Year-End Words

Random Thoughts to close the year

or- stuff I've chewed on

from 2011 journals

When you fall, anything 'grabable' will do.

Possibilities abound when you are no longer bound by the possible.

If a picture is worth a thousand words,

how many pictures is the Word worth?

A real man

is humble,

pays attention to loved ones,

provides for and protects loved ones,

gives more than he takes,

learns from his father,

admits mistakes,

forgives.

The Lord provides, and He tends to do it through people.

We enter this life crying and wailing,

we should leave singing and rejoicing.

Our words are a powerful gift,

yet we spend them carelessly, cheaply.

Hebrews 3:15 says-

"Today if you hear His voice..."

As I read those words I 'saw':

Today- always present

if- always possible

you- always personal

True repentance is the ultimate honesty.

An artist lives in two worlds at the same time-

the one inside his head and the other one.

Sometimes art is inconvenient.

Inside every man is a little boy

who longs to hear his father say, "I love you."

All the determination and will power in the universe

cannot force a red-light to become green.

Laundrymat realization-

Underwear is not essential to life, but it is nice.

Checkbook realization-

There is a specific stomach sickness reserved for

the realization of a checkbook error.

Truth does not depend on whether we believe it

(or, agree with it).

and finally, practical wisdom-

A man should not peel a hard-boiled egg while driving on a busy freeway.

That is a task reserved for quiet, country roads.

Reducing Holiday Stress

     The joy of Christmas was lost to me, years ago. I suppose I grew up. Or worse, I grew old. A childlike wonder I vaguely remember was slowly replaced by an ache in my stomach. Shopping. Commercials. Travel. Frenzy. Stress. Debt... all in the name of Christmas. It seemed to me that the standard of a 'good' Christmas must be measured monetarily, either spent or received. My wife called me 'Scrooge' (on more than one occasion), to which I replied, "Bah!" 


     This Christmas, I decided, will be different. This Christmas will be holy. After all, holiday is a good word. And so, I made a list to help my focus (I am a continual list-maker). I offer it to the fellow Scrooges of the world.


     1. Read the Story
          The story of Christmas, found in the 2nd Chapter of Luke, is filled with wonder. Whether you are Christian, Jew, Atheist, or anything in-between, the story is beautiful, the story is the essence of Christmas- the gift of Life.


     2. Make something
          I know, I know... Christmas gifts should be bought, not made. After all, what if they don't like it? This question, it occurred to me, was a major source of my stress. I had to re-think the joy of gift-giving. I don't imagine God stressing out that first Christmas, wondering, "Will they like the gift of My Son?"
          And then, there are those who claim, "I'm not creative." To that I say, "Bah!" Make cookies, write a poem, draw a picture- the handmade gift says, "I took the time to do this for you."


     3. Make a list
          (another one) of things I am grateful for, leaving room for add-ins. Put the list on the refrigerator. Nota bene, include things that money can't buy.


     4. Perform randomly anonymous acts of kindness
          Suggestion- mail someone a gift card, with no return address on the envelope.


     5. Remember simplicity
          Less is more. Christ was born in a stable, placed in a food trough and shared with smelly shepherds.


     This Christmas will be different. I am determined. And, I have a list.