One Lucky Day

Lucky
(This is the only picture I used with a dog I know)

I have been quite busy for the last month and a half. I have had visitors, staycations, outpatient surgery, and conferences. Don’t get me wrong; I loved them all except for the operation. However, I had to return to work so having one day to rest and do nothing seemed like a great plan. That planned day off did not go as planned.

I love my dog. My dog appears to love me, as well. He is an 8-year-old, 75-pound lap dog named Lucky. He likes to lie on the sofa next to me, and all of his weight rests on my leg. After being gone for several days, Lucky could not wait to cuddle with me. That moment of smelling him helped me decide to bring him to the groomer.

Having Lucky groomed professionally is something I have contemplated for some time. I have even emailed this particular business about the process. I explained that my dog is a sweet dog but nervous. He has never been to a professional groomer, and the only human he has tried to bite is the veterinarian when he gets his annual shots.  They assured me it would be no problem.

Lucky was excited to go for a ride. He even went into the little business with no hesitancy since he did not recognize this place as the vet. I again explained his temperament and helped him get into the kennel until it was his turn. They assured me he was in good hands. I went home with an estimated time for when I could retrieve him.

Two hours later, they called and said they could not groom him. I rushed to go pick him up. When I arrived, he was neither in the kennel nor on a leash. There was a leash on his back that was not connected because he would not let them near him. They tried getting him back in the kennel, but he attempted to bite them, and his 75-pound frame is awkward to handle when his nerves are on edge.

The moment I walked in the front door, Lucky became the happiest and most calm dog around. I connected his leash to the collar, and he sat next to me acting sweet. The groomers could not believe the change in his behavior. I took him home, and my wife and I did what the groomers could not.

What was the difference in the few minutes? He reunited with his “father.”

Maybe we should be a little more like Lucky. All the other dogs were calm and obedient, but it was strangers that were making the changes to them. To Lucky, the groomer was the enemy. Lucky would not let the enemy even come close to him.

This world has a lot to offer people. Some of it may be good while other aspects are not beneficial. We sometimes let strangers make changes to our lives. We should be careful of what or who influences our thoughts and behaviors. We cannot afford to let the enemy have his way with us.

So who should we let influence us or even make changes to our lives? The answer for me is my heavenly father. He alone can bring peace to my situation. His teaching and direction should be the source of my influence. He brings me comfort and life, while the enemy, the devil, brings turmoil. 

John 10:10 - A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary, the devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

The Broken Bells

My wife had a collection of bells when we got married. They were beautiful bells made of glass or porcelain. When we bought our first house, we displayed her bell collection in the living room on a shelf hanging on the wall. They remained there for a while until they were not. The reason they were not hanging there anymore was that something was on the floor below the shelf. When I stood after retrieving the object, I hit the display on one side, and all of the bells slid onto the floor. Hundreds of broken pieces intermingled with each other in a way that we could not repair any of them. We swept them up and threw the bits away. It was an unfortunate event, but accidents happen.

Sometimes things are so broken that they do not seem fixable. Situations, friendships, and marriages can get out of control. We plan and adjust, but we find no remedy. Things can happen that are not part of our plans. We look at the big picture of things and see what looks impossible deciding to throw it all away.

As I rewind things in my head, I realize there are reasons I could not fix those bells. The same reason those impossible situations get tossed aside. It is a lack of patience or willingness to try. Gathering and dividing the hundreds of pieces for each bell would take an enormous amount of time. Using the correct amount of glue on every chip and crack without making a mess takes a skill that I undoubtedly do not possess. Touching up any paint with the exact shade to bring it back to its original condition is best left to someone who knows the difference between maroon and burgundy.

To me, the task of repairing them is overwhelming. However, some people fix things that seem not to be reparable. They are extremely patient. They have steady hands. They have experience and knowledge. They are extremely expensive, as well. Someone can fix anything if they are willing to take the time. How would those bells be brought back to life as a collectible? One small piece at a time. You cannot rush the process. Just like a broken relationship, it may take years to fix, but it would be worth the effort. The problem is we do not want to take the time. It is so much easier to toss things aside regardless of the cost.

I discovered something else in my life. You cannot fix something that is not broken. No one could reassemble the pieces if they were not separated.  They could be changed, maybe even improved, but not fixed. I have never brought my car to the shop and said fix it without something being wrong.

I do not know anyone who does not have something broken in their life. People have broken minds, emotions, spirits, and bodies. We all need repair in some part of our lives. Even those that seem to have it all together have something wrong. Some hide those areas very well. We need to quit hiding those things and begin to take the time to mend them. It takes time, patience, and willingness. Sometimes healing wounds are painful, so we ignore them. We learn to live with the pain. If we just pressed through, restoration can take place.

Sometimes we do not know where to go for help. We do not know who to trust. There is only one that I can genuinely depend on and know can restore. That is God himself.  Two things I know about God: He loves you, and he can do anything. He has proved those to me over and over again. Go to him. He is willing to help if you are willing to trust him.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

It’s nothing like the good old days.

My dishwasher decided that it no longer wanted to drain. I followed the steps that I read about to see if something was clogged. I cleaned out the tubing and filter, but the water refused to drain. Rather than fight with it any longer or replace parts that would have cost almost as much as a new dishwasher, my wife and I decided to purchase a new one.

This dishwasher came with the house that we bought eleven years ago. I do not know how old the appliance was at that time. What I do know is that people, of course, say the same thing every time something breaks. “They don’t make them like they used to.” They also don’t make them as inexpensive now.

I see a lot of posts from older folks, many of whom are my age, remembering the good old days. They show pictures of devices that today’s younger generation has not seen.  I recognize more of these devices than I care to admit.

I remember our first VCR, metal ice trays, having only five channels, and our first video game (Pong). Reminiscing about the good old days brings back some great memories.

Today is not like the good old days. We no longer have 8-track tapes. We have music that we download or stream. We seldom write checks or pay cash anymore. Most pay for their goods and services with debit or credit cards. We no longer have to defrost our freezers like we used to do.

It is fun to think about the good old days. However, we cannot live in the past. We must move forward.

The old days had their problems, as well. In 1950, the life expectancy was only 68. Today, the average American lives until 79. In 1900, only 2% of homes had electricity. Today, it is rare to hear of someone without it. The mortality rate of newborns in the U.S. dropped from 58 per 1,000 to only 6.15 per 1,000 between 1933 and 2010.

Today has problems of its own. We have tools, such as the Internet, from which we can learn many things. The problem is there is also a lot of misinformation that we tend to believe. We have social media which can be used to reunite friends, but it is often used to conquer and divide. We have hundreds of channels of television to watch, but most are not uplifting to watch.

 

Past, present, and future all have good and bad things about them.  Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (NIV)

There will always be things that can bring us together. The problem is the heart gets in the way. We would rather be right than lose a fight. We would preferably rule over others than humble ourselves or encourage each other. The problem is not the technology or the changing of times. The problem we confront is and always has been a heart problem. We all look too much at ourselves but love each other too little.

The future is coming, and these will become the good old days. Let us learn from our mistakes. Let us appreciate what God has given us as well as how far he has taken us. Let us continue to grow, not just in technology, but as loving, caring, and humble people who will choose to make tomorrow even better.  

The Scars of a Warrior

I watched warriors on the screen battling out with swords and spears. The intimidating champion comes out to the battlefield with a massive scar across his face and many others across his body. The warrior made me wonder how many fighters in movies seem to have physical flaws to be intimidating.

Doing a quick internet search to find out, I came across an article published by JAMA Dermatology in 2017. The report was about the physical characteristics of movie villains.  They found that six of the top ten villains had some physical defect. Most villains had scars, warts, deep wrinkles, dark circles under the eyes, a bulbous nose, or other types of what are considered defects.

The reason this fascinated me is simple. Those characters are intimidating when confronted. Why is it so intimidating when an opponent’s physically scarred champion faces someone on the battlefield? I think the answer is simple. He survived the other attacks.

I like to read about David’s mighty men. Few of us could fathom ourselves doing the exploits of these men. Josheb-Basshebeth killed eight hundred men in one battle. When the rest of his army retreated, Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord gave him the victory. These men are just two examples of the warriors listed with David in 2 Samuel 23.

We like to think of our warriors as strong and undefeated. However, this is rarely the case.

Those intimidating scars did not come from winning every battle. The warrior may have won the war, but somewhere along the line, a weapon struck him or her. The physical scars remain for all to see. It reminds us of the previous, but it also tells us that we are overcomers. We did not die from the weapons used against us. We prevailed. We can look at our scars and say the Lord delivered us. We can live to fight another day.

Not all scars are physical, however. David’s mighty men probably had a few physical injuries, but no one could see most of their wounds. These men most likely met David at the Cave of Adullam mentioned in 1 Samuel 22. “In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About 400 men were with him.”

Many wounds are emotional, spiritual, or mental. When you overcome these areas, like David’s mighty men, can see that you have faced a battle. They do not know what you have defeated. Only you know how each situation turned out. Emotional, spiritual, or mental scars are for your knowledge only. They should be no less a reminder to you of how you survived the battle to fight another day.

Do not look at your wounds and think you lost. Look at them and know you overcame them. The injury did not kill you. It cannot stop you from moving forward. The only thing that can stop you is you. If the enemy can get you to think you cannot win, he will. Rather than allowing this to happen, put your faith in God, who gives you the strength to carry on.

Regardless of what has injured you, live to fight another day. Be the warrior you were meant to be.

The Wonderful World of Autocorrect

I have always been a good speller. That is not something everyone can say. Being a good speller does not mean I can win a spelling bee with the children that spell words such as feuilleton, nunatak, and gesellschaft. These are some of the winners’ final words in some of the championships. To be honest, I am not even sure what those words mean or how to pronounce them.

I attribute several things to my ability to spell. School teachers still taught phonics. Phonics teaches how to identify letters when hearing them so you can read the words. We also had weekly spelling tests in school for which I would have to study.

I was also in trouble a lot at school. I am very active and loud by nature and get bored very quickly. As a result, I spent many recess periods writing the dictionary as a punishment. While I may not have stopped being active nor have quieted down, it probably has something to do with learning how to spell.

Since I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, we did not have spell check or auto-correct features. We had typewriters, paper, and pens. If I needed to spell something, I asked my dad. His response was always the same. “Go look it up in the dictionary.” While this never made sense to me, my phonics class helped me enough to find the word in the dictionary so I could spell it correctly.

Nowadays, everyone sends digital messages to each other. People post their thoughts on social media. However, it seems no one seems to check their spelling or grammar. Either people do not care or are just too lazy to check what they have typed. I suppose this generation relies on autocorrect to do the work for them rather than taking the time to edit their work.

There have been books written and websites devoted to the hilarious misadventures of autocorrect. People laugh at these errors in spelling as they can change the entire meaning of what is trying to be said. Some people will say it does not matter since the messages are just for fun and entertainment, but I have seen it carry over into professional emails. It only takes a minute to check your work.

While spelling and grammar may not be the most crucial aspect of life, we tend to be just as lazy or nonchalant in other areas.

We make mistakes, but we do not learn from them. We keep making the same mistakes over and over again. We expect that things will correct themselves, but how often do things get back on course if no one is steering?

Autocorrect does not work in real life. You have to make the corrections yourself. Maybe you have an issue that is hurting you professionally or socially. You are the only one that can change it, but you have to recognize the problem first.

Self-examination is important. No one is perfect. We all have flaws. We should take a step back occasionally, identify areas of our lives that need adjusting, and form a plan of action that will help guide us back on track. It is much better to do a self-correct than to have unpleasant situations do it for you.

1 Corinthians 11:28-32 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

One Normal Night

They're creepy, and they're kooky,

Mysterious and spooky,

They're altogether ooky,

The Addams Family.

(First verse of The Addams Family Lyrics by Vic Mizzy)

I took my wife to the local theater the other night to see The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy. Whenever the show's reruns aired (the show went off the air the year I was born), I watched it. It quickly became one of my childhood favorite shows.

For those who are not aware, the show is about a close-knit family with macabre interests. They are not evil but are unique, as you can tell from the first verse of the song describing them. The parents, Gomez and Morticia, hold onto a passionate love for each other that rivals anything in any other production. The family is friendly and hospitable to others despite the reactions to their peculiar way of life.

In the play, there is a scene where the daughter, Wednesday, and her boyfriend, Lucas, sing a song to their parents. Since the families could not be any more different from each other, they asked the parents to act normal for one night.

Asking for one normal night poses a question. What is normal?

My family may not have macabre interests, but I can guarantee that ordinary to me is not normal for you. The statement is also accurate for you. Your standard may seem strange to me. Different ways do not mean either family is wrong. We are just different.

Even within my immediate family, normal is hard to define. My wife and I, though raised in the church, were still raised entirely differently. She finds some of the things I do baffling at times, and I wonder why she does the things she does. After a quarter of a century of marriage, we still wonder why the other person does what they do. It does not change our love for each other.

Society expects people to act normally, but who defines what normal is?

In a society where people are no longer attending church regularly, scheduling things on a Sunday has become the norm. However, my routine is to attend church whenever my work schedule allows. Lately, that has not been enough for me, though I will try to listen to online services when I can’t attend.

We pick and choose what we think normal should be and hold others up to our standards. We judge those that do not meet our usual expectations. It may not be intentional, but it happens. We may not even verbalize it, but we think it. If you ever thought, “Why would they do that?” you have judged them.

We should never judge others by their action. We do not think alike. We do not act alike. We are individuals. God created us to be in his image not in the likeness of each other.

I have certain traits that I have either inherited or learned from my dad. My siblings have the same dad but may have acquired different characteristics from him. All of my siblings have some things in common, but none of us are identical.

The same is true for everyone else in the world. It even holds for those with whom we attend church. We have the same heavenly father but have different traits.  Some may look at things from a teaching perspective while others look at things from a serving perspective. God did not create us to be like everyone else. He created everyone to be who he created them to be. He made us all unique.

So, what is normal? Whatever you usually do is normal to you. In whatever manner you typically think is normal to you. Do not hold me to your standard of normal. I won’t keep you to mine.

I always hear that diversity is a good thing. If that is the case, why do we want everyone to be like us?

Romans 14:12-13 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Vacation

I love vacations. I know that seems like a simple statement, but it is accurate. My wife and I do not take enough vacations. We like to travel and see new things, but most of the time our trips are to visit the grandchildren or to attend. Trust me when I say those visits are worth every moment. Though they are almost monthly, they do not seem to come around enough. However, they are not the same as vacations.

We do not plan every moment of our vacations. Some people stick to rigid schedules. That is not us. We may schedule a couple of things and wing the rest.  This time our plan was only to go south of Miami to see friends for the weekend. The rest of the trip was to see what else there was to do on the way.

We began our trip in St. Augustine, Florida. It is the oldest city in our nation. I was here for a night back in 1984, but it has certainly changed since that time. It has become much more touristy. There was so much to enjoy about this place. We visited the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum finding the story of a pirate that shares my last name. We walked through the historical Spanish fort, the Castillo de San Marcos. I especially enjoyed the tour of the Colonial Quarter which covered the 16th through the 18th century.

Miami was HOT which is not a surprise. The amount of traffic was also crazy. However, spending time with friends and visiting The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was well worth driving the 28-hour round-trip.

The thing I enjoyed the most on our vacation was time with my wife. She is a magnificent person, which is kind of why I married her. However, between work, hobbies, and the hustle and bustle of daily living the time spent away from it all allows us just to be together.

I love spending time with my wife. It does not matter if we are doing anything or just sitting there. I love her, and I love the togetherness. While we have similarities in our likes and dislikes, there are many more ways in which we are different. Yet, we find things that we can do together. She is indeed my best friend.  The few vacations that we have allows me to experience life together without distractions.

We are all busy. Life does not slow down for anyone. Sometimes we need to get away to see what is important. Smell the roses, visit the beach, and enjoy a sunset. The beauty of this world far exceeds the ugliness on which so many people focus. We need to stop getting distracted. Focus on what is important.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”

That verse does not say to think about the troubles in the world. It never mentions criticizing everyone who disagrees with you. Sometimes we need to step away and think about what we have been thinking about. Have our thoughts and words been productive?

Just like I enjoy spending time alone with my wife, God enjoys spending time with us. No matter what is going on in the world, He has time for us. We forget to spend time with God, but we must use the time we have. Get away from all of your trials and tribulations and just be with God. Give Him all of your troubles. He loves you even more than I love my wife. Sometimes she thinks she is a burden to me, but she is not. She is a great joy to be around. God feels the same way about you. You are not a burden. You are loved. 

The Little Pebble

While driving, there are a lot of signs that point towards dangerous situations. These warnings allow us to make changes to our course before we arrive at the problem spot. Some signs tell us construction work is approaching. Others may reveal road conditions or even that the lane is about to end. Warnings may also include flashing lights or barricades.

Regardless of how prominent they are, some people ignore these warnings. People do not always slow down for construction which besides their safety affects the safety of the workers.  People have hit large construction trucks or fallen in holes because they went around barricades. Many of us have seen footage of police officers getting crushed while on the side of the road even though the bright lights were flashing.

The first question many people ask when seeing these events is, “Did you not see the warnings?” The real problem is that most of them just ignore them. They did not want to change directions or take another route.

These seem like they should be easy enough to avoid as long as we see them coming in advance, but what about the little pebble in the road? There are no warnings about those. How many windshields were cracked because you did not see that small rock flying in your direction? Windshields are not cheap. Think of what you could have done with the money replacing all the cracked windshields cost you over the years.

Too bad no signs are saying, “A pebble will be thrown from the car in front of you if you remain in the left lane.” Unfortunately, most people would probably still stay in the left lane.  

While we cannot avoid all of the flying debris that can cause damage, we can do a few things to prepare for the possible outcome. Do not drive behind dump trucks. Leave a big enough space between our car and the vehicle in front of us. These do not guarantee that pebbles won’t be a problem, but they can minimize the danger. Not being in a position to be hit is the key to not being struck.

This principle applies outside of driving, too. We can see the big warning signs tell us of approaching danger. If the fire alarm sounds, we should be wise enough to leave the building and call for help. It is the small things that pop up suddenly that cause us unexpected problems. Someone may say something, and we hold a grudge as a result. This kind of situation may not be financially troubling, but it can damage a friendship.    

We can have unforeseen small issues arise that cost us money. The battery on your car may die. That needs replacing. The problem is you do not have the money to replace it. Sometimes the lack of money is because we do not make enough, but many times it is because we do not live within our means.

We cannot prevent the little pebbles in life (E.g., what others say or dead batteries), but we can prepare for them. We can live by the fruit of the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Living like this prepares you to overcome an offense that shows up. It is not always easy to live this way, but it will make you a stronger person. We can also learn to be good stewards of budgeting or saving for unexpected financial problems.

These are just two examples, but we should prepare because the unexpected always seems to occur. 

Earth Day and Family

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans demonstrated in streets, parks, and auditoriums all across the country. The demonstrators were concerned about toxins in the air and water.  No legal or regulatory mechanisms were in place to protect our environment. Supporters of this effort came from almost every walk of life. The result of that first Earth Day was the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

I was only three and a half years old, so I do not remember any of this. Nor was I ever really concerned about the environment. Of course, I would prefer clean air and water, but that was a concern for others.

Nearly 48 years later, I find myself caring a lot more. I am not an extremist about it, but I do what I can including recycling. It is not a political issue for me. I merely want to leave this world in better shape than I found it.

Let us go back a few thousand years. (Depending on your theology, it may be a few million years, but that is another topic of discussion.) The original Earth Day was a week-long demonstration of God’s power. It is when he created the Earth. In Genesis 1, it says the earth was formless and void.  God decided to do something about it. In six days, he shaped it into what he wanted, and then he rested.

Seven times in the chapter, God looked at what he made and saw that “it was good.” He also placed man in the Garden of Eden to “work it and take care of it.”  From the beginning, we were supposed to take care of what God made. From that point until 1970, we fell short of keeping this planet in the shape God created it. People have made progress, but the responsibility that God gave us is ongoing.

I, personally, cannot create a world. I am no god, apparently. However, with the help of God and my wife, I have been able to create a family. Each step of the way, I looked at it and thought it was good.

That does not mean I have not made mistakes because I have made plenty. I can only work and care for it to help it stay right. That is my responsibility.

Too many people look at the families they created and see no good in them. Some tell their children regularly that they are bad. Some say to their children they will probably end up in jail or dead. Negative thoughts and words are not the way we are to care for our children. We need to nurture them and raise them into people with hope and a future.

We become more like our parents as we get older than we would like to admit. Your children will grow to be more like you. Raise them up to be positive. See the good that is in them. Mold them into happy, respectful, and productive individuals.

They are the world that you created. Work it, care for it, nurture it, and watch it grow into something good.

Hurting People Hurt People

Maybe I am alone in this, but I doubt it. If I have a bad day or even if I am just tired, I tend to snap at others that do not deserve it. Unfortunately, my wife has dealt with this far too many times. I do not want to act this way. It is something on which I have to improve.

No, nothing happened recently that is making me write this blog. No, I do not need to apologize for any recent event. Although, if I do and do not realize it, please forgive me.

When I first got married, I had a very short temper.  Small things would set me off. I would not get violent or hurt anyone physically. I did not insult anyone or call them names. I simply yelled. My outburst would be loud. Once I yelled, in my mind, it was over. I could scream one minute, and suddenly it was over, at least in my mind. I do not like things to drag out over time.

I hope that I have improved throughout my marriage. I hope that in my outbursts, no one was harmed emotionally or mentally. However, I am sure feelings were hurt if nothing else.

I am one to apologize reasonably quickly. I tend to think and overthink about how I should have responded. Yet, when something happens, and my mood is not so cheery, I can respond in the same way again. Why do I react in ways that I would rather not? I wish I knew.

We should leave all of our problems behind us when we are with others. Do not take them out on others. It is not their fault we had a bad day. Many times, our responses to others are based on what others have done to us or what we have done to ourselves. We may have been emotionally injured, but the healing does not come from hurting others.

We are not much different than an injured cat. That cute little fur ball may be the sweetest thing. It may love to play. It may entertain you.  It may even let you pet it on a good day. Yet, when a cat is injured, it can become aggressive. It may bite or scratch the ones that love it and take care of it. The problem with this response is the ones who can help mend it are hindered from helping at all.

In I Chronicles 19:1-5, King David’s men were humiliated at the hands of King Hanun because he thought they were spies seeking to overthrow the country. David recognized the hurt these men were facing and had them stay in Jericho until their shame had settled.

I wondered why he did not have them just go home to those who loved them. I think part of this was because they may respond to those out of their emotional injuries. An incorrect response after being injured could result in a loved one being hurt. This time away would give them time to reflect on why they were treated as they were. It would give them time to forgive the one who hurt them.

Hurting people can quickly and without purpose injure others. What can we do? When we are injured, take a timeout. Think about what happened and the reason behind it. Make sure to take the time required to heal. Forgive the one who hurt you and move on. Treat everyone around you with love and respect. 

A Sudden Change for Easter

Easter is an annual Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus our Lord. Christianity would be useless without the death, and resurrection of the Son of God. Somewhere along the line a bunny and Easter egg hunts became part of the tradition of celebrating this special day. I do not pretend to understand how, why, or when these traditions began. 

Here in south Louisiana, many families and friends join together for an Easter tradition that for the most part is specific to this region. This tradition would be the crawfish boil.

My wife has desired boiling crawfish for quite some time. Not just for Easter but at any time during the crawfish season. I have never taken the time to learn how to do this correctly, nor did I have the necessary equipment. Being born and still living here, the items and skills are easily acquired.

I have always chosen to buy crawfish already boiled and ready to eat. This year was no exception. For Easter Sunday, you must order your boiled crawfish in advance because businesses sell out of them so quickly. This year I waited too long and found it hard to find a place that was not already completely booked. Luckily, I found a place and was able to order 30 pounds of boiled crawfish. At least, that is what I thought I ordered.

After church, I went to pick them up, and they brought out my order. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until I arrived at home.

Before I go on, let me inform you that I am not the most perceptive person on the face of the planet. If I am thinking about something, like enjoying a relaxing day with friends, the chance of me noticing even the most obvious things is slim.

Now back to the story. When I arrived at my home and went to unload our Easter lunch, I noticed the crawfish were still alive. Wait. What? That's right. I guess there were some communication issues with what I thought I ordered.

With a couple of friends coming over in about an hour, our Easter plans were dying a quick death. Neither my wife nor I were shocked at our new situation. Crazy things always happen to us. Life is an adventure. However, we are not the type of people to give up.

My wife and I had about five minutes to come up with a plan. We jumped in the car heading to the store as she googled recipes and times required to do the boil correctly.

After trips to two or three stores, we bought what we needed and returned home. We also asked one of our friends to bring us some fast food to satisfy our hunger until we could complete the boil and begin eating.

After spending much more money than planned, the crawfish boil went off without any more issues. Our Easter Sunday ended up being a great day. The fact that we now own the necessary equipment opens up opportunities for more boils in the future, just like my wife wanted anyway.

Life does not always go according to our plans. Things pop up suddenly and can turn things upside down. Many people decide to quit. They would prefer to do nothing than to change directions. Life is full of opportunities to adjust. When things get crazy, do not stop. Overcome.

The Apostle wrote to the Romans about all the trials he and his friends faced, but that in those things, they were "more than conquerors through him (Jesus) who loved us." Knowing that we serve the same God as Paul if he can overcome facing death regularly, we can overcome the daily issues that need adjustments.

Be an overcomer. 

The Octopus

I was watching television the other day when someone mentioned the octopus. I never really thought about these creatures, so I did a little research. I found the octopus to be very interesting.

I learned that octopuses have venom. Most do not have enough to harm a human, but a bite from a small blue-ringed octopus can paralyze a human adult in minutes.

The octopus having venom reminds me of humans. For the most part, we do not bite, but then suddenly what comes out of our mouths can sting another person. While we prefer everyone speak kind and encouraging words, we know that we can do as much harm with our tongues as we can help with it. Let us watch what comes out of our mouths more closely to avoid hurting others.

The octopus also is a master of camouflage. It can change the entire color of its body as quick as three-tenths of a second. The difference between the octopus and others that use some masking feature is it does not just change to blend with its surrounding environment. It often mimics specific things underwater objects, like plants or rocks.

We can learn from this, as well. People want to fit in with the people around them. They dress like them, act like them, and often begin to think like them. We should quit trying to be something that looks like everyone else and mimic something different. I do not mean to be something you are not, but imitate what you can be, the best form of you. We all have areas in which we can improve. Now would be an excellent time to practice a better version of ourselves.

They are highly intelligent. A marine biologist videoed an octopus collecting coconut shells and building itself a home. Smithsonian.com reports, “However, the big-brained cephalopod can navigate through mazes, solve problems and remember solutions, and take things apart for fun–they even have distinct personalities.” The octopus has nine brains. One in the head and one in each arm. (No, they are not tentacles. Squids have tentacles. Octopuses have arms. Arms have suckers along most of their length, as opposed to tentacles, which only have them near their ends.) The octopus may see food, want it, and tell its arm what it wants, but the limb has a full understanding on its own of how to accomplish it.  Each brain thinks for itself while still working together to get things done.

I wish humans would do this. People tell others what to think, and many people just go along with it because it is much easier to let others think for us. We need to start thinking for ourselves, but also working with each other to make things happen for the greater good.

Another fascinating thing is they will lose and abandon an injured arm. Octopuses regenerate their lost limbs with no loss of function. Also, after hooking its arms to a predator, the octopus leaves the attached arm and wiggles as it escapes.

We need to let go of the things in our lives that hold us back and seek to destroy us. Hurts, offense, some people, fear, and grief can hinder our potential. There is a saying, “If you`re riding a horse and it dies, get off.”  Those things that are holding you back will not get you anywhere. Let them go, and you will be much further next year, than you are right now. 

Forged in Fire

My father-in-law recently introduced me to a show on the History Channel called Forged in Fire. This program puts four bladesmiths in competition against each other to create knives and historical weapons. Part of the process of making these items is to stick the metal in the fire. The fire heats the metal making it easier to shape it. When they believe the blade is how they want it, the bladesmiths quench it in oil or water to harden it. If things do not go right in the quenching process, the blade can crack.  

I, by no means, am an expert weapon maker, nor do I desire to be near anything as hot as a forge. All I know about the process is what I have seen on the show.

The fire fascinates me, though. The temperature of a coal fire in a forge can be around 3500 degrees Fahrenheit. I thought summers in the South were hot, but this is way too much heat for me. I would rather sip lemonade in the shade or preferably in an air-conditioned room.

People use the term fire to symbolize passion. Not everyone has the same things about which they are passionate. Not everyone has the same amount of passion. Passion helps shape how you behave. Passion dictates your direction. Passion decides how much time you devote to certain things.

Many people start new jobs with passion. They are filled with excitement about the new opportunity. They are passionate about doing a good job. They may be passionate about advancement possibilities.  They may take work home. They may study certain subjects to make them more knowledgeable about their work. They may arrive early at work and then leave late. Truly passionate workers are dedicated.

Problems can occur. Some people are backstabbers, trying to hold you back so they can move up the ranks. Some people are lazy and hinder your success because they are responsible for something you need. Things that you try are not successful every time. Sometimes, you rarely see the progress you are seeking. 

These types of things can cause discouragement. Discouragement can hinder your progress. Discouragement can steal your passion. Discouragement can take you from extraordinary to ordinary. Discouragement is like taking the steel knife you are making and quenching it in water. It hardens your heart, but it also makes it easier to crack. 

There are other passions than work. Some are passionate about their hobbies. Some are passionate about their politics. Some are passionate about God.

Let us look at that last one. Many people are searching for some meaning in life. When they find a relationship (not a religion) with God, it brings passion into their lives. They devote themselves to studying His word, sharing their faith, and helping other people. These people are “on fire.”

Over the years, I have seen many people let the fire fizzle. They become judgmental. They get stuck in a routine. They get discouraged for various reasons. They just seem to burn out. I remember one woman who told me after I first became a Christian about 35 years ago that the fire I had would soon burn out. I guess encouraging people was not her gift.

However, we decide for ourselves when the fire burns out. If you are using fire to keep warm and it begins to go out, you do not just sit there hoping the fire comes back. You fan the flames and add wood to the fire. The same thing is true for the passion we have within us. We have to fan the flames. 2 Timothy 1 tells us to stir up the gift that is in us. We must do that. No one else will stir us up. We must guard our hearts against things that steal our passion. We must encourage ourselves to press forward. We must continue doing the things we know are good. Do not let the fire go out.