MARCH 4, 2022
SIMPLE LESSONS IN LIFE
While I consider myself to be a pretty serious guy about the important things in my life, I often have to laugh (which is my escape and default from all the bad things happening in the world today) at the headlines in the newspapers (which I don’t really read anymore) and how they portray the writer’s narrative of the topic at hand. If one believed everything you hear or read, you might end up very confused and a little (maybe more) cynical about life. With our freedoms come the ability to “Choose” what we watch and what we believe. Choose wisely and don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions about life.
I was a little surprised today as I passed by the newspaper in the lunchroom, on the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to see our local newspaper have a small headline at the bottom of the first page which read; “President Dealing With a Full Plate” (DUH!) While it does state the obvious with all of the critical economic, social, criminal, and corruption issues facing our nation today, my first reaction, albeit cynical, was that it should have read, “President NOT Dealing With a Full Deck.” This is not a personal attack on our President as I totally respect the position. Just saying, that, if he were my brother, father, spouse, or friend, I would not let him embarrass himself (and our country) on the national stage by putting our nation at risk. It is my perspective and reality (and attempt at humor) on freedom as I see it. Leadership matters and now is the time our country needs our leaders to LEAD more than ever. Please review our recent Elevator Guy remarks (January 14, 2022) titled “Are you Proactive or Reactive,” to better understand the importance of being proactive rather than reactive all of the time. Making the same mistakes over and over doesn’t seem to make for good policy.
Are you playing with a full deck? Many of my friends have told me before that I may be “missing a few screws.” “GUILTY” but actively working on it in searching for my truth and who God meant for me to be. On a more serious note, do you have strengths and leadership talents in guiding others? Do you have objectivity, spirt, and resolve to meet the task at hand or do you sway to the stubborn side rather than being able to eat a little humble pie once in a while? Do you see the battle field from a thirty-thousand foot level or are you seeing it from the trenches and your own prism by the drama you create every day in your life? If not, “Lead or get out of the way!” Don’t wait around hoping (which is not a strategy) for your opponent to fail and for things to get better. Be proactive in the fight against tyranny and authoritarianism before it sweeps over our country. (Now there are some big words you might want to check out) Start with prayer, get your priorities in order and you may just find the answers. Have some confidence and take some action rather than just becoming an apathetic follower. Don’t worry about being cancelled or losing friends. They probably really weren’t your friends anyway or had their own issues.
Praying for “Peace in our Time.” (With a better outcome than Chamberlain had in 1938) Be careful what you believe and how you react to your beliefs. Make sure you seek wisdom, courage, self-awareness, and love in your journey to help you understand the simple lessons of life. Prepare the way for others with boldness and park your ladder on the right castle. (that’s a metaphor if interested) Pray for the people of Ukraine, their leaders, and some divine intervention.
Elevator Guy
Quote for the Day; “Every moment is a fresh beginning.” T.S. Eliot