There are consequences to being generous. I am well aware that generosity is a character thing. For many people it just comes naturally. It’s just a part of their identity. A need arises and they are called to the moment. Called to a moment of generosity…Such giving individuals give little thought to the consequences of their kindness at the time. My friend, Leah, played the cello in high school. I know nothing about the cello. If the truth be known,…
I have a friend that lives over 900 miles away. Consequently, we don’t see each other much. But when we do converse, the dialogue always ends with the following phrase. “I hope we can connect soon.” I have always liked that. But I never gave much thought to the meaning behind what was being said. I read an excellent article today regarding the correlation between healthy relationships and addictive behavior. The writer made two significant points. The first one is…
A longtime family friend died very unexpectedly last week in a house fire. Jan grew up with this gentleman. He was two years older than her. She had known him all of her life. I have known his entire family for almost 20 years. I watched his boys grow up. They are outstanding young men. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, close friends gathered to support those men, as they coped with the harsh reality of sudden loss. During…
I have no problem issuing statements. Declaring my assessment of another’s person’s character is actually quite easy. “He is mean.” “She is judgmental.” “He is lazy.” “She is a gossip.” Such statements can be even more specific. “He is exclusive and not inclusive in his relationships with people.” “She resents people that have obtained advanced degrees.” I can assess a person’s character in a matter of seconds by stating what certainly appears to be obvious. I often experience great difficulty…
In 1987, I was a young, inexperienced minister who was in way above his head. I assumed my first real professional role at age 25. To say I was “green” is understatement. In addition to serving university students at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX, I also served as an adjunct instructor of Biblical History and Literature in the English Dept. I was in survival mode. I taught three days a week, so lecture preparation was a daily challenge…
When I was about 30 years old, an extended family member asked me when I was going to grow up. I replied “never.” That was not the answer she was searching for. I failed the test. But the truth is I have grown up. I am not as impulsive as I was at one time. I am far more cautious than I was in my younger years. Perhaps the word “tame” is fitting. I am not convinced that is entirely…
I am very particular about who cuts my hair, so I am grateful for my friend Anna. She is a great barber and a better friend. When I walked in the barber shop over the noon hour today, the first thing I noticed was a couple sitting very close to each other on the long bench that lines one of the walls. They were totally engrossed in reading or watching something on her i-phone. And…they were obviously engrossed in each…
A new school year will begin in a few weeks. Teachers will soon return to the classrooms to prepare. There will be in service days, convocations, and lots of meetings. A new crew of kids will begin the K-12 portion of their educational journey. But this year there will be no calls from the principal telling me that my son threw a rock at another child on the playground. Randall confessed to that infraction as a 5 year old in…
Occasionally I will hear someone state that they have no regrets. I have even heard people facing death convey with conviction that have no regrets. I have no doubts regarding their sincerity. But I always walk away from those encounters scratching my head. I wonder what is wrong with me. I do have regrets. When I was younger, arrogance coupled with a sharp tongue hurt people. It has only been in recent years that I have learned what it means…
Captain Jerry East is officially retired. Jerry had served The Hood County Sheriffs Office since 1989. His retirement marks the end of an era in law enforcement. Jerry was what is often called “old school.” His knowledge of people in the county gave him the ability to defuse tense situations in a way no one else could. He faced precarious encounters in a way that resembled life in the old west. Jerry’s actions with criminals will be the making of…