Categories
motivation

How Risky is it Really?

My dad was an insurance guy. He was a claims adjustor and an underwriter. His job was to ascertain risk and put a number to it. In other words, he would ask, “How risky is it really?”

He would travel to a building that was going to be insured. After examining it, he would report how much of a risk the building would be to insure. Were their fire hazards? Was the foundation sound? Were there any safety issues?

He would report to the insurance company and the customer. If the client made the improvements, they would save money. But if they took no action, it could cost the client more. Perhaps the insurance company would deem the property uninsurable.

We face risks every day. However, there are instances when we create a bigger risk by doing nothing.

There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.

 John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Risky Homework

A few years ago, I drew a cartoon about a boy that missed a homework deadline. He concluded he needed homework insurance. But the real problem is that he didn’t take the action needed to complete the assignment.

Cartoon of a boy and a teacher. The boy says, "That was due today? Seriously? I need help.Where can I get some homework insurance?"

Perhaps he was distracted by something he considered more fun. Or he may have shunned his homework because he feared the risk of getting a bad grade. Regardless, his inaction insured that he would get a bad grade on the assignment. There are many ways we indulge in self-sabotage, isn’t there?

Take Action!

Sometimes, it is risky to take action. But may we have the discernment to realize when it is riskier to take no action. I don’t know if the JFK quote was about the space program. Perhaps it was. After all, sending astronauts to the moon was a very risky endeavor. And the president cast the vision when few thought it was possible.

As a result, the rewards outweighed the risks. But we didn’t know that until a country took the risk, did we? Comfortable inaction costs us much. It is better to take a risk. The cost of reaching a goal is far better than doing nothing.

Categories
motivation

Insurance and Assurances

It’s been a difficult week for the United States and the world. Some have insurance. Few have assurances when people will get to go out again and mingle. It is a tough time for parents who have to juggle the normal challenges of raising a family with a pandemic and a little cabin fever thrown in for good measure.

This morning, I hear birds singing outside my window. They don’t have a clue all the stress humans are experiencing right now. They are carrying on with their spring rituals. They are finding food and building nests in anticipation of the little ones.

There have never been full assurances that life would be the same as it ever was. Things have changed this year, and there will be more changes. But life will go on. There will still be joyous times even in the midst of the challenges. There will be choirs singing, kids playing sports and joyful reunions someday soon. Just hang on today while we negotiate social distancing and how our health insurance plans actually work. We can do this together!

Cartoon of a boy in bed. He says to his mom, "But if we have health insurance, why didn't it keep me from getting sick?"
Categories
motivation

Is Dignity Overrated?

Both, my high school and the university I attended have birds for mascots; The Blackhawks, and The Ravens. There were times when I thought it would have been neat to be the person behind the mascot. Then again, being a big bird would have been challenging for anyone’s dignity. Sesame Street’s Big Bird probably didn’t help in the dignity area.

Dignity insurance would be a great thing to have. I could have used that a few times in my life. It probably would have come in handy just the other day. However, I’ve noticed dignity can get in the way of doing something worthwhile and fun. Dignity and pride can keep us from valuing ourselves and our fragile egos over others.

Don’t worry too much about your dignity. Focus more on doing something of value for others and being humane and considerate. Dignity is overrated if it keeps you from doing just that.

Cartoon of a boy in an eagle costume. He says to a girl, "I agreed to be the school mascot if they would pay for my dignity insurance."
Categories
church cartoons motivation

Church at a Premium

www.dropbox.com/s/2hyvgr8j6r1l2fl/Spear 4146.jpg

My grandfather was a minister. My dad made his career in insurance. You can imagine the discussions they would have about faith, the church and liability!

I’ve been at both the child side and the counselor side of church camps. I’ve seen boys perform feats of skill that defy gravity and all logic. It is a wonder the ambulance wasn’t on twenty-four standby at the camp!

So now that summer is waning, let us rejoice that the kids are back in school and insurance adjusters for churches and church camps can breathe a sigh of relief.

I drew this cartoon for the August, 2019 CHOGnews Newsletter.

Categories
webcomic

Risk and Insurance

Cartoon of  a boy and a teacher. The boy says, “That was due today? Seriously? I need help.Where can I get some homework insurance?”