The Parable of the Unprepared Boater

March 10, 2020Blog, Encouragement, Personal Growthparable, preparedebio7 Leave a comment

On a peaceful, sunny day at the harbor, as the boater was enjoying the water and plentiful sunshine, a thought entered the boater’s mind. “I think I should prepare the dinghy for the storm that’s coming. I should go and put the cover on it, before the storm arrives.”

But the boater was busy with other things, and after those were done, the boater knew they would be too tired to deal with preparations for the dinghy and the coming storm too. So the boater brushed off that “prepare” thought and continued to enjoy the beautiful, sunshiny day at the harbor.

But the sunshine and peace didn’t last, and the storm came as expected. The boater knew that now, in the midst of the storm the dinghy must be covered or it would fill up with water and be overcome and perhaps even be sink. So the boater, with rain falling, winds blowing, clothes drenched, body aching, covered the dinghy with much effort and grumbling, because the boater knew that they should have prepared the dinghy earlier, before the storm arrived.

I believe you could easily glean a moral or two from this parable. So, please do. Apply it and gain from it anything you see.

My intended purpose was to use my real life experience, as a lesson and picture of what’s happening in our world today.

Yes, I am the boater in this parable who didn’t pay attention to the voice that said “Prepare. I didn’t prepare before the storm. I ignored the signs and weather forcasters warning of the coming storm.

We are living in stormy times and I fear a storm is still on the horizon. Reputable forecasters are speaking of it and issuing warnings to “Prepare”. It behooves us to pay attention to the coming storm and prepare.

There are many ways to prepare. Look inside yourself, evaluate the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs there. Look up for help. Look in your family, home, place of business, church, bank, store. Begin to prepare.

The urgency of the day says it’s time to prepare. Not wait til the storm arrives, because then the winds will blow and rain will fall, your body will be achy, and you will be grumbling. Now is the time to prepare.

Please, accept a Parable from the Unprepared Boater – ME.

Cheers to you.

Let’s Celebrate!

March 6, 2020Blog, Inspirationcelebratedebio7 Leave a comment

Celebrations are fun. (or are supposed to be)

They are generally happy times with family or friends. They are often loud & colorful, but can also be quiet and simple. Celebrations happen for all kinds of events, people, reasons, successes, and accomplishments.

Celebrations help us remember what matters.

In my city this week we begin “The Festival of Whales” celebration, where we actually celebrate the annual migration of whales! It’s a fun time with a parade, vendors, kids activities, lots of food and music.

In a couple of weeks a neighboring city is celebrating the annual return of the swallows to Mission San Juan Capistrano.

In Pine Bush, New York they celebrate UFO’s and Aliens yearly. Who knew?

Celebrations can be big (national or city wide) or small (personal). But science has told us a few things about the importance of celebrations. Celebrations:

release stress
provide motivation
are linked with gratitude (and we all know the benefits of gratitude)
help us to remember important things
are just plain fun
call attention or honor a person or things gained

Me thinks, it’s time to celebrate YOU, on a personal level.

Your accomplishments. You got up today, right? You’re still breathing and fighting, right? What other things, (you may say little things) in your life do you need to celebrate? Did you try something new? Loose weight? Take a risk? Make that phone call? Had that conversation? Ate something new? Did something without forgetting? Actually sat down for a while? Read a book? Send that email? Paid those bills? Ordered that item? Renewed that subscription? Did your nails? Folded the clothes? Fixed a meal? Cleaned the closet, drawer, room oh geesh, this cleaning never stops!

All of those and hundreds more “little things” are worth celebrating. YOU and the things you do are worth celebrating. There is nothing stupid about it, nothing unimportant about it. Celebrating your “little”, daily accomplishments will give you a boost, motivation and so much more.

Celebrating simply make us feel better. Seriously, those oxytocins, which reduce stress thrive on celebrations. We feel more energy even.

So I say, find something to celebrate. Right now. Think about it. What can you celebrate right now? Got it? Well then, there’s nothing left to do than CELEBRATE. (Hear the music “Celebrate Good Times, C’mon” in the background now?)

Yay! Good for you! Way to go! That was awesome! Party on!

Cheers to YOU.

What do you trust in?

March 4, 2020Blog, Inspiration, Personal Growthceremonial deism, national motto, trustdebio7 Leave a comment

Been thinking a lot about our national motto – In God We Trust. Frankly, I think I forgot it was more than a phrase on our money and that it had been selected as our national motto. Oops…

It first appeared on US coins in 1864, when it appeared on the 2 cent coin. It was after the Secretary of Tresury Salmon Chase received requests for the US to recognize the Diety on coins. That first letter came to him in 1861 and it was not long after that he directed the US Mint in Philadelphia to prepare a motto. In his letter to them, he said,

“No nation can be strong except in the strength of God…the trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delyay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.”
Solomon Chase, Director of Treasury 1861

After legal issues were settled, on April 22, 1864, In God We Trust first appeared on the 2 cent coin. In 1873 The Coinage Act stated that it may be inscribed on other coins. By 1938 all US coins bore the motto.

Then on July 30, 1956, the 84th Congress approved IN GOD WE TRUST as the national motto and President Eisenhower signed the bill. In 1957 the national motto was first used on US paper money.

Fast forward and look at the tremendous change in American thinking:

1984 – the courts use the phrase “ceremonial deism” to say that the motto “through constant use has lost it’s religious content and is no longer religious in nature.”
1994 – The Freedom From Religion sued the federal government to have In God We Trust removed from currency.
2006 – CA Court of appeals – “the national motto… has no theological or ritualistic impact and is purely secular, patriotic and ceremonial in character.”
2019 – The American Athiests condemned the North Dakota bill allowing the display of the national motto in public schools.

There’s so much more, but I don’t want to loose you in the History.

It has become apparent that not everyone agrees that In God We Trust. So I ask, what do YOU trust in? Money, friends, family, self, God…

Trust is the basis of all human systems of morality. Upon what do you build that trust? I don’t care if it’s “Affective trust” – trusting with your heart, or “Cognitive trust” – trusting with your head. Psychologists say those are the 2 kinds of trust, so pick one or the other, or both.

At the bedrock of your life, my life, what’s there to attach trust to? In the stresses and storms of life, what holds me secure? When loss and pain overcome me, who/what do I take it to? When the Coronavirus scares me and threatens my loved ones, who or what strengthens and comforts me? What do you trust in for confidence, strength, hope, comfort, support?

I think that Secretary Chase, President Eisenhower and millions of others through the ages actually got it right. But that’s my opinion, my belief. It is also my purpose for writing this and my hope – that you, too, will trust in God.

In God We Trust.

Cheers to you.

What’s happened to truth and righteousness?

March 2, 2020Blog, Personal Growthrighteousness, truthdebio7 2 Comments

Just today I had a conversation with a friend in which I said, “I don’t believe everything I am told. Far too often, I don’t believe people tell the truth”. This so reminded me of the dozens of times my sister and I have had similar conversations.

Is it 41 years of teaching and hearing so many “stories”? Is it working with teenagers for so long? Is it the culture? Is it the society? Is it the years I spent working in jails, prisons and juvenile detention centers? Is it having raised a son in the 1990’s? Is it just me? I dunno. I can say that my sister and my friend are both waaaay more trusting and believing than I am.

Where do you stand? Are you a believer in what people tell you or a doubter?

The truth is, if you listen to much news, or politics, or are privy to administrative meetings, sales reps, and commercial pitches you will find it sorely lacking. Especially in this modern age of being “woke”. Unfortunately, “truth” has morphed into “my truth”, “your truth”, “their truth”. What has happened to truth?

Then, there is the old English, long, lost word – righteousness. It’s not used much, but it’s root is – righteous. Now that’s used as more of an old, cool, trendy, surfer, exclamation – “That’s righteous”. (Can you tell I grew up in the 60’s/70’s?) Where else is it used? The Righteous Brothers? (sorry another old one)

Do our young people even know what it is? Sometimes I wonder the same about truth. What’s happened to righteousness?

Here’s the deal, I don’t particularly like the direction our society is going. I’m not a fan of what has become accepted as the “norm”, the “everyone’s doing it” ploy. You can agree or disagree. But I am not willing to let society (and our kids) go uncontested, unchallenged, and down this slippery slope.

I am not willing to give in to the “no absolutes” philosophy or the “accepting everything” morals. I believe there are absolutes and truth is not just “my” truth”, but “the truth”. (Sorry Oprah)

“Truth – that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.”
“Righteousness – acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin”
“Righteous – (of a person or conduct) morally right; virtuous. Very good, excellent.”
Merriam Webster

I just feel that we can make an impact by what we say, do and believe. By what we stand up for, speak up for and won’t stand for.

We can make a difference by speaking the truth and not compromising on confronting untruths. Holding to truthfulness.

We can make a difference by living “rightly” – righteous, in righteousness. We’re not perfect, but we can choose to live right, and we can choose to do what is right and not be troubled by guilt.

What’s happened to truth and righteousness?

Cheers to you