Patience

I've never really been a patient person.

Just ask my sons Brandon and Zach about my parenting style, they'll tell you! Ha! I'm significantly more patient now than I was 25, it's true, but I still have a long way to go.

Why all this talk about patience, you ask? Well, ten minutes ago I came really close to throwing my laptop on the floor and stomping the screen. No, not figuratively, literally.

You see, my laptop is pretty old, and has one of those wireless cards you stick in the side of it. Normally it works well, but every so often it has spells where it just doesn't want to work. It will connect to the internet for say, five minutes, and then disconnect, and not let you reconnect. Very annoying if you are wanting to do something NOW, like make a blog post. This is exactly what happened to me ten minutes ago.

I finally had to reboot the computer in order for it to recognize the wireless card again. Problem is, this computer takes about ten minutes to start up, load the bloated "Norton Antivirus", and get to the point where the hourglass goes away and you can actually do something. When it finally came up, I knew exactly what I was going to blog about -- what a (*#&$@ hunk of junk this laptop is! Sure, I realized I should probably not blog to vent my frustrations, but I had reached my limit. I was gonna tell everyone just what was what, how unjust it was that I should have such a crummy PC, etc.

Just before going to blogger.com to start my rant, I decided to read Part 2 of Brandon's latest post about his Mac laptop. Which I did.

And something happened.

Brandon's post is really a God thing. You see, Brandon recently went through a big ordeal with his Mac laptop, and was real close to writing a blog post blasting the seller for all the hassle he had to go through. But after some thought (and prayer no doubt), Brandon did the adult thing, the mature thing, the Christlike thing. He showed restraint, and instead wrote about the situation in a way that did not tear anyone down. Did not name names. Did not trash a reputation, though it might actually deserve it.

After reading Brandon's post and letting it sink in, the urge to write a whiny blog post about how slow my laptop is just sorta left me, if you know what I'm saying. In fact, I am thankful for this laptop, because 95% of the time it works really well, and has been a blessing. Plus, I hate hearing other people whine about insignificant stuff, when so many people are fighting cancer, starving, homeless, etc. So shame on me!

It's cool to know that all those lectures and speeches I gave Brandon must have sank in. It's even cooler to be able to learn learn lessons about proper behavior from your children.

Can I come out of my room now?

Rupert

Well, it had to happen eventually.

Of all the parts and pieces of my life to blog about, I knew I would eventually make a post regarding our dog, Rupert. Those of you who know Cathy and I well have probably "met" Rupert and have gotten to experience his, shall we say, unique personality traits. For those of you who know not of what I speak, I'll try and describe the little fluffball, both pro and con.

First, a brief history. A few years back around Thanksgiving, Cathy started begging me for a dog. Now, this has been a fairly common thing with Cathy over the years, so I thought it would pass. And I thought it had passed, at least until Christmas eve.

Cathy had fallen asleep before me, and I went in to fill her Christmas stocking. When I returned, she rolled over and WHILE SLEEPING mumbled, "Did you buy me a puppy?"

At that moment, I realized how much she really wanted a dog in her life. I also realized that she was expecting a puppy for Christmas, and I hadn't bought her one!

A few days after Christmas, we went to the pet store and looked at puppies. Now, all puppies are cute, as we all know. But Lhasa Apso puppies...mercy. Men, don't take your wives or children to pet stores that have Lhasa Apso puppies, or you WILL be bringing one home. Needless to say, we spent a few minutes with the little white-and-cream colored Lhasa, and I knew we'd need to find some way to scrounge up the money for the little guy.

Here's a couple shots of Rupert as a puppy (not much bigger than a cell phone!)...




Rupert is a little over three years old now, and in general he has been a great cure for "empty nest syndrome." Here are some of Rupert's best traits:

• Awesome lap dog - Not a good thing when you're wanting to use your laptop!
• Loves his people - Rupert absolutely loves me, Cathy, Brandon, Zach, Megan, and Sarah. Anyone else, look out!
  
• Expressive - He's lucky he's so doggone cute, or he'd have been gone long ago (see bad traits below!)
• Smart - Lhasas are extremely smart. This can be good (potty training) or bad (stubborn as a mule). We have to spell out certain words, like C-A-R, or he'll recognize it and go ballistic.
  
• Non-shedding - Brandon and Megan know that this is a good feature for a dog!
• Perfect size - Not too small and yippy, but not a big dog either
• Minimal exercise - Lhasas don't require daily walks...which is a good thing for him, given our hectic schedules.
  
• Playful - I love watching Cathy "play rough" with Rupert. He loves the attention, and Cathy transforms to be like a little girl playing with her first dog. Love it.
  

However, Rupert has developed some bad habits. Most of them, I admit, are not Rupert's fault, but probably due to poor training on mine & Cathy's part... But they are oh, so annoying nonetheless. Here are some of his less desirable traits:

• Hyper when people arrive - For goodness sakes Rupert, stop biting Sarah's feet! And stop barking!
• Unsure about new people - Rupert has trouble getting used to new people (pretty much anyone other than our family)
  
• Weird new couch issue - Rupert has started going under the couch, pushing up on it repeatedly with his back, and growling... What's with that?
• Picky eater - Some people say, "My dog is fussy, he'll only eat Purina!" Oh yeah? Child's play... Rupert won't even eat dog food unless there's nothing else around (he thinks it's beneath him?). Not just that, he won't eat McDonald's hamburgers (he prefers BK). And he won't eat generic brand peanut butter, it has to be Jif. Good thing we haven't gone too far and SPOILED him...
  

In all, Rupert's good traits far outweigh the bad. And even if they didn't, he's part of the family now. (Zach, stop rolling your eyes.) Of all the animals we've had over the years, he has worked out the best by a long shot.

As I type this, Rupert is curled up next to me, sleeping. As I like to say, he's my "pretty good animal."

God is good!

Handwriting

Do you remember your grades in elementary school? The only two I can seem to remember are the worst two.

In first grade, I got a "U" (unsatisfactory, like an "F") in music. Why? Well, our old-lady teacher made us stand in a circle, boy-girl-boy-girl, and skip in a circle to some fruity old-fashioned music. I wasn't real big on holding hands with girls in first grade, so while skipping I gave the girl in front of me a good soccer kick in the posterior. That earned me a trip to the principal's office, a good spanking at home, and a U for the class that quarter.

The other bad grade I remember in elementary school was a "C" in handwriting. Try as I might, in third grade I just could not get my pencil to make letters that looked like the ones on that chart above the chalkboard. My cursive back then was kind of ugly, and it never got a whole lot better.

Well, thirty some years later, I have decided I'd like to improve my penmanship. Practically speaking, this makes absolutely no sense. After all, in our modern computer age, the skill of writing by hand has paled in comparison to the skill of typing on a keyboard. Penmanship was a valued skill in our grandparents' day, but no more.

Maybe its the "art" phase I'm gonig through. Maybe its a throwback to my calligraphy skills I tried to learn as a kid. Maybe its somehow related to my fondness for fountain pens. I don't know what it is, but I'm inspired.

Here's the story of my handwriting:

And now...

And there you have it. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Hopefully soon my writing will look like this or even this!

Horton

Yesterday, Cathy bought me a gift at Kohl's. No, not a shirt, not a pair of pants. No, not a watch, not a pair of shoes.

No, Cathy bought me a light blue stuffed elephant.

Scarier still, I loved it.

You see, the light blue stuffed elephant is a plush version of Horton the elephant, from the Dr. Seuss book "Horton Hears a Who". And I, I am a Dr. Seuss fan, and not ashamed to admit it.

Who wouldn't like Dr. Seuss' books? You remember them, with their quirky illustrations, bizarre characters, and sing-songy rhymes. You can probably recite some classic Seuss lines, like "I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, ____ ___ ____. That's right, "Sam I am." You're a Dr. Seuss fan too, whether or not you want to admit it!

As a kid, I loved listening to Seuss' fanciful stories, whether they were in book form or as animated series made for television. Here are some of his stories I remember:

• The Lorax
• Horton Hears a Who
• How the Grinch Saved Christmas
• The Sneetches
• Green Eggs and Ham
• The Cat in the Hat
• One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
• Hop On Pop
• The Zax
  

As I got older, I realized that many of Dr. Seuss's stories were deeper than just cute children's stories. They were commentaries which spoke to some of the shortcomings of our society, or of our human nature.

Remember the Sneetches? Some had stars on their bellies, some did not. A man comes to town with a machine that can apply stars to non-star Sneetches, or remove stars from starry Sneetches. Jealousy leads to chaos, and we are left with an effective lesson on discrimination.

How about the Zax? In this story, a South-going Zax meets head-on with a North-going Zax, and neither is willing to budge. They remain unmoved for so long that a highway overpass is built over them. The lesson? Stubbornness, perhaps.

Another of my favorites was The Lorax. In this story, a creature called the Once-ler comes upon a beautiful forest of Truffala trees, and realizes he can use the trees to make "Thneeds", a garment he says "everyone needs." After cutting down the first tree to make a Thneed, out pops the Lorax, a creature who pleads with the Once-ler to stop before the forest is ruined, and all its creatures have nowhere to live. Of course, the Once-ler ignores his pleading, destroys the forest, and pollutes the region with his many factories. Written in 1971, it is an early commentary on saving the environment.

My favorite of all Dr. Seuss' stories, though, is Horton Hears a Who. More so than the story, I remember the animated TV version, which came out when I was 3 years old. Here's the Wikipedia description of the plot:

The book tells the story of Horton the Elephant who, on the fifteenth of May in the Jungle of Nool, hears a small speck of dust talking to him. It turns out the speck of dust is actually a tiny planet, home to a city called "Who-ville", inhabited by microscopic-sized inhabitants known as Whos.

The Whos ask Horton (who, though he cannot see them, is able to hear them quite well) to protect them from harm, to which Horton happily obliges, proclaiming throughout the book that "a person's a person, no matter how small". In doing so he is ridiculed and forced into a cage by the other animals in the jungle for believing in something that they are unable to see or hear. His chief tormentors are Vlad Vladikoff, the Wickersham Brothers and the Sour Kangaroo, and the small kangaroo in her pouch. Horton tells the Whos that they needed to make themselves heard to the other animals, lest they end up as part of "beezlenut stew", which they finally accomplish. The Whos finally make themselves heard by ensuring that all members of their society play their part. In the end it is the smallest Who of all, Jo-Jo, who provides the last volume lift to be heard, thus reinforcing the moral of "a person's a person no matter how small".

"A person's a person no matter how small."

What a great line! The moral of this Seuss story, the fundamental value of life, is the same message we find in Psalm 139:13-15: "You did form my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother's womb...you knew me right well; my frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret..." God creates life, and no matter how small it may be, whether it is in the womb or out, it is still a person created in the image of God.

Did Dr. Seuss realize he had created a wonderful pro-life message when he wrote this story? Probably not. And in fact, Dr. Seuss later attempted to sue some pro-life organizations who used this story's moral as their motto (sad...). Nevertheless, it is a wonderful story, with a wonderful tag line and a wonderful message.

On March 14th 2008, a full-length computer-animated movie version of "Horton Hears a Who" is set to hit the big screens. I'm going to see it for sure, and I hope it will win the hearts of its viewers with its simple, pro-life message.

I'll think of it every time I look at my light blue stuffed elephant.

Art

Ever since I was a kid, I have enjoyed art - drawing, sketching, cartooning, painting, etc.

I remember going through phases, where I would obsess on drawing certain things. I went through a "car phase" where I drew monster-looking hotrods like Big Daddy Roth's "Rat Fink" art, which was real popular with young boys in the early '70s. I had a "perspective phase" where I drew long tree-lined streets disappearing into the distance at a vanishing point. I had an "architecture phase" where I drew Monticello, the Capitol building, cathedrals, etc. I even had a "monsters phase" where I would draw various other-worldly creatures like those in Dungeons and Dragons (can you say young geek?).

My attempts at art were mainly centered around pencil sketching as a kid, but I also recall experimenting with painting (watercolor and acrylic) as a young adult. Just before I met Cathy (probably 1988 or 1989), I painted a watercolor of an tropical island at sunset, based on a photo I had taken on a sailing trip to the Bahamas that year. I gave the painting to my Dad as a gift when he was in the hospital for surgery. When he got home, he hung the painting in his bedroom, where it remains to this day. After Dad passed from Lou Gehrig's disease in 1999 , Mom told me how much he had always loved that painting...

Right around the time I met Cathy, I was in an acrylic painting phase, and was cranking out paintings for different folks. I made paintings for Cathy (snowy footprints with "The Road Less Traveled" poem), Cathy's mom (sand castle with some sort of saying or poem), and Cathy's grandmother (snow-covered pine forest)...basically if you were a female related to Cathy, you got a painting, whether or not you really wanted one!

When we got married, the hustle and bustle of raising two boys (church, scouts, sports, etc) really put a damper on the art hobby. I can recall only a few projects over the last 15 years. For one of the boys (Zach?), I painted a cougar mascot for his scout group. For our family, I made a pen-and-ink "Declaration of Dependence" piece that now hangs in our dining room. And for a Michelin art contest, I made a pen-and-ink montage of historical Michelin Man artwork. But other than that, pretty much nada.

I guess there are many reasons I haven't done much artwork over the last several years. First, I really don't think I have a great talent for it. I do OK if I'm copying from a reference photo, but not so hot just drawing whatever I "see in my mind". Second, I have other hobbies that have taken precedence (music, etc). Third, I really haven't seen the value in doing it, unless someone asks me to do something specific.

But recently, this all changed. Last month I read a book called "A Whole New Mind", which ignited in me a desire to reconnect with my "right brain" self, the part of me which is artistic, graphical, etc. It made me realize that I have spent the last 40 years developing the logical, deductive reasoning part of my brain, but much less on the visual, artistic side.

So, what have I done about it?

Well, a few things. First, I went and bought a Moleskine. A Moleskine is a little leather-bound notebook that artsy types use to record their doodles, rough sketches, storyboards, cartoons, whatever. I keep it next to my "easy chair" at home, and try and doodle in it frequently. Some things I have doodled include ideas for blog headers (mine, Cathy's), cartoon characters, custom fonts, logos, and tattoos (Brandon & Megan's).

Second, I have subscribed to three blogs related to art and graphic design. Check them out: xBlog, moleskinerie, and Drawn!. These blogs link to some really awesome websites by artists, graphic designers, cartoonists, animated film makers, Photoshop gurus, etc. I check them daily, and I'm lovin it.

Finally, since I am now getting up and getting to work an hour earlier as part of my New Year's resolution, after my morning devotion I spend 5-10 minutes sketching. That's not much time, but at least it is something. And over the course of the last month or so, I actually completed a pencil sketch (of a pair of day lilies). It's not much in terms of quality, but to me it is significant because it represents my effort to re-connect with the artsy side of myself, which has been mostly dormant for the last 15 years.

Is there a talent that God has given you which you have been neglecting? Why not work at it for 5-10 minutes a day, and see what you can come up with a month from now!

Resonance

Have you ever had deja vu? You know, that strange feeling that comes over you, where you feel like you've passed through that same moment in time, that same thought, once before? It's a really odd, other-worldly feeling.

Like deja vu, and equally intriguing, are moments I have experienced that I can only describe as "glimpses of God". Perhaps you have experienced these moments too.

Let me explain, first by making an analogy.

Remember physics class? Not a favorite topic for many folks, I realize -- so please bear with me for just a minute. Anyhow, one of the concepts we learned in physics was that of "resonance." Every object has a certain mass (think weight), and also a certain resonant frequency. The resonant frequency is the rate at which a particular object prefers to vibrate. A light object, like a leaf, prefers to vibrate at a different frequency than something heavier, like a bowling ball. If you wiggle an object (force it to vibrate) at its resonant frequency, it will vibrate wildly, almost out of control, compared to any other frequency of vibration you subject it to.

A good real-world example of this is the Tacoma Narrows bridge. On November 7, 1940, this suspension bridge was hit by exceptionally strong gusts of wind, which in turn caused a vibration in the bridge at the bridge's resonant frequency. At first the roadway on the bridge started waving like a ribbon in the wind, and eventually it shook so wildly it actually broke apart and fell into the river below. Check out this amazing actual video.

In our lives, there are certain times when something we've seen, heard, or experienced strikes a chord in our heart, and causes our emotions to resonate wildly out of control. Something that makes your heart well up and your tears flow, and you're not quite sure why.

Have you ever experienced these moments?

I believe these moments are common to all people, believers and non-believers alike. Why? Because God created all of us in his image, and those things which are part of His character naturally resonate in our hearts: things like love, honor, bravery, compassion, honesty, humor, loyalty, and beauty.

I also believe these experiences are given to us by God as a means to point us toward him. To a musician, a triumphant symphony approaches sonic perfection, and perhaps makes him wonder who wrote the "rules" that make music work, and why these sounds make him feel so good inside. To a nature lover, perfection is found staring up at the stars through a moonlit virgin forest with awe, and it might cause her to wonder how a such an incredible setting could be just a product of random chance.

When we read a story or see a movie that perfectly captures the concept of true love (Sense & Sensibility), or forgiveness (Les Miserables), or hope (Shawshank Redemption), or bravery (Saving Private Ryan), or wonder (The Velveteen Rabbit), or selflessness (Le Cadeau de Temps), we are intensely experiencing certain aspects of God's character. And those moments resonate in our hearts, for we are designed in his image.

In today's busy world, these moments are few and far between. But every so often, without warning, something comes along and makes me feel alive, full of wonder. It helps me catch a glimpse "through a glass, darkly"...

A glimpse of God.

Blogosphere

Blogosphere.

Now that's a cool word!

I don't know who coined the term or when (actually, you can read about it here), but the old blogosphere is growing by leaps and bounds every day. There are lots of folks, myself included, who never thought they would find themselves committing their thoughts to paper (silicon? ether?), but now find themselves doing it regularly. It's fun, it's addictive, it's strangely comforting...

For me, blogging is a release, a way of expressing things that need expressing. When I started my blog, I really didn't think anyone would read it, and frankly that doesn't matter so much to me. If I knew for a fact no one would ever read these posts, I'd probably blog anyway. If it blesses someone else, or brightens their day, that is an added bonus. For me, it is a way of documenting my journey through life, and recording how God is working in my life.

In the same way that I have joined the blogosphere within the last few months, many of my favorite people in this world have done the same...

• The most recent splash in the b-sphere was made yesterday by none other than my beautiful and talented wife, Cathy. Cathy works for Crossroads as our communication director, and has a real knack for expressing how God is working in her life. In the past, this knack has taken many forms: teaching, writing newsletters, writing devotions, etc. Now, she has her own blog, and it'll be top-notch (like everything she puts her efforts into). Love you, Catherine.
  
  
• The first in the family to blog was my son and family trendsetter, Brandon. Just between us (and anyone on the internet who reads this!), Brandon wasn't big into writing when he was in school. He was the kid who triple-spaced his essays and narrowed the margins so he could reach the required number of pages. But sometime between then and now, something changed, and now Brandon authors one of the funniest, most compelling blogs around. He, too, has the knack...for a good read, check out his blog.
  
  
• Brandon's wife, Megan, started blogging shortly after I did, and also has a wonderful writing style. I've enjoyed learning more about my new daughter-in-law via her blog, called "Life of Growing". Megan, keep up the good work!!! Also, I'm digging the new "grass" header...
  
  
• Zach's girlfriend, Sarah Slice, is also a fairly recent addition to the blogosphere. Although Sarah's first post was just before Christmas, she has really hit her stride and is cranking out some really deep, though-provoking posts. You go girl. Check out Sarah: Plain and Tall here.
  

Second son Zach has not yet graced us with a blog, but I'm sure it is because he wants to devote his every waking moment to his studies at NGU. Zach, if that's not accurate, don't burst my bubble. ;)

Technology really is changing our lives, mostly for the best (I hope). Blogs provide us with glimpses of feelings, thoughts, and emotions we might not otherwise get to see in our daily interactions with people. They are a permanent testament to what God is working in our lives, and how much he has blessed our days.

One day I will go on to be with my Lord, but I hope that my blog posts will live on, allowing my grandchildren and their grandchildren to understand a bit of what motivated me, what I loved, and who I was.

Blog on!

Pyrite

Pyrite. You remember it from geology 101. Fool's gold. A common, less valuable imitation of the real thing.

Today's post is about...well, about something I learned recently. Something important, something I should have known already but must have forgotten. Something about fool's gold.

Instead of telling you the whole boring story, I'll boil it down to the basics, to the point where it sounds almost silly:

• I've been friends with a certain guy for many years. This guy is a Christian. He is also a very humble, unassuming kind of person: not flashy, never problematic, never obnoxious.
  
• I've become friends with some new guys. They are also Christians. They are a bit more lively, fun, and crazy, but also a bit more self-focused, I found out.
  
  
• I hang out in a certain social group with the old friend, and in another with the new friends.
• Recently, I invited the old friend to come along to an event with myself and the new friends. (Like George Costanza's "worlds colliding"!)
  
  
• At this event, I found myself (for various reasons) wanting to hang out with the new friends more than the old friend. I knew it didn't make any sense, knew it was not right, but I felt it nonetheless.
• Long story short, the new friends ended up pulling a stunt that really humiliated me. They promised to include the old friend and me in something, but ended up leaving us out. They were focused on making themselves look good, at our expense.
  

I learned three really important lessons from this:

1. If you've been friends with someone for a long time, don't take it for granted. A relationship like that is a treasure, and though it may not look as good as the "new thing", you should guard it like gold.
2. Things that are newer and flashier are many times not as good as they appear - be cautious. My "new friends" are still friends, and I still enjoy hanging out with them, but I learned that they have a long way to go to earn the level of respect and admiration I have for my "old friend".
   
3. If your heart is telling you that something is wrong, it probably is. Stick with what (and who) you know to be true.

I felt a bit ashamed that it took this episode for God to remind me of these obvious things, but I am a bit thick-headed sometimes. I come away from it with a new outlook on my old friendship, and a commitment not to neglect it for a poor substitute.

I come away realizing that the flashy, new friends were simply not a substitute for the "real thing".

Like fool's gold.

SPBGMA

SPBGMA 2008 is officially over, and it was awesome!

SPBGMA (pronounced "spigma") stands for the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America. Every year, SPBGMA puts on a convention at the Nashville Sheraton, and it has become THE destination for bluegrass pickers across the country.

Here are some of the highlights of my SPBGMA experience:

• Jamming - This is what we all come for...hours and hours of great bluegrass jamming, with old friends and new ones as well. People I jammed with this year: Dave Snyder, Benji Merritt, James Howard, Perry Woodie, Sim Daley, Missy Daley, Josh Hicks, Jim Clark, Jim Wingate, Justin Nunez (21-tr old guitar player from south Mississippi), Morgan Knowland, and other folks whose names I don't recall. Check out this video clip of one of our jams...
  
• Hatch Show Print - On Saturday, we stopped by a nondescript storefront on Music Row in downtown Nashvegas to visit one of the coolest businesses around, Hatch Show Print. Since the late 1800's, they have been printing showbills and posters for the top musical acts in the country. They still use the original printing methods and typesetting like in the olden days... Check out these examples of their cool artwork.
  
• Daley mandolin workshop - On Friday afternoon, we were invited by Sim Daley to visit his workshop where he builds Daley mandolins and guitars. Daley mandolins are the hottest mandolins going right now, and are played by Adam Steffey, Dan Tyminski, and a lot of other big name mando monsters.
  
• Gruhns Guitars - Saturday afternoon, we also stopped by Gruhn's Guitars, one of the biggest dealers of vintage acoustic instruments in the country. This place was incredible. Dozens of old Martin guitars, mandolins of all types, banjos, dobros, fiddles... No cheesy Chinese imports here - if its the good stuff, they have it.
  
• Western wear - We stopped in a western wear store just for kicks. Result: I confirmed that I look hilarious in a big black Stetson!
  
• Gibson Showcase - Like last year, we paid a visit to the Gibson Showcase, which is THE coolest store I've ever been in. The outside of the store looks like a huge F5 mandolin headstock, and the inside contains the entire line of Gibson bluegrass instruments. Just be sure to bring a BIG checkbook along...their top-of-the-line mandolin (distressed Master Model) had a price tag of $25,500!

Despite the huge blister I got from playing bass so loud for so long, it was a great weekend. Thanks, Cathy, for the great birthday present!

Once again, God is good.