Category: motivation

Categories
motivation

Sheepish About the Destination?

Cartoon of two sheep

We are all sheep. No offense, but we are a bunch of little guys and gals that are grazing through uncharted meadows. We like to think we are in charge and could take control of any situation. But the last month shows we really have no idea where we’ve been, where we are and where we are going.

The next year is uncertain at best. But this is no time to panic and throw all things, including your hoarded bathroom tissue, out the window. Besides, have you ever seen a sheep stampede? It’s a little less impressive than a cattle stampede.

We may not know the destination and we may get a little sheepish about it. But we sheep can rely on the good shepherd. Yes, we can call on a higher power. It gives us hope. When things feel like they’re out of control, we can realize we never really did have as much control as we thought we did. A sheep with Google Maps is a dangerous thing. I’m letting the shepherd take control and take me in the right direction. There is hope and a good future.

Cartoon of two sheep
Categories
motivation

Loving Your Neighbor in Tight Quarters

Cartoon of man in backyard. Love your neighbor and put up with his pooch,

When my wife and I began married life, we lived in an upstairs apartment. Our downstairs neighbor had a little dog named Happy. It was ironic because the pooch never seemed to be happy. The poor thing would spend all of her time barking at everything whenever she was outside. As a young adult, I thought it was quite annoying.

Four years later, my wife and I had our first child. When the baby cried, I thought of how ungracious I felt when the dog would bark. I realized a crying baby could be just as annoying to neighbors as a yapping dog.

Nearly twenty-eight years later, that same child is working from home during the quarantine in Phoenix, Arizona. He rents a room from a couple and has to do most of his work from the room because of client privacy rules. Next door, a young vocalist has been practicing. She has been robust in her vocal practice and in singing opera. It’s amazing how things come full circle.

We are living in a time where we may be more aware of our neighbors and their activities than before the quarantine. It is taking some patience and some agapé love to get us through it.

The Washington Post has a great article on ways to work with and be patient with your neighbor during the lockdown. It focuses on apartment dwellers. But considering my son’s situation, it could also apply to suburbanites.

In the end, remember to love your neighbor and show patience to them and their little quirks. If you think about it, you may have a few of your own.

Cartoon of man in backyard. Love your neighbor and put up with his pooch,
Categories
motivation

Being Wise as Serpents While Harmless as Doves

Cartoon of two boys. One has a box. He says, "It's a magic box. It starts up when you insert twenty dollars."

In any crisis, you’ll have scammers that try to take advantage of a situation. There will be people that will attempt to act like your friend when you are lonely. There will be those who will threaten and cajole because they can manipulate a person’s fear.

Yet there will be others that will be kind, generous and an inspiration to the world. A crisis doesn’t necessarily make good people bad. It merely magnifies what is in a person’s heart; the good and the bad.

I used to be very puzzled by the following Bible verse. But in light of today’s environment, it makes perfect sense to me.

Be ye, therefore, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:16 (KJV)

Jesus gave his disciples a great paradox. The wicked (and anyone who tries to scam another is doing a wicked act) will be among us. We need not be naive but be as wise as a serpent that is alert for danger and taking evasive action.

At the same time, we are not called to let the wicked affect us and turn us into evildoers. We are to be as harmless as doves. We can do good and be kind without falling into the traps of scammers, spammers, and the generally unethical tricksters.

So beware of the kid with the magical, empty box that only starts up when you insert twenty dollars. and don’t follow his lead!

Cartoon of two boys. One has a box. He says, "It's a magic box. It starts up when you insert twenty dollars."
Categories
CHOG News church cartoons motivation Newsletters

Remote Work Makes Every Day Casual Friday

Cartoon of a man in a bathrobe and an annoyed women. The wife says, "When we get to go to church again, this WON'T be your new church look."
Published in the April 2020 CHOGNewsletter

If you have been working from home, have you found that every day has become casual Friday? I thought of this cartoon idea because I knew Easter Sunday was coming. It’s a time when churchgoers get dressed up. This year was quite different from the past. It was far different than Irving Berlin’s old song.

I didn’t look quite as bad as the guy in my cartoon. Still, it was far more casual than past Easters. I heard stories of people dressing up anyway for the holiday. I would say they probably felt better and it helped lift their spirits. I will have to try it this weekend.

If you have been working remotely and have been a little down in the dumps, it may help to get dressed up as if you were going to your workplace or for an event. In the meantime, I know we’re all looking forward to the day when we can get out their and parade in our Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it.

I drew this cartoon for the April 2020 CHOGNewsletter.

Cartoon of a man in a bathrobe and an annoyed women. The wife says, "When we get to go to church again, this WON'T be your new church look."
Published in the April 2020 CHOGNewsletter
Categories
family motivation Teen Cartoons

Working With Your Teen During a Pandemic

cartoon of a mom and a young person in a messy room. The mom says, "I know why you're feeling down in the dumps. It's because your room looks like one."

This time is particularly tough for parents and teens. On one hand, teenagers are generally more self-directed and don’t need as much time as the younger kids. On the other hand, the teen years can already be a tumultuous, emotional time. When you add the extra layer of school disruption and little chance of teens seeing their friends during a lockdown, the emotions can run high. Odds are, if they are getting on your nerves, you are also getting on theirs!

There are some things you can do to help each other and your relationship during this time.

  • Acknowledge that this is difficult for them as well as you.
    • They are thinking about their future, and what it will look like to be an adult in a few years.
    • The teen years are already a time of extreme emotions and this isn’t helping!
    • They have tough decisions about testing, college, and graduation.
    • They know this is uncharted waters for everyone, including their peers and those they look up to.
  • Give them the opportunity to talk about this with you, with others, or another trusted adult.
    • If they don’t have the contact information, reach out to a friend, family member, counselor, or spiritual leader and help them talk through their feelings.
  • Allow them to have some self-expression, even if it means their room looks like the local landfill.
  • Be humble enough to admit with them you don’t have all the answers, but you will work with them and help them as the months roll on. Let them know they are not alone in figuring this out.

It is an unprecedented time. But in each challenge, there are also opportunities. There are opportunities for growth and opportunities to make your family bond stronger. Through all of this, acknowledge your emotions while striving to look up. We will get through this!

cartoon of a mom and a young person in a messy room. The mom says, "I know why you're feeling down in the dumps. It's because your room looks like one."