying to understand other viewpoints, not getting mad when people disagree with us, and looking for solutions to problems rather than sulking over them.

I do not know if 2018 will be greater than 2017, but I hope it is for everyone. If you are a person who reviews the past, I hope you see the good that happened.