WHY THANKSGIVING IS SO SPECIAL

Here is a great article from USA Today to help us celebrate Thanksgiving by reminding us of the things we can be thankful for.

Enjoy your thanksgiving.

 https://www.thanksgiving.com/all-holidays/thanksgiving/heres-why-thanksgiving-is-the-best-of-all-the-holidays

MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY

 When I was a teenager back in Indiana, we would plan our Thanksgiving dinner around a meal of pheasant. I know, most people did turkey, but we would like to do things differently (because my family WAS different). Actually, everyone is different, it’s just that some folks are MORE different than others! I think we were in the “more different” category.

I would get up early on Thanksgiving morning and head out on the crusted snow. The night before I told my mom to have a turkey ready as a backup in case I came back cold and empty handed. I loved the early mornings back home. It’s like I was the only one on the planet and had all of nature to enjoy. I would return home and was glad my Mom always had a turkey in the oven. We ate backup every year. Turns out I liked the idea of hunting but not actually shooting something.

(Disclaimer: My family thinks I’m a scrooge). My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, it’s NOT Christmas. Let me explain. Christmas is out-of-control. Gifts have gotten so out of control that if we didn’t have Christmas shopping, our economy would tank. That’s insane, that’s crazy. People have gotten into the habit of gift giving as the purpose of the holiday. How often have you heard, “It’s not going to be much of a Christmas this year.  We don’t have much to spend on gifts.” If American’s would be more modest in their spending, they would have an abundance to help those in need who are just trying to survive. Let’s be honest, Americans would not go into debt to give to charity but Christmas gifts, that is a different story!

Now do you know why my family thinks I’m a scrooge? Hang with me a minute before you change the channel. I invite you to TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO and then come back here for a talk.

Here is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday:

The only gift we give each other is the gift of togetherness.

It saves money.

Thanks to the carbs we eat, not triptifane in turkey, there is usually a healthy nap after unhealthy eating.

It gives us time to think of our blessings.

May your Thanksgiving be a blessed time for you and your family. And if you are eating pheasant, please don't tell me!

(c) 2020 Wally Johnston

"Remember, there are two kinds of people in this world, those who like Dr. Pepper and those who don't."

BARS OR STARS?

 “Two men looked out from prison bars,

One saw the mud, the other saw stars.”

― Dale Carnegie, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Have you ever run into an author? I don’t mean literally run your car into one, I mean someone recommended, or something you see on the Internet social media. Well, I’ve done that recently. I listen to podcasts and I came across a John O’Leary. He’s a motivational speaker who as a child of nine, was burned on 100% of his body.  I was attracted to that because as a young boy I got second and third-degree burns on my foot. It was one of those freak accidents. I went outside and saw a bunch of my friends all huddled around a brick grill. As I approached the group I couldn’t see what they were doing. Suddenly the group split in two, like Moses parting the Red Sea. They were putting plastic army men in fire and watching the army guys melt. Someone had a piece of that molten plastic on a stick and flipped it. As it came by the boys, they quickly moved out of the way so that I could catch the blob of hot plastic in my boot. I had cowboy boots on with no socks and I am telling you it really, really hurt. I started jumping around like a wild steer. I don’t know how many hops it took me to get home but I moved as fast as I could with tears running down my face. Unfortunately, when I kicked my boot off it took my skin and flesh with it. For months I had to have my wound cleaned and dressed every time they pulled off the gauze it hurt like crazy. It would take off part of the scab. I can identify with someone like John O’Leary. If you get a chance come by and I’ll show you my scar. (Full disclosure, I do charge $.50 to have a look. 😄

John's first book, ON FIRE, tells us about his experience. His new book is entitled IN AWE.  I thought about how we have lost our childlikeness. Kids have elements in their lives that helped them explore and try new things and look at things in different ways. On the other hand, we adults get crusty and live in the ruts we have created over time. I want to take this opportunity to share a small review of John’s book and recommend it. You'll see how timely it is.

Here is the Table of Contents:

Sense #1: Wonder: Asking Questions to Achieve the Impossible - "By wonder, I mean something we do. I’m talking about our ability to be curious, to inquire, to probe, challenge, and even doubt."

Sense # 2: Expectancy: Returning to the Powerful State of First-Time Living - "Children are connected to their sense of expectancy, and that sense is tuned to expect excitement and adventure."

Sense #3: Immersion: Cultivating Your Attention to Be Fully Engaged in Every Moment - "We were not made to be in a thousand places at once. We were made to be here, in this moment, right now. No one exemplifies this the way children do."

Sense #4: Belonging: Opening the Gift of Truly Letting People In - "In no other area can we learn more from our children than through their acceptance of others, and most important, of themselves."

Sense #5: Freedom: Stepping Off the Sideline and Getting Back in the Game - "Inherent within each of us is the ability to get back to that state: to dare greatly, go big, and run forward unhindered by expectations, judgment, and fear."

Do yourself a favor and get this book.  Enjoy the ride!

There are two types of people in this world, those who like Dr. Pepper and those who don't.

(c) Wally Johnston 2020

WHAT IS ON YOUR COVER?

 There are some really strange book titles, for example...

Here are a few more: 

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales 

How to Avoid Huge Ships

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

He kids, don't try this one...How to Shave Grandma

Want to see some more? Simply do a search, "unusual book titles." Be prepared for what you are going to see!

Some years ago, at a church staff retreat, the pastor said, "If you were to give your spouse a book about her, what would their title be?"  Thinking about my wife I said, Love in Extra Innings.  She has endured a lot (by the way don't ask her what's she has endured, I paid her off in advance!).

What would your friends and loved ones say would be your title?  We are all mixed bags with some good and not so good terms. What would you like your title to be?  For me, one I hope one would be, He Shared the Heart of Jesus.  That epitaph on my gravestone would be better than, "I told her I was sick!"

Go out this week and share your title.  Our world needs your book.

(c) Wally Johnston 2020

"There are two kinds of people in this world, those who like Dr. Pepper and those who don't."