cultural diversity

This fine country of ours have often been referred to as a melting pot. You don't have to look very far to find someone that is exactly the opposite of you. Just yesterday I drove past two old men selling produce on the side of the road. At first I drove past but as I continued my drive I was intrigued by the two old birds and decided to turn around and check em out. As I got out of my truck and approached them they sat still in their folding lawn chairs, one in over-alls and the other sitting quietly as a trusty sidekick. I bought a watermelon and this seemed to give me an opportunity to talk. I think maybe I wanted to just talk more than I wanted the watermelon.

Anyway, they began to share with me a glimpse into their lives. The main guy, adorned in his finest Dickey's, began telling me the stories of his childhood. He was one of fourteen children (all from the same mother he added) and how he had worked on the family farm until his early 30's. He complained about the taxes he was having to pay on his produce and how "the man" was robbing him blind. He added some of the funniest (and dirtiest) jokes that I had heard in a long time. I stood with my watermelon and free tomato that he just wanted me to try and listened until I had to leave. He had other paying customers arriving and his attention quickly was re-routed.

As I drove home I thought about how different his life was from mine. We possibly shared the same opinion on taxes, a similar view on politics and who knows... maybe a resemblance on matters of faith. But we were still so very different.

I was reminded yet again how diverse our country is. I was even reminded how diverse our own lives can be. I was and am still challenged to embrace those who see through different shades this thing we call life. I hope my $6 contribution helps the old man out. Just a few minutes of conversation with him helped me in a great way to see that this is a big old world.

the small things.

disclaimer: the examples and statistics are not original to the author and are purely second hand at best. to verify... google.

I heard recently that in 1999 Ellen Degeneres participated in the first lesbian kiss on television. I remember the hype that preceded this event as well as the controversy that followed. I also heard that as a result of this "original kiss" that more than 20 prime time sitcoms directly involving homosexual relationships have aired.

Have you ever noticed that once you tell a small lie or as I like to call them... a fib... that it becomes easier to tell more mistruths? It is almost as if the first stretching of the truth is a gateway drug to many more. I have heard that for most professional criminals, their first crime was somewhat minor. It appears to me that there is a pattern.

That first breaking of the ice by Ellen opened the door for the subject of homosexuality to be displayed for the whole world. It was simple. A kiss. Not that I am condoning the show, the person, or the act but the point I am making is that the door was opened. Once the door is cracked open, the floodgates swing not too far behind. I have also heard that this is similar to the act of sin. Open the door and watch out! It reminds me of a virus. I tiny micro-element spreads throughout the body and quickly takes over and dictates the way we feel, the way we perform, the way we recover.

It's the small things that we need to guard against. Once the small pieces enter in... that's when the initial problems are born. In Psalms we are reminded to guard our heart because it is the wellspring of life. Looking out for the big things is a no-brainer. The area that I hear we need to guard against the most is the small stuff. We are told to not sweat the small stuff but I say... watch out for the small stuff because that is how the door gets opened. I'm just saying...

A Salute to Moms

Well, where would we be without moms? Answer: no where. We wouldn't be. I find it a bit funny that even as grown men we depend so much on our mothers. I have been so blessed to have almost 37 years with my mom. She is the strongest woman I have ever known. She is the most stern and compassionate woman all at the same time. She gives, gives, and gives. My mother makes every occasion a special one. From the amazing meals to hunting for Christmas presents. From Easter egg hunts to simple visits at a restaurant. Each time my family gathers... it is special, thanks to mom.

Then we marry and have children of our own. I wish I could understand the psychology behind men and their wives and their mothers. My mother knows me well enough to know when I need nurtured and so does my wife. My mother knows when I need encouraged, and so does my wife. My mother knows exactly how to treat me when I am sick, so does my wife. There's got to be something there. So, until I can figure all of this out, I just simply want to wish all mother's but especially my mother and my wife a Happy Mother's Day.

You both are simply the best!

Do the Next Right Thing...

As I type these thoughts I am actually in the middle of watching a new show with Michael J. Fox. It is called "The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist". I actually bought the book earlier this week and can hardly wait to get into it. You see, my mother gave me a "title" a few years back when she called me her "rough son" who always sought to "seize the moment". I love that she sees me this way. In my mind its like this Marlboro Man persona without the cigarettes. It is a mixture of John Wayne and Brad Pitt. That is how my loving mother sees me. But how do I see me?

I mean I live with me 24/7. I see the best of me and live quietly with the worst of me. If I had to self describe who I really am or who I am really aspiring to be... its an incurable optimist. I want to be that guy that sees the best in everything. I want to see each glass as half full. I want to give everyone the benefit of the doubt even if they are trying to take advantage of me. Why? Because it is so much better than worry. It is better than anxiety. I guess there is a little bit more control in my life if I see things this way as opposed to always looking out for the bad. Too many people look at life through the negative lens. Fox even said his very own dad viewed life as this "long line of people waiting to kick him in the _ _ _ (butt)." What kind of way is that to live?

I was reminded of a similar thought earlier today. When things are not going quite like I want them to, I am prone to only see the here and now. When I have made a bad decision and am left dealing with the consequences I have a tendency to only see the immediate situation. I was reminded in a quiet moment today that God sees my momentary affliction but more importantly He sees the BIG PICTURE. Not only does He see it but at times, He allows me to catch a brief glimpse of my Big picture.

As Fox plays a round of golf with Bill Murray, he explains to Bill that this optimistic attitude is one of not always looking to do the next thing right, but rather to do the next right thing. I will leave that beautiful line up for your own interpretation but for me... it is a big picture kind of statement. I may fail in the moment but the key is to not roll around in it. The key is to pick myself up by the boot straps and to do the next right thing. Or to state it like the old timers... we may lose the battle but the victory is already won.

you just never know...

Today I met Mr. Gambino... no relation, I asked. Oddly enough though he was from New York. I was on his turf when we met so as I approached him I was extra nice... turned on the old charm. We spoke a bit at first and as I came back by him he stopped me. You see, Mr. Gambino is in his early 60's and I assumed we had very little in common. I am much more at home with good old southern folks like myself. I can easily talk about college football, the weather, tractors and the like. I assumed my "professional posture" as we began a conversation.

He asked me what I did and I proceeded to tell him about the work of The Foundry. Immediately he lit up. His face changed a bit and I wondered if he was one of those guys who was a little anti-God. But it turned out to be just the opposite. Immediately he began to share with me about his life. It had been full of ups and downs and twists and turns. He quickly told me about his life changing conversion when he was 32 and how he had followed Christ ever since. He was so unassuming and so passionate. He even told me that he knew one day he was going to be on the mission field. My mind wondered at how long he thought this was going to be. Here he is rapidly approaching retirement and he's talking about becoming a missionary. When most folks his age would be calculating the numbers to see how much he had is his nest and he's talking about reaching the world for Jesus.

I was so taken back. I had missed it on my initial assessment of who this guy was. He was a radical! We talked for the best part of 20 minutes and as we wrapped it up, he turned to me and said, "You know it is not by chance that we met today?" I thought that I should be the spiritual one and should have said that first but he beat me to the punch. In fact, I entered the conversation just trying to get on his good side. He looked important at the place I had just arrived and I wanted to make a good impression. He on the other hand was just waiting to talk about Jesus. Who knew?

So what did I take away from this encounter other than a new 62 year old friend from NYC... another moment of enlightenment that reminded me that God is working everyday in the lives of those around me and I can see it if I will only take the time to slow down. Mr. G is a great man and I am better today from having met him.

I See People...

At the end of your day, what have you really accomplished? If there is anyone out there anything at all like me, I too often measure the meaning of my day by how many items I have successfully marked off my never ending "to do" list. I know that I am wired this way. I love to get stuff done. It is my strength and my weakness all at the same time. We all know the under-achiever and the guy in the office who is always on the short end of productivity. This guy is a stumbling block for my day destined to be filled with accomplishment. Get out of my way so I can get something done. I am the guy who sits back and smiles when the in box is emptied. When all of those little yellow sticky notes are finally deposited into file 13... then and only then can I feel like I've actually done something.

The only downfall I seem to revisit here is that when all of this "work" is to the demise of my real call in life. People. Am I the only one who walks past someone else who may be in need of my services of listening just to return a meaningless phone call? What if the shoe is on the other foot? How do I feel when I need some attention of someone and they put me off to get stuff done? I find them to be inconsiderate and self-centered. They obviously have their own agenda. But what happens when I am that guy?

Think about it this way... What would others say about me if they received a "reference call" about me? Wow, that guy really knows how to shuffle paper. Man is he ever punctual to return my emails! That guy Micah, he really knows how to use his office hours to get the most out of them. As superior as these qualities may appear, that is not what I want to be known for. I want the accolade of being a people person. Let me be remembered as the guy who cared more about people that papers. When it is all said and done, let me be known as the man who listened.

Just a friendly reminder to those out there who are overtly task oriented... stop and smell the roses. The most rich accomplishment in any 24 hour period will be the people that we meet, the ones we get to know, and the ones in whom we invest a bit of us into.