Thanksgiving Week

With there only being 52 weeks in a year one would think picking a favorite week would be an easy task. I have only enquired into a few folks and their selections for favorite week of the year and my received responses have been varied. The number one response to my enquiring question has been a question in response, “why”? My response of course has just been, I’ve got a favorite week and was just wondering if you did? Most folks have considered it is a trick question or they look around to see who is standing around; as if mother was there it would be the week of her birthday of course!
For me I thought I would simple say I love 51 weeks of the year for riding a Harley Motorcycle somewhere and the other week of the year I love Thanksgiving Week. Truth is that’s not a bad answer but for some that will seem like an easy out, but I’ll hold to this line for now because I’m thinking it is the best way to spend a year without a doubt.
So what week are you saying is your favorite if you have to pick? Will it be a week of vacation on some island or resort? How-a-bout a trip that includes several stopping points each year like amusement parks and maybe a museum or historical point of interest? It could be just a week at home that you enjoy not really doing anything, or maybe it’s a main focus on what my family would call piddling, which means you are really doing nothing, but your way of thinking says you are doing something, even if there is nothing to show for it at the end of the week. Those types of weeks are not bad, we easily justify we were doing something no one else wanted to do, and it was so time consuming because of the many little task it took to make that shed look like it does now. Doesn’t that just make you feel so much better just having read that?
The weeks of the year are all different and there are many reasons for selecting certain days, or occasions, but have you answered the question yet, what is your favorite week of the year?
It is Thanksgiving Week for me for several reasons. While some will think of this as the biggest shopping day of the year for those special items, I’m not much into Christmas gifts so the week is more about resting and reflecting then the run down the aisle for that special something. I like Thanksgiving Week because of the food. While some will say their candy cooking is all for the Christmas Season, to me, since it’s cooked and ready now, it’s all about Thanksgiving Season instead. I would have to say my biggest reason for enjoying Thanksgiving is because it is the season to say ‘thanks’.
Possibly the hardest thing some folks will ever do is say thanks but I discovered it a great way of acknowledging others, their impact and influence as well as the peace that overtakes me when I know I’ve done all I can do.
Now sure what your favorite week is, or how you will reflect upon this Thanksgiving Week, but for me, I’ve already made my decision and to top it off I’ll probably take a Harley ride too.

Until then

Moses & Directions

What are the odds that the creator of the world really wants to use us to do His will? Good question that I’m certain we have each asked ourselves and no doubt we have considered ourselves to be alone in the question, but this is not the case actually.
Moses was the first recorded in History of the World to ask the question, “Who am I? A self asking question many continue to address inwardly as we live our lives from day to day.
The big deal with Moses in Exodus on this question was because of his resistance to God’s call and Moses refusal to say yes to the vision. It was hard for Moses to see himself someone to deliver God’s people from hardship. It was hard for Moses to see how God could use someone like himself as a leader, especially since Moses didn’t see himself as a leader or as someone up for the unthinkable challenge God placed before him.
Not sure how overwhelming life is in your world but I’m thinking asking “who am I” is not a bad place to start when evaluating our lives, and like Moses we have no doubt wanted Him to send someone else and accept our position that we are just not up to the task. If there is anything frustrating about God is has to be the fact that He doesn’t pay us any mind when we are double thinking ourselves, He just waits for us to stop.
Life is full of situations that create this sense of well informed “I can’t do this” attitude in us. How often? To often we think and feel we are over our heads and out of our field to accomplish things, but isn’t is amazing that God doesn’t think so?
What was the last project you were handed that put you in the frame of mind? What bad news had you last heard that gave you this sense of hopelessness?
Yes, it is hard to imagine that God, the creator of the universe wants to use us, but He does. We are reluctant to follow, but yes, He still calls and points a way. We are more inclined to hear the negative then are persuaded to stand back up and fight the odds, but we must. We must because He has asked us to in spite of who we are. Sure there are others that will be better suited for the task no doubt, but they; it appears are not the ones God is talking to. Skill and experience that others possess out shine our talents, but they are not here, it is us standing at the spot.
Today the expectation God has for us is to ask whatever question we desire, but for these questions not to be sticking points but rather move us to the next question that Moses asked, which was, “what shall I tell them”.
The items on your to-do-list, or the work that is before you is not positions as such to stop us but to cause of to stop and consider our next steps wisely, and those steps should be directions gathered from His will.
The roads we each travel are not always full of lights and direction signs that are easily seen from the roads we travel, but if we go forward with our eyes open, looking around, being observant, and attempting to not pass recklessly in life, I am confident we can all safely arrive from the resistance of His call to acceptance of His lead and find our selves in a new land too.

Until then

Staying Focused

There are many games that people play in life, and I’m not talking about games that bring enjoyment and pleasure, I’m talking about emotional games that people play. Consider the game we’ve seen performed that is best described as the “self pity party”.
When you have witnessed this game in the lives of individuals you wonder what’s really happening in their lives. Since we’ve all seen or experienced this type of situation in our lives, the question for those that are Christians would be can a Christian have a “self pity party?
Certainly in life there are situations that will bring us down. There are moments that we will be disheartened. These moments will break our stride, they will cause us to turn our eyes and look away longer then we should. I would venture to say that we’ve all been there and experienced such that causes a let down in our energy or passion to do or get things done. Living life as humans has some elements to overcome. It is unfortunate that we are not already perfect but if that we’re the case then I think we would miss out on one of those great beneficent blessings of Heaven, being with the perfect Savior and the perfect Lord in the perfect place. Not sure about you, but I’m thinking I’ll hold off on my being perfect here and now for until then.
With such experiences happening in our imperfect world how is a Christian to respond to such adversity or broken spirit? Matthew 6:16 talks about fasting and it reads, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you”.
Now I’m sure that until He comes we are going to have some “self pity” moments in our lives, but I am sure from this scripture and others I think it can also be clearly said we need to learn to keep a happy public face during difficult times and trying moments, and by doing so earn more favor from the Lord.
I would say that their will not be many signing up to put on their happy public faces, but then again, as I’m thinking, I believe I know a lot of folks who have placed their discipline and confidence in the Lord and they are smiling and not attempting to disfigure their faces to show their present conditions.
The “self pity party” is an experience that we read about in the Bible from Jonah to prophets of old, and Christians are not exempt from the experience, but I believe we can see from the Bible some proper steps to take when the urge to stay in that party overwhelms us. It’s time to be a big sunflower seed and let our lights shine through every circumstance even when we do not feel like being a vessel of the Lord.
Yes, the Bible certainly says there is a time for everything, and maybe you like I would have eliminated this one, but He didn’t so we’ve just got to live with it and press on!

Until then

Football & Life

Today, the Rich Brooks fans are everywhere! Today, everyone loves Kentucky Football! Today, you just cannot be more proud to wear the white and blue! Today, is interesting but it was just a short time ago, like let’s say yesterday, that lots of folks were calling Rich Brooks an old man whose day as a coach had come and gone. Many were dispelling his coaching abilities and talking about why we don’t have more Kentucky boys playing on the team, and many were heard to say that the wins of last year were just luck and those types of wins will happen from time to time, but still, yesterday that was, there was not a lot of credit for Coach Brooks, until today that is.
It is so lacking in character the way we offer friendship. It is just amazing how fickle we are. I have often said that I don’t need any help when I am focused, centered and purposed. When one is strong and clear they are able to stand on their own and there is no need of assistance or a helping hand, but it is when you are down that one can use a helping hand up and truth is there are just not many that enjoy reaching down.
I attended football specialty camp at the University of Kentucky back in the day and my Kentucky Football History begins with Coach Fran Curci. Remember him, he was at Kentucky I believe something like 1973-1981. It was a great experience and I learned a lot, some of which I have never forgotten. The coach who taught line skills was Coach “K” and he preached one thing to win on the line, “wide base and short choppy steps”.
Anyone who has every played on the line knows that those skills have never changed. In all the years of football, a wide base and short choppy steps are still the number one techniques to be successful on the line of scrimmage. There are additional skills that will come in helpful like learning how to use your hands, learning to always keep your head up, mastering the first step or turn of the upper body is good technique in pointing yourself in the direction you want to go, all these are an added plus to you be highly successful when brought together.
Life is one of those things that you really need to be skilled at in evaluating the success of. Today, everyone is saying Coach Rich Brooks is a great coach. Today, the Commonwealth of Kentucky maybe in a state of shock as we have won four games in a row, there appears to be no ‘give up’ attitude and the team seems to be all that many have been dreaming about. If you are one of those and you have not remembered the team that it seemed could not win a game, you’ve missed it. It was that determination to not give up that we need to applaud. Remember the team that could not catch a ball, but they still continued to practice and the coaches still recruited, well, let’s give them applause.
Coach Brooks was not swayed by the negative comments; actually I can remember him saying when we lost games, “I take responsibility”, now that’s leadership. Not passing the buck, but accepting his role.
In the course of life sometimes we misjudge, sometimes we are quick to make a remark, sometimes we think we have it figured out when we are just looking at one aspect, or one play, one move. Remember that often when it looks like everything is going wrong the real true is that everything could be going right, the results are coming, they have just not over taken the negative yet, so give it time and wait and see.
In the end, the results are not about the Wins and Loses, while that maybe the first thing people look at. The real results are lives changed because people got involved, the difference made because folks cared to stick it out and became a part of the team.
Until then

Back to School Thoughts

When school officially began this month throughout the districts in Southeastern Kentucky, I don’t believe many of us were thinking about the fall season that follows. With the temperatures setting new records everywhere it just seemed impossible, at least to me, to think about the fall leaves, a cold wind and anything other then “seems like summer to me”.
For those old enough and experienced in age you will understand hearing our family members talk about sweeping the yard, it just doesn’t seem right does it? Hard to imagine if that was real action or just mountain talk for something else? It has not been unusual to see plenty of fans out on porches or folks sitting in their garage with a fan on to escape the heat and catch a breeze to find a moment of relief.
Just two months ago we were all crying drought and thought it would never rain, then the rains came, the rain deficit index was decreased, we were feeling good again, and I think you are getting the picture, the cycle of something is beginning again.
This past week with football field lights getting their switch turned to on and the swell of popcorn filling the air, we still have not reached that fall season zone have we? Even with the arrival of Labor Day this weekend I don’t quite believe we will have that settled feeling that fall has arrived. The lakes are down, the water has fallen her 15 or 20 feet but still no strong stance on when we can say fall is here still.
With the “seems like summer to me” still. With my hearts desire for fall to arrive what should one do?
The scriptures are so full of thoughts about seasons and different times in our lives and we even learn from the scriptures about seasons just like these, those that seem out of place or too much. Learning to be content is no easy position to strive after under any circumstances much less trying times, but that word is clear that we should press on.
Not sure what season you like best, not sure what you are thinking about our present weather conditions but you can rest assured of two things for sure. One, it will change just give it time, and two, if you think it can’t get worse, well hold on because it could before relief finally arrives.
In the Old Testament the scripture talks about us taking our position, standing guard, waiting and watching to see what the Lord will say, and for us to simply wait and then when we have received it to run with it. Considering all the questions raised by weather alone it makes good sense to be ready doesn’t it? Why not, while we have the time, make preparations for another type of day that has yet to arrive yet? Today it’s hot, tomorrow it maybe wet, and soon enough it will be could, should we not gather while we can?
Options available in life at this present moment range from sit back, do nothing and complain, to make the best of what you have and see if some luck comes your way, or a final option could be take action through wisdom and attempt to handle whatever comes your way. Not sure what choice you are willing to make today, but fall will arrive, colds winds will blow and now is the best time to get ready when it does arrive.

Until then

School, School, School

This time of the year the calendar cries out school, school, and more school!
I do believe that most folks like to live their lives in such a way that time periods are the focus goals, so thinking August and “back to school” thoughts go hand in hand. Depending upon your personal disposition on change, you maybe thinking that August and “back to school” thoughts will always go together? Myself, I believe even this togetherness of thoughts will change given time.
For those of us living here in the mountains we think of school as an August-May experience for school age children, many teachers think of their professions as summer free jobs, unless teaching summer school of course. However, this line of thinking has changed in not just large cities but small cities too as school districts have changed their thought lines and have begun the public introduction of year round education. We have heard this discussion in some of our local districts and no doubt, this change will occur eventually and the change may even prove to be good, if you are capable of believing that change and good are two words that can be used together.
My great – grandfather was a school teacher and I have and cherish his certificate that proclaimed him as such. It listed his grade in each subject and with such he was off to the one room school in which he was the school master. Every time I look at his certificate and I look at the basic subjects he had proficient in I think about how far it seems education has removed itself from the basics today, but that subject of thought I will save for another day.
Depending upon your location, the setting for education and the resources for education may have changed very little from the 1800’s to even the 1950’s. My father and mother attending one room schools and I have heard them say many times how they cherished books, it was just something classrooms didn’t have. I don’t understand at all today when I hear students say that there are not enough books in some subjects for every student to have their own, so students share books, wow and this is 2007 I think to myself? It is true for different reasons, but unacceptable to me, but I will save that column thought line for another day too.
Today’s column presents many things. Thoughts of the calendar month, school beginning, change; change; change; comparisons of school districts, basic education needs, issues facing students and teachers today, and some random thoughts about tomorrow or the day after next maybe. Life is so full of stuff isn’t it? The complications of issues, timing and experiences seem to fill every time slot and even seem to cover every time period.
Great advice for a month like this is best found in the Book of Psalms from the Bible. Psalms 46:10 says, “be still and know that I am God”, and oh what a thought to be in such a moment as these like these described in this column. Consider a pause from His point of view. For us to stop and see what He might be saying or communicating through this experience. Yes, no doubt, great advice would be for us to simply know He is God and in that , our discovery of peace and purpose no matter the circumstance.

Until then