Beyond the Finish Line

Today is my opportunity to dream a bit about what's beyond the finish line.  I do admit that the finish line ahead is the completion point of the most radical race I've ever run.  In order for me to be the person I was created to be, I must set new goals and think beyond the finish line.  Olympic athletes set certain goals for the big show and then fade into retirement.  Not me.  I do plan, with the grace of God, to keep working at my day job for another nine years.  This is solely because I have so much passion for the work I get to do. I also plan to keep writing until my mind no longer gives me the opportunity to do what I've grown to love over the years.

My ten year anniversary at my day job is now eight months away.  Longevity is rewarded with an additional week of vacation.  My plan is to use that time to add a series of three-day getaways and go on the road for short excursions with my bride of 32 years.  I want to explore the surrounding areas and stay in our own mini mobile home on wheels.  My plan is to build this vehicle on my own on my days off.  I know almost nothing about building but that's not stopping me.  My writing journey began with no knowledge of writing.  The naysayers argue that this shows in my stories but I really don't care what they say because I'm showing up every day, doing the work, and learning as I go.  Building a second home on wheels will be done using the same process I use to piece my stories together.  If Noah can build an arc with zero experience, I believe I can create something that will fit the two of us on our future adventures.  The reality for me is that the only finish line that will remove me from what I do on this planet is death.  If what I'm learning about my body has any validity, I may be around longer than most people who are simply following the American way of life.  Have a great day.

It's a Game of Inches

Slowly but surely my last remaining debt is shrinking.   There is a debate amongst the financial gurus about retiring mortgage debt early vs. investing at a higher rate of return and carrying a balance.  They make good points.  What's missing from their debate is that great feeling you can obtain when you wake up and you're 100% financially independent.  I have never known this feeling personally although I often dream about how it feels.  All goals, big and small, offer some sense of satisfaction when they are achieved.  The journey itself towards the achievement of predetermined worthwhile goals is also immensely satisfying, especially when those goals are so stubborn that you may only advance an inch or two in an entire day.  That doesn't count the retreats that are sometimes necessary due to circumstances outside your control.

I'm getting close now.  What seemed impossible three years ago when I set the goal to be debt free is now within reach.  I modified habits.  I got control of my urge to spend beyond my means.  My wife and I got on the same page.  We made sacrifices.  I will share the details later when this mission is accomplished.  There are still some inches to win in the end game.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

3 Months and 3 Days to Go

There are three goals I'm shooting for just three months and three days from today.  There have been many times on this journey when I was tempted to throw in the towel.  The most nagging obstacle for me concerns those nagging inner voices who keep telling me how unqualified I am to be doing the things I'm attempting to do.  For example, I'm writing about financial independence and my track record on this is absolutely pathetic.  Who in their right mind would even care about my perspective?  Another voice in my head is becoming louder as each day passes.  This voice says, "Michael, I often call the unqualified."  It appears to me that Jesus loves projects.  He qualifies the called.  He teaches me to trust him in all things, especially in the areas of my life where I sometimes feel like a fool.

I will be sharing some rather embarrassing stories with you soon.  Should I stumble before I reach my targets, please forgive me.  It's not easy running marathons with blindfolds on.  I've been working on trust issues all my life.  I believe in my heart that the reason Jesus calls the unqualified is so that others can see Jesus at work rather than the laborer who is called to do the work.  I give all the credit for all the good in my life to Jesus.  He will get the glory when I cross the finish line.  I'm showing up every day and I'm doing what he asks of me.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

The Hauntings Won't End Until These Two Things Happen

 Just like Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' story, "A Christmas Carol," I'm facing three ghosts from my past, present, and future.  I know why they inhabit my mind like unwanted guests who have stayed longer than what my comfort zone can tolerate.  Their purpose is to keep me focused on the finish line.  These spirits are benign compared to the "others" who sometimes seem to outnumber and out-maneuver my three ghosts.  

I'm going to use Michelangelo as an example of what it's like to be taunted by the spirit world, be they friendly or unfriendly.  There you are, strutting around because you're on top of the world and you're feeling good about your creations.  Then it happens.  You walk by that slab of rock and you see something inside that can transform it.  You walk by because you're busy.  You can't get the image of what that rock can turn into if you get busy.  Then, the voices call out.  The dark spirits remind you how nice the weather is and how postponing your chiseling time really won't matter.  The friendly spirits from your past, present and future chime in and caution you about what will happen if you die and leave that slab of rock behind.  The only way the hauntings will stop is if you chisel.  I have two slabs of rock in front of me today and I need to chisel, chisel, and chisel until I'm done.  I have to tune out the voices from the others that keep trying to distract me until I'm done.  Have a great day.

Please Don't Let Your Final Grade Be an Incomplete

 Your life on earth has come to a conclusion.  You're standing at the gates of Heaven and St. Peter is standing in front of you.  You know what's coming.  It's the book.  I'm referring to the BOOK.  Peter opens the book to see your entire life from start to finish.  If I have any fears in this world it's about the possibility of blank pages in my book because I procrastinated on my life's purpose.  My hope is that my book will be pages that others who are still on earth can read and somehow be inspired to seek the Kingdom of Heaven.  I want St. Peter to open those pearly gates and let me in to see Jesus.  Something in my gut tells me that even before that book is open I will know in my heart if I accomplished what Jesus asked me to do.

Whatever grade you may give yourself today, keep in mind you have an opportunity to do better.  Please don't ever give up hope.  The Dark Side wants you to believe you are a failure.  Maybe you are.  The good news about today is you have an opportunity to make a difference in spite of all your past failures.  If your heart is beating, you can make a difference.  I have a lot on my plate these days.  Distractions are all around me.  I'm focusing on cutting out all the activities that are contributing to my grade of incomplete so when I meet Jesus and he asks me about my life I can say, "Jesus, thank you for always being there, even on my darkest days.  Thank you for inspiring me to keep going."  How about you?  What grade to you give yourself?  Ask Jesus for help if you feel like you're failing.  Ask him to assist if distractions are keeping you from completing all your assignments.  Above all, never give up.  Have a great day.

The Mulligan Method

 If you're coming to me for answers to such questions as the meaning of life, good luck.  I lack the credibility to answer these questions.  What I do have to offer is the "Mulligan Method."  It's the scenic drive rather than the shortest distance between two points, so please, be patient.  Caution.  There are many cul-de-sacs and more detours than I care to admit to.  The Mulligan Method is a sort of trial and error approach to the most challenging questions you may encounter during your journey on this planet.

There are some famous people who more or less used what I call the Mulligan Method to make great discoveries.  Thomas Edison kept going.  It took 1,000 attempts but he figured it out.  I've been writing consistently for over a decade and I'm just now finding my stride.  I'm realizing how important health and wellness is, especially since losing so many friends in my age group.  I'm using the Mulligan Method to independently publish two upcoming books.  The stories are about people I'm meeting and lessons I'm learning.  If anyone would like to challenge my stories, they are merely challenging my mistakes which I attempt to challenge myself daily until I can find a better way.  The Mulligan Method is a way of life.  It's an attempt to maximize what you have inside of you that the world needs.  I learned long ago that failure is simply part of the process of learning and growing.  The bonus for me is that the scenic route gives me great joy.  Try the Mulligan Method if you see any value to it.  Have a great day.

It's Getting Exciting

 This roller coaster I've been riding is now at it's highest point.  The journey up has been going on for years.  There have been many days when the ride stalled and I just sat there looking up at the sky wondering if a gathering of angels may appear to help me gain traction.  Prayer warriors know in their hearts that silence doesn't mean no.  Believers will tell you the angels are responding, "not yet."  They know God's will.  They can only offer aid when the prayer request is in alignment with God's will.

I recall one prayer that I prayed leading up to adulthood.  It was also a time in my life when lacked the spiritual maturity to understand God's ways.  I will never understand God's ways.  What I'm learning is that when you pray and don't hear back it's not because God doesn't care, it's because God knows perfectly what you need and what you're asking for is not what's best even in very troubling situations when you feel all alone.  Since I wasn't getting any answers, I changed my request.  I asked for wisdom.  Daily.  This was pretty much my only prayers.  I thought to myself, God, if you're not going to intervene in the midst of all my problems, how about some wisdom so I can get by on my own?"  Guess what?  More challenges.  A slew of challenges.  I've been in enough predicaments that if they came with frequent flyer miles I would be eligible for a lifetime of free flights.

I'm old enough now to understand that I'm never alone.  Never.  Even on that often-stalled roller coaster box car I'm sitting in, God is right next to me.  I recall days where looking at your watch could get you in trouble because it meant you were implying others were moving to slow.  Maybe that's what God sees when he watches me from above.  I'm trying to live my life according to my timeline.  God says, "Sorry, my son.  We're on my timeline.  I will know the perfect time to allow the next chapter to unfold."

Stay tuned for the rest of the story.  All I can say right now is it's getting exciting.  Have a great day.

Why I Bit the Bullet

Before I delve into an important topic today, I want to say how happy I am to be reunited with my family and my beloved MacBook Pro.  If you've seen more typos than usual over the last couple of weeks, I want to apologize.  My hotel computer was not updated to allow access to Google so I could type while away and I resorted to the two finger method on my cell phone that makes writing most challenging.  The self-correct feature must have been coded by aliens because they don't seem to know how writing works.  Anyways, thanks for your patience with me.  I'm home now and I'm back in my basement doing what I love...writing, blogging and creating fun stuff.  Now, let's move on to why I bit the bullet.

Those of you who have been following my stories know I'm curious about maximizing health.  Keep in mind these are my thoughts based on experiences.  Kudos to my my cousin, Dr. John Mulligan, the one who can help me stay grounded in science and who discovered why my body was misbehaving so I didn't need to consume all those pills they prescribe when your body is out of sorts.

"Live Long and Prosper" is exactly what the title states.  This book is all about my trials dealing with finances and health.  If you're one of those people in the world who believes you don't want to be here one day longer than necessary, this book is not for you.  I'm learning how it may be possible to add years to your life and I offer my own experiences as proof there may be a better way than what most Americans are currently doing.  My research for this book led me to Dr. David A. Sinclair, a Harvard scientist who devoted his life to extending the lifespan.  He started with yeast cells and got great results.  He moved on to mice and got great results.  He started following a specific regimen that he says is helping him look and feel younger.  His dad is doing the same thing.  At 81, his dad is climbing mountains, enjoying the great outdoors in the outback with his grandchildren, and even thriving in a second career.  Their secret?  Molecules.  Molecules the body makes naturally.  Unfortunately, these molecules subside over time.  When you run out, the body ages.  Death is certain.  That's the human story.  120 may be our upper limit.  Dr. Sinclair is thinking bigger.  I've been taking these molecules for over a year now and I feel like I can conquer the world.  I'm planning on biking from the Missouri river to the Mississippi river next year with a group of bikers.  Why?  Just because.  I love the way my body feels and why not take a week off from my day job and bike across Iowa?  Why stop there?  Why not go to other states and explore more?  Most 61-year-olds you know probably don't think that way.  Perhaps they are low on molecules.  Remember,  I'm not the scientist or the doctor in the family.  I write.  I do admit brain fog was causing me to slow down a bit but the fog has lifted.  There are those who may argue all this is simply snake oil.  My counter to that is that even if it may be snake oil, it's one hell of a placebo.  That's why I bit the bullet and committed to an advance purchase of a couple of these molecules.  You will need to stay tuned to find out more.  This biting of the bullet cost me more than a few pesos.  Now I'm in 100% for a full year of molecules.  Oh, it feels so good to be typing with all my fingers using a brain that feels a bit younger every day.  Have a great day.

Wheels Up Today

 It's a travel day today.  I'm going home.   Our expansion draft at my day job includes two new locations that are opening next month.  Both locations are doing well with construction of the buildings and training of the new hires.  I'm thankful to be a part of our growth.  Wheels up soon.  Have a great day.

My Last Full Day in Duluth

 We have a team of workers at my day job that can build new warehouses in 100 days.  We are now at the stage where the walls are up.  It's fascinating to witness this.  I love seeing the look on their faces when we describe our culture to the new people who are checking us out.  As much as I love supporting new teammates, I'm sometimes asked to return home and assist my teammates in our Iowa location.  It's wheels up tomorrow.

I'm thankful for the two weeks I've been here.   The Deluthians have welcomed me with open arms.  This is our 100th location in the Midwest.  More locations are in the works.  There will always be a special place in my heart for Duluth because this is the city where my faith got a spiritual booster shot.  Thanks mom, for nudging me to meet the pastor who serves you on YouTube.  Maybe sometime we can visit Duluth together and visit Fr. Mike.  Have a great day.

One Hell of a Lesson

 Today's story is about how to get out of the Hell you may find yourself in.  I've heard it said that the door locks from the inside.  Those locked in don't realize it because their focus is on the cause of the pain.  This applies to despair, grief, anger, and all other emotions that make our life a living Hell.

Here's the mic drop moment.  Ready?  Let go.  Unlock that door.  Get the Hell out.  That's it.  That's the lesson.  You deserve better.  The pain you're experiencing doesn't need to continue.  You are not locked out of a better life, you're locked in.  You are the only one who can choose to leave Hell.  Get out now.  Have a great day.

The Power of Three

 

The power of two is more of a human way to get things done in our material world.  You can read more about this in an earlier story. There is another power even greater than that we humans have difficulty grasping because it's not of this world.  It's outside our linear concept of time where we only see a beginning and an end.  Imagine if you could go backward or forward in time or be two places at once.  If you could do these things, you would be able to see and do what the power of three does.  

There is a tree outside my hotel room.  It has a tall slender base that extends as high as the 4th floor where my room is located.  This tree splits into three equal branches.  It's nature's way of demonstrating God.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three indivisible parts of the power of three, just like the tree.  They exist outside of time itself.  Jesus says "you can't get to the Father except through me."

 Good luck trying to figure that one out.  Perhaps you can ask the Holy Spirit for assistance.  He happens to be invisible.  I suppose the only one you can see is Jesus because Jesus chose to become visible in order for us to have a shot at joining the family tree.

I'm including a picture of this cool tree outside my hotel window.  You may not be able to see it if viewing on your phone.  I assure you the tree photo does exist even if you cannot see it.  You may need to view this post from your computer.  Have a great day.

Are You Moving Mountains Yet?

 Jesus teaches us we can move mountains if we have faith the size of a mustard seed.  Is this working for you yet?  I have a hint.  Try prayer.  I'm not there yet.  I'm doing my best to grow my teeny tiny seed.  I do trust my seed will germinate according to God's perfect timing.  Meanwhile, I'm getting a few important clues from the other side.

Just like the space we all occupy insde our bodies on this planet, there are two types of spirits who sometimes reach out to us.  I know the dark side better than I would like.  Maybe someone opened the wrong door and let them in like unwanted flies you can't get rid of.  The good side has it's own positive influencers who act like fly swatters.  One of them may have tried to get my attention the other night.  

There is a really cool building in Duluth where I'm working on an assignment at my day job.  It gets it's name from Scholastica who, along with her brother, became a saint.  Her story is she and her brother were visiting during their once-a-year break from their monestary life.  Her brother, Benedict, wanted to get home when Scholastica asked him to stay home.  It was a beautiful sunny day and Scholastica didn't want it to end.  She bowed her head and prayed.  Her tears turned into a storm so massive that Benedict was forced to stay.  Interesting story, huh?  Well, it gets better.

The other day I was driving back to my hotel room after having dinner with my teammates.  The light turned red and I lost them.  It was raining.  I pulled over to turn on my navigation and it froze.  I don't know why but I decided I could find my way back on my own.  The next thing I know I'm completely lost and my navigation is still frozen.  I finally see a familiar building.  It's Scholastica.  As I drive by, the sky erupts in one of the most beautiful flashes of lightning I've ever seen, right above Scholastica.  I tried my navigation again and it worked.  All I can say is I'm glad I made it home.  Was this a message from the other side?  Maybe yes, maybe no.  Perhaps when my mustard seed finally germinates I can better understand these strange happenings.  Have a great day.

The Visitor Who Changed My Life

 I don't know who he is or where he's from. I don't know where he worships or what his denomination may be.  He may not even be from this world.  I've heard it said there are angels disguised as men and women who show up when a gentle nudge from Heaven is helpful.  What I do know is my life changed when he visited my church while I was living in Southern California.  

My first novel, "The Caveman in the Mirror," is fiction.  It was inpired by loved ones in my life who do their best to remain out of public view.  It was the visitor who lit a fire within me when he shared his thoughts about understanding God's love story.  That's exactly what the Bible is, a love story.  We are the characters.  If you're reading stories about people who are dead, you're not really getting the message.  You might try what the visitor asked our entire congregation to do, open up the Bible and pretend you're looking in a mirror.  What I saw was my past, present, and future in my character.  What will you see?  Have a great day.

The Power of Two

 Humans cannot reproduce unless there are two.  The same is true throughout the animal kingdom.  The older I get, the more I realize how the power of two helps me in almost every area of my life.

I have great empathy for the single parent trying to do his or her best to raise a family without the power of two.  The same is true in the workplace.  We encourage new hires to buddy up.  This makes learning easier.

Jesus undertood the power of two when he was with us two centuries ago.  It would have been entertaining to observe the interactions of the apostles when Jesus asked them to go out into the world in pairs.  Peter, the one who had the keys to the kingdom, may have tried to split everyone up to cover twice as much territory.  He would have sacrificed accountability and destroyed everything Jesus started.

Consider how the power of two can help you maximize your life.  I'm planning a weekend date with my lady this weekend to test how the power of two enhances life.  Have a great day.

Up Early Today

 This is a rare night blog written in advance to allow for an early morning shift.  It's been a full week that I've been away from home and now it's crunch time.  Imagine you're assembling a new baseball team and every player on the team has never played with any of the other players.  You're asked to win the World Series and you only have weeks to prepare.  Tomorrow morning is Spring training.  Our version of the World Series is going to be held on October 28.  This is what I live for.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day. 

How Do You Feel About Interruptions?

 Interruptions come in many forms.  A lightning strike causes your power to go out when your to do list is overloaded.  Your boss calls with a new assignment and you already know you are past deadline on his previous requests.  Your mom calls and you're in a meeting.  Interruptions stink.  If you're like me, you do everything in your power to minimize them.

How do you respond when the big boss interrupts you?  You know who I'm talking about, right?  The one who has messenger angels at his disposal when you don't follow those little nudges in your head asking you to change direction.  You think those nudges might mess with your plans so you ignore them.  The Interruptions get stronger until you realize there a force bigger than you who wants your attention.

In my opinion, there is a creative solution to those pesky interruptions you're trying to deal with.  Stop trying to make plans that deviate from God's plans for your life.  Embrace God's messenger angels when they call on you.  Listen to those gentle voices in your head that are trying to inspire you to change course.  Have a great day.

Dear Mom

 It wasn't easy to find him.  I did it.  It was like using Google to locate him but the privacy settings were set to stealth mode.  I thought maybe I blew it when I was searching for the location of his Sunday night service and couldn't find anything.  He was like the Klingon Bird of Prey that had a cloaking device to keep the tourists out who might disturb the prime directive, helping his college students find Jesus.  Frank and Marilyn, seated in front of me, said the same thing about finding him.  There are so many cathedrals around Duluth and they went to the wrong one before arriving at the packed service.

The world may believe that Jesus is losing popularity these days because attendance is dropping among our youth.  COVID-19 really shook things up.  When I think about what's going on, I can see why they think like that.  I just wanted to write you and let you know I stood in line to shake Fr. Mike's hand and tell him how much you appreciate his virtual services.  I really liked it when Fr. Mike acknowledged something that's been troubling me since my high school days.  That is division in the world.  What bothers me most is the division amongst the believers.  Well, Fr. Mike has a group on campus and even the atheists are welcome.  He's doing his best to share Jesus in ways we rarely see.

If anyone else is reading this letter, I'm going to keep Fr. Mike's location top secret out of respect for his mission and instead pass on his message on my blog.  Fr. Mike was happy to hear how much you enjoy his messages.

Fr. Mike asked me how long I'm staying in Duluth.  I responded I would be here one more Sunday and maybe longer.  Thank you for encouraging me to find him.  This is a treasure hunt experience I will never forget.  Have a great day.

Love, 

Michael 

Lessons on the Road

 There is an advantage to working in areas away from my home.  Sure, I miss my wife and the opportunity for family time.  She allows me the opportunity to travel because I come home with new wisdom acquired from lessons on the road.  I already know in my heart today is going to be one of those days.  It's a sunny, brisk morning and temps will go above 70° today.  I also have a second day off in a row.  The laundry is almost done and I'm going to get my haircut so I can appear a bit more civilized when I get back to work tomorrow in Duluth.

There is something on today's calendar that intrigues me.  It's an evening worship service with a pastor who is lighting up YouTube with virtual masses.  My wife and I did this the last couple of Sunday mornings together.  Tonight will be live.  What comes to mind is a quote from the east, When the student is ready, the teacher appears.  This teacher happens to be an ordained priest who specializes in serving the youth at the University of Minnesota.  I'm hoping he might be able to teach an old dog new tricks.  I'm counting my blessings I get to go to the cathedral tonight for some worship.  The true test will be when I return home to my wife.  I'm hoping she notices a new sparkle in my eye.  Have a great day.

Today is an Exploration Day

 It's rare when I get comments on this blog.  Sadly, I have filters to keep the spammers out.  Comments are encouraged but not required.  I'm thankful a reader took the time to interact.  I will use today's blog to answer the question, what are you doing in Northern Minnesota?"  I'm in Duluth as support staff for a new location my company is opening.  Since I'm not authorized to speak on tbeir behalf, I do my best to share personal stories only.  Although I'm a trainer for my day job, I have no management authority.  I like to call myself a servant leader beacause my role here in Duluth is to teach our culture to the new hires.

As for today and tomorrow, I'm in explorer mode.  I'm hoping to use my two days off to see the surrounding area.  Stay tuned for nature pictures.  Thanks to the reader who reached out.  Have a great day.

The Best Adventures are in the Unknown

 Odds are you woke up this morning on automatic pilot.  If your subconscious programming is running at your optimum performance levels, good for you.  You will have a repeat of that glorious day you had yesterday provided you don't modify your routine.  If your life falls short of what you believe to be higher expectations, read on.  I'm with you.  Warning!  Your roller coaster ride may get bumpy.

The longer I live, the more I pursue the unknown.  Today is a great example.  I'm in a new city surrounded by strangers who proudly call themselves Duluthians.  They are interesting people.  What's most interesting is my subconscious software doesn't know what to do.  The other night I went out to dinner and discovered many of the roads were closed.  My navigation software guided me to the restaurant where I met some day job teammates.  My cell phone battery died and I found myself completely lost.  Even though I could feel my heart skipping a couple of beats, I decided to embrace my situation.  By the way, the storm clouds rolled in adding intensity to my predicament.  I knew I couldn't drift too far from my destination because I was near Lake Superior.

Seek the unknown.  Try new things.  Get lost.  Let your brain enjoy new experiences.  Keep the routines in your life that serve you well and let go of the habits that force you into mediocrity.  Have a great day.

Happy Birthday to my Cousin

 If you caught a glimpse of my back cover from "The Caveman in the Mirror," Dr. John Mulligan wrote it. He's read every one of my 4,401 blog stories.  He sends gentle nudges in his text messages if a story is overdue. He even committed to play doubles with me should we both be fortunate enough to still be playing tennis when we become age eligible for the men's 90+ age group.  Today is his birthday.  I taught him how to play tennis in high school.  He taught me how to understand why my blood pressure acted up due to eating certain foods that cause inflammation.  

If life is a game, my cousin is in a rare breed of people who are game changers.  His specialty?  Inspiring others to discover their potential.  He's the leader of the pack of a plethora of new doctors in the Mulligan family who will be dedicated to saving lives.  Thanks,  cousin, for inspiring me to live a long and healthy life.  You intervened when I had two strikes against me.  Happy birthday!  Your favorite lab rat is enjoying the game of life thanks to your brilliant ideas.  Have a great day.

Jesus is Pulling the Strings

 I woke up in Duluth this morning.  The sun is about to light up a layer  of stratus clouds hovering along the horizon.  A dense forest is just outside my hotel room.  The winds are strong and the temps are ten degrees below my comfort zone.  I get this idea that Jesus thrives when his followers give him the opportunity to create new opportunities for growth.

I'm a bit surprised to be here.  I'm in an area that belongs to a different leadership team and all the indications were for me to be in Indiana today.  That's okay.  Jesus worked some of his biggest miracles when he was furthest from his roots.  There is something inside me that tells me to go with the flow and allow Jesus to pull the strings.  There is a blank slate in front of me today.  I'm going to start by admiring the pastels in the morning sunrise.  Stay tuned.  It's going to be an exciting ride.  Have a great day. 

Wheels Up Today

 I'm on my way to Duluth, Minnesota today for a day job assignment.  My boss told me to pack some warm weather clothes.  The temps will be dropping soon.  I'm ready.  Most of all, I'm excited to see the Fall colors.  It looks like I'll be arriving just in time to see the change of seasons.  I'll share more later.  Time for wheels up.  Have a great day.

A Mother's Wish

It's almost time for wheels up.  This adventure is a day job assignment.  I'm part of the support staff for a new location opening next month in Duluth, Minnesota.  When I told my mom about the opportunity she reminded me that her favorite spiritual advisor resides in this town bordering Lake Superior.  I promised her I would reach out to her advisor and thank him for all the blessings he bestowed upon her in her quest to get closer to Jesus.  My mom scoured the internet for leaders who could help her worship from her home and she discovered Fr. Mike Schmitz.  He offers people of all faiths a seat at what he calls his "virtual front pew."  My hope is to get even one step closer than virtual reality and visit him in the flesh while I'm away from home.  That is my mother's wish for me.

I already dipped my toes in the water a couple of weeks ago when I found Fr. Mike on YouTube.  God-incidentally, I found him five minutes before his 9am Sunday morning virtual service.  Mom tells me she is always sending others to his videos and now I understand why.  It's rare to find leaders who know how to inspire, especially in times like these when large gatherings are discouraged.  If you would like a taste of my mother's spiritual leader, click below for a sampling.  Have a great day.

Where Can You Find Your Identity?

 How would you answer if I asked you, "What are you known for?"  Is this identity something that's followed you for a long time?  Are you happy with this identity?  What would happen if you suddenly lost it?

Good or bad, we all have some kind of identity.  Changing it requires some degree of pain.  There may be a loss of friends or status.  Others may be disturbed because you no longer fit the mold that others perceive as the place where you belong.

If you are serious about finding your true identity, ask Jesus to show you who you are in his eyes.  If you're not the praying type and this sounds foreign to you, I'll give you the short answer to help you get started.  Your identity is in Jesus.  You belong to him, even if you don't know him.  He knows you.  He knows your thoughts before you think them.  He knows every choice you will make.  If you seek him, you will find him.  When you find Jesus, you will find your identity.  Have a great day.

The No Trigger Zone Expands

 There are two things I pay attention to when it comes to the "No Trigger Zone."  The first is the frequency of the triggers.  The second is the intensity.  These triggers are like earthquakes.  You never know when a trigger will strike and you don't know the strength of the attack until you are facing it head on.  Are you ready for the big one?

I'm doing my best to predict when a trigger will occur because there seems to be fault lines where certain triggers are known to appear.  Construction zones are known locations.  Rush hour traffic seems to spur triggers.  I'm finding that no matter what is going on in my life, I can control one thing – my attitude.  I can hold my ground in the greatest of quakes.  The more I practice, the larger my no trigger zone expands. How about you?  Are your quakes shaking you up?  If so, keep practicing.  Learn to spot the danger signs of a possible trigger.  Certain people seem to bring their own fault lines wherever they go.  Be aware of these people and prepare yourself.  Have a great day.

Victory!

This is a follow-up from yesterday's post, "It's a Game of Seconds and Inches."  The story appeared to end in defeat.  That's the beauty of new days and the clean slates that come with them.  I'm happy to report a happy ending to the story.  I reserved the next size up of Uhaul trucks and returned the one that was inches too small to get our shed home.  The gentleman at the counter offered me a refund from the first truck since it didn't fit my needs.  That was totally unexpected since the size error was my fault.  That picture you see here doesn't show the ear-to-ear smile I'm sporting but it does show what can happen when you don't give up.  The shed is in the back yard and ready for us to replace all the nuts and bolts we removed during our efforts to disassemble the shed.

I would like to give a shout out to our neighbor who occupies the other half of our split-zone property.  He laughed hilariously when I shared the story on my way to work yesterday.  Later in the day he sent me a text giving me permission to move the shed about a foot over the property line so we wouldn't lose our view outside the basement window.  Another shout out goes to our youngest son who offered to help with the transportation.  All is well in our household.  This victory feels really good.  Have a great day.

It's a Game of Seconds and Inches

 Sometimes I move too fast for my own good.  Yesterday was one of those days.  My wife asked me to find us a storage shed and there happened to be a display model at my day job that was perfect for our needs.  I purchased it before my shift and told my boss I would take it home before the end of the day.  That's where it gets interesting.  The Uhaul closed at 7pm and I was off at 6:15.  I reserved a truck and picked it up before closing time.  Unfortunately, the truck was inches to small to fit the fully built shed.  It was 7:04 when I attempted to call and get a larger truck.  Too late.  My youngest son and I did the next best thing, disassembling the shed to make it fit.  The good news is we were able to get the top off.  The bad news is we discovered these sheds cannot be disassembled.  

Today is a new day.  It's time to allow for the extra inches we need to fit our shed in a larger truck.  While I cannot recover the seconds I missed yesterday, I can reset the clock and try again today.  Have a great day.

Be Aware of What You're Putting in Your Body

 I learned a valuable lesson yesterday.  Our family lawn mower our oldest son purchased for us as a gift was acting up so I brought to the experts in our community.  They were stumped.  It turns out we needed a new carburetor.  The reason why is something I never heard of before.  Apparently, when ethanol is added to gas which is very common in the Midwest, the ethanol eats away at the plastic parts inside the carburetor causing it to malfunction.  Now that I'm aware of this I'm hoping our lawn mower has a long life.

The lesson I learned about our mower is also true for our own bodies.  I'm doing my best to learn what works well and what doesn't.  So far so good.  The human body can handle some mistakes but I do urge caution.  Beware of the additives.  Be cautious of foods that cause the body to rebel.  Learn as much as you can.  Your body will tell you when you're going off course.  I will be sharing more about my food lessons soon.  Have a great day.