I have decided that riches, like visions of grandeur, are different for every person. The importance of riches has even evolved, for me, in the last twenty years. No longer am I concerned with having the best, but having a comfortable and safe world for Jean and I. No longer do I have to have the fastest, nor the most, I have learned a secret.....a secret to life itself!
That secret is that God has a plan for my life. Why He ever revealed this to me, I cannot explain, but He has provided me with abundant riches. The richest gift He gave me was the promise that He would never leave me, nor forsake me. Another part of His plan to give me riches, was His promise to never put more on me than I could withstand. Another gift full of riches in His plan was to make me content, in whatever state I am in, but the gift He has given me, that makes me the richest, is His promise of eternal life. That one gift is so full of riches, that any disappointments, that any trials, that any temptations, that any earthly slights, are easy to bear.
A great amount of money, I do not have. The finest home, or the nicest car, or fine jewelry, I have not. I cannot go to the furthest parts of the world on vacation, or buy anything that strikes my fancy, but I feel that I am a man of great riches. Riches that moth and rust cannot corrupt, nor that thieves can enter in and steal, but riches that will stand the test of time, time eternal!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
My Maple Tree and Its Visions of Grandeur
When I considered the topic, Visions of Grandeur, my thoughts turned to a maple tree on Dunlap Street in what was once Mr. Clinton Mathew's yard and, more recently, Dr. Frank Sleadd's yard. I grew up with that maple. It was small when I was small and now, like me, it's middle aged.
In the winter, my maple has no leaves. It is naked, right there on one of the busiest streets in town. When the cold wind whips in from the west, I wonder if it would like to be clothed. Soon enough, buttercups sprout, the deer nibble at new buds and my maple tree dons a lovely, lime green dress. Her outfit turns a deeper hue as the weather warms, and although she is no longer naked, she looks pretty much like all of the other trees on Dunlap Street…large and sprawling and green.
I often wonder, "Does she want to stand out? Does she want to make the school children and their parents heading up to Grove and Inman jerk their heads and cry, 'Wow, look at that!' I wonder…does my maple tree have Visions of Grandeur?
Well, she's a tree, so we'll never know what she thinks, but if her desire is to rise above the rest, this is her week, indeed. Today, when I drove down Dunlap toward town, I had to slow to a crawl and take a good long look at her. The gold and orange and touches of red are so brilliant that I couldn’t stop looking. When the sun popped out, lighting her up, I wanted to wrap myself up in her. Her color and warmth were so intense; they seemed to radiate from another dimension.
So if my visions of grandeur have more to do with a fabulous maple tree that, for a week or two, is the most stunning tree in town, then so be it. I have no thoughts of being the president or a wealthy landowner or a CEO…I just want to be within sight of my friend the maple when she gets all gussied up for fall.
In the winter, my maple has no leaves. It is naked, right there on one of the busiest streets in town. When the cold wind whips in from the west, I wonder if it would like to be clothed. Soon enough, buttercups sprout, the deer nibble at new buds and my maple tree dons a lovely, lime green dress. Her outfit turns a deeper hue as the weather warms, and although she is no longer naked, she looks pretty much like all of the other trees on Dunlap Street…large and sprawling and green.
I often wonder, "Does she want to stand out? Does she want to make the school children and their parents heading up to Grove and Inman jerk their heads and cry, 'Wow, look at that!' I wonder…does my maple tree have Visions of Grandeur?
Well, she's a tree, so we'll never know what she thinks, but if her desire is to rise above the rest, this is her week, indeed. Today, when I drove down Dunlap toward town, I had to slow to a crawl and take a good long look at her. The gold and orange and touches of red are so brilliant that I couldn’t stop looking. When the sun popped out, lighting her up, I wanted to wrap myself up in her. Her color and warmth were so intense; they seemed to radiate from another dimension.
So if my visions of grandeur have more to do with a fabulous maple tree that, for a week or two, is the most stunning tree in town, then so be it. I have no thoughts of being the president or a wealthy landowner or a CEO…I just want to be within sight of my friend the maple when she gets all gussied up for fall.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Visions of Grandeur
When I was quite a bit younger my visions of grandeur included homes, fast cars, boats, and lots and lots of cash. I didn't have a plan to attain such things. I guess I thought they would just magically appear. Looking back, I sure am glad my “pipe dreams” never came true. The above sentences were all I could come up with, on visions of grandeur, until I asked a guy at work what those words meant to him.
A whole new experience then proceeded to unfold before my eyes. An experience that, to me, provided my best blog, yet! After Greg, from St. Louis, told me his perfect vision of grandeur would be sitting in a boat on a quiet lake, no one around, just fishing and having a solitary fine time, when the symbol of our great nation, the Bald Eagle, came gliding by, the plan was set in motion. I would ask each member of my crew, including the foreman and the bus driver, what their vision of grandeur was.
I asked Jim, from St. Louis, what his vision was and he said it was watching the light go on in his kid's eyes, when they learned something brand new, or finally understood what made something work. Bob, from Miami, said having 150 acres in the middle of the country, with a huge, tricked out garage, where he could work on his cars, trucks, and build new play toys, would be his cat's meow. The bus driver, Denise, told me her vision of grandeur. It would be sitting at the kitchen table with her husband, and their two kids, eating, laughing, and just being a family. Another Greg, from Alton, said his dream was to be as greedy as he could get, and have money, money, and more money. The foreman, Tyrone, used to dream about drawing cartoons and working for Walt Disney. Jeremy's vision of grandeur is owning a house and acreage around Nashville, and owning his own electric business. Brian, from Wisconsin, said his vision of grandeur includes complete happiness in a trouble free world, and Jay, from Louisiana, Missouri, had dreams of being a major league baseball player.
As I thought on what each one had said, I was caused to rethink what my visions of grandeur would be from now on. They would be helping people to learn, they would be taking the time to visit with family, they would be helping the world to be trouble free. My visions of grandeur would include getting away and quietly enjoying God's world. It would be striving to bring more happiness into this world. My visions of grandeur went from the 70's to right now in less than 2 days and I am glad they did!
A whole new experience then proceeded to unfold before my eyes. An experience that, to me, provided my best blog, yet! After Greg, from St. Louis, told me his perfect vision of grandeur would be sitting in a boat on a quiet lake, no one around, just fishing and having a solitary fine time, when the symbol of our great nation, the Bald Eagle, came gliding by, the plan was set in motion. I would ask each member of my crew, including the foreman and the bus driver, what their vision of grandeur was.
I asked Jim, from St. Louis, what his vision was and he said it was watching the light go on in his kid's eyes, when they learned something brand new, or finally understood what made something work. Bob, from Miami, said having 150 acres in the middle of the country, with a huge, tricked out garage, where he could work on his cars, trucks, and build new play toys, would be his cat's meow. The bus driver, Denise, told me her vision of grandeur. It would be sitting at the kitchen table with her husband, and their two kids, eating, laughing, and just being a family. Another Greg, from Alton, said his dream was to be as greedy as he could get, and have money, money, and more money. The foreman, Tyrone, used to dream about drawing cartoons and working for Walt Disney. Jeremy's vision of grandeur is owning a house and acreage around Nashville, and owning his own electric business. Brian, from Wisconsin, said his vision of grandeur includes complete happiness in a trouble free world, and Jay, from Louisiana, Missouri, had dreams of being a major league baseball player.
As I thought on what each one had said, I was caused to rethink what my visions of grandeur would be from now on. They would be helping people to learn, they would be taking the time to visit with family, they would be helping the world to be trouble free. My visions of grandeur would include getting away and quietly enjoying God's world. It would be striving to bring more happiness into this world. My visions of grandeur went from the 70's to right now in less than 2 days and I am glad they did!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Tenacity
Defined as persistent determination, tenacity has shown up in my life before. Mainly on jobs where I have had to learn a brand new task. For a construction electrician, ofttimes, being able to perform many job assignments means the difference in getting laid off, or keeping your job. There is a fine line between being labeled as having tenacity, and being labeled a know it all. As I get older, I become better at being diplomatic, hence I get to stay working longer!
As I think about my home town, Paris, I think about the friends I have that have proven their tenacity. Without their persistent determination we would not have the Heritage Center. We would not have the Grove Tower building. We would not be able to enjoy the Lee Academy of the Arts. We would not have the Eiffel Tower. Also, we would not have the Henry County Boxing Club, so the young men who learn how to box in a controlled environment, would be running the streets. We, also, would not be planning the Downtown's first “green” area, where the old TVA office once stood.
Accused of living in the past, these movers and shakers really enhance our community, and I am proud of them. I realize some of these programs cost tax dollars that some are struggling to come up with. My advice to anyone with problems of this nature, is to get behind these projects, having the tenacity to improve both your own bottom line and your community.
As I think about my home town, Paris, I think about the friends I have that have proven their tenacity. Without their persistent determination we would not have the Heritage Center. We would not have the Grove Tower building. We would not be able to enjoy the Lee Academy of the Arts. We would not have the Eiffel Tower. Also, we would not have the Henry County Boxing Club, so the young men who learn how to box in a controlled environment, would be running the streets. We, also, would not be planning the Downtown's first “green” area, where the old TVA office once stood.
Accused of living in the past, these movers and shakers really enhance our community, and I am proud of them. I realize some of these programs cost tax dollars that some are struggling to come up with. My advice to anyone with problems of this nature, is to get behind these projects, having the tenacity to improve both your own bottom line and your community.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Yesterday
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday.
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be. There's a shadow hanging over me. Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
The first thought that came to mind, when I heard this week's word, was the classic Beatle song Yesterday. Maybe at this point of my life, some of the lines are not relevant, but still it is a beautiful song, written when more life was ahead than behind. Now, there are more yesterdays than there are tomorrows, and it is time to be settled.
I have sure wasted a lot of yesterdays. I have used a lot of days to their full extent, but I have slept through days, also. Age has a lot to do with it. Aches and pains have a lot to do with it. As I sit here reflecting on the yesterdays of my life, I am a content person. Yes, I could have done a few things better. Yes, I could have done a few things different. But I have decided not to dwell on the things of yesterday. Lately there have been a few accusations, maybe accusations is too harsh, a few intimations that my wife and I and some close friends are living too much in the past. Yesterday was a simpler time, a more honest time, a more benevolent time. Without trying to live in yesterday, I do want to learn from it, and try to put the good lessons to use.
Yesterday was a special time. I hope to live all my days in such a fashion that I am proud of all my yesterdays. Over eighteen years ago my yesterdays took on a different meaning. No longer was I the only one in my yesterdays. It is important, to me, to live my life so all my yesterdays mean a lot to Jean and I.
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be. There's a shadow hanging over me. Oh, yesterday came suddenly.
The first thought that came to mind, when I heard this week's word, was the classic Beatle song Yesterday. Maybe at this point of my life, some of the lines are not relevant, but still it is a beautiful song, written when more life was ahead than behind. Now, there are more yesterdays than there are tomorrows, and it is time to be settled.
I have sure wasted a lot of yesterdays. I have used a lot of days to their full extent, but I have slept through days, also. Age has a lot to do with it. Aches and pains have a lot to do with it. As I sit here reflecting on the yesterdays of my life, I am a content person. Yes, I could have done a few things better. Yes, I could have done a few things different. But I have decided not to dwell on the things of yesterday. Lately there have been a few accusations, maybe accusations is too harsh, a few intimations that my wife and I and some close friends are living too much in the past. Yesterday was a simpler time, a more honest time, a more benevolent time. Without trying to live in yesterday, I do want to learn from it, and try to put the good lessons to use.
Yesterday was a special time. I hope to live all my days in such a fashion that I am proud of all my yesterdays. Over eighteen years ago my yesterdays took on a different meaning. No longer was I the only one in my yesterdays. It is important, to me, to live my life so all my yesterdays mean a lot to Jean and I.
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