Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
We held our very first "Coffee with Jonna" yesterday!
"Coffee with Jonna" is a virtual coffee time with Jonna who is a volunteer chaplain at our YMCA. Before we talk about "Coffee with Jonna" it was brought to my attention that I made a booboo the other day. I must address this before I continue.
I haven't fact checked this yet, I will leave this to MSNBC, but evidently I only had 14 "v's" in one of the times that I spelled Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor in my last post. For this I must apologize.
As I look at my CEO's mythical name (remember this is not his real name, but every story is much better with a name attached) and as I say his mythical name in my head "Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor", it has this doppler effect. You know what I mean. It is like when a train goes by and goes:
Choooo-choooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Since I am in charge of mythical names in the Daily Bread for Ragamuffins I think I shall make his full name Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor Doppler Effect Left (Anyone who actually knows our CEO's real name will get the funny in all of this nonsense).
Back to "Coffee with Jonna".
Jonna is this truly amazing gem of a person. She has this unique way of really connecting with people and this God given talent of making them feel better, and actually seen and heard.
Jonna is a gift from God, our YMCA is extremely blessed to have her.
If your "Y" has a Jonna, you know what I mean. If it doesn't, go find a Jonna and you will.
"Coffee with Jonna" is like a talk show, except the audience gets to talk too; what a cool idea. Jonna's first guest was "Liz" (Not her real name...) Liz was a fantastic choice for Jonna's first guest. They played off each other like to sisters in a pod, or is that to peas in a family? not sure if I am mixing metaphors or not. I am pretty sure I am mixing something.
Everyone had a wonderful time with "Coffee with Jonna".
You can tune into "Coffee with Jonna" every Monday and Wednesday at 2pm PST.
Just go to: https://www.ymcacw.org/locations/clark-county-family-ymca and go through the virtual check-n process and then find "Coffee with Jonna" in the virtual workout section. As a matter of fact you can find activities for you and your kids in this section too. Everything from workouts for you to Y-time activities for the kids.
Living life can be hard.
Let's live it together and help one another.
Jesus prayed this prayer once:
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)
Funny thing is the YMCA was birthed on this prayer back in 1844.
"Coffee with Jonna" embodies this prayer. Well done Jonna.
Let us be together.
Let us live in unity.
See You at the next "Coffee with Jonna".
Blessings,
Roger
My Book
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Monday, April 27, 2020
Please help me help them, so they can help others.
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I am back at the dairy farm again today, actually I am on a dairy farm field trip today. My normal Chemo treatment place is closed (another Covid-19 adjustment) and I am at a new place. It is your typical dairy farm with all the same accoutrements. I even saw one of my normal farm workers, she must be on a field trip too. She told me that they are using this dairy farm because it is more conducive for social distancing. One thing you should know, dairy cattle are not good at social distancing.
Our CEO Trevor (Not his real name, but a story is always better with a name attached) told me that he prefers to spell his mythical name with 15-v's, so here we go. Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor has been working very hard to help the "Y" continue to do all the good things that we do; like feed kids, work with lonely seniors, help families be their best.
This Covid-19 thing has caused us to be creative!
We are adding tutoring, virtual camps, Coffee with Jonna (if you haven't seen Jonna yet, tune into the Clark County Family YMCA Wednesday at 2pm; I think Liz (again not her real name) will be her special guest, this Wednesday will be a real Hoot.
Anyway I told Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor that I would try and help. If you look to the right side of the blog page you should see a "Help us help others" If you click it you can go to a donation page and help us help others.
I am sitting at the dairy farm watching nurses (farm workers) help others as they also help me.
They truly are amazing individuals. and the dairy cattle are some of the best people I have ever met.
Like I have said before, "The more stuff you go through, the less wrapped around axles you get." You realize what is truly big stuff and what isn't. Honestly, there is not that much big stuff to get wrapped up about, most of the stuff falls into to "isn't" category.
I am humbled and honored to be part of such an amazing group of people and organization that continues to be outward focused and intent on serving others in the midst of a storm, they are courageous.
Courage isn't just blindly running into a firestorm, that is just foolish.
Courage is knowing what can happen when you run into a firestorm and running into it anyway.
The staff at my YMCA are courageous.
-Do they get anxious? Yes they do.
-Are they sometimes fearful? Yes they are.
-Do they sometimes get down a bit? Yes they do.
Do they still run to the firestorm? Yes they do!
They are courageous!
One of my jobs is to give them the tools they need to do the amazing things they do.
Please help me help them, so they can help others.
Check out the donation tab.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I am back at the dairy farm again today, actually I am on a dairy farm field trip today. My normal Chemo treatment place is closed (another Covid-19 adjustment) and I am at a new place. It is your typical dairy farm with all the same accoutrements. I even saw one of my normal farm workers, she must be on a field trip too. She told me that they are using this dairy farm because it is more conducive for social distancing. One thing you should know, dairy cattle are not good at social distancing.
Our CEO Trevor (Not his real name, but a story is always better with a name attached) told me that he prefers to spell his mythical name with 15-v's, so here we go. Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor has been working very hard to help the "Y" continue to do all the good things that we do; like feed kids, work with lonely seniors, help families be their best.
This Covid-19 thing has caused us to be creative!
We are adding tutoring, virtual camps, Coffee with Jonna (if you haven't seen Jonna yet, tune into the Clark County Family YMCA Wednesday at 2pm; I think Liz (again not her real name) will be her special guest, this Wednesday will be a real Hoot.
Anyway I told Trevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvor that I would try and help. If you look to the right side of the blog page you should see a "Help us help others" If you click it you can go to a donation page and help us help others.
I am sitting at the dairy farm watching nurses (farm workers) help others as they also help me.
They truly are amazing individuals. and the dairy cattle are some of the best people I have ever met.
Like I have said before, "The more stuff you go through, the less wrapped around axles you get." You realize what is truly big stuff and what isn't. Honestly, there is not that much big stuff to get wrapped up about, most of the stuff falls into to "isn't" category.
I am humbled and honored to be part of such an amazing group of people and organization that continues to be outward focused and intent on serving others in the midst of a storm, they are courageous.
Courage isn't just blindly running into a firestorm, that is just foolish.
Courage is knowing what can happen when you run into a firestorm and running into it anyway.
The staff at my YMCA are courageous.
-Do they get anxious? Yes they do.
-Are they sometimes fearful? Yes they are.
-Do they sometimes get down a bit? Yes they do.
Do they still run to the firestorm? Yes they do!
They are courageous!
One of my jobs is to give them the tools they need to do the amazing things they do.
Please help me help them, so they can help others.
Check out the donation tab.
Blessings,
Roger
Friday, April 24, 2020
I hate change! Someone said that once
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I was in an almost meeting yesterday with our CEO, he brought up our Daily Breads. He thought we should change the name to "Daily picking on Trevor bread for Ragamuffins."
Thoughts?
Later that day, almost sounds like a movie Segway (Oops, I said almost, it must virtually sound like a movie Segway.) I was talking with one of the staff I will call her Jennifer (not her real name but as I say, a good story is always better with a name.) and she seemed upset.
I asked her, "Have I offended you?"
She said, "No."
I then asked, "Have I made you mad?"
She said, "No."
I then asked (because I am good at this stuff and can, if I am really paying attention, tell when people are mad at me; like my wife, she was only mad at me for a week and 3-days before I noticed she was mad. She was then mad at me for 2-things:
1. The original reason for being mad.
2. The fact I didn't notice for a week and 2-days.
Like I said, I am good at this stuff.
Jennifer, you seem distant and when you talk you are to the point.
She responded, "I hate change, and that is all we have right now is change. I make plans and work plans. Now I always have to change plans, which makes it seem as if I don't have a plan.
Oh, the mind of a Program Director.
The funny thing about the "Y" is that we are change agents. It is deeply imbedded in our Mission Statement, it is in our mantra's, we talk about how good we are at being an agent of change; yet, when we are forced to change because of circumstance, we hate change.
Oh these are tough times to be a shrubbier!
Back to Trevor (Yes, in case you hadn't noticed, that was a Segway)
Trevor loves change. It is because he understands being a change agent. He likes to say when he meets people, "Hi, my name is Trevor and I save lives."
The "Y" saves lives, now more than ever.
The way we provide that change is changing (see what I did there? I thought it was kinda cool).
Jennifer will be alright. We will have changed our summer camps into an Academy (her idea later in the evening and then emailing us. Yes, she was working late, not because she has to, but because she lives this stuff.) A change in the programming that will be as big as when we changed our ChildWatch babysitting service into "Y-Time; where kids learn and play". A true program in which we teach kids. Imbedded in that teaching is love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service.
The "Y-Academy" will do this as well.
Change is hard.
Someone once said," people will not change until the pain of change is less than the pain of remaining the same." I believe this to be true.
At the "Y" we just want to lesson the pain.(sp? Not sure lesson is a real word for what I am using it for, I heard it a lot as a kid growing up in Kansas, "Oh the horse kicked you in the head? Here put this mud on your head, it will lesson the pain." maybe it is a Kansas thing.)
Should I spell Trevor will 1-v or 2-v's (Just seeing if our CEO is reading all the way tot he end:)
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I was in an almost meeting yesterday with our CEO, he brought up our Daily Breads. He thought we should change the name to "Daily picking on Trevor bread for Ragamuffins."
Thoughts?
Later that day, almost sounds like a movie Segway (Oops, I said almost, it must virtually sound like a movie Segway.) I was talking with one of the staff I will call her Jennifer (not her real name but as I say, a good story is always better with a name.) and she seemed upset.
I asked her, "Have I offended you?"
She said, "No."
I then asked, "Have I made you mad?"
She said, "No."
I then asked (because I am good at this stuff and can, if I am really paying attention, tell when people are mad at me; like my wife, she was only mad at me for a week and 3-days before I noticed she was mad. She was then mad at me for 2-things:
1. The original reason for being mad.
2. The fact I didn't notice for a week and 2-days.
Like I said, I am good at this stuff.
Jennifer, you seem distant and when you talk you are to the point.
She responded, "I hate change, and that is all we have right now is change. I make plans and work plans. Now I always have to change plans, which makes it seem as if I don't have a plan.
Oh, the mind of a Program Director.
The funny thing about the "Y" is that we are change agents. It is deeply imbedded in our Mission Statement, it is in our mantra's, we talk about how good we are at being an agent of change; yet, when we are forced to change because of circumstance, we hate change.
Oh these are tough times to be a shrubbier!
Back to Trevor (Yes, in case you hadn't noticed, that was a Segway)
Trevor loves change. It is because he understands being a change agent. He likes to say when he meets people, "Hi, my name is Trevor and I save lives."
The "Y" saves lives, now more than ever.
The way we provide that change is changing (see what I did there? I thought it was kinda cool).
Jennifer will be alright. We will have changed our summer camps into an Academy (her idea later in the evening and then emailing us. Yes, she was working late, not because she has to, but because she lives this stuff.) A change in the programming that will be as big as when we changed our ChildWatch babysitting service into "Y-Time; where kids learn and play". A true program in which we teach kids. Imbedded in that teaching is love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service.
The "Y-Academy" will do this as well.
Change is hard.
Someone once said," people will not change until the pain of change is less than the pain of remaining the same." I believe this to be true.
At the "Y" we just want to lesson the pain.(sp? Not sure lesson is a real word for what I am using it for, I heard it a lot as a kid growing up in Kansas, "Oh the horse kicked you in the head? Here put this mud on your head, it will lesson the pain." maybe it is a Kansas thing.)
Should I spell Trevor will 1-v or 2-v's (Just seeing if our CEO is reading all the way tot he end:)
Blessings,
Roger
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Dancing with God
Good Morning,
I pray that the day is finding you well.
The wind was blowing the other day.
I noticed a leaf being blown in the wind.
First it blew one way, then another.
I watched as it went back and forth tumbling along. Tumbling over its stem then over the tips of the leaf.
I sat there for quite a while watching this leaf.
At first I was amused by the back and forth action, thinking about how the wind changed direction causing the leaf to change its direction.
I thought about how the leaf really didn’t have any say, or influence, on where it wanted to go. The wind was in control.
I began to think about how most of us live and work at the whim of others. If someone decides to go another direction, or the economy takes another dip, our job might go away, and we will have just about as much say in it as the leaf does with the wind.
Then God said, “Relax and watch the leaf.”
I sat silently watching the leaf.
After a while my heart began to change.
I began to see the leaf differently.
I began to see it dance.
It no longer was this out of control leaf being pushed here and there. The leaf was dancing.
A still small voice said, “This leaf makes me smile. It is dancing with me.”
I sat there and watched the leaf for quite a while.
In the end, I was no longer thinking in a negative fashion. My thoughts went to thinking about all the blessings, and small miracles that happen everyday. I just need to have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to accept.
My prayer is that we all choose to see the beauty in God’s creation, to see a leaf dance; to ask the question, are we dancing with God or merely allowing ourselves to be blown out of control?
It is a matter of perspective.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray that the day is finding you well.
The wind was blowing the other day.
I noticed a leaf being blown in the wind.
First it blew one way, then another.
I watched as it went back and forth tumbling along. Tumbling over its stem then over the tips of the leaf.
I sat there for quite a while watching this leaf.
At first I was amused by the back and forth action, thinking about how the wind changed direction causing the leaf to change its direction.
I thought about how the leaf really didn’t have any say, or influence, on where it wanted to go. The wind was in control.
I began to think about how most of us live and work at the whim of others. If someone decides to go another direction, or the economy takes another dip, our job might go away, and we will have just about as much say in it as the leaf does with the wind.
Then God said, “Relax and watch the leaf.”
I sat silently watching the leaf.
After a while my heart began to change.
I began to see the leaf differently.
I began to see it dance.
It no longer was this out of control leaf being pushed here and there. The leaf was dancing.
A still small voice said, “This leaf makes me smile. It is dancing with me.”
I sat there and watched the leaf for quite a while.
In the end, I was no longer thinking in a negative fashion. My thoughts went to thinking about all the blessings, and small miracles that happen everyday. I just need to have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to accept.
My prayer is that we all choose to see the beauty in God’s creation, to see a leaf dance; to ask the question, are we dancing with God or merely allowing ourselves to be blown out of control?
It is a matter of perspective.
Blessings,
Roger
Monday, April 20, 2020
I will work on my BIBO today, I hope you will join me
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I got up this morning and wondered what I would do today? I opened up the YMCA page in my browser and saw that there were a lot of options. The options were virtually limitless (did you notice how I snuck the word virtual in there, that was on purpose.)
Oh the times, they are a changing.
On T.V.:
-We have doctors on one channel saying to stay home, and doctors on another channel to leave the house.
-We have journalist that are so busy telling us what they think, that they aren't really reporting anything anymore.
-We have television celebrities acting as if they have a PHD in the subject they are discussing.
It is no wonder why people are confused, anxious, angry...the list goes on.
I haven't even started with the politicians yet.
In the midst of all this we have our YMCA. Your YMCA is busy checking on you; doing its best to provide classes,and points of connection so that we can come together and get through this.
The YMCA is a beacon of light amidst the darkness that seems to surround us.
I really don't watch the news much anymore. I see it for what it is.
I would rather watch a video on how to make a pirate hat, or Tressa's workouts.
I talked the other day about "What is in your cup?"
When I watch a YMCA video, or take a virtual class I see things like love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service spilling out of the cup of the YMCA.
I see good things.
When I watch big network news the things I see spilling out of their cup is very different and frankly not very appealing.
The other day I talked about what you put in your cup is what comes out.
It is easy to see what the staff of the YMCA is putting into their cups, because of what we see coming out.
It is also easy to see what the big box news is putting into their cups as well.
What are you putting into your cup?
You have heard the term GIGO, garbage in garbage out.
Have you heard the term BIBO? Beautiful in Beautiful out.
I will work on my BIBO today, I hope you will join me.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I got up this morning and wondered what I would do today? I opened up the YMCA page in my browser and saw that there were a lot of options. The options were virtually limitless (did you notice how I snuck the word virtual in there, that was on purpose.)
Oh the times, they are a changing.
On T.V.:
-We have doctors on one channel saying to stay home, and doctors on another channel to leave the house.
-We have journalist that are so busy telling us what they think, that they aren't really reporting anything anymore.
-We have television celebrities acting as if they have a PHD in the subject they are discussing.
It is no wonder why people are confused, anxious, angry...the list goes on.
I haven't even started with the politicians yet.
In the midst of all this we have our YMCA. Your YMCA is busy checking on you; doing its best to provide classes,and points of connection so that we can come together and get through this.
The YMCA is a beacon of light amidst the darkness that seems to surround us.
I really don't watch the news much anymore. I see it for what it is.
I would rather watch a video on how to make a pirate hat, or Tressa's workouts.
I talked the other day about "What is in your cup?"
When I watch a YMCA video, or take a virtual class I see things like love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service spilling out of the cup of the YMCA.
I see good things.
When I watch big network news the things I see spilling out of their cup is very different and frankly not very appealing.
The other day I talked about what you put in your cup is what comes out.
It is easy to see what the staff of the YMCA is putting into their cups, because of what we see coming out.
It is also easy to see what the big box news is putting into their cups as well.
What are you putting into your cup?
You have heard the term GIGO, garbage in garbage out.
Have you heard the term BIBO? Beautiful in Beautiful out.
I will work on my BIBO today, I hope you will join me.
Blessings,
Roger
Friday, April 17, 2020
I want to be a bucket filler, not a bucket dipper.
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I visited a virtual "Y-Time" class.
What is "Y-Time" you ask?
"Y-Time" is a program that we developed to help kids learn while they play. We used to have an offering called "Child-Watch". "Child-Watch" was exactly what it sounds like. When parents would come to the "Y" to work out or take some sort of class, they would put their kids in "Child-Watch" and we would watch their children for them. We changed that a few years ago to "Y-Time" where kids learn and play.
We developed staff to become teachers and developed age appropriate lessons. This was a game changer.
While it would be nearly impossible to have a "Virtual Child-Watch"; I guess we already have that, it is called T.V., "Y-Time" is a true benefit.
In the class the instructor read a book, I wish I could remember the title, but the book was a about the question, "Are you a bucket filler, or are you a bucket dipper?"
A bucket filler is someone who fills other peoples emotional/spiritual bucket.
A bucket dipper takes another persons emotional/spiritual stuff out of their bucket.
The thing about being a bucket dipper is that they dip from another person's bucket in an attempt to fill their own. This comes in the form of:
-Putting someone else down.
-Bullying
-Making fun of someone
This mindset goes like, "If I make someone else feel worse, I will feel better, or, I will look better if I make someone else look bad. Thus my bucket will be full.
The problem with that is the fact that no matter how much someone dips out of someone else's bucket, their bucket never gets full.
The only way to fill your bucket is by filling someone else's, the Acceptance Paradox.
I have athiest friends that tell me that I am not doing good because of my faith but because it makes me feel good. My response back has always been, "Why can't it be both? Maybe God made it possible to feel good when I help someone else as a barometer of how I am living out my faith."
I think they were trying to be bucket dippers when they asked, just sayin.
Anyway, "Y-Time" was busy teaching kids to be bucket fillers and not bucket dippers.
I am not sure if I had mentioned that our YMCA had adopted an emergency room at a local hospital. The kids in our Child Development Centers make card of appreciation for the Nurses, Doctors, and support staff to try and fill their buckets.
Virtual "Y-Time" in their class activity (We always have a class activity) made cards of appreciation for people. The kids could pick who they wanted to give them to. Family, Grocery workers, firemen, policemen... It was fun to watch the kids make their cards and fill the buckets of others.
I think I will fill someone's bucket today.
Will you join me, and fill someone's bucket too?
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I visited a virtual "Y-Time" class.
What is "Y-Time" you ask?
"Y-Time" is a program that we developed to help kids learn while they play. We used to have an offering called "Child-Watch". "Child-Watch" was exactly what it sounds like. When parents would come to the "Y" to work out or take some sort of class, they would put their kids in "Child-Watch" and we would watch their children for them. We changed that a few years ago to "Y-Time" where kids learn and play.
We developed staff to become teachers and developed age appropriate lessons. This was a game changer.
While it would be nearly impossible to have a "Virtual Child-Watch"; I guess we already have that, it is called T.V., "Y-Time" is a true benefit.
In the class the instructor read a book, I wish I could remember the title, but the book was a about the question, "Are you a bucket filler, or are you a bucket dipper?"
A bucket filler is someone who fills other peoples emotional/spiritual bucket.
A bucket dipper takes another persons emotional/spiritual stuff out of their bucket.
The thing about being a bucket dipper is that they dip from another person's bucket in an attempt to fill their own. This comes in the form of:
-Putting someone else down.
-Bullying
-Making fun of someone
This mindset goes like, "If I make someone else feel worse, I will feel better, or, I will look better if I make someone else look bad. Thus my bucket will be full.
The problem with that is the fact that no matter how much someone dips out of someone else's bucket, their bucket never gets full.
The only way to fill your bucket is by filling someone else's, the Acceptance Paradox.
I have athiest friends that tell me that I am not doing good because of my faith but because it makes me feel good. My response back has always been, "Why can't it be both? Maybe God made it possible to feel good when I help someone else as a barometer of how I am living out my faith."
I think they were trying to be bucket dippers when they asked, just sayin.
Anyway, "Y-Time" was busy teaching kids to be bucket fillers and not bucket dippers.
I am not sure if I had mentioned that our YMCA had adopted an emergency room at a local hospital. The kids in our Child Development Centers make card of appreciation for the Nurses, Doctors, and support staff to try and fill their buckets.
Virtual "Y-Time" in their class activity (We always have a class activity) made cards of appreciation for people. The kids could pick who they wanted to give them to. Family, Grocery workers, firemen, policemen... It was fun to watch the kids make their cards and fill the buckets of others.
I think I will fill someone's bucket today.
Will you join me, and fill someone's bucket too?
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
I took an almost class yesterday
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
I took a virtual class yesterday. It was Virtual High Fitness with Mary!
While it was a virtual class or should I say:
-Nearly a class
-Almost a class
-not completely a class
In the strictest definition of the word.
-The sweat felt real.
-The lack of oxygen in my lungs felt real.
-This morning my sore muscles feel real.
Hmmm, so this "almost a class" feels very real to me this morning.
During the "nearly a class" I felt really free. Free to:
-Not have to know the choreographed moves and do my own thing.
-Make funny faces when the "nearly a class" got hard.
-Flail my arms around and dance to the music.
When I had finished the not "completely a class" I looked at my Garmin watch I had:
-Worked out for an hour, without leaving my home.
-Over 6,000 steps on my tracker.
-Pulled a hammy, actually I didn't but I thought it was funny (Much different than the cloud remark)
Bonny called me later to ask how the class went.
I said, "I loved it! I didn't feel self-conscious at all. When I didn't know the moves I could just flail around until I figured them out."
Bonnie responded, "I really liked the flailing of the arms part." Yes she could see me in the virtual class. Which raised a another set of questions in my mind (it is loud in my head).
Since Bonnie could see me in the virtual class does that mean I was:
-Nearly a participant
-Almost a participant
-not completely a participant
Things you can think about when you are not worried about looking cool in a Virtual high Fitness with Mary.
This whole exercise, and I mean exercise in the sense of trying something new, not the exercise where I flail my arms a lot, got me to thinking.
Since it is easier to be me when I don't think anyone is judging my performance, all-be-it in a gym this time. How much easier is it to relax and just be with God When you are not worried about singing off key, or "Is now the right time to raise my hands?" Do I sit or stand? Where do I sit? or in the Russian Orthodox tradition, "Am I standing in someone's spot?" Which actually happened to me once. The next time I went I was informed that I could stand there now because Martha was in Palm Springs that week.
Maybe, this whole Covid-19 Worship experience with the virtual church has some upside to it?
Maybe, since we are stuck at home anyway, we can be more intentional, less restricted, about our conversations with God.
This coming Sunday when I go to my virtual church service, you know the one:
-Nearly a service
-Almost a service
-not completely a service
I will:
-Do more flailing
-Sing louder offkey
-Dance like no-one is watching
After all the important thing is to talk with God, not hold back because I am afraid of looking foolish.
I am going to take an almost class again today, after all the YMCA is working on my insecurities as they work on my fitness. Maybe, they can help you too.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
I took a virtual class yesterday. It was Virtual High Fitness with Mary!
While it was a virtual class or should I say:
-Nearly a class
-Almost a class
-not completely a class
In the strictest definition of the word.
-The sweat felt real.
-The lack of oxygen in my lungs felt real.
-This morning my sore muscles feel real.
Hmmm, so this "almost a class" feels very real to me this morning.
During the "nearly a class" I felt really free. Free to:
-Not have to know the choreographed moves and do my own thing.
-Make funny faces when the "nearly a class" got hard.
-Flail my arms around and dance to the music.
When I had finished the not "completely a class" I looked at my Garmin watch I had:
-Worked out for an hour, without leaving my home.
-Over 6,000 steps on my tracker.
-Pulled a hammy, actually I didn't but I thought it was funny (Much different than the cloud remark)
Bonny called me later to ask how the class went.
I said, "I loved it! I didn't feel self-conscious at all. When I didn't know the moves I could just flail around until I figured them out."
Bonnie responded, "I really liked the flailing of the arms part." Yes she could see me in the virtual class. Which raised a another set of questions in my mind (it is loud in my head).
Since Bonnie could see me in the virtual class does that mean I was:
-Nearly a participant
-Almost a participant
-not completely a participant
Things you can think about when you are not worried about looking cool in a Virtual high Fitness with Mary.
This whole exercise, and I mean exercise in the sense of trying something new, not the exercise where I flail my arms a lot, got me to thinking.
Since it is easier to be me when I don't think anyone is judging my performance, all-be-it in a gym this time. How much easier is it to relax and just be with God When you are not worried about singing off key, or "Is now the right time to raise my hands?" Do I sit or stand? Where do I sit? or in the Russian Orthodox tradition, "Am I standing in someone's spot?" Which actually happened to me once. The next time I went I was informed that I could stand there now because Martha was in Palm Springs that week.
Maybe, this whole Covid-19 Worship experience with the virtual church has some upside to it?
Maybe, since we are stuck at home anyway, we can be more intentional, less restricted, about our conversations with God.
This coming Sunday when I go to my virtual church service, you know the one:
-Nearly a service
-Almost a service
-not completely a service
I will:
-Do more flailing
-Sing louder offkey
-Dance like no-one is watching
After all the important thing is to talk with God, not hold back because I am afraid of looking foolish.
I am going to take an almost class again today, after all the YMCA is working on my insecurities as they work on my fitness. Maybe, they can help you too.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
I was in a virtual meeting with my colleagues
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
Yesterday I was in a virtual meeting with my colleagues.
Virtual meeting you say, what is that?
Well, according to the definition I found on the computer it is:
virtual
[ˈvərCH(o͞o)əl]
ADJECTIVE
almost or nearly as described, but not completely or according to strict definition.
So according to my computer, which by the way I don't truly understand, I mean I get that it is made up of a bunch of little tiny parts, and uses little tiny electric thingy's and there is this cloud that I can't see; at least when I ask my computer programming kids if that is "the cloud" when I look in the sky they say, "Really dad, your not funny." And I am thinking, "I wasn't being funny, I was truly asking.", but I don't want to appear dumb so I say, "I thought it was funny." all the while wondering where this cloud is.
Anyway, I was in this virtual meeting which I guess was:
-nearly a meeting
-almost a meeting
-not completely a meeting
At least not according to strict definition.
About how we continue to love on people during this time of social distancing. One of the things we came up with was doing virtual classrooms, virtual camps, virtual workouts...
So these would be:
-nearly a classroom
-almost a camp
-not completely a workout
We actually talked about this in our "almost a meeting".
How do we truly connect with one another in this platform that can feel like, "Well, that was almost good or almost the real thing."
I was contemplating this during my quite time this morning when a still soft voice said, "Welcome to the club son." I realized that often times we treat God as if He was a virtual god and not the relational Father that He really is.
We treat Him like:
-nearly real
-Almost there
-Not completely God
Yet, we know:
-He is there
-He is real
-He is completely God
This is what I know of my colleagues:
We will create camps that are relational.
We will create classrooms that are interactive.
We will create workouts that make you sweat and cry (at least they make me cry, I guess I'm a woos).
We will do this , not simply to do this, but so you can have a real, a complete, a life that is really there.
This is why I work with the "Y".
Last thought.
As we go through our day. let us not have a virtual life, a life that is:
-nearly real
-Almost there
-Not completely complete
Let us love God, love man, serve both!
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
Yesterday I was in a virtual meeting with my colleagues.
Virtual meeting you say, what is that?
Well, according to the definition I found on the computer it is:
virtual
[ˈvərCH(o͞o)əl]
ADJECTIVE
almost or nearly as described, but not completely or according to strict definition.
So according to my computer, which by the way I don't truly understand, I mean I get that it is made up of a bunch of little tiny parts, and uses little tiny electric thingy's and there is this cloud that I can't see; at least when I ask my computer programming kids if that is "the cloud" when I look in the sky they say, "Really dad, your not funny." And I am thinking, "I wasn't being funny, I was truly asking.", but I don't want to appear dumb so I say, "I thought it was funny." all the while wondering where this cloud is.
Anyway, I was in this virtual meeting which I guess was:
-nearly a meeting
-almost a meeting
-not completely a meeting
At least not according to strict definition.
About how we continue to love on people during this time of social distancing. One of the things we came up with was doing virtual classrooms, virtual camps, virtual workouts...
So these would be:
-nearly a classroom
-almost a camp
-not completely a workout
We actually talked about this in our "almost a meeting".
How do we truly connect with one another in this platform that can feel like, "Well, that was almost good or almost the real thing."
I was contemplating this during my quite time this morning when a still soft voice said, "Welcome to the club son." I realized that often times we treat God as if He was a virtual god and not the relational Father that He really is.
We treat Him like:
-nearly real
-Almost there
-Not completely God
Yet, we know:
-He is there
-He is real
-He is completely God
This is what I know of my colleagues:
We will create camps that are relational.
We will create classrooms that are interactive.
We will create workouts that make you sweat and cry (at least they make me cry, I guess I'm a woos).
We will do this , not simply to do this, but so you can have a real, a complete, a life that is really there.
This is why I work with the "Y".
Last thought.
As we go through our day. let us not have a virtual life, a life that is:
-nearly real
-Almost there
-Not completely complete
Let us love God, love man, serve both!
Blessings,
Roger
Monday, April 13, 2020
The Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
Another day of social distancing.
We held our first and hopefully only Covid-19 Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt yesterday.
One might ask their selves', "What is a Covid-19 Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt?
Good question; a Covid-19 Easter Egg Hunt is a social distancing experiment.
My neighbor has 3-acres. Laurie (my wife) and I took survey flags (the little sticks with orange material that flaps in the wind) and put them in the ground. We didn't put them just anywhere, no we were more intentional than that. We marked out specific plots of land (Much in the same way as the Sooners did it in Oklahoma back in the late 1800's when they raced across the Kansas border and said, "I take this land that nobody was on." Even though Native Americans had lived there for years, but that is another story.)
Our plots were good sized between 1/4 and 1/2 an acre each. The plots were spaced at least 20 yards apart and there were 3-plots.
One might ask, "Why 3-plots?"
Another great question; We made 3-plots because there was going to be 3-families that were partaking in the festivities.
We separated the plots so that families could social distance.
One might say, "that is all well and good, but what about cross contamination of the eggs and candy?"
Another great thought.
We had the families be responsible for bringing their own plastic eggs and candy so there would be no cross contamination.
One might say, "What? Plastic eggs, why not real ones?"
Once again, another fabulous question.
Plastic eggs are the key ingredient to a Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt.
Many years ago in a state just across the river in a town around 40-miles away from here there was a shy little girl. This little girl went to an Easter Egg Hunt at a YMCA. After the hunt the little girl's mother told me that her daughter did not get one egg. When she would go for an egg another kid would always get there first and take it. I told the mother that would never happen again and the Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt was born.
I bought 2,500 plastic eggs. and buckets full of candy. I did not put the candy n the eggs. I had a redemption center. This is how it worked:
1. Take a section of ground and mark it out
2. Place a bunch of eggs in the section.
3. Have a redemption Center.
a. Redemption center has candy and a bucket
4. Kids pick up the eggs, take them to the redemption center and trade their egg for a piece of candy.
5. Throw the eggs back into the plotted field.
6. Kids pick up the eggs and repeat the whole process until they are tired of hunting eggs.
The Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt was born! The hunt where every kid gets as many Easter Eggs as they want.
For the Covid-19 Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt families remained socially distant but they could all see one another and be together.
A few days ago I wrote about different ways to communicate during this time. Well, this was the standing far apart and yelling option.
Our new CEO Trevor (Not his real name, but like I am fond of saying, "A story is always much better with a name attached.) Really likes this option.
By the end of the afternoon the people were thanking me for putting this together. The ability to have fun together while still social distancing was important for them. I got to watch my grandkids have a great time with their parents, thus I got to have a great time with my kids. We used our cell phone like walkie-talkie's.
We had fun.
I know that once we get through this time. Things may (Oh let's face it), things will be different. Things will present challenges.
But as that famous philosopher once said, "It is not the challenge that defines you, it is your response." Regor Nottub
Let us respond well; with love, respect, honesty responsibility and service.
Maybe, just maybe we can teach an entire community what it is to truly love their neighbor.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
Another day of social distancing.
We held our first and hopefully only Covid-19 Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt yesterday.
One might ask their selves', "What is a Covid-19 Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt?
Good question; a Covid-19 Easter Egg Hunt is a social distancing experiment.
My neighbor has 3-acres. Laurie (my wife) and I took survey flags (the little sticks with orange material that flaps in the wind) and put them in the ground. We didn't put them just anywhere, no we were more intentional than that. We marked out specific plots of land (Much in the same way as the Sooners did it in Oklahoma back in the late 1800's when they raced across the Kansas border and said, "I take this land that nobody was on." Even though Native Americans had lived there for years, but that is another story.)
Our plots were good sized between 1/4 and 1/2 an acre each. The plots were spaced at least 20 yards apart and there were 3-plots.
One might ask, "Why 3-plots?"
Another great question; We made 3-plots because there was going to be 3-families that were partaking in the festivities.
We separated the plots so that families could social distance.
One might say, "that is all well and good, but what about cross contamination of the eggs and candy?"
Another great thought.
We had the families be responsible for bringing their own plastic eggs and candy so there would be no cross contamination.
One might say, "What? Plastic eggs, why not real ones?"
Once again, another fabulous question.
Plastic eggs are the key ingredient to a Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt.
Many years ago in a state just across the river in a town around 40-miles away from here there was a shy little girl. This little girl went to an Easter Egg Hunt at a YMCA. After the hunt the little girl's mother told me that her daughter did not get one egg. When she would go for an egg another kid would always get there first and take it. I told the mother that would never happen again and the Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt was born.
I bought 2,500 plastic eggs. and buckets full of candy. I did not put the candy n the eggs. I had a redemption center. This is how it worked:
1. Take a section of ground and mark it out
2. Place a bunch of eggs in the section.
3. Have a redemption Center.
a. Redemption center has candy and a bucket
4. Kids pick up the eggs, take them to the redemption center and trade their egg for a piece of candy.
5. Throw the eggs back into the plotted field.
6. Kids pick up the eggs and repeat the whole process until they are tired of hunting eggs.
The Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt was born! The hunt where every kid gets as many Easter Eggs as they want.
For the Covid-19 Never Ending Easter Egg Hunt families remained socially distant but they could all see one another and be together.
A few days ago I wrote about different ways to communicate during this time. Well, this was the standing far apart and yelling option.
Our new CEO Trevor (Not his real name, but like I am fond of saying, "A story is always much better with a name attached.) Really likes this option.
By the end of the afternoon the people were thanking me for putting this together. The ability to have fun together while still social distancing was important for them. I got to watch my grandkids have a great time with their parents, thus I got to have a great time with my kids. We used our cell phone like walkie-talkie's.
We had fun.
I know that once we get through this time. Things may (Oh let's face it), things will be different. Things will present challenges.
But as that famous philosopher once said, "It is not the challenge that defines you, it is your response." Regor Nottub
Let us respond well; with love, respect, honesty responsibility and service.
Maybe, just maybe we can teach an entire community what it is to truly love their neighbor.
Blessings,
Roger
Friday, April 10, 2020
Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
Bonnie, (you know, the one that uses an English accent to say Roger) sent this to me yesterday. It is so good that I thought I would share it and leave it at that. I do not know the original author, if I did I would give the person the credit they so richly deserve.
Here you go, and thank you Bonnie.
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you, or shakes your arm, making you spill coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
"because someone bumped into me!"
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.
"Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out."
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you is what will come out. It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves, "what's in my cup?"
When life gets tough, what spills over?
Joy, gratefulness, peace, and humility?
Anger, bitterness, harsh words, and reactions?
Life provides the cup. You choose how to fill it.
Today, let's work towards filling our cup with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmations, and kindness, gentleness, and love towards others.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
Bonnie, (you know, the one that uses an English accent to say Roger) sent this to me yesterday. It is so good that I thought I would share it and leave it at that. I do not know the original author, if I did I would give the person the credit they so richly deserve.
Here you go, and thank you Bonnie.
You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you, or shakes your arm, making you spill coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
"because someone bumped into me!"
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.
"Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out."
Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you is what will come out. It's easy to fake it, until you get rattled.
So we have to ask ourselves, "what's in my cup?"
When life gets tough, what spills over?
Joy, gratefulness, peace, and humility?
Anger, bitterness, harsh words, and reactions?
Life provides the cup. You choose how to fill it.
Today, let's work towards filling our cup with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmations, and kindness, gentleness, and love towards others.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Roger
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Is day old bread still good, or is it moldy?
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
With all this social distancing going on we are continually finding new ways connect.
Virtual meetings, FaceTime, standing far apart and yelling...
I was in one of our new ways of connecting yesterday; I was in a virtual meeting. We were discussing things of the YMCA, the "Y".
Things like:
-How do we continue to serve our community during these troubling times.
-Things are different, how do we adapt.
-What does coming out the other side of this look like.
These are all great questions. Then our Healthy Living Director (I will call her Bonnie, it might not be her real name, but a story always goes much better with a name attached) said, "Roger (please use an English accent when saying "Roger", she does) I didn't see a Daily Bread for today."
I replied, "Yes, I didn't write one for today."
Then Bonnie said, (and you can quit using the English accent she only does when she says "Roger") "Well I wonder."
I asked, "You wonder what?"
Bonnie quipped, "I wonder if day old bread is still good, or is it moldy?"
I thought, "Wow, now that is the question of the day."
Is day old bread not good, hmmm?
Well I suppose it could still be good if the ingredients were good.
I remember somebody telling a story about yeast and bread once. He said, "A little yeast leavens the whole bread."
This made me wonder.
If the yeast is bad, then it only takes a little yeast to ruin the whole bread (you know the one bad apple ruins the whole bunch thing).
But, if the yeast is good the whole bread is good and will last for days!
I have a friend who is an amazing baker (I will call him Matt). He makes amazing breads and they are really good even the next day, which if you are good at math makes them a day old.
As you can see I have been pondering Bonnie's question.
This is what I came up with:
It depends on what I put into my heart.
When I put God's word into my heart, it is the yeast that leavens my thoughts, my bread and makes it good.
Thank you Bonnie for causing me to ponder.
By the way, our "Y" is coming up with new and exciting ways to serve our community. I know that the program directors will be sprinkling the yeast of love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service throughout our programs so our community will not become moldy bread.
My prayer is that this old bread caused you to ponder too.
Blessings,
I pray the day finds you well.
With all this social distancing going on we are continually finding new ways connect.
Virtual meetings, FaceTime, standing far apart and yelling...
I was in one of our new ways of connecting yesterday; I was in a virtual meeting. We were discussing things of the YMCA, the "Y".
Things like:
-How do we continue to serve our community during these troubling times.
-Things are different, how do we adapt.
-What does coming out the other side of this look like.
These are all great questions. Then our Healthy Living Director (I will call her Bonnie, it might not be her real name, but a story always goes much better with a name attached) said, "Roger (please use an English accent when saying "Roger", she does) I didn't see a Daily Bread for today."
I replied, "Yes, I didn't write one for today."
Then Bonnie said, (and you can quit using the English accent she only does when she says "Roger") "Well I wonder."
I asked, "You wonder what?"
Bonnie quipped, "I wonder if day old bread is still good, or is it moldy?"
I thought, "Wow, now that is the question of the day."
Is day old bread not good, hmmm?
Well I suppose it could still be good if the ingredients were good.
I remember somebody telling a story about yeast and bread once. He said, "A little yeast leavens the whole bread."
This made me wonder.
If the yeast is bad, then it only takes a little yeast to ruin the whole bread (you know the one bad apple ruins the whole bunch thing).
But, if the yeast is good the whole bread is good and will last for days!
I have a friend who is an amazing baker (I will call him Matt). He makes amazing breads and they are really good even the next day, which if you are good at math makes them a day old.
As you can see I have been pondering Bonnie's question.
This is what I came up with:
It depends on what I put into my heart.
When I put God's word into my heart, it is the yeast that leavens my thoughts, my bread and makes it good.
Thank you Bonnie for causing me to ponder.
By the way, our "Y" is coming up with new and exciting ways to serve our community. I know that the program directors will be sprinkling the yeast of love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service throughout our programs so our community will not become moldy bread.
My prayer is that this old bread caused you to ponder too.
Blessings,
Monday, April 6, 2020
God in the Mudpuddles
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
Well there is no getting around it, we are in dark times.
We are in the middle of a global pandemic. As I look at the screen I see we have more than 1.3 million cases worldwide with 71,000 confirmed deaths. As bad as this sounds the death rate will go up as the rate is underreported so far. The United States alone has just gone over 10,000 confirmed deaths.
As I said earlier, there is no getting around it, we are in dark times.
It would be easy to go down a dark path.
It would be easy to be all gloom and doom.
For those of you that have lost a loved one to this terrible disease, I grieve with you. Never hear that I am discounting your loss. It is in these times where it will be hard, very hard, nay I say, near impossible to see and hear God.
Even though you/we may not be able to hear or see God in this moment, please know that He hears and sees us.
Even though we may refuse to be comforted, He is here to comfort us. God is working in the darkness.
Even though the noise of our grief deafens us, He is here to talk with us; more importantly listen to us. God is a miracle worker.
Even though our pain blinds us to seeing Him, He sees us and sits with us. God is light in the darkness.
These are dark times.
I often wonder how much darker these times would be if God wasn't here to help me through it.
I have often said, "If God is in the puffy clouds and blue sky of a sunny day, then He is also in the mudpuddles of a rainy one."
For me it is easy to see God in the puffy clouds and blue sky of a sunny day. What I must continually do is look for Him in the mudpuddles too.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
I pray the day finds you well.
Well there is no getting around it, we are in dark times.
We are in the middle of a global pandemic. As I look at the screen I see we have more than 1.3 million cases worldwide with 71,000 confirmed deaths. As bad as this sounds the death rate will go up as the rate is underreported so far. The United States alone has just gone over 10,000 confirmed deaths.
As I said earlier, there is no getting around it, we are in dark times.
It would be easy to go down a dark path.
It would be easy to be all gloom and doom.
For those of you that have lost a loved one to this terrible disease, I grieve with you. Never hear that I am discounting your loss. It is in these times where it will be hard, very hard, nay I say, near impossible to see and hear God.
Even though you/we may not be able to hear or see God in this moment, please know that He hears and sees us.
Even though we may refuse to be comforted, He is here to comfort us. God is working in the darkness.
Even though the noise of our grief deafens us, He is here to talk with us; more importantly listen to us. God is a miracle worker.
Even though our pain blinds us to seeing Him, He sees us and sits with us. God is light in the darkness.
These are dark times.
I often wonder how much darker these times would be if God wasn't here to help me through it.
I have often said, "If God is in the puffy clouds and blue sky of a sunny day, then He is also in the mudpuddles of a rainy one."
For me it is easy to see God in the puffy clouds and blue sky of a sunny day. What I must continually do is look for Him in the mudpuddles too.
Something to ponder.
Blessings,
Thursday, April 2, 2020
The question is not what you look at, but what you see
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
My world has shrunk lately. I do not get out as much as I used to. As I have talked about, I walk around the property that surrounds my house. It would be easy to become accustomed to seeing the same thing over and over again.
The same mudpuddle.
The same blades of grass.
Trees, shrubs, birds, bugs, neighbors (at a distance of course)…
As I walked around the property, sometimes with my canoe for a hat. I would look around.
Another Henry David Thoreau quote came to mind; it seems as if I perseverate (A friend taught me that word) on Thoreau lately.
"The question is not what you look at but what you see."
What is it that you see?
Sometimes, I wonder what I am not seeing that God would like me to see.
I do love Dr. Seuss!
"Even though you can't see or hear them all, a person's a person no matter how small."
When I put Thoreau and Seuss together I get, “If at first you don’t see anything, keep looking. God may show you something big, no matter how small it is.”
I will continue to walk around the property, sometimes wearing my canoe for a hat, keeping my eyes open to see things that God wants to show me.
What has God been showing you?
Something to think about.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
My world has shrunk lately. I do not get out as much as I used to. As I have talked about, I walk around the property that surrounds my house. It would be easy to become accustomed to seeing the same thing over and over again.
The same mudpuddle.
The same blades of grass.
Trees, shrubs, birds, bugs, neighbors (at a distance of course)…
As I walked around the property, sometimes with my canoe for a hat. I would look around.
Another Henry David Thoreau quote came to mind; it seems as if I perseverate (A friend taught me that word) on Thoreau lately.
"The question is not what you look at but what you see."
What is it that you see?
Sometimes, I wonder what I am not seeing that God would like me to see.
I do love Dr. Seuss!
"Even though you can't see or hear them all, a person's a person no matter how small."
When I put Thoreau and Seuss together I get, “If at first you don’t see anything, keep looking. God may show you something big, no matter how small it is.”
I will continue to walk around the property, sometimes wearing my canoe for a hat, keeping my eyes open to see things that God wants to show me.
What has God been showing you?
Something to think about.
Blessings,
Roger
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Taking my canoe for a walk
Good morning,
I pray the day finds you well.
People have been asking me, "Other than going to the Dairy Farm what have you been doing during this Covid-19 Pandemic? Other than working from home I have been taking my canoe for a walk.
Normally, or should I say before the Covid-19 Pandemic I would take my wife and my dog and canoe on one of the lakes we have. But with the new normal of not leaving your house, or in our case property, I have been taking my canoe for a walk.
Taking a canoe for a walk is an old tradition, it arose from the Native Americans and then first explorers to this New World. In Canada it is called Portaging. In America it is called Portaging. I can see there needs to be a bit of explanation. In Canada it is called Poortajing in Webster's it is pronounced pȯr-ˈtäzh. In America it is called Portadging in Webster's it is pronounced pȯr-tij . You could ask, "Why the difference?" but it would be much the same as why a person from Kansas, (remember I am from Kansas) asking a person in California the directions to La Jolla, and the Californian would respond with disgust, "You mean La Hoya, California? the "J" is silent and the two "LL's" are sounded as a "Y". when I asked they said, "I don't know, it is a Spanish thing." So my answer to the portaging question is, "I don't know, it is a Canadian/French thing.
I looked up the word "Portage" and it literally means, "Man/person who walks with a canoe on their head." Or in other words, "Man/person who wears a canoe for a hat."
In all actuality, I am walking around my property with my canoe as a hat for two reasons:
1. I am doing this to stay in shape. It, as my wife would say, "Is a practical way to work out."
2. It keeps the rain off my head.
Henry David Thoreau once said, "If you are lucky enough to paddle, you are lucky enough."
Regor Nottub once said, "If you are lucky enough to Portage, you ran out of water and must find more."
Portaging is part of canoeing, so being in shape to portage just makes sense, my wife's wisdom is sound.
As I walk around my property wearing my canoe as a hat I have plenty of time to think. Things I tend to think about:
1. This sucks.
2. I wonder how God is using this experience to mold me? I actually think about that a lot.
The Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 will change us. The real question is how will it change us?
My hope, and I know it is possible, "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) that we can come out of this being better, a better version of ourselves.
I am not exactly sure what that will look like. Hopefully, we will do less finger pointing, less blaming, less victimizing. Hopefully we will show much more love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service toward each other.
As I said before, "As I go through this journey, I don't get wrapped around the axle about stuff anymore. The things that I once thought of as important aren't as important to me anymore.
Things I find important:
Showing love to each other.
Being respectful to each other.
Being honest with each other.
Being responsible for our actions, and thoughts.
Providing service to each other.
I think if we concentrate on those things we will be a better version of ourselves.
That I what God is working on with me as I take my canoe for a walk.
Blessings,
Roger
I pray the day finds you well.
People have been asking me, "Other than going to the Dairy Farm what have you been doing during this Covid-19 Pandemic? Other than working from home I have been taking my canoe for a walk.
Normally, or should I say before the Covid-19 Pandemic I would take my wife and my dog and canoe on one of the lakes we have. But with the new normal of not leaving your house, or in our case property, I have been taking my canoe for a walk.
Taking a canoe for a walk is an old tradition, it arose from the Native Americans and then first explorers to this New World. In Canada it is called Portaging. In America it is called Portaging. I can see there needs to be a bit of explanation. In Canada it is called Poortajing in Webster's it is pronounced pȯr-ˈtäzh. In America it is called Portadging in Webster's it is pronounced pȯr-tij . You could ask, "Why the difference?" but it would be much the same as why a person from Kansas, (remember I am from Kansas) asking a person in California the directions to La Jolla, and the Californian would respond with disgust, "You mean La Hoya, California? the "J" is silent and the two "LL's" are sounded as a "Y". when I asked they said, "I don't know, it is a Spanish thing." So my answer to the portaging question is, "I don't know, it is a Canadian/French thing.
I looked up the word "Portage" and it literally means, "Man/person who walks with a canoe on their head." Or in other words, "Man/person who wears a canoe for a hat."
In all actuality, I am walking around my property with my canoe as a hat for two reasons:
1. I am doing this to stay in shape. It, as my wife would say, "Is a practical way to work out."
2. It keeps the rain off my head.
Henry David Thoreau once said, "If you are lucky enough to paddle, you are lucky enough."
Regor Nottub once said, "If you are lucky enough to Portage, you ran out of water and must find more."
Portaging is part of canoeing, so being in shape to portage just makes sense, my wife's wisdom is sound.
As I walk around my property wearing my canoe as a hat I have plenty of time to think. Things I tend to think about:
1. This sucks.
2. I wonder how God is using this experience to mold me? I actually think about that a lot.
The Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 will change us. The real question is how will it change us?
My hope, and I know it is possible, "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) that we can come out of this being better, a better version of ourselves.
I am not exactly sure what that will look like. Hopefully, we will do less finger pointing, less blaming, less victimizing. Hopefully we will show much more love, respect, honesty, responsibility and service toward each other.
As I said before, "As I go through this journey, I don't get wrapped around the axle about stuff anymore. The things that I once thought of as important aren't as important to me anymore.
Things I find important:
Showing love to each other.
Being respectful to each other.
Being honest with each other.
Being responsible for our actions, and thoughts.
Providing service to each other.
I think if we concentrate on those things we will be a better version of ourselves.
That I what God is working on with me as I take my canoe for a walk.
Blessings,
Roger
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