Clutter

One of my pet-peeves. Clutter.

I bet, though, you could ask anyone about how much they like clutter in their life and most all would say they hate it. Some people obviously fight clutter better than others. My grandpa, for instance, is pretty much "clutter free". Not a single item in his garage besides a car. He does have a shop, but everything has a place and it is usually found in its place.

Maybe it's how hard we are willing to work at keeping the clutter down. In most matters in life you have 2 choices. Live with it or work hard enough to change it.

Most of the stuff that I tend to collect are keep sakes. It's a part of my personality. It is hard for me to throw away the rock my son brings me from the back yard. He says "Here's a rock for you daddy" with a proud, I love you tone. How can you not put it on your desk for the rest of your life! But...how many rocks can you physically fit on your desk?

I looked for a book to help me out. If you search for books on amazon.com using the keyword "clutter" you get 46,388 results. 46,388 ! ! ! All of them probably come down to throw away stuff you don't use...keep keepsakes.

So is my commission. I have 2 weeks left before I go back to work. I can't do a whole lot, but I should be able to throw some light stuff away. Of course, the rocks will always too heavy.

Did a little "BLOG makeover" this morning. May change again next week, but I like it for today. Much better.

Small Stuff Can Be Big Stuff

Life is good. My back is feeling better every day. The weather is beautiful. I can actually go outside and enjoy it. God has been good.

I just finished another book. This one wasn't fiction, though. It's called The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stoval. A "gift" from my Aunt Susan for me to read while I recover. A small book on life and the gifts we need to enjoy it to the fullest. Here was one of my favorite parts:

" When we are living our lives the way we should, everything would be in such an order that we wouldn't change the last day of our life from any other day...Also, if you will consider it, you will realize that there is probably nothing that you would plan for your last day of life that you couldn't do today or tomorrow.

Somehow, I think life's tragedies are made up not as much of the great failures as the simple pleasures and kind gestures missed."

This part was in the chapter "Gift of a Day". As I sit and watch Will and Alex play in the yard I think about these simple pleasures. Who knows when our time will be. Really, I'm not concerned. I am going to try to be appreciative of simple pleasures and kind gestures.

Every single day is a gift. Even if our lives are made up of 25,000 of them.

By A Nose

I never watch NASCAR. I know a few things about it, but I am not a die hard fan. Watching cars (as fast as they are) going around a circle is not that entertaining on TV.

Watching live is a different creature. I like the I-30 Speedway. The smell, the sounds, the competition. It's all there.

I did happen upon the Daytona 500 yesterday with about 70 laps to go. I thought Mark Martin had retired and was surprised to see him in the top 10. So I continued to watch (after all it's the Super Bowl for NASCAR fans). I really thought Mark Martin had it all but won until, the last moment, a car from back in the pack beat him out in the last 200 yards by the nose of a car.

I don't know if I'll ever be a NASCAR fan, but I will forever be a Mark Martin fan. Solidified by his remarks after the race. My heart hurt for him. 20 something years and he's never won. He fought and tried so hard to achieve a goal but came up short again. He's not a loser, though. Just because he didn't reach his goal. He and his team had given themselves a real chance to attain the goal with all their hard work. A significant victory.

Two Weeks Down

Went to the Dr today. He says everything seems to be fine. He tells me it takes 3 months for all the tissues and disc to heal and for scar tissue to mature. During this period I will still be very limited in what I can do. No, bending, lifting, or twisting and nothing more strenuous than walking. I can, though, return to work after 6 weeks (4 more weeks) as long as I stay within the limits. Luckily being a pharmacist is not that strenuous I can go use my brain and not physically work that hard. Which was my goal when I graduated High School. I truly thank God for Him getting me to that goal.

So...I'm not free, yet...as long as I have to be careful there is a chance things could go awry. But I thank God, too, everyday I am having pain-free. I know that I will do my best to recover correctly (and fully expect a great recovery) but whatever happens tomorrow I will be able to handle.

One of the movies I saw last week (Face the Giants) has a recurrent theme that I thought was good:

I will praise God when I win, and Praise Him when I
lose.

Is there any other way? No, but sometimes it's hard to convince ourselves even though know.

Gnarles can't be your first name

The Dixie Chicks ended up being the big winner at The Grammys last night...5 Grammys. To tell you the truth, I had no idea they had a popular album out. They aren't bad...OK is more like it. I don't have a CD now, nothing last night made me want one.

The good...The Police getting back together was good, a simple but great performance of "Roxanne". I had heard of Mary J. Blige, but never listened much. She has a great voice. I am going to have to learn more about her. I even thought Lionel Ritchie was good (my mom would be proud).

The bad...Rascal Flats doing "Hotel California" was terrible. Some songs you should never try to do. The Red hot Chili Peppers were a group from a few years ago that used to be pretty good...they didn't look or sound that good last night. Some guy...Gnarles Barkley...I won't even go there, this space doesn't have the space.

The biggest surprise of the night came during a commercial. Prince bought an advertising spot and through it said thanks to all the folks who watched his halftime show at the Super Bowl. And it wasn't a "look at me America I'm famous and by the way I'd like to say thanks". It was very low key and the message was humble and seemed sincere. Sure, artists say thanks all the time...but it was a classy move to buy some time on TV and express thanks.

Big Night

I haven't forgotten about the blog. My goal is to get to post twice a week. Unfortunately I'm not doing much right now so there is not much to write about.

I have seen a few good movies and finished off 2 books since my last post. The book part is surprising. I have read a total of...ummm...maybe 1/2 a fiction book since high school. I do read many magazines and inspirational/religious type books, but never fiction. But it has hit me that TV is terrible. Especially daytime TV. So novels it is. I'm on my 3rd and can't believe I have missed such entertainment the past few years.

I am very excited about The Grammys tonight, though. It is a good chance to see some old music (tonight The Police will be back) and also see how old and like my parents I really am. Most of the acts tonight I will look at and say "That's not music" just like my dad. Even though his opinion of real music and mine are different...we both know today's music is not it. But I watch eager to learn. The Grammys are required watching for cool dads. And cool dad I am.

New Quote (aka 8 Days)

I had a little more time on my hand (surprising huh?). I dug up my favorite quote of all time. I needed it to put on the bottom of the blog. (I have to make mine at least almost as cool as Greg's) Background...It comes from a speech Abraham Lincoln made to the nation during the middle of the Civil War. Arguably our nations make it or break it years.

"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew."

Glen Blevins first introduced this quote to me somewhere in the middle of the many youth lessons we had at Calvary. He told us it was one of his favorites, and it stuck with me. If I ever start framing quotes...this would be one.

Finding the exact wording for this quote led me to many others by President Lincoln. The best site was http://home.att.net/~rjnorton/Lincoln78.html

What an orator. What a leader.

7 Days

It was one week ago today that I sat at the hospital not knowing what to think. I mostly couldn't believe I was having to go through back surgery. I knew, though, that I was hurting beyond what I could cope with, and it seemed to be my only way to get better.

Since my back started giving me trouble last year, I could tell it was changing me. Sure the pain was not pleasant, but I also did not feel like myself. It was hard to take my mind off of the discomfort. Depressed was not the word for it...more like frustrated. Today my spirits are higher. Mentally I am 100% better. Physically I would say 60%. This ordeal will not be over for several more weeks. But I am getting better every day.

Songs seem to get me through many times in my life. Lyrics mean different things to different people in different situations. That is the beauty of a song. A great Jeremy Camp song has helped keep my mind on the One who controls it all.

I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

I have a God who has never failed to be faithful. 30 years. Faithful. If all the "good stuff" suddenly ended tomorrow, I know it's part of God's plan for me. I've learned, too, that if there are plans to choose from...God's plan is the one to go with.

The Walls Are Closing In

Considering that I am feeling better, and, considering that I have nothing but time on my hands for the next couple of weeks, I will start this cool blog thing. At least that way I can at bare minimum amuse myself about everything and anything.

Don't let the title of the blog fool ya. I have no intention of solving life's problems on this here page. Even though if everyone saw the world the way I see it, the world would be perfect, just ask my wife!

But I love debate. In fact I was the worst 3 year debater NLR High School ever had. Not because I had bad thoughts...I can defend my positions. But because I am very uncomfortable behind a podium. This computer takes away that podium. I do love HEALTHY debate, but I never think less of folks who do not think the way I do. I will admit that some people's thoughts I pray about and for, but I would never think less of them.

All in all I just hope its good entertainment, some food for thought type stuff. It ought to be fun!

See ya!