No man ever wants to comment on a woman’s weight. Even when pressed to be honest, we know it’s just a no win situation and you need to back away slowly. I mean swiftly. Similarly, few people are willing to talk about pride. The problem with pointing out pride, noticing those those specks of self-promotion in others, is that darn 2×4 that gets in the way. Those in the arts — writers, painters, sculptors, dancers, designers, poets, singers — are really in the... Read more
The worst conversation you can have with someone is when that person constantly refers to themselves, their experiences and their opinion. It’s a one-uppance that just can’t be overcome. Whatever place you’ve been, they went to a better one. Whatever tragedy you encountered, they had a worse one. Whatever beauty you saw, they found a nicer one. It’s exhausting. In this world of personal experience, it seems that everyone needs to validate themselves. We see it splayed on YouTube, Twitter... Read more
Last week, I opened up the book of Ecclesiastes and read the yearnings of Solomon. A man on the outside that looks like he had it all. But really, he was a sorry sap, a man looking for satisfaction in all the wrong things.“Vanity of Vanities,” he wrote.“So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. What does a man get for all... Read more
Since I was barely out of the womb, I’ve been in church. Sunday school, bible studies, small groups, sermons. I figure I’ve got several years worth of hours of teaching soaked in there somewhere. I’m still amazed that I’m still not getting it. But as I’ve looked at the familiar Bible characters lately, I’m seeing them differently as I read with an open mind. All those great heros of faith were also involved in the most sordid of sinful ways. Murder.... Read more
If you ever think the Bible is from ancient days and really doesn’t apply to modern society, read Ecclesiastes. Solomon was a king. He had thousands of women at his beck and call. He had gold and rubies, silver and rubies. There wasn’t a cubic zirconium to be found in his house. He had vineyards and horses, a different house for every day of the week, and a garage full of gleaming chariots. It’s like watching MTV, or Hollywood insider or just watching... Read more
“There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds” — Lord Alfred TennysonA few years ago, I entered a fishing derby. These derbies are traditionally filled with anglers who look for the proverbial “whopper” in hopes of winning the big prize. I was excited to see a friend from church there. Bill was a man that I developed a great deal of respect for. He was smart, articulate and confident. Although he never struck me... Read more
I remember my first bad grade. In my home, it was a major event. I coolly dropped the card next to my Mom’s purse, hoping she would just sign it off. No such luck. She saw the C in social studies and for an hour it seemed, we talked about what “Average” meant. And there would be no average in our family. We came from a proud line of immigrants who fought and struggled to survive. The men in the... Read more
Last week a Greeley Colorado man was surprised to hear of his own death. Apparently, his obituary had run in the local paper, placed by a family member upset with Edgar Balderrma’s . Friends and family were calling Balderrma’s wife. Well-wishers descended on the family. People even brought money to his not-widowed wife, to help raise their two children. And since he was out working at the dairy, he missed out on dozens of frantic phone calls and text messages, wondering what had... Read more
Yesterday is was 50 degrees. Today it’s supposed to snow 10-12 inches. “Will it be the winter of despair or the spring of hope?” asked Charles Dickens. In a thousand different ways in a thousand different times I’ve asked that very question in my heart of hearts. I’m not alone. It even comes out in playful traditions, like Punxsutawney Phil, the erstwhile groundhog in Punxsatawney, PA, who saw his shadow this morning. These days we stand on the precipice of seasonal change.... Read more
I remember sitting on the front step with my buddy, Rodney. Our bikes were leaning against the house, caked in mud. He had a “Don’t Tread on Me Flag” mounted behind his seat. I had a stick mounted on my handlebar like a spear. We picked at our scabs and talked about our adventure for the day. We wore our hats backwards and burned ants and threw rocks at jars for target practice. He stuck his knee out and traced a two... Read more
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