Thank You March

                                  exiting Gig Harbor Washington with Mt. Rainier in background

Again it is hard to believe another month is coming to an end. I know a lot of people appreciated the weather here this month instead of the cold and snow of February.

I actually enjoyed the snow however March was nice as well. Whatever the weather it is nice to have a good conversation with people. The weather for both months helped me kick off any conversations. Now have to see what April will bring. I find it important to enjoy each day for what it is.

I hope you had a good month as well as having a wonderful weekend. Everything is going well with the family and you are not too stressed out. I find it always good when blessings are poured on us.

I find any day when we can smile it is a good day. Feeling healthy and in our right mind is a blessing too. Until next time God bless you. Amen!

More and More

This is a day that a lot of stuff was downloaded in my mind so where do I go with it I asked.

I figure the most important thing to write is for us all to keep things simple. We can make life complicated or throw a lot of things out here but keeping it simple is the best way.

Relationships can become complicated if we don’t keep them simple at least at first anyway. Of course, it can depend on where we want to go with the relationship that is.

Anyway since this should be simple I will just end it here and let you have a simple day. Amen!

Opportunity Arises

We have all experience opportunities in our lives that have gone well while other times not so well. In fact, our lives may be different if we handled every opportunity right or even taken advantage of the opportunity. We sometimes just let those times go by.

On Thursday morning a gentlemen came up to me at my favorite coffee shop to say hello because he recognized me from Wednesday night. That night I took my mother to her church for soup night. During Lent, her church has soup every Wednesday night along with a teaching and a short service. This year her church is having a service along with another local church members as well. This gentleman was a member of the other church. Most of the people at the dinner I didn’t recognize even some from my mother’s church.

Anyway, he said that he has seen me in the coffee shop on occasion however decided to say something since he saw me Wednesday night. He usually comes in for his drink then goes on his walk without getting into a conversation. I told him there was someone at the soup night from his church that I grew up with so we talked about her and a few other things as well.

So he took full advantage of the opportunity to meet and know me. I let him know I look forward to seeing him again in the coffee shop well as next Wednesday night. We all need to take advantage of these opportunities than just pass by. Our lives can change for the better.

My Home Town

                                                         My home town of Gig Harbor

I have to admit that I am blessed to live where I do. I have lived in Gig Harbor, Washington almost my whole life. Not many other places I would want to live. I hope you feel the same way where you live. I know not everyone has the same feelings.

Gig Harbor isn’t the most perfect place to live because of some of the people; not the place itself.  I feel fortunate that most people I meet are kind. Like any place, you will find those who are not so kind. We just have to be kind in return.

I feel blessed to be in a country that has freedoms. I know not everywhere has the same blessing. There are those who take advantage of the freedoms we have. There are evil people among us. Just yesterday a man in Seattle carjacked shot and killed the driver. He killed another person well as injuring a couple of others.  One of the injured was a bus driver who was able to drive away after being shot to save the lives of his passengers. The mayor of Seattle called him a hero. So it could have been a lot worse. Shootings don’t happen a lot in Seattle but on occasion. It is a large city after all.

Gig Harbor is 35 miles south and west of Seattle so takes about an hour drive to get there depending on traffic. Some people here do work in Seattle. Some drive their cars but many take the bus. It is a good way to relax to and from work. There are jobs here in Gig Harbor, however, many do travel to Seattle and other nearby cities to work.

I do go to Seattle once in a while along with the other cities surrounding Gig Harbor but this is a good place to spend time especially when the weather is since. It is a good place to do my purpose as well. I hope though in the future to do much traveling too. There are a lot of beautiful places and people to see. Amen!

Looking Forward

What I like about social media is seeing what my friends are up to right now. We have to remember today is where we are living.

Looking forward means we are making plans for today and beyond. We can’t plan too far forward because we don’t know what will happen. The idea isn’t bad either though.

Writing a journal about what is happening right now is a good idea so is what we are planning going forward. This way when it becomes today we can see what we did along the way in planning for it.

Looking back is good to see the lessons we might have learned to help right now or in the future. Whatever the case living today is the most important thing though having a time machine around to go forward or back would be great too. 

There Are Going To Be Days Like This

There are times when my 98-year-old mother doesn’t make sense when she talks well as not remembering things. I know it is normal for someone her age but doesn’t make it any easier.

Her health is better than a lot of those who are around her age so I am grateful for that, however, still not easy at times. I know too she is frustrated as well. Another thing her friends are worried as well but some of them are not as healthy as she is though they are ten to twenty years younger. They see her when she is forgetful but honestly that isn’t so often. I am sure most of us are forgetting things as much as she does.

I know right now in my life looking after her is one of my main purposes in life. I do know someday she will be gone. Like all of us really it could be today or tomorrow. I know to her health will get worse at some point as well or at least her memory will be. She does remember things from the past it is just in the moment she sometimes forgets. Say a prayer for my mother along with your parents if they are still alive. I know there are those who have more trouble with the health of their parents or a family member. I am grateful she is in pretty good health. Until next time Peace!

A Blessing

Living a life of purpose you are a blessing to others. In return, you will be blessed as well. You don’t do your purpose to be blessed; however, it is how it works. You reap what you sow. 

I am sure you have already been blessed but more are coming your way. You will receive blessings in ways you can’t imagine at this time.

Enjoy your life as the blessings flow into you. In many ways you are like a mighty river. 

A Stiff Neck

I am not sure how it happened but on Friday around noon I came up with a stiff neck while sitting in my favorite coffee shop. I found it hard to deal with for sure.

On Saturday afternoon since it was still bothering me I decided to get a massage after doing some stretching off and on for more than a day. The massage did help for a little while though helped my other body parts better. So I will have to see what comes next.

Made me realize there are those we sometimes meet people who act as a stiff neck. I am not sure whether it is a personality flaw or something in their life caused it. I don’t see many around that are stiff necks or I just ignore it in a way.

We all have flaws so we need to love those who are stiff-necked as well. I certainly know I need as much love as possible though why would someone not love me since I am a great guy. My sense of humor comes in here.

I feel our greatest purpose in life is to love others. All of our other purposes should have love mixed right in. The reason we have a purpose has to do with love. Just a nice reminder for us all; I hope everyone is having a good Sunday. Bless You!

Excitement

I believe excitement is a gift from God. I know that joy is a gift from God for sure. It is right up there with love, hope, and peace.

I think that excitement is joy at a higher level like double or triple the volume depending on the person. For the average person, it is probably double while for the soft person it is closer to triple while a loud person it might be hard to measure if you know what I mean.

We should have joy all the time or at least most of the time; however, we should decide to have excitement more often. I think most people believe excitement should happen only at a sporting event or a reunion with someone they haven’t seen in a while.  Depending on where they are at showing excitement I can see on someone but they don’t go above the level of joy.

I don’t really care where someone is at if they are excited showing it off should be a priority in my mind. This is even true when they might look rude around everyone else in the room. I would really like to see it in the library because the library is way too quiet in my mind. Whoever’s idea was you can’t talk in the library beyond a whisper isn’t someone I want to be around too much. I hope to see someone show emotion in the library and I will applaud them.

I hope today I will see someone with excitement. It will be such a grand thing to see. Remember it is a gift from God. Next time someone may give you a sour look because you are being excited tell that you are expressing the gift God has given you. Amen!

A Favorite Month

I have to say March is one of my favorite months of the year. You can ask me why.

Since I enjoy sports a lot two events happen that gets things going for me. Here in the USA, the large colleges have a tournament for the sport of basketball. They have for both men and women basketball. They call the tournament March Madness. The reason because often there are upsets in the tournament. Teams not expected to turn out to win especially the first round. Each winner stays in while the loser is out. Other words, teams have to win or go home. They rank the teams in who they think is the best down to the teams not expected to go anywhere.

The teams are first chosen by who wins their conference tournament. They are automatically in March Madness than they pick the rest of the field. They have 32 conference entries plus another 32 at large teams. The better conferences have more teams in the tournament. There are some conferences that have one entrance the one that wins their own tournament.

They have four regions with teams ranked one through sixteen. The number one team plays sixteen, two plays fifteen and so on. The winner moves on to go down to four teams. The champion comes out of those four teams.

This year my local college University of Washington made the tournament for the first time since 2011 when they won their conference tournament. This year they lost the conference tournament championship game but allowed in as one of the at large teams. I am sure you can figure out who I will be rooting for.

The other sport is baseball. My favorite local team in the major leagues is the Seattle Mariners. The season begins in March so the reason I am excited about baseball starting. It doesn’t matter how good or bad they are expected right now it is time for baseball. Yeah!

This leads to the fact there is something we are all excited about some time of the year. We should soak it up as often as we can. I hope our purpose in our life is what we are excited about. Amen!

What Is Difficult?

I find naming the title for each post here is the hardest part. The content is easier than the title. I just hope the title doesn’t hurt anyone from not reading what I have to say or write.

One of the local television stations has a story about how Seattle is dying. A lot of it has to do with the homeless. It is a sad story because Seattle has one of the highest levels of homeless in the USA.  A major reason is the area has a lot of people with mental illness is what they say. It is probably true; a major reason I believe this area has the lowest level of people going to church as well. Other words, a lot of people don’t care about spiritual things. We could say because of the high cost of living, however, it has been going on a long time before the current age of tech companies. Yes, we are the home of Microsoft and Amazon to name a couple of them.

There is coffee being the home of Starbucks as well. You wouldn’t believe how many coffee shops we have here. Even in my home town of Gig Harbor where there are about 25,000 people in the area. The town of Gig Harbor is under 10,000; we have eight Starbucks and that doesn’t count other coffee shops. I am sure all together we have at least 20 coffee shops. So on average, it is a coffee shop for every thousand people. As you can figure not everyone goes to a coffee shop. This doesn’t count restaurants that offer coffee as well. We probably have at least 20 restaurants as well. Amazing when I figure there only maybe five when I was a kid; our family didn’t eat out much. My mother was a pretty good cook so no real reason to do so.

So enjoy my post no matter what the title is. Let your friends know too. It would be nice to encourage more people.

I know other countries have more trouble with the homeless than we do. In fact, we are probably really on the low end of the scale. The answer whether it has to do with homeless or the mentally ill or any other problems like I said in my last post we need to see with new eyes and love of course. Until next time I love you very much my friends.

Welcoming Spring

Here in Western Washington, we had a hot day to welcome spring coming in a couple days. The temperatures reach almost 80 degrees which is remarkable; So much the last time the temperature this warm in March was 1894.

I found it hard to find people in the early evening. Most of the time it is anyway but I am sure many were out enjoying the sun somewhere else than where I was.

I realize when it comes to our purpose we have to go where the people are at or in some instances wait for them to come to us. Whichever is the case the purpose we are supposed to be involved in will happen and with the people, we are supposed to do with. I believe we can get wrapped into our thinking we must go to get the purpose done. Also, there are times where the purpose might happen to us; whatever the case the purpose will happen.

We can often make things complicated when it should be easy. We might over think our purpose altogether. Let’s relax the job will be completed. Amen!

Seeing the World with Different Eyes

I fortunately live in a nice place but even here things are far from being perfect. We can change our world by being the person we want the world to be like. This all begins with seeing the world with different eyes.

I am sure there are those who have given up on the world with the eyes they see with now. This is why we have to see with different eyes. We have to give hope to a world that is dying. We have to give love with our eyes. The world will only change if we change too. Amen!

You Are Special

We are all created in the image of God so this means we are all special as well. I know often we don’t feel this way.

Regardless of what has happened in our lives, we are still the “apple of his eye”.  We have to acknowledge we have done wrong and we are not perfect. We have to be real and honest with God and ourselves.

The next time you get down yourself remember you are special. I am sure I have to do so quite a few times a day. 

Always Good To See Friends

Saturday night I met with longtime friends who I don’t see as often as I used to. I think it is always a blessing when spending time with longtime friends even when not as often.

We got together for a potluck to plan a reunion. We hope plenty will show up however the number won’t matter as much as friends getting together.

We discussed when and where we want to meet. There are three locations in Gig Harbor we are looking at to meet so the date will depend on when one of them will be available. We are looking at September or later. Last year we met in August however so many have vacation plans. We are thinking of setting a date for next year as well so people can plan in advance as well.

Regardless of the occasion getting together with longtime friends is a good idea to me. They were put into our lives even if it was for only a season. 

Life of Consistency

I have watched several games of college basketball the last couple days. Each game had where one time goes ahead with a big lead then the other would come back to make it a real game. Neither team could play the whole game consistently.

Made me think this is how our lives are so much of the time where we are up and down. We go along fine for a little while then circumstances happen where we go down. Like these basketball teams that are losing at the time, we have to scrap our way back up. Wouldn’t be nice to live a life of consistency; I am sure there are those who do.

This is where we can be an example and influence on others by living this life of consistency. How do we do this? Likely it will take a lot of will power I believe. 

Travel Locally

                                       Commencement Bay with Mt. Rainier in background

I don’t know about you but I hope in the future to do some traveling throughout my country the USA and other parts of the world. The key is to be able to stay healthy enough to do so and have the money as well.

The only countries I have been to are Canada, England, France, and Germany. Canada has been the most recent visiting my cousins in British Columbia last May. England and German it has been more than twenty years than France has been over fifteen years. So I would like to visit those places again as well as Eastern Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. Unless I am lucky it will be hard to make all the places but who knows it could happen.

In the meantime, it is a good time to travel locally. Seeing places around Washington State I haven’t gone to in a while too. I believe we are all in the same boat we either travel to other countries or dream about doing so. There are so many lovely places to see here, also, I like to meet up with the locals as well. Of course, telling you about my travels is a good idea too. I consider it part of my purpose as well. In the meanwhile have a wonderful weekend. 

Doing Our Best

The truth is not everyone is going to like us; however, we should try to be the best person to whoever we meet. I have a loud voice, and I like to talk a lot. I know not everyone is into doing a lot of talking.

I try to talk to people at a more even level though I don’t always remember. Also, I have a sense of humor that isn’t like others so I use it depending in the person I am talking too.

Other words, we should talk to a person in a way they would be comfortable talking too. We have to be ourselves but we can show different sides of us too. In some instances, I would say we might have to put on an acting job. It doesn’t mean we totally try to be someone else but be the kind of person that they feel good to be around.

Like I said at the beginning not everyone is going to like us. We should be OK with being rejected sometimes. I have been rejected quite a few times though not as often as in the past so if someone doesn’t like me I live with it. I think they are crazy because I am a great guy but at the same time it is how it is.

I know we are going to make mistakes as well so we need to be OK with it as well. Amen!

I Am Not Perfect

I am pretty sure you are not surprised I am not perfect. I am a long way from being so that is for sure. Who knows maybe someday but I doubt it.

A few times I have been told I have the gift of wisdom. Most of the time I don’t feel very wise, however, I do know that the gift of wisdom is in me.

Every once in a while I am able to give out wisdom to another person. This is what a gift is about where we are able to use it when the right time arises. We know the gift is not a part of our daily lives. In fact, we feel the gift is coming from another source because it isn’t us.

This is where a gift is different from talent. A gift is used only when we need it while talent is something we have all the time. With talent working at it, we will get even better while the gift we are already at the best at the right time.

The gift allows us to be perfect for a moment; however, the person we give the gift to will be blessed and it is the best part. Amen!

Hearing From My Sister

                                                                      Jack and Barb
                                                 



I don’t often talk with my sister Barb on the phone like I do with my brother Jack. I received an email from Barb saying she plans to write more often because she isn’t good at calling on the phone. So now makes me think I have to initiate the phone calls which I should have already done.

The problem we all have at some time or another is to initiate with other people especially family. The world these days we are either sending emails or texting instead of communicating by talking on the phone or in person.

I do a lot of talking in person with people I see on a regular basis however I have to do more with those I only see once in a while. A lesson learned.

Never Give Up

Life is not easy we all know that on one level or another.  Today’s encouragement is never give up.

I am not here to judge or condemn anyone because I find it hard enough to walk in my own shoes than trying to do so in someone else’s shoes. I just want to say if you have thought of giving up don’t. I know you are stronger than you think.

I have never run a marathon or even a half-a-marathon; however, I am sure those who have get aches and pains along the way. They don’t give up because they know the goal is to finish the race. This is how we should look at life as well. So when the urge comes to give up just keep moving on knowing you will make it. Amen!

Time Change

I always find when the time changes like this early morning interesting. I actually woke up just before 2 am then fell back to sleep for a little over an hour then woke up to just after 4.

I figure you have to go to bed an hour early or sleep in an hour later. Those who don’t pay attention are going to show up late to work or church. I actually went to bed a little early and slept a little longer so combined the two.

I am glad that my cell phone and computer both change the time automatically so all I have to do is change the clocks. The one that challenges me the most is the one in the car.  

There has been talking here in Washington state to have the time stay the same all year long instead of changing twice. I am up for that long as they pick the best time to stay with.

Anyway, enjoy your day even though it is probably an adjustment for you. 

Reflect

I think my best ideas come at night so here we go.

I figure last night that the weekend is a good time to reflect what has happened over the course of the week. I am not saying this for you to put off any plans you already have or take a lot of time doing so.

To reflect can take place anytime for only a few minutes. You can do it on Sunday night after having a great weekend before going to bed. I think it should take place at the same time every week.

Another idea pop into my head is to write down at the end of the day whatever you feel has been the highlight of your day then you can go over them all when it is time to reflect.

I hope this helps you out. Whatever the case may be I wish you a wonderful weekend. 

Just The Beginning

When we discover our life purpose it is just the beginning. What I mean by this it is like getting a job after graduating from school.

The actual work of doing our life purpose will start. There will be things we have to learn on the way although we have been given the tools at the time of birth. Other words the gifts and talents going along with it. Like a job we will make mistakes on the way; hopefully not a lot of them.

Our life purpose in part is wrapped in the job we are doing as well. This would depend on the job we are doing. Not all jobs have to do with our life purpose.

The job we have currently in the field we went to school for then yes or at least a job in a field we decided to pursue as a career.

Life can make turns we don’t expect. For example, those of us who were working in the last century are likely now not doing a job we were back then or at least in a different way because of computers and the internet. In my case, I am posting something every day on this blog. I would never have guessed this in a million years before. Also, I am writing for a couple of sports websites as well as a contributing writer.

Growing up my desire was to be a sportscaster so I went to vocational school to be one. I did get a job working in a radio station being a deejay along with the news and sports, however, I realized though I was OK at it I wasn’t good enough at the job as a career. I should have instead gone into being a sports writer. So I could say my dream has come true now though in a different way; amazing the turns that can happen.

So my encouragement is to get moving on in your life purpose if you have just discovered it or you haven’t applied it as of yet. Also, there can be other ways you can apply your purpose beyond what you are doing now. Other words you can be a volunteer or a mentor.

For those of you pursuing your purpose good for you and the work you are doing. Need help ask a friend. 

A Challenge For Us All

Last night I went to church with mother for Ash Wednesday. Besides a program for the service, they had out a card that looks a postcard. The purpose of the card on the back side is to write down what you will give up for the 40 days of Lent.

I have a challenge for us all. Not only what we will give up for Lent like not eating meat or dessert the challenge is to add something as well for these 40 days. I am not saying to add something that will benefit us but to benefit others. I expect whatever we do to benefit others will turn around and benefit us too.

I am sure we all have our ways in benefiting others right now but I challenge us to add another to the list. An idea would be to help a neighbor you might not know that well or a stranger. We might be surprised what will happen for the next 40 days. It could be we will have whatever we gave up ever again and we may continue to do what we have added. Anyway, that is the thought I have this day. Amen!

Can Be Dangerous

Our life purpose we need to take seriously because it can be dangerous depending on where or who we are dealing with. Other words, not everyone will accept what we say.

In another way, our life purpose can be used by speaking a few words. Sometimes we don’t have to say a thing it can be a smile or a nod. This too can be dangerous depending on the place and culture.

I figure though our purpose should be important to us that the danger will not matter so much we just have to realize it can happen.  Happy hunting!

Memories

I have old classmates that remember things from our childhood much more than I do. I have to say I only remember some things in partial.

The way many things happened during our childhood I think not having memories is a good thing but it really isn’t.  I am still affected by my memories though I don’t remember them.

I have forgiven those classmates who hurt me as a kid so the memories I did have is not as affected as they were once. Negative memories or lack of them in my case have made us not to be the person we should be. Other words they keep us from doing our purpose in life. We must learn from the memories as much as anything else. I would say move on from the memories. We can be wonderful affective people going forward in our lives.

I don’t think negative memories are all bad though. I feel often I don’t make a big deal over things like some people do. It is amazing how arguments and relationships end because of disagreements.  Often these relationships end over small pity things if you look back on it. 

A childhood like mine that had difficulties in it has made me a stronger person than others. I don’t have a lot of close personal relationships however I do feel those I do have will not end over small things.

So I am looking forward to getting on knowing more about my purpose, and where love fits in. Living in present and looking forward to the future instead of looking back. I am not perfect so memories will creep back in however I hope to be able to handle them in a good way. 

When You Walk In

When you enter a room or place because you are a person of purpose, destiny, and influence everything changes.

Things change not because you think you are somebody but you know you are not someone special. This should go for everyone.

At work you are part of a team. When a member of the team is absent for whatever the reason the dynamics of the team change. It doesn’t mean things are better or worse just different.

So today wherever you go know that your presence in the place is different in a positive way because of you. This goes for everyone in the place you are at.

We are not more special than anyone else. We are special on our own merit. We do it right than everyone around us will feel special as well. Amen! 

It Is Never Too Late

When it comes to our purpose, destiny, or dreams it is never too late. It doesn’t matter how old we are we can still fulfill them all.

I didn’t know all three until a few years ago. My life is more than half over. Of course, I don’t know how long I will live but I do know my age the time is over the halfway mark.

 I do know though now I can make a difference in others life whether it is writing right here, time in the coffee shop, grocery store, church or wherever I am at any day.

I am far from being the person I want to be but I am on the way I believe and this goes for everyone. So today you can be the person you’re meant to be no matter the stage you are at in life.  Just do it the best you can. Amen!

Hello March

Want to go with a pun the year is marching along at another fast pace.

Hello March nice to see you once again. I am sure a lot of people are looking forward to March being much warmer than February. It may take a while though to do so.

I met a young woman at my favorite coffee shop yesterday afternoon. She told me she is originally from San Diego, California. I asked her how she liked the snow. She told me that she enjoyed it very much. Not what I expected however this is what I like talking with people the answers you hear are not always as expected.

So March I hope this year we get some surprises out of you. This is what life is about getting the unexpected as well as the expected. I hope in a positive way for sure.

Stick around for a while taking your time so we can enjoy you to the fullest. I am not in a hurry to say goodbye.

Seeing People

On Wednesday at my favorite coffee shop, I saw the manager. She just came back from Hawaii on vacation with her family. Her younger sister was looking to see whether to pursue a career in photographing and film at YWAM a Christian organization who have a program in that study.

Anyway, I found myself excited to see her (the manager). Made me realize wouldn’t it be nice to be excited to see everyone we meet. Certainly, make life fun and enjoyable. I know not everyone would respond back in the same way, however, I say who cares. Also, it should rub off on many people as well.

So I say now let’s be excited to see people whether they are family, best friends, acquaintances, or our first time meeting them. Let’s do it!