Categories
Attitude

Driving and Mouthing Off

Illustration of a guy driving a car with no mouth

There are times I wish we had mouth restraints as well as seatbelts for safety devices. every time a speeder blasts past me on the freeway, I am tempted to utter some sort of judgement about the driver’s mental health and their obvious anger issues.

But is it my place to make judgments about someone I don’t know? Maybe they are driving at an unsafe speed. But could there be other reasons for the driver’s recklessness?

  • Could the driver be in the middle of an emergency?
  • Could it be the police or another first responder?
  • Could it be a new dad rushing to witness the birth of his baby?

I have this tendency to rush to judgment when I should give others the benefit of the doubt. It is really none of my business as long as the other person isn’t harming me or others. I’ll let the police take care of it (if he or she isn’t one of them).

Perhaps I need to keep my shut. It goes without saying.

Have you ever made a judgment you realized was way off? Feel free to leave a comment below.

Illustration of a guy driving a car with no mouth
Categories
books Christianity discipline

Why We All Need Some Silence

Cartoon of a boy with a teacher. The boy says, "Recess was okay, but I need a moment of quiet reflection."

Yesterday was a big day for me. I turned off the phone and I was in silence for most of it. At my wife’s suggestion, I read a book entitled, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, by Ruth Haley Barton.

I know! It was crazy. But what I feared the most actually was one of the richest days I’ve had in a long time.

It came after a busy couple of days. My wife is out of town. I went down to Florida to help him drive his car back to Indiana. And I know work will busy this morning after being out for a day.

I realize silence is a luxury these days. Our television, phones and life’s demands make it almost impossible to find some time for reflection. Yet it is so needed. We all need it.

We all need some time to meditate. We all need some time to consider where we’ve been, where we are and where we are heading. Since I am a Christian, it is even valuable for me to hear the still, small voice of God. 

So this morning, it is back to the workweek. I know I will have plenty to do, as I am sure all of you will too. Through it all, I encourage you to take some time to be silent. Even if it is five minutes during the day, It will do your soul some good.

Cartoon of a boy with a teacher. The boy says, "Recess was okay, but I need a moment of quiet reflection."
Categories
family

All the Sordid Details

Cartoon of a boy with a laptop. He says to his mom, "I'm writing a blog. Does your family or Dad's have all the sordid details?"

I had the privilege to ride with my father for the previous two days. We talked about various things from politics, to crazy drivers, to advice about finishing life’s race well.

No, there we didn’t discuss sordid details. Oh, and I know there are unsavory stories from the past, but we didn’t discuss them. Every family has skeletons in the closet. If you are interested in genealogy at all, you’ll soon find them.

One of the many lessons I’ve learned from my parents over the years is to stay positive. Whenever I would get down, my mother was there to say, “Keep looking up!” Whenever I would say something unkind, she would recite, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.“ You can’t do too much mudslinging, insulting and roasting with that reminder.

So that’s why I take the opposite approach to the boy in my cartoon. I’ve had two great examples that have reminded me there is a much more excellent way to speak than to air someone’s dirty laundry.

Cartoon of a boy at a computer. He says to his mom, "I'm writing a blog. Does your family or Dad's have the most sordid details?"
Categories
technology cartoons

When Your Electronic Device Breaks…

Since I drew this cartoon, we have become a bit less dependent on desktops and laptops and more dependent on our smartphones. I’ve witnessed this recently.

When I was in an airport, the majority of people were on their phones. We keep in touch. We make our calls, text our friends and family and find out what the latest news is. We shudder to think what would happen if our favorite electronic device broke.

Today, if our electronic device broke, we would be hard pressed to find anyone willing to let us borrow theirs. It’s become an extension of us. It would almost be like asking a friend to borrow their toothbrush!

Are we getting too dependent on our electronic devices?

This has made me reconsider my smartphone addiction. I’m not sure I want to willingly give up my phone, but perhaps I depend too much on my electronic devices. How about you?

Cartoon of an elderly mom with packed suitcases talking to her adult daughter
Categories
motivation

A Day of Love

When I drew this, I could just have imagined how my seemingly tough grandfather would have reacted to such a get up. Yes, he would have balked, pouted a little, then retired to his shop where he could put on his dirty overalls and chew his cigar.

Yet I knew he loved and cherished his wife. One of the best memories I have of the two of them was when I asked them how they met and got married. Both of them smiled bashfully and made eyes at each other. It was as if they were reliving those romantics feelings all over again.

Today will be a different kind of Valentine’s Day. My valentine is in the Southwest while I help my father. He is a guy who has shown me through the years what a valentine is supposed to do.

He and my grandfather have shown me that love is patient and kind. It isn’t proud and not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs and true love never fails.

Thank you to my parents and grandparents for showing me how be a decent valentine.