Tuesday; October 6

When I sit and actually look at my office, I see some things that I have gotten so used to seeing that I have learned to ignore them. I have box of books by the front door that have been there for weeks. I was supposed to do something with them a while back, but didn’t so they are just sitting there. A part of a camera tri-pod is laying on another part of the floor – I imagine it feel to the ground when I replaced it and I figured I would get to it sometime; but just haven’t done it. There are notes on my desk that have been in the same spot for months. Originally, they were put there to remind me of something – now, they are just taking up space. Have you noticed how easy it is to just get used to the junk in our lives? Initially, it we might have noticed it and it might have been caused us some concern, but now it blends into the background to the point that we just accept it and ignore it.
The reason I bring this up is to remind us that this happens in other places as well. Have you noticed how easy it is to ignore bad or unhealthy habits in our lives? At one point we might have known better or even tried to do better, but now, we don’t give it a second thought? Have you noticed how convenient it is to pay little attention to issues in our community? How many people are doing illegal – or even dangerous – acts; but we have come to expect it from them, so it doesn’t bother us. Maybe had we raised a ruckus when it started we might have done something to change it, but now, we just accept it. A reduction in our quality of life rarely comes all of a sudden, it most likely happens when we get lulled into complacency by ignoring the problems.
Is it time to do something about how we are living? It is time to start noticing the things that need to change? Remember, we will never get better if we never do anything different.

Think About It

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday; November 29

The biblical story of the Good Samaritan has changed our world. Notice I didn’t say that it had change religion or even Christianity, it has influenced the world. There are very few people who don’t know the moral of Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. In fact, the phrase has become a common description of everyday people doing good to their neighbors. While Jesus’ parable from Luke 10 shares several spiritual lessons, one of the most practical is that good can be done by anyone. You don’t have to be a church official to do good, it is not only possible for each one of us to help, it is required of all of us. If a Samaritan can be good, so can we! After presenting the parable, Jesus asked the man who had originally asked the question about being a good neighbor which character in the story was a good neighbor, “… he said, ‘The one who showed mercy toward him.’” at which point, the discussion from theoretical to personal, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’” (Luke
Read more

Thursday; January 12

The other day I was watching a television show that used a rather common term applied to overcoming challenges. When organizations experience unexpected setbacks – especially when they lose key people – they rely upon the concept of “Next Man Up”. In essence, when our starters (or stars) go down, effective organizations rely upon their next levels to step into the vacancy. While this is an effective response, have we given much thought as to how we prepare to be the “next people up”? First, we must know our job. Even when we aren’t the primary players, we need to be preparing ourselves to be ready when we get the opportunity to shine. Second, we must do our best when we get the chance. Knowledge is important but what turns potential into talent is effort. Yet, maybe the most underappreciated aspect of this concept is a willingness avoid excuse-making and whining about the unfairness of our situation. When we complain about the circumstances that caused the need for replacements
Read more

Monday; September 25

When I was a youngster, I remember hearing about this thing called the Generation Gap. I was a little bit too young to be active in the social movements of the 1960s, but I do remember listening to the challenges the generations were experiencing way back then. Interestingly, now that I have been on both sides of the aging process, I have to admit that the Gap of the 1960s was nothing new. With the development of each generation comes conflict. The young people don’t feel like the older people understand them and the older folks tend to believe their input is being underappreciated. Too often trust is the casualty when two generations collide. The sad thing is that it doesn’t have to be this way. When we can capture the innovation and energy of the younger folks and harness the wisdom of those who have been around for a while we can develop a winning combination. No, we won’t always see things eye-to-eye nor will we necessarily speak the same emotional language, but when we app
Read more