Why go to church?

What are you doing today?  When I was young, the grocery stores in the small town were closed and in fact they all had signs on their doors that read "closed Sundays - see you in church."  Back then more Americans did go to worship services, on Sundays or on whatever day was most significant to their faith tradition.  Now more and more people are asking "Why go to church?"

In an interview with Ladies Home Journal back in 1917, Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president offered a number of reasons for going to church. One of the things he said was "Church work and church attendance mean the cultivation of the habit of feeling some responsibility for others and the sense of braced moral strength, which prevents a relaxation of one's own moral fiber." I like that. It sounds a lot like the kind of thing I write about here every day.

The Bible calls on us to be the church, and not just go to church. How can we be the church though if we are not there and are not participating?  How can we spread the Good News and feed and clothe the poor and work for justice and pray for peace and promote a better world, if we don't get off our butts and go?

I'm not going to convince someone in this small space that participating in their synagogue, church, mosque, or other place of worship is something they should do. The reasons for going are many. I suppose you could make a list for why NOT to participate also.  Just for a moment today though, think about it.  If you already have a faith community that you have been part of, think about participating more fully, and if you do not, take a look around.  See what's available to you.  Consider joining and making a difference.  Today just happens to be Easter Day.  What an excellent time to get involved!

 

Roosevelt also said "Yes, I know all the excuses. I know that one can worship the Creator and dedicate oneself to good living in a grove of trees, or by a running brook, or in one's own house, just as well as in church. But I also know as a matter of cold fact the average man does not thus worship or thus dedicate himself," the President said. "If he strays away from church, he does not spend his time in good works or lofty meditation. He looks over the colored supplement of the newspaper."

The Doctors

Doctors make a difference and while I think we should recognize them all the time, today is a day especially for that, National Doctors' Day. We can all celebrate as we recognize the contributions of physicians to our own lives, to our families and friends, and to our communities.

My mother was a nurse, so I learned at a very young age about the wonderful things doctors do. Most of us though take doctors for granted, or we become frustrated when we are stuck in a waiting room waiting for our appointment. Think beyond that for a moment. Think about the long hours they work and think about the lives they save. Think about the times they help make your pains disappear.  Think about the doctor who saved your life when you were in that accident, or who successfully removed the cancer from your body, or the doctor who helped you adjust to diabetes.  Think about the doctor who treated your child's chicken pox, or the physician who operated on your heart, or the doctor who stood by your bed listening to your litany of pains and aches.  

Doctors complete a four-year undergraduate program, four years in medical school, and three to seven years in a residency program to learn the specialty they wish to pursue. The learning doesn't stop there. A good physician is always keeping up with advances in medicine.  How many people have the patience for so many years of education.

In recent years I have volunteered at a hospital and have had the marvelous opportunity to see a lot of physicians up close. Oh my! Such really kind and skilled people. I can't really mention names here. There isn't room.  Instead, I will simply say thank you to them all.

One of many

One of many. (Not a Star Trek character. You're thinking of Seven of Nine). I was just thinking though of one marvelous thing, but as I did, I realized that it wasn't the only marvelous thing. There are tons of marvelous things and more keep on coming. It was simply one of many.

When you eat a mouth-watering candy bar, remember that there are more where that came from - it's just one of many.  When you have a wonderful day, think of it as one of many. When you hear a great song for the first time, be happy about that, but realize it is one of many. How about that fantastic breakfast you just ate, of the beautiful flowers you saw during your morning walk? There are wonders just about everywhere you look. We are surrounded by all kinds of goodness, but sometimes we just don't see it.

As you go through today, make a mental note of every positive or joyful thing you experience - all kinds of candy bars?  beautiful flowers?  perhaps smiling faces?  As you do it, think of the fact that your list keeps on growing. We aren't just talking about one thing - we are talking about one of many!

Ordinary folks

Do you need to have a certain level of education, or do you need a large bank account, or must you be of a certain age or race or religion or ethnicity to be a hero?  Do you have to be a man to be a hero?  That might seem like an odd question, but think about it for a moment.  Who do you consider your own heroes?  Do they have anything in common?

I have found over the years that those who inspire me are all different.  Their age or sex or gender identity or wealth or life experience can all be different.  In real life, heroes don't wear capes. In real life heroes aren't always men and they don't need to be a certain height or of a certain race. In real life heroes don't necessarily even get much attention.  Being a hero isn't so much about who they are, but what they do.

Just about all of the people I consider heroes, are ordinary folks.  So what does that mean?  Who can be a hero?  Ordinary folks like you and me.  Every single one of us can he a hero!

Who or what inspires you?

Inspiration:  Where does it come from?  Is there an athlete, or a television program or a book or a movie or a famous person that has given you inspiration?  There must be someone or something that has inspired you at some time in your life.  I am fortunate to have had inspirations many times.  There are famous people who always inspire me, but sometimes it's just the new friend I just met.

Let's talk a little bit about it.  What made it inspiring?  Can you remember the circumstances?  Has anyone ever told you that you inspire them?  Did they say why?  Think about it.  What does it take to inspire?  (For me, there are many things).

Our country's sixth President, John Quincy Adams (way back in the early 1800s) said "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

And so dear readers, be a leader.  Inspire someone!

Let them know

Recently several people I know have died.  The anniversary of my mom's death is approaching too.  Thinking about so many people who have passed away got me thinking about something else: regrets. Was there anything in their lives that they regretted as they came to an end? What about my relationship with them? Did I have any regrets?

The answer for me, is no. I don't really have any regrets.   Oh yes, I regret not being able to see them any longer, but I have no regrets about our friendships. I believe in speaking up and saying what I think. I always encourage others to do the same thing. Do you value someone's friendship? Let them know. Do you enjoy spending time with someone? Let them know.

There's always tomorrow, isn't really true. A friend died unexpectedly in his sleep not long ago. I wonder how many wishes they had said any number of things to him, before that night. Now I am not saying we should live in fear that each day may be our last or the last day for a friend or relative, but throughout life, don't hide your feelings. Let them know how you feel!

Telling someone that you think they are special or that you enjoy their company, can really brighten their day! My thoughts anyway - what do YOU think?

Give Me A Number

One day at a hospital where I volunteer, I overheard family members talking about an elderly patient.  "I'm not spending money on that," said one.  "She probably won't be alive much longer anyway so it wouldn't be worth it."

This isn't the first time I heard people talk numbers.  During the COVID-19 pandemic I heard several times that some people would die, but not enough to be worried about.  When should we be concerned then?  Please, give me a number.

There are many wonderful people in this world doing great things, and it gives me pleasure to be able to write about some of them here and about things we can all do to make a difference.  From time to time though I just have to comment on the other side of the coin.  There sadly are people who just don't care about others.  I don't get it.  I really don't.  I especially don't understand the preoccupation with numbers.

Every single person is entitled to the chance at happiness from the moment they are born until the day they day.  It's not a case of some being expendable.  It isn't that someone has lived a long time and therefore no longer deserves to live.  That is simply nonsense.  It doesn't matter who says otherwise - they are wrong.  There isn't an age when people are no longer worthy.

how much can you give?

Someone calls you on the phone and asks for a donation or you receive a letter in the mail or perhaps there is a posting on someone's blog that you regularly read. You want to make a donation but you don't think you can afford it or you think the small amount you might give is not really worth it.

Very few of us can donate money to every single cause that comes along, even if we want to. So, just how much can you give? When is it time to step back and donate no more?

In the few lines I write here every day, it would be impossible to give all of the answers on any subject and giving of money is one of the most difficult of all. The best advice I can give is to plan. Don't just reach into your pocket every single time someone asks. Very soon the well would be dry!

Another important thing to remember is that when giving money, EVERY SINGLE DONATION MATTERS. Sometimes we tend to forget that. We think that smaller donations don't matter, but it is those numerous small donations that add up to the big ones!

One thing I like to do is collect money at home for various causes. You can take a few envelopes or jars or even piggy banks and use them to grow donations. One might be for the money you want to give to your church (apart from what you usually give) for some special program or ministry. Another container might be to give money to fight AIDS or cancer or any number of other diseases. You get the idea. You can even have a collection for an unknown cause, just in case something comes up that you want to give to.

Do you usually buy yourself a desert every afternoon, or maybe a coffee? Skip a day (or two or three) and put the money you saved in the jar(s). If you earn a little extra at work (overtime maybe) or doing some special job, put all or at least a part of that in your charity collection jars. Every time you have a little extra money in your pocket, add it to that jar or envelope.

By planning to give something to various causes, you can do so comfortably without fearing that you will leave yourself broke. Saying no is okay too. Always be aware of your limits.

That's beautiful!

Did you ever look out your car window and say "That's beautiful!"? How about taking a walk through the community where you live and you stumble across a scene that moves you because it's just lovely?  The "beautiful" here in this picture is from the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, not far from where I once lived.

Here in Arizona where I live now, there is a lot of beauty too.  Even in the wide open desert there is beauty.  I seem to see beauty everywhere I go.  It's not just on the ground or in the sky.

Beauty can be on the buildings and even on the clothing that people are wearing, and lest we forget, beauty can be within the people we encounter, too (even when we are wearing masks).  It's actually very rare to find a person who does not have beauty within.  You don't have to even look hard - just open your eyes and open your heart.

If we all take a moment to see the beauty that is all around us, I very certain we will realize how beautiful this great world of ours is!

Who inspires you?

Just a few months before she died, I was helping my mother setup a new password for her television and telephone service and the service agent wanted as a hint (in case the password was forgotten), the name of Mom's hero.  Without hesitation Mom said "Dad."  Yes, my grandfather inspired me in many ways, but it was so nice to hear Mom call him her hero.

What about you though - do you have a hero?  Is there someone in your life who inspires you?  When I think of people who inspire me personally, they are not always people I have actually met.  Yes, it can be a relative or friend or co-worker, but we can be inspired by strangers too.  A guy I have written about many times here is one person who inspires me.  There are celebrities too and people long gone.

During the pandemic, I found more and more personal heroes.  The wonderful cellist who livestreamed concerts of his music, was certainly one of them.  All the people who showed care and concern for others, and the leadership we needed to get through it.  My friend Toan, who has been a hero to me since the day I met him, continues to be.  There is also Dinah, and Justin, and Kelly, and my wonderful sister.  It seems my life is full of heroes!

It is such a blessing to have people who inspire you.  The number isn't important.  It might be one person or it could be several.  The significance is that they inspire you.  Do you have such a person in your life?

Goal!!

What are your goals? Hopefully you have some. Great Austrailian athlete Bill Copeland once said “The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” Indeed.

We hear people talk about “pursuing our dreams” and “going for the gold.” What does that mean?  Setting a goal in life is the first step in dreaming of our future. Set that goal and then go for it! We all are capable of doing great things. How often have I said we all can change the world?  We really can.  The first step though is to try.  We need to try to do it.

The so often inspiring Walt Disney said it so well:  “All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.” One more quote. This one is from Charles D. Gill: “There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you do not do them.”

Recognition

If you are a regular reader of these daily words, you know that what we talk about here is giving back and making a difference in the world. There are many ways of doing it, and we have ventured details on a goodly number over the years. Occasionally we bring an individual to your attention who is making a difference.

Most people become activists or volunteers or givers, because they genuinely want to be productive. That doesn’t mean that a little recognition is a bad thing or that they would run from it. If you are giving time to a non-profit, you usually aren’t receiving any money for it. Now hopefully you are there because you really like the organization, and you feel your gift of time and talent can be of assistance. That does not mean that your efforts should not be recognized or that you should not be thanked.

Years ago, a priest taught me a valuable lesson. I know this is NOT about me, but still, I want to share it. I would volunteer on a regular basis – at least once a week. Each time, when I had finished, he said two simple words to me: thank you. I try to always do the same now with others. It really doesn’t have to be limited to volunteer situations either. In the workplace, it’s nice when your boss thanks you with words and not just your paycheck.

Recognition goes beyond thanks too. Calling attention to the good work of others and letting others know of it, is another form of pay and one that recipients will greatly cherish. They may not go into a situation looking for praise, but a few kind words of recognition can really brighten up their day! 

Is it spring yet?

The question many people, especially those in the northeast United States, may be asking: "Is it spring yet?" "Will the weather soon warm up? Parts of the country right now are at or near zero and the forecast is saying it will dip all the way to 11 below! Yikes!  Just what did that groundhog say last month?  Sometimes it may seem difficult to stay happy and upbeat with weather like this!

 

Life sends all kinds of obstacles our way, not just severe weather.  Do we throw our hands in the air and just give up?  Of course not!  While looking forward to good things might be helpful, we can also appreciate what we have.  Several feet of snow doesn't always make that easy, but it is possible.

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am tomorrow.  We often remind ourselves to "spring forward," although spring is still a couple weeks away.  (Don't forget your clocks tonight, unless you live in Arizona, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico).

 

What blessings does your life have?  Think about it for a moment.  Did anything happen to you yesterday that you are really grateful for?  Are you healthy?  Have you been eating good meals?  Is there someone in your life who loves you?  Did you do something recently that brought you pleasure?  Do you have a warm bed to sleep in at night and nice clothes to wear?  There are probably tons of good things in your life, so why dwell on what negative there might be.  Not enough good things?  Work on building some more!

Be a hero of positivity

Every day you probably hear someone say something that is negative.  Don't let your day be a downer though!  You can be a hero of positivity by always saying things that are encouraging and always looking for the good instead of the bad.

 

That "sunny disposition" is always welcome around me.  I find it so uplifting to see people smiling and happy and greeting each other with a cheery "Good morning!"  Every single one of us can add to that positive attitude.  Imagine how much happier our days might be if the positivity were increased.  We can all increase it by one!  I'm not just talking about doing away with the negative vibes.  It's really much more than that.  Turn up the positive.

 

Say hello to strangers.  Be pleasant with store clerks and restaurant servers.  Say thank you.  Smile.  Spread the positive energy.  Choose to see the good stuff in life.  Let your light shine!

Resuced!

Today it's going to be a story I have shared here before.  It's one of those tales that has circulated on the internet.  Is it true?  I have no idea.  The author is also unknown.  The message is powerful though, so read on!

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

pennies

A penny isn't much right? What can one cent do? Well before I answer, take a look at this picture. Some pennies have been spilled from this jar. It's difficult to see how many are still in the jar, but look for a moment at those that have spilled. It looks to me like fifty cents. Yes, a penny might not buy anything, but fifty cents will get you a small pack of gum. The remaining pennies in the jar? Well I don't know what is there, but I bet it would buy you breakfast.

My point is that people often say one penny isn't important. We forget sometimes that when those pennies are joined by others, their value is more and more important!

These days, there seem to be more demands on us and many of us have less money coming in. So many of us want to donate to charities but we are also paying our own bills as we provide for our families. How can we do it? The answer is, a little bit at a time. If you think that only a $1,000 contribution to your favorite cause makes a difference, think again. Set a jar on you table and every night put the change in your pocket into the jar. If you really need those quarters for laundry and parking and those dimes and nickels help out with the parking meters too, along with the vending machines, then just put pennies in the jar. Watch the pennies add up.

As I said, one cent is not much, but a jar full of one cent coins has value that we can all appreciate.

So what can one person do? Well, it's just like the pennies. I might not seem like much - my contribution might not seem like much, but together with what comes from others, it makes a big difference indeed!

Gimmee some NICE

How cool is being nice? Think about it. When was the last time you got mad because someone was nice to you? Seriously. Give me nice anytime!  It's so good we even urge people to have a nice day!  Being nice is never out of style.  NEVER!

Mean and nasty? Nope. You can keep it. Nice though is welcome anytime. It goes well with all kinds of weather. It doesn't care about where you are going or what you are doing. It doesn't matter what you ate for breakfast. It doesn't care how you are dressed. It's good in the morning and it's good at night.  Like I said, being nice is never out of style.

In life there is good and there is bad.  I suppose there is also a grey area in between.  Nice is certainly on the good side.  Nice is pleasing and agreeable. I never tire of nice.  Who does?  We all like nice!

So dear readers, if you are not currently being nice, try it.  I think you will really like the results!  I know everyone else will!