Most of my writings speak to my personal experiences and those of the many people who come to be for advice. I have worked as a law enforcement professional, educator, missionary, youth minister and with the homeless. Today I am working with disaster recovery initiatives helping those who have endured great losses because of natural disasters such as hurricane Irma, Harvey, and Maria. Given the human suffering I have witnessed throughout all of my work life, I can tell you that it is not easy to rejoice.
As a man of faith, I often struggle with the sorrow and misery so many men, women, and children experience each day. It is difficult to rejoice and celebrate the many blessings I have received when I see the pain of so many. I am reminded of the scripture in Philippians, Chapter 4:
4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
God's peace surpasses all understanding; it is a critical component of living through the challenges I witness each day. As I pray for so many who are without, I find God's peace and comfort in the knowledge that he continues to move so many people to provide a helping hand. More than 30 million donated to Salvation Army and 429 million to the Red Cross for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey just to provide an example of the giving hearts of so many people throughout this great country. Millions invested in our country because of the many churches, non-for-profits, and government funds provided to help the most helpless. It is up to each of us to give of what we have if we are to impact the joy and peace of those who are enduring hardship. Find an organization or a church you have confidence and give. Give to those who are hungry, to those who have no homes, to those who have been displaced by the hurricanes that we have experienced, and to anyone you know who is living a joyless life. Your gift, regardless of the amount, will not only bless the recipients, but will bless you and return to you in ways that you cannot possibly imagine. It has for me! Just a little advice to go.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Saturday, September 1, 2018
The Chaos of Isolation
Poet John Donne, proclaimed that no man is an island. His words speak to the truth of the chaos we often read about when terrible incidents take place. The perpetrators are often referred to as weird, friendless, and isolated. Today, isolation is fostered by the various technological tools allowing people to socialize while avoiding actual contact with others. An article in the Washington Post recently quoted from an American Sociological Review stating “that the number of close friends for adults is declining, with the modal number of close friendship in 1985 being three, while in 2004 the modal number was zero. The percentage of adults who report having no close friends at all has increased from 36 percent in 1985 to 53.4 percent by 2004.” The gains we achieve through contacts with others, contact more intimate than a superficial hello and goodbye, are fading increasing the likelihood of greater chaos and more divisions.
Overcoming isolation must be intentional, we must make a serious effort to develop friendships with others. Perhaps the individuals who are most isolated simply need us to reach out to them, to befriend them. Recently, I was asked to count my inner network of friends and while it seemed an easy task, in reality it was not. I have many friends, but intimate friendships with people I see and speak to on a weekly basis outside of work, produces a very abbreviated list of friends. It challenges me to be more intentional about developing an intimate network of friends, friends who I communicate with regularly and who will know they can come to me with any problem. If each of us focuses on developing intimate friendships, perhaps we can reduce the isolation that often leads to a world of chaos. Every little bit helps! Just a little advice to go!
Overcoming isolation must be intentional, we must make a serious effort to develop friendships with others. Perhaps the individuals who are most isolated simply need us to reach out to them, to befriend them. Recently, I was asked to count my inner network of friends and while it seemed an easy task, in reality it was not. I have many friends, but intimate friendships with people I see and speak to on a weekly basis outside of work, produces a very abbreviated list of friends. It challenges me to be more intentional about developing an intimate network of friends, friends who I communicate with regularly and who will know they can come to me with any problem. If each of us focuses on developing intimate friendships, perhaps we can reduce the isolation that often leads to a world of chaos. Every little bit helps! Just a little advice to go!
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Knowing Better Is Not Enough!
I recently learned about a friend's personal failure and wondered how that could happen. I know this person, taught this person, and they know better than to behave so poorly. Why then does someone who knows better, fail to do better? Experience has taught me that just because you know better, does not ensure you will do better. Doing better, has to be intentional, it requires self awareness and a determination to address those personal areas capable of leading us towards failure.
We have all made mistakes and in some cases the same one more than once. We need to review those mistakes and consider what led us down the wrong path. Identifying those individual characteristics can help us develop a plan to ensure we correct for them. It requires intentionality on our part, a commitment to know yourself and keep yourself in check. This may require a daily conversation with ourselves, a conversation before a meeting, and often a conversation with trusted peers who can help us avoid making the same mistakes.
Today, I not only know better, but am intentional about doing better! Everyday is about making sure I am accountable for my vulnerabilities, keeping them in check so I can focus on doing better. My trusted confidants help me by being truthful and letting me know when I'm exhibiting those behaviors they know are not indicative of who I want to be. It confirms the importance of surrounding yourself with good people who have your best interest in mind. I know better, but more importantly and committed to doing better. Just a little advice to go!
We have all made mistakes and in some cases the same one more than once. We need to review those mistakes and consider what led us down the wrong path. Identifying those individual characteristics can help us develop a plan to ensure we correct for them. It requires intentionality on our part, a commitment to know yourself and keep yourself in check. This may require a daily conversation with ourselves, a conversation before a meeting, and often a conversation with trusted peers who can help us avoid making the same mistakes.
Today, I not only know better, but am intentional about doing better! Everyday is about making sure I am accountable for my vulnerabilities, keeping them in check so I can focus on doing better. My trusted confidants help me by being truthful and letting me know when I'm exhibiting those behaviors they know are not indicative of who I want to be. It confirms the importance of surrounding yourself with good people who have your best interest in mind. I know better, but more importantly and committed to doing better. Just a little advice to go!
Sunday, May 20, 2018
A Positive Outlook In A Negative World
It is hard to start this positive message without first mentioning the negativity we find through every form of media. We live in a dark world focused on negative politics, school shootings, racial divisions and well you get where I am coming from. But while we cannot neglect the negative realities of today, we can be intentional about celebrating the positive, and it doesn’t have to be a miracle or out of the ordinary occurrence.
Today, I’m in Waxahachie, Texas a small bustling city where the folks are just like you and me. I’m sitting at a Starbucks having a breakfast sandwich and a caramel macchiato while observing the entire place. My attention is drawn to two employees who perhaps do not realize how much they stand out. The first of these is Devon who is loud and boisterous but intentional about making sure every customer he encounters gets a positive greeting and knows he or she matters. He is a no nonsense employee who makes no exceptions when it comes to treating people with grace and excellence. Most impressive is his willingness to jump ahead and catch the order right at the cashier’s area even before it is recorded ensuring that regardless of the crowd, people are served in a timely fashion. Devon is any employers dream of the perfect employee unless of course you are working at the Library and demand quiet. Then there is Kayla who did not have to be identified as the person in charge as, like a true leader, she clearly was the person at the helm. Navigating from training an employee at the window to ensuring supplies were re-stocked, she flowed back and forth with the elegance of a butterfly floating gently through a strong breeze. Her calm spirit during an extremely hectic time frame, kept everyone else calm and focused on their respective areas. Customers were addressed quickly and with great care and concern. Whether they were out of bananas or out of croissants, they made sure all left with a smile on their face. Devon and Kayla are examples of what makes us all great; two youngsters who know how to work hard, take their respective positions seriously, and treat customers with the utmost respect and care. Watching them reminded me how awesome we can be if we simply take the time to care for others and just keep smiling through it all. Way to go Devon, Kayla and Starbucks! Way to go Waxahachie, Texas! Just a little advice to go!
Today, I’m in Waxahachie, Texas a small bustling city where the folks are just like you and me. I’m sitting at a Starbucks having a breakfast sandwich and a caramel macchiato while observing the entire place. My attention is drawn to two employees who perhaps do not realize how much they stand out. The first of these is Devon who is loud and boisterous but intentional about making sure every customer he encounters gets a positive greeting and knows he or she matters. He is a no nonsense employee who makes no exceptions when it comes to treating people with grace and excellence. Most impressive is his willingness to jump ahead and catch the order right at the cashier’s area even before it is recorded ensuring that regardless of the crowd, people are served in a timely fashion. Devon is any employers dream of the perfect employee unless of course you are working at the Library and demand quiet. Then there is Kayla who did not have to be identified as the person in charge as, like a true leader, she clearly was the person at the helm. Navigating from training an employee at the window to ensuring supplies were re-stocked, she flowed back and forth with the elegance of a butterfly floating gently through a strong breeze. Her calm spirit during an extremely hectic time frame, kept everyone else calm and focused on their respective areas. Customers were addressed quickly and with great care and concern. Whether they were out of bananas or out of croissants, they made sure all left with a smile on their face. Devon and Kayla are examples of what makes us all great; two youngsters who know how to work hard, take their respective positions seriously, and treat customers with the utmost respect and care. Watching them reminded me how awesome we can be if we simply take the time to care for others and just keep smiling through it all. Way to go Devon, Kayla and Starbucks! Way to go Waxahachie, Texas! Just a little advice to go!
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Praying for Eric!
There are a lot of people called Eric in the world, but today I met an Eric who I’ll never forget. He was outside a Men’s store located at an outdoor shopping area. It was freezing and he was sleeping out by the door. I was home sick all day and my wife talked me into going out for a bite to eat when I saw him outside the store. Approximately 30 minutes later as I walked back to my vehicle, I observed him there and felt a sense of compassion that moved me to make sure he was alright. He had a runny nose, smelled of alcohol, and his pants were undone. He was slow to respond but eventually was able to stand up. I offered him the opportunity to go into a nearby restaurant to get something warm to eat and he took me up on the offer. I ordered him some food and a drink and helped him eat. With every bite he seemed to become more conscious of his surroundings and stronger. He ate the food so quickly that it was obvious he had not eaten in quite some time. I spoke to him about Haven for Hope the homeless shelter where I work and offered to take him there but he declined. I’ve learned that for some, the sense of hopelessness overwhelms their thinking and willingness to receive help.
After he ate, I helped him to the restroom and then helped him try to secure his trousers so they wouldn’t fall off again. I asked him to let me help him and his response was that he could take care of himself and that he had my back. Imagine that, he had my back. This was heartbreaking to say the least and while I repeatedly asked him to let me take him somewhere warm, he refused. I gave him a little cash for his next meal, shook his hand, and watched him walk away. Eric was about 6 feet tall, in his late 20’s or early 30’s, had one hand in a cast, and was neatly dresssed. He had a full head of black hair with a little grey and a mustache and goatee also with a little grey. He had big strong hands that looked rough, as if he had worked hard at some point. He was someone’s handsome baby boy once upon a time, someone worthy of being loved.
I returned to my vehicle where my wife had been waiting since I first approached Eric. I told her what happened and then drove towards where I last saw Eric. He was walking away from the plaza, somewhat stumbling but seemingly aware of his surroundings and the direction in which he was heading. I prayed for God’s mercy for Eric, for the pain he has and still endures. My heart hurt for Eric, wondering how in a country of plenty we could have so many Erics who are hurting and in need of care. I thanked God for his grace and mercy over my life as I could easily have been Eric were it not for Godly people who stood in the gap for me. I believe in the power of prayer and believe that if all who read this come together with me in prayer for Eric, God will respond and heal Eric of his sickness and restore him to a place where he can be a blessing to others. Miracles do happen and I believe Eric’s miracle is just about to take place. Thank you and God Bless!
After he ate, I helped him to the restroom and then helped him try to secure his trousers so they wouldn’t fall off again. I asked him to let me help him and his response was that he could take care of himself and that he had my back. Imagine that, he had my back. This was heartbreaking to say the least and while I repeatedly asked him to let me take him somewhere warm, he refused. I gave him a little cash for his next meal, shook his hand, and watched him walk away. Eric was about 6 feet tall, in his late 20’s or early 30’s, had one hand in a cast, and was neatly dresssed. He had a full head of black hair with a little grey and a mustache and goatee also with a little grey. He had big strong hands that looked rough, as if he had worked hard at some point. He was someone’s handsome baby boy once upon a time, someone worthy of being loved.
I returned to my vehicle where my wife had been waiting since I first approached Eric. I told her what happened and then drove towards where I last saw Eric. He was walking away from the plaza, somewhat stumbling but seemingly aware of his surroundings and the direction in which he was heading. I prayed for God’s mercy for Eric, for the pain he has and still endures. My heart hurt for Eric, wondering how in a country of plenty we could have so many Erics who are hurting and in need of care. I thanked God for his grace and mercy over my life as I could easily have been Eric were it not for Godly people who stood in the gap for me. I believe in the power of prayer and believe that if all who read this come together with me in prayer for Eric, God will respond and heal Eric of his sickness and restore him to a place where he can be a blessing to others. Miracles do happen and I believe Eric’s miracle is just about to take place. Thank you and God Bless!
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