Chasing The Wrong Thing

CHASING THE WRONG THING

Have you ever chased after something only to find out when you reached it, it was the wrong thing? It could be a job, a relationship, etc.. Well, you are not alone. All of us probably felt as if we followed the wrong “Yellow Brick Road.” Unlike Dorothy, when we got to the Wizard of Oz he didn’t help us AT ALL. Today’s story is kind of like that.

One time we were visiting my sister. It was a hot summer day in California and my Dad saw an ice cream van go by. My Dad loved ice cream (I admit, I do too). So he yelled for the van to stop, but it kept going. So here is this old man chasing down this ice cream truck in traffic. Finally, it halted at a red light. Dad came up huffing and puffing trying to get his breath to give his order. He looked up and saw this on the side of the van: Florist. The driver quickly rolled up his window and took off. Wouldn't you? We could hardly contain ourselves but we had to. My dad came back red-faced and we couldn’t tell if it was from the heat or embarrassment!

The moral of the story is, “Be sure to read before you run.” :)

Have a good week and remember...

There are two kinds of people in the world, those who like Dr. Pepper and those who don’t.

What Does It Take To Be Content?

 

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The American people have some wonderful characteristics, contentment is not one of them. Dis-contentment has some good qualities, like striving to improve, making something better.  The downside of dis-contentment is a lack of peace, unhappiness.  

How to improve contentment:

1. Live the Serenity Prayer:

        God, grant me the serenity

        To accept the things I cannot change,

        Courage to change the things I can,

        And the wisdom to know the difference.

2.  List your blessings. If you are a praying person, thank God for each one.

3.  Don’t be controlled by your possessions.  If you are a believer in Jesus, then you don’t own anything.  You are a steward of God's possessions in your life. Rev EV Hill, the great Black preacher of the 20th century, was speaking at a wealthy church. He said, "You know, this afternoon I took a walk in the neighborhood of the church. I saw the big, beautiful homes and fancy landscapes.  I saw the new cars parked in the driveway.  I wanted to take a can of spray paint and write one word on all those things..." TEMPORARY." Those things in themselves are not bad so long as we keep them in their proper place.  The things of real value are eternal.

4. Place your trust in God. He will be the only one in life who won’t let you down. 

Put these all together and you won’t believe how content you will become.

(c) Wally Johnston 2020

Vacant Lot Flowers

Photo credit: Joe Mabel 

Sometimes beauty and opportunity can be found in unlikely places.  Southside Blooms is one example. Quinlen Blackwell decided to leave his privileged life (yes he is Black but grew up in a white-collar family). He moved to the Southside of Chicago to reclaim vacant lots and turn them into flower beds.  That's right, amid boarded-up housing and gang territory he planted flowers.  However, the flowers were not his purpose.  His purpose was to provide jobs for poor neighbors and provide hope.  Besides, think about how beautiful a vacant space can become! He hired folks to work the lots and then sold the flowers to help create more jobs. 

1. Jobs are in short supply in the inner-city.

2. Hope is a byproduct jobs. Joblessness can destroy hope

3. Community takes away the isolation and brings a sense of belonging. Belonging helps take away the pull of gangs

What opportunities are around you to change today's narrative into something positive?  What ideas can you share with others and take action to make a difference?  Have you heard of other ideas that have brought needed change? Please comment and let us know your dream.

Here are the links to a couple of stories about Southside Blooms:

Southside Bloom's story: Southside Blooms

Southside Blooms -Chicago Tribune

(c) Wally Johnston 2020

Who Is Your Balcony Person?

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I was in a tough race at the 6th-grade all-city track meet.  I was running in the quarter-mile race.  There were other guys running I would have bet to win before me.  That wouldn't look good so I gave it my best shot.  I was amazed I was tied for first (that was BEFORE the gun went off!) After the gun, I was doing pretty good for a while but kept falling back.  Halfway through I was in the middle of the pack and getting tired. I came around a corner and I thought I heard, "Come on Wally!" Little did I know that my grandma walked from her house to the city ball field.  The next time around I saw her and she said, "Come on Wally, you can do it!"  That encouragement gave me a boost of energy but not enough to finish first.  Grandma helped me place better.  Grandma was one of my balcony people.

Many years ago, Joyce Landorf's book, IRREGULAR PEOPLE, was released.  She talks about two types of people.  An "irregular" is someone who really rubs us wrong and makes it difficult to get along with. They are people who we can't ignore, i.e. boss or family member. "Balcony people" are those special cheerleaders in our lives who encourage us and keep us motivated.

Who are the Balcony People in your life?  Please comment and let us know.

Do you have any balcony people?  

(c) Wally Johnston 2020