Purpose With A Passion!

 I  sometimes regret not having learned a second language.  I had one Spanish class in college, but I didn't do very well.  Somehow I don't think being able to say "Hi, Ola" qualifies as a second language. I make up for it in other ways.  For example, I tell others that, "I'm by-lingual.  I speak English and Hoosier."  Many young people don't understand the term "Hoosier," but for those more enlightened of us, we know a Hoosier is a person from the State of Indiana.  You are probably surprised to know the reactions vary.  Yeah.

As a child of Indiana, I remember a certain woman named Phyllis.  It seemed her goal in life was to kick rocks off of the two-lane highway near us.  You could tell she was a professional.  When she saw a rock, she got that determined look on her face, briefly check the traffic...sometimes, and kicked that sucker off of the road.  She should have carried a cane with her so she could notch in every time she kicked a rock.  Imagine how many canes she would go through.

I never spoke to Phyllis.  She seemed a little odd and I wasn't brave enough to make an attempt.  Was, or had she, ever been married?  What events shaped her life?  Did she have a loved one who died hitting a rock on the road while driving a motor vehicle?  Sadly, I'll never know the answers to those questions.  I feel like I missed an opportunity to know her story.

What did Phyllis have that some people don't have?  Purpose.  She had the satisfaction of helping others avoid an object and possible injury.

What is your story, your purpose?  Perhaps you don't feel like you have much to offer.  When you think that way, remember Phyllis.

(Please hit the pencil icon below and let us know about your story.  Perhaps someone needs to hear from you.) 

Not The Mama!

 

My mother loved the TV show, "Dinosaurs."  It was a show about an everyday dinosaur family made of up costumed characters.  The brother and sister were teenagers.  The baby would usually sit in a high chair.  When addressing his father, he would say, "Not the Mama!"  Mama would be the foundation for the home, and dad was a dufuss.  Do you notice in comedy shows that the father is often portrayed as an appendage to the family, appearing not to know much?  

Men have been taking the wrap for a long time.  First, there was the Women's Lib movement.  Women felt they had to be as good or better as a men.  They were taught that women didn't need a man. Right.

I have the unfortunate situation that my granddaughter and me have birthdays just a few days apart.  My son, her father, told me a few years back, "You know Pop, who is getting the attention in August?  Yep, your granddaughter."  It came as no surprise to me, because I'm not the Mama or Grandma!  By the way, my wife and I own a house.  When my son tells anyone that he is coming over, he says he is going to "Mom's house."  Hello!

I actually don't mind the birthday thing.  If I have to share birthday limelight, I don't mind the other celebrant is my beautiful granddaughter. There has been mostly boys in my family, so we secretly hoped our first grandchild would be a granddaughter.  We got what we hoped for and now she is the "Princess" of the family.  Her younger brother, who was smart to have his birthday in July, is her understudy to royalty.

When in comes to family, we really do need each other!    

THE EXPENSE OF INDEPENDENCE

 

Today is Independence Day, for those living in the United States.    John Adams wanted July 2nd to be the official start of our nation since the Declaration of Independence was ratified on July 2, 1776.  Here is what he said;

“[Independence Day] will be the most memorable Epoch, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival… It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more,”

 What words come to your mind when you hear, "The Fourth of July?" Fireworks, ice cream, parades, cook outs, etc.  Probably few of us think of "sacrifice."  Yet without it our nation would not have come into existence.  

Someone in our family's past sacrificed for us to have a free America.  Who was it for you?  We are a land of immigrants.  Some, like myself, had people here from the beginning.  My 10th great grandparents came over on the Mayflower in 1620 and my 5th great grandfather William P. Johnston, fought in the Revolutionary War.  Some may be newcomers to our country.  Maybe you are the one who sacrificed for your family.  The problem, it's not a "One-and-Done."  Once our freedoms were established, we have to keep fighting to protect those freedoms.

The Founding Fathers disagreed on many things, but they knew compromises were needed to see the work of freedom happen.  Our nation has revealed growing pains through the years.  With those pains have come division (just look at the Civil War).  Siblings can have some painful fights, but if an outsider threatens, they pull together.  We saw this in most of our wars and even 9/11.  

In 1858 when Abraham Lincoln was running for the U.S. Senate, he gave his "House Divided Speech. In it he said, in part, "A house divided against itself, cannot stand," in reference to Jesus' words in the Bible.

Replica of Lincoln Inaugural Bible, (C) 2024 Wally Johnston

In many ways, we are divided today, at least if you read social media and the news.  Personally, I don't think the division is as bad as it appears, but it is divided.  If the divide gets too large, our "house" will fall.  With that in mind, what are you willing to sacrifice to save this great nation?

IT'S BEEN ONE OF THOSE DAYS

Do you know those kinds of mornings when nothing seems to go right?  Today was my turn!  It was painful.  I got out the door late for a retina exam...no breakfast.  Traffic was terrible so I got there late.  I asked the office person if I had time to go downstairs to get a coffee and grab a bite.  She said, "Possibly."  That's when they came out into the waiting room, "Wally."  I was whisked into a room where they tested my eyesight, and then put in the dilation drops.  I was sent down to a different waiting room.  I waited for a while, then asked the desk person, "Now do you think I have time to go downstairs?"  "Well, you are number two on the list. If you are late we will take the next patient."  I told her, "I'll take my chance."

I get to the coffee shop, and you guessed it.  I had to wait in line.  I  finally ordered a coffee and pastry.  When I took the lid off of the coffee to add cream, it was filled to the BRIM.  I looked up at the barista, and she said, "Just dump some of it in the trash."  I grabbed the cup but the slight squeezing effect spilled hot coffee on the counter AND my hand!  After praying to the Patron Saint of Burns,  I made my way back up six floors.  

When I walked in, a patient asked, "Are you Wally?"  "Yes," I cringed.  "They just called your name," he announced.  Fine.  I had some time to eat.  after a couple of bites, they called me, so I packed up everything and moved to another examining room.  While waiting for the doctor I FINALLY finished my coffee and pastry.  

When the Doc came in, he asked, "How are you doing."  I said, "Fine, but I'll get over it."  He liked that one.  When we were done he said, "Well go out and have a bad day," with a smile.  I told him, "Some people have bad days, I have bad decades."  I left him laughing. He dilated my eyes, took a look, and said, "Looks good."

As I was leaving the office, I thought, "I don't need those little sunshades they give you.  After all, My glasses were photo-grey.  When I hit the outside, I realized I probably should have taken the sunglasses, but hey, I can do this.  I entered the parking structure and questioned myself about what floor my car was parked on.  I wasn't seeing well, so I could not find my car, even while holding my key fob and pressing the alarm button.  

Okay, I made my way back up the sixth floor to the doctor's office and got the sunshade.  I headed downstairs to the lobby.  I told the information person I was having a hard time finding my car.  She said, "I can call security for you." With twenty-six years in law enforcement, I couldn't imagine asking a security officer to drive me around to find my car. Thank God, I am retired!  I told the hostess, "I'll go check again for my car." She replied, "You might miss the security officer."  "I'll take my chances," I replied.  

This time, armed with sunglasses and clearer eyes, I found the car...FINALLY! I did make it back home with minutes to spare before my wife needed the car.  I was exhausted, but thankful to have doctors to take care of me and a car to make it to appointments.  This is especially helpful since most of the names in my directory start with "Dr."

 

Have you had one of those days you would like to share?  Hit to pencil below to place a comment.  It would be nice to know I'm not alone with these kinds of experiences.

ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Meet Cate Arnold

Cate is our first contributing writer (see her story, "Seek to Understand"). Cate comes from a long line of public service, as a volunteer to a city council member, and beyond.  As a breast cancer survivor, she knows the struggles people face, and come out on top.  Cate will be writing an occasional story.  Please comment on her articles so she knows she is hitting a target.

I have known Cate for many years, and I can say, "You are in for a treat!"

SEEK TO UNDERSTAND

Seek To Understand

By Cate Arnold (c) 2016

While I was quietly re-elected to City Council in November, 2016, the angst over the presidential race was loud, angry and full of accusations. The attacks on conservatives versus liberals, Republicans versus Democrats, government employees, and so many “others” continue to rage.

My mother taught me the importance of the words: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” She taught me the importance of caring for family and community. She was impeccable – not perfect, but someone who desired health and happiness not only for my siblings and our own families and friends, but for our fellow human beings.

Seek to understand: can we gather accurate information about what’s happening in the moment? For instance, I was talking to a gentleman who said that we can’t fix our roads because politicians are wasting our money. I explained that over the years, we’ve had serious structural changes: a huge decrease in the federal funds available to build new roads, massive expenses for maintenance of the roads we’ve already built, and static fuel tax rates while construction costs rise every year, including some years of double-digit inflation for inputs like asphalt and land costs. Replacing politicians doesn’t change these conditions.

We must have the patience and wisdom to understand the lands that we live in. Only accurate physical accounting gives us what we need to find solutions. Only by understanding our structures can we devise solutions and find better ways towards a better world for those coming behind us.

I hope to start a new movement, the Impeccable Moms’ Movement. What would an Impeccable Mom do? Get to know the people and lands we live in, understand and work with others in spite of our faults, spend our hours caring for our communities rather than attacking others, expect accurate and honest information about what we face; and face our problems head on together with integrity, respect, kindness, and hope.

Cate Arnold is one of those people you want to talk to.  She has her own story and is willing to share it, but she loves hearing other people’s stories.  She is bright, educated, and down-to-earth. To see what she thinks is most important for Beaverton, OR, look at 3 Essentials on www.cate4beaverton.com. To contact her, send your phone number to cate4beaverton@gmail.com

 

  

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU!

 

My wife and I recently went through the same medical procedure; cataract surgery.  Because I'm a gentleman, I let her go first (she claims I had another reason for doing so).  The surgery wasn't so bad.  The tricky part was remembering to put in the eyedrops 4, 3, 2, times a day that differed for each eye.

They took the patch off the next day.  It is amazing how bright the lights and colors are now.  When I compared them to the untreated eye, they were yellowish in one eye and brilliant in the other.  I looked in the mirror and realized, "I don't have renal failure after all!"

Many things in life can color our vision of the world around us.  We may see others through the lens of opinions or prejudices.  The problem is that we think we are seeing things clearly because the lens has been tainted for so long.  Don't let anyone tell you they see clearly on every issue.  While you are at it, don't claim the same pronouncement.

There is only one person who walked this earth who didn't need his lens cleaned...Jesus Christ.  If he saw something and made a claim about it, it was clear and true.  He hung around some sketchy figures.  He didn't see them as sketchy, but people with needs.  He saw what they could become. I wish I had those kinds of lenses!

I read about a man who wanted to see others as Jesus did, so he took a grease pencil and put a cross on each lens of his glasses.  He then stated, "I now see the world through the cross of Jesus." 

We will always have some discoloration as we look at others and the world, but if we allow Christ to help us see more clearly, it can make a difference.  That's the kind of “different" we all can use.

Here's looking at you!