The Simple Things.

After yesterday today has been a breath of fresh air, latterly. I have been outside most of the morning and enjoying it. It is bright, sunny, cool life 41 degrees cool and no one has been around. I have been steadily working away on a pile of leaves that covered my entire back yard three days ago. It has been steady work but enjoyable none the less. The smell of the burning leaves, the cool breeze and the noise of the woods behind me are all things I find enjoyable. Not much more to add, it’s a simple thing.

What not to ask someone who is having a bad day.

1. Would you do that again?
2. Is it really that bad?
3. What if you look at it from this perspective.
Today has been one of those days when the best thing to do is to not do anything. The idea of not “solving” an issue is not one I am comfortable with but I am learning that often the best solution is to not do a thing. Family life has been particularly challenging this year and as such I have found myself on the wrong side of just about everyone in the family. Problem is I am suppose to be the head of the family. If I am the problem what does that make everyone else in the family? Why the solution or the victims of course. So as I said this is a bad day and I am not sure how much is my own doing. If I answer question number 1 above then nope I would not do it over again. The answer to question 2 is I guess it is not really that is bad as I seem to be the only one with a concern for the problems And for question 3 that is my problem I can’t look at it from another perspective. I am too black and white. I am also concerned that if my perspective can be swayed; then what are my standards, my beliefs, my ideals of right and wrong? If I can’t stick to my beliefs because the entire family is against them then I have in fact lost the pulse of the house. Bottom line is don’t ask the above questions on a bad day, then answers will not be warmly received.

Living for the line Christmas Eve 2008

I have had an opportunity the last few days to engage in a great conversation about the meaning of Christmas. I have thought of the events and activities of the year and it occurs to me that there have been a lot of events and activities in 2008 that seemed like significant life changing events at the time. And in fact those events did have some impact but certainly not to the degree that in light of eternity I should be overly concerned. So it is Christmas eve and if I look at 2008 from Gods perspective then 2008 was a really really great year and there is plenty too celebrating tomorrow on Christmas day. We have endeared ourselves to our neighbors to such a degree that they have all decided that we cant move. I left a job 4 months ago and I still get gifts and thanks from folks on the “old team” for the part I played. I still find that my best times are those few moments when my wife is smiling and the kids are content. I have a friend who has a wonderful way of putting Gods perspective into plain view. He talked often about the dots in life and living for the line. The dots are those events like graduation, marriage, child birth, loss of a loved one, etc. The line, thats what happens after we die. Often called eternity. And I am reminded again that if we look at life from the dots it can be hard, miserable, trying and yes good. If we look at life from the line we are encouraged within ourselves to make choices that have eternal consequences. In light of eternity does the fact that my roof is still leaking mean all that much, no probably not. In light of eternity does it mean anything that our neighbors said we “can not leave” I suspect there is some connection. So we are here living for the line, working through the dots, but absolutely convinced that Gods got bigger things planned all we have to do is stay out of his way and be willing to be clay in his hands. God thank you for the gift of Christ. I have taken several moments today to reflect on the sacrifices our service members make for us, we are blessed. I am remembering some of the friends of old and new who have run into the "dots" of this life, we are blessed. This is a great time of year to look at the dots in your life. Reach out to those you love, those you set aside because of a "hard dot" and remember eternity is a long time. Mend a bridge. Thank you god for Jesus.

Impact

Today in church the pastor asked us to reflect back on those people in our lives who made an impact. Thought of who in my life made an impact. There were several. I married one of them and she still makes an impact. I also thought of Shawn Vandenhouten. Shawn was tall, good looking, outgoing personality, well to do family. And yet Shawn found God. The kids who from my perspective had it all found strength in God. That same strength allowed Shawn to reach across lines to find the quality of each individual. God looks at us the same way. God has gifted each of us with talents. Shawn saw in others the talents given by God. I have no idea where Shawn is today. But over the years he has come into my mind on many occasions. Shawn made an impact, that road he introduced me to has been one of many challenges and changes. It has also made a significant impact on the direction of my life. God knows the talents, Shawn saw that and was not afraid to introduce me to God.

The Drive

For 30 years I have been getting up way too early, driving and entering the work place. Then after high school I took the first train out of my home town because there was no work for people like me. I was not connected, supported, or self sufficient.

That train was the US Army. And totally by accident I managed to give the American people twenty years of my life. All the while I was getting up way to early, working way to long, and getting more expectations placed upon me.

After the Army I thought lets try this thing called the business world. I nailed down a job at a fortune 500 company and began to “drink the cool-aid” Again getting up way too early working way too long and getting home way too late. All the while I was getting up way to early, working way to long, and getting more expectations placed upon me.

I left that company because my boss said he hated his job and I thought what was I aspiring to do, compete for a shot at my bosses job, but he hated it, why should I want a job the current owner hates. So off I went to the federal government. Once again I got up way too early, worked way to hard, came home way too late. The difference here is in the government there are plenty of people willing to stand by and watch you run wide open; it means they don’t have to perform. All the while I was getting up way to early, working way to long, and getting more expectations placed upon me.

So I recently changed jobs and the expectation is very different. I am deep inside the bureaucratic center of an organization and wow is it different. Not only are folks willing to watch but they have territorial rights over what you do. They have no problem telling you what your job is and what their job is. Problem is once everyone tells you what there job is there is nothing for you. I have been here four months and I think in actual production time I have completed about 1 week worth of work. The lanes are clearly established and do not cross them even if it is to do good things. Even if are getting up way too early, working way to long, and getting more expectations placed upon you, don’t cross the lines.

I am tiring of the getting up way too early, working way too long, and getting more expectations placed upon me. I am hoping too get out of the race, to change the drive, to take a path less traveled.

Speed Bumps

I work in the federal government. As such I am forced to deal with large organizations. I am still adjusting to the fact that if 10 people look at a flat tire they call is what it is… flat. In the government 10 people can look at the same flat tire and before the problem is clearly stated (its flat) a committee is formed to determine what flat looks like. Then another team is developed to see if the air on top can be cycled to the bottom in an effort to not only address the apparent flat but also to “save” resources used to solve the “apparent flat”

I call these people speed bumps. They have built their entire career on memorizing the fine print in the rule or regulation that is guaranteed to bring the process to a screeching halt. They base there significance on their ability to tell the team staring at the “flat tire” that the term flat does not mean deflated but in-fact means a temporary place to live.

These are folks that could not work in industry because they do not understand the production line MUST run in order to make money. They could not work in academia because they can not think outside their box. They are masters of quoting the book but they do not have the motivation or imagination needed to write the book.

It is unfortunate the government does not have to “make money” because if business ran like governments there would be no business. So I am forced to deal with the speed bumps and the tax payers loose because the speed bumps are forcing the movers and shakers in government to conform to the do not produce mentality.

It’s a small world and getting smaller

The last few weeks I have been running into folks I knew from days past. A week ago it was Dan. Dan and I worked together as teenagers. And like many young adults we graduated and went down one road in life and I went down another. We would talk every now and then but life kept us on different roads for many years. My faith, goals, objectives would take me to places most Americans only read about. It is the faith part that Dan found in the course of his life that amazed me. Things had not gone as planned for Dan but when I talked to him it was the same upbeat, positive attitude I knew and enjoyed from 30 years ago. In this age of “easy connectivity” it is easy to connect up with someone you have not heard from in years. I encourage you to do just that. Renew the old acquaintance, talk about the roads traveled or not traveled, welcome the other to your world.

Out of the blue today I had lunch with John. He is a professional, well educated, principled man. It is the principled part that often got him into trouble. He did not mind bucking the system; in fact he often enjoyed it. But like a fresh wine he has mellowed with time. During our lunch I heard words like “politically correct” The system had rounded him, smoothed some of the rough edges and yes beat him up a little. But it was enjoyable to spend some time and express the frustrations of job changes, life changes and some blocked goals.

As I talked to Dan and John and a few others form the past it has occurred to me the world is getting smaller with each day I am around. Those folks of my past are showing up again. I am thankful that as much as I have been able I treated those folks from the past with respect. It is good to see them seeking me out and wanting to renew old acquaintances. I hope to reciprocate and encourage other to do the same.

The challenge of doing a job well.

I must be getting old because my tolerance of people and their shoddy work is getting to be very limited. So I purchased my current house from afar. I relied on folks to represent me. I paid them well for their services and never once tried to talk them down from their cost. In return I have a house that has sucked the life out of me, my family and my bank account. After two years of fighting with the roofing company who did a shoddy job of roofing I received another roof. This morning after a night of stormy weather I have water inside the house. Early this week I found out my two year old water heater is shot. This is the same one that had a 15 year warrantee. Oh and how has to foot the bill for the labor, you guessed it.

We have become a society where our word is not worth anything. The only people able to get in front of the “issues” of life are contract specialist and lawyers. And we the average guy or gal are allowed to work hard and give it away to people who have no pride in their work. I understand the unexpected happens but really. Six different service calls on a roof not eighteen months old. Two service calls on a high dollar Bosch water heater in two years when it is warranted for fifteen years.

I pay good money for good service. Am I nuts to expect that I will get what I pay for. Oh and to make it better there is no government standing behind me to “bail” me out. The big names getting my taxes as a “bail out” should be put out of business. Their products are worthless, there prices are too high and they long ago proved that their word can not be trusted. Just lime my roofer and my hot water heater. I will be looking elsewhere for roofing and water heaters.

Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

Its winter again

So we finished a summer of projects at the house. They took longer than expected and cost a small fortune. All along the idea was that this winter I would not be "fixing" stuff in the house as I have done the last two winters. Well not to be disappointed by the "money pit" I am fixing again. The 3 year old water heater with the 15 year warranty died. This house has proven that man is basically sinful and given an opportunity to walk on their fellow man they will.

Lessons learned on my behalf,,,, NEVER NEVER NEVER trust someone else to be your eyes, ears, nose and touch on a house buy. Invest in coverall and go where the rats go. There you will find the real deal. Don't trust a rat to tell you "don't worry, no rats in there"

We got great neighbors though and they took a vote and deiced that we can not move there are days when the idea is very pleasing to the mind.