About an hour ago or so, I was texting on Instagram with my sweet and funny friend, and we were sending hilarious reels back and forth to each other. I finally said, “Hey – on a serious note – give me some content for a story because I’ve got a deadline of tonight to turn one in to the newspaper.
Did I mention my friend is not just sweet, but is hilariously funny? Well she is. So, here’s what I got…
- Awe
- Iran-Contra Affair
- Panic attacks induced by the minutiae of traveling.
- The cure for entitlement.
- Loneliness is worse than smoking.
- Planting flowers even though they eventually die.
My response? “You’re killin’ me, Smalls.”
But okay, I love a challenge….
AWE: My sweet, funny friend and I both just finished reading “Awe” by Paul David Tripp, and we have been texting each other in a 3-way friendship text about the things throughout our days that we find ourselves in awe of. The premise of the book is basically that we ALL have an “awe problem.” If we were more aware of how sovereign God is, and how everything around us is awesome, we would all grumble and complain a whole lot less. (That’s my own simple, unsophisticated explanation of the book). It has definitely made me more aware of my own “awe problem.” I highly recommend you read it, too!
IRAN CONTRA AFFAIR: A secret U.S. arms deal that traded missiles and weapons to free Americans hostages held by terrorists in Lebanon, and funded arms to support the conflict in Nicaragua. (Fun fact – I was in Honduras at the time.) In the words of the great philosopher, Robertus Johnsonus, “Sin causes brain damage.”
PANIC ATTACKS INDUCED BY THE MINUTIA OF TRAVELING: Leave 10 minutes early, expect delays, find some good music, an audio book, or make a phone date with a close friend. Most importantly – chill out, people. Oh, and if someone wants to get over into your lane, please let them. Speeding up so that they are unable to merge and are forced into a head-on collision with a cement wall is not very nice. Just saying. Michigan – we can do better. Again, chill the heck out.
THE CURE FOR ENTITLEMENT: Just my opinion but… FOUR (4) years active duty military for everybody, straight outa high school. No whiny excuses.
LONELINESS IS WORSE THAN SMOKING: Okay Zhela Bella, this one just made me laugh. I’m rarely lonely. In fact, an old friend of mine used to constantly remind me, “It’s not good for me to be alone.” And I often felt obligated to find things to do with them, because they were just so pitifully sad at home alone. And then I’d miss my own alone time, and finally I’d get crabby and think to myself, “It’s not good for ME to NOT be alone!” So coming from someone who rarely gets lonely, and actually used to enjoy smoking…. I guess I’m glad to never really be lonely, and also so happy I don’t smoke anymore!
PLANTING FLOWERS EVEN THOUGH THEY EVENTUALLY DIE: Well, I love planting flowers. In fact, I planted a few more today. It’s quiet time alone, I get to work out a whole lot of things in my head, and it’s just so therapeutic to get your hands in the dirt, and then stand back and look (in awe) at what you’ve accomplished and created. This of course, followed by a shower and a rest in a lounge chair on the porch to wave at all of the passersby admiring your hard work. So what if they die at the end of the season? It’s the beauty of living in Michigan – seasons change as quickly outside as they do in our lives, and all four of them have their very own unique beauty for us to be in awe of.
And, a little MISH-MASH of wisdom from friends over the years:
- “People only know what you tell them.” Claudette
- “Stop paying everything for your kids. They can take student loans, but you can’t take a retirement loan.” Katie Mielock
- “Loose lips sink ships.” Leonard Vereen, my Army recruiter
- “Work smarter, not harder.” Me
- “Sometimes, you just gotta salute and say “Yes, Sir!”” SFC Anthony Kouis “Skip” my pal in Korea
- “LEAD. Don’t PUSH!” SFC Rick Mehl, my boss in San Jose, Ca
Well, that’s all she wrote, folks. Happy Saturday night, and Happy New Month, from the bright green lounge chair, on my big front porch, with my bright purple flowers that I’m in awe of right now – you know, even though they’re going to die!
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