transition

Disclaimer: Don’t take anything I write toooo serious.  Most of the time I have no idea what I am saying. I just write this stuff to make you think (i.e. and in some cases that is hard for sure). If I offend you or hurt your feelings, I’m sorry.  That is not my intent. But if the shoe fits, I guess I can’t help that.  And none of you are ItchieBitchie even if some of you ask me if you are and think you are; you are not (i.e. but I do lie sometimes). I can’t change your mind about anything; you are way too hard core for that to happen; you know that. Most of you would need a miracle for you to change and some of you don’t believe in miracles soooo that really limits your chances. BUT life will go on, maybe. And remember, all my imaginary friends make many big claims but provide no proof.  And another thing you have to take into consideration is that I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN. Don’t have high expectations and you won’t be disappointed when you read this “It’s Saturday.”

Some folks believe we’re approaching a global cataclysm, a major transition or even a climax. Some think It has to happen sometime. It can’t continue going on and on forever this way, or can it? I don’t know. I have said many times that it’s like a huge, massive snowball going down the mountain at breakneck speed and is getting bigger and bigger and we just can’t stop it.  Something seems like it has to give at some point. BUT Chester and Anna said that 70 years ago also and it keeps going. Sooooo there. I read in the paper soooo it must be right—Afghanistan’s future is as murky now as it was two decades ago. WildBill says—Nuttin will change until it gets really bad and it’s not near bad enough yet (i.e. we usually never fix anything until it’s completely broke and it won’t absolutely work anymore)! Bad isn’t when you can’t get a camping spot for the weekend, oh no, it’s much worse than that.  We have no idea what bad is and probably won’t react until it gets really bad (i.e. it ain’t near bad enough yet; not by a long shot); that is how society acts.  It just has to get really bad before we sit up and take notice. And then all we do many times is just sit up and talk about it but still don’t do anything about it.  ItchidBitchie says—There are three kinds of folks, those who sit up and take notice, those who talk about it and those who do something about it. This sounds negative; it’s not. It’s just reality; just a different way to skin the cat! Some call it progress and some call it a disaster. 

Steve, anyone can be a Steve, says--By nature, most people want to be comfortable and feel safe. Likewise, our tendency to return to the past is often driven by a desire to go where things are known and understood. In times of transition, there is uncertainty. A relationship, job, health condition, or the next season in life can cause fear or worry. In such times, we need to be open minded and look energetically for new ways and opportunities in midst of transition.”  I find it hard to be patient and open minded in the transitions I’m going through although I really try and work at it.  And I’m probably not any different than you guys, I would guess.  Transition is making changes and human nature doesn’t like change. BUT flip the pancake, change and transition are exciting.  It’s how we look at it maybe. Such is life.

Inflation is huge it seems; every time I buy groceries it seems like the bill is always $50; I think all the check outs are all stuck and that is just the amount they always charge me. I can’t imagine having 4 kids, all hungry.  I heard that the government gives parents $300 a month for each kid.  Is that true?  If soooo, that would help (i.e. more kids means more money). Society seems to be on a tread mill where we want more more and more; we just can’t get enough of it (i.e. whatever “it” is).  I was talking to a friend recently as he was sitting on the tail gate of his pickup (i.e. many guys like to sit on their pickups or lean on them, you ever notice that).  This guy would be considered wealthy by most folks.  He and his wife have it good but don’t go over board acting that way.  In fact, he told me that his wife is very frugal with their money.  They seem to be content.  Maybe they think they have enough.  I don’t know.  He said—erv, we have everything we want and need. OrdinaryJoe says—That’s impossible; what kind of folks are they; they must be dysfunctional!

I think we are all dysfunctional to some degree; I do.  I have no idea what is functional and what is dysfunctional anymore.  What is normal? Every family seems to have dysfunctional members and maybe many of your family might think you are one of them and you think they are the dysfunctional ones.  I can only imagine what folks and my family think about me.  BUT they don’t know what I think about them either! haha  A friend told me that her son hasn’t talked to her for 6 years—what’s the deal—don’t know; he won’t talk to me. Another friend said her stepdaughter doesn’t like her; she never did.  What’s the deal; I don’t know, she won’t talk about it. And those are minor problems compared to some issues in some families I would guess.  I would guess there are many tears shed about dysfunctional family issues.

I think I sorta kinda became more confused recently or am I just temporally discombobulated?  I think soooo.  It put me in a difficult thinking.  Then a friend and a morning devotion like helped me think differently, maybe (i.e. like a punch to the stomach).  I’m not saying I got things figured out, but it made me think differently.  A friend said—erv, maybe if you would change, your life will change.  Wow! The devotion was about not perfect folks.  It went something like this--In today’s mail there was a slick brochure of a montage of beautiful people. The perfect senor lady with a sweet smile. The neat looking couple caught in a mid-laugh. An active, attractive senor couple, arms draped around each other’s shoulders. They seem perfect, these people. Who wouldn’t want to be around them? But they are not real. They are models from stock images. They are picture-frame people, the impossibly good-looking people who come in the picture frame that you buy at the store. If truth-in-advertising laws applied to that brochure, the montage would show “not many of them were wise . . . not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth, not any of them or none of them were perfect.” BUT probably many of them or all of have defects (i.e. warts that can’t be seen), common folks who aren’t any different than you or I (i.e. surely not perfect folks). Sooo where do you think I’m going with this?  It’s your guess!

Last Sunday at church a friend and I were talking about some opportunities that he is involved in.  I said something like—It’s looks like a cookie cutter approach.  He said—Cookie cutters are good for making cookies but not for this opportunity.  I think he was saying it’s time to change the channel. Don’t resist it. Refocus!  BUT will folks buy into it?  Time will tell.  Rome wasn’t built in a day! LuckieEddie says--Many folks are stiff necked, ornery folks. Who what me?  I think that is in a church hymn, isn’t it? 

A friend and his wife are transitioning into the metro from the farm.  They bought some new furniture. Delivery will be in 30 weeks.  Yes, that is right, 30 weeks.  He offered to pay more to make it faster—they said, no can do (i.e. maybe he didn't offer enough)! We can’t get folks to work the salesperson said! It’s serious when money doesn’t even talk! haha Then my friend asked for a discount since it’s going to be soooo long—we don’t do any discounts or sales!  Suck it up baby! He was told that it was a record year for furniture sales.  Everyone has money and they can’t spend it fast enough!  Such is life.

Flip the pancake. I was walking to church the other day and my neighbors were in the drive.  They told me that they sold their camper (i.e. had it a year and sold it for more than they paid for it). Sold their golf cart that they had at their camp site. Sold their Harley. How come I asked? Well, we have a very nice home and feel that we have to camp all the time to justify having the camper and all the toys that go with it.  We want to simplify our lives and enjoy our home and make life less pressured.  And besides, it cost us a fortune to have all that stuff.  We seem to enjoy life much more this way. You would think it would be just the opposite, but it isn’t for them anyway. Such is life.

It’s a time of transition from summer to fall.  Summer doesn’t want to give up and fall is excited to get going (i.e. folks are wearing shorts and sweatshirts at the same time). In the spring and it’s 60 degrees with the wind out of the nw at 20 mph, there are a lot of golfers; in the fall when day is the same, there are few to none; it’s like bears coming out of hibernation and bears looking to hunker down again! As I am writing this, I am sitting in my sunporch at twilight. It is absolutely beautiful for me; there is no wind, the sky is beautiful; there is no noise, no people around, very peaceful—perfect.  It’s sorta kinda a transition of the day to evening.  I like it.

Some of you are going through a painful transition.  I can only imagine.  I don’t know what it is.  My heart hurts for you.  There are soooo many ugly transitions.  And there are soooo many happy transitions as well.  And some of you are going through them as well.  I can only imagine. And some of you folks are going through both at the same time.  Such is life.

Rick Warren is the author of Purpose Driven Life.  He believes that the Bible is filled with ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives because they believed God would work in and through them. They believed God made them for a purpose and intended for them to successfully fulfill their mission. I believe that. Maybe we are all in the process of that transition.  What do you think?  That is what I thought.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean said—Living on earth is expensive but it does include a trip around the sun every year.

The tip of the day comes from a friend east of town who always seems happy (i.e. maybe she knows what she is talking about)!  1st person to apologize is the bravest, 1st person to forgive is the strongest, 1st person to forget is the happiest.