Month: October 2025

Psychologists tell us it’s more important than ever to connect with other people. Which brings up the question: Would you know how to start a conversation with a stranger? It takes a little effort, and a little courage. You never know what kind of mood or response you’re going to get. However, most people are friendly and willing to begin a conversation if they are approached.

Of course, the easiest way is to ask them about something you have, or are doing in common. Waiting in line, parenting or grandparenting, travelling on the same plane or bus. The thing everybody has in common is the weather. Current events (although probably not politics), sports. Maybe even religion (be careful about coming on too strong).

You might be surprised at how quickly you can make a new friend or acquaintance if you just break the ice. Yes, it can be a little scary, and out of your comfort zone, and it might go nowhere. But it’s generally worth the effort.

The incredible advances in technology have come at a cost. In the process, we have lost the concept of patience. We have become accustomed to immediate access to information. Instantaneous answers to questions. We have forgotten how to wait.

I see it in my grandkids. If they aren’t immediately gratified or entertained by an activity, they quickly abandon it. I’ve tried doing jigsaw puzzles with them. If they don’t immediately find several pieces that fit together, they give up. Adults who want to lose weight no longer try to change their eating habits and take the pounds off gradually. Instead they take pills and shots in an attempt to reach their goal overnight.

Most concerning, we’re not patient with each other. That driver in front of us hasn’t noticed the light has turned green. Time to lay on the horn. We want those around us to live by our expectations. Grace and forgiveness are hard to come by. Maybe if we all just took a deep breath, slowed down a bit, and scaled back on all the judgement, the world could be a better place.

You’ve probably heard the expression “Don’t sweat the small stuff”. It’s actually true. Life is challenging enough without stressing over things that don’t really matter much in the grand scheme of things.

I know it’s easier said than done, but try not to get frustrated when you can’t find a parking space, when your internet goes out during your favorite TV show, when your football team loses, when your neighbor’s dog poops in your yard. When you are taking your final breaths in this life, will those things really matter to you?

Take a deep breath. Be kind. Relax. That driver in front of you will eventually stop looking at his phone and realize the light has turned green. Patience is its own reward.

I’m writing this to myself.

There is an old adage that says there is a little bit of good in everyone. You probably know someone for whom you find that hard to believe. The challenge is to train yourself to see it, and then to bring it out of them. That’s gonna take patience and humility.

But think about it. How do you coax better behavior out of a child? Threatening and angry ultimatums don’t work. Encouragement and sympathetic reasoning and explanation often do. If you love on them consistently they will come to value that love and want to please you to maintain it.

The same is true of adults. Give them the kind of attention, caring and empathy they don’t get anywhere else. They will notice it. They will enjoy it. They will not want to lose it. And eventually they will give it back.

That’s when you will see that little bit of good.

I read a recent article that said loneliness is becoming an epidemic in America. How ironic, considering technology has made communication more accessible than ever. Yet one poll revealed that 30 percent, about one of every three older Americans, felt lonely. Another survey found 58 percent of all Americans felt no one in their lives knew them well.

Loneliness is a real thing. It’s not all in your head. It can affect your health and your brain. Humans are social beings by nature. It’s become too easy to isolate yourself, and rely on the internet to keep you connected to your world. It’s more important than ever to get out there where the people are. Do volunteer work. Play pickleball or cards or chess. Go to church.

Social media will never take the place of a healthy social life. In fact, it may even damage it.

There really is power in positive thinking. Try it and see. You have been blessed with another day on this earth. You only get so many. It’s a shame to spend it worried and stressed. Tell yourself you are ready for whatever this day may bring. Be determined to have joy, to have peace, to know that God loves you, and that if you accept His Son as savior, your heavenly eternity is assured.

Henry Ford once said “whether you think you can do it, or think you can’t do it, you’re right.” You can set your own path for this day. Take hold of your mood. Smile at folks around you. Tell those close to you that you love them. Be somebody else’s blessing. You have the power to make this a truly great day.

And tomorrow can be even greater. Believe it.

Do you believe there is life somewhere in the universe other than earth? It’s a subject that has been debated for centuries. How many movies have been made about aliens from another planet attacking earth to take it over? We look at the countless other galaxies and star systems that exist out there and figure somewhere, somehow, there must be another place where living things walk the surface.

We spend billions of dollars constructing and launching probes to try to find these places. But the distances are so vast, the chances of discovering anything significant in our lifetime seem very small.

Maybe it would be more productive to spend our time and resources focusing on the lives that exist in our own homes and communities. Peace, love and ministry doesn’t have to be light years away.

I don’t have a very good memory, but one thing that has been drilled into my brain is my social security number. That’s because, when I went to college in the late sixties, we had to write our SSN on all of our exam papers. It served as our student ID number.

Imagine that! Our professors had access to every SSN in the classroom! We never once thought our numbers could be misused. I guess there was just an implied trust in the general integrity of people. Today we have to guard our SSNs intensely to prevent fraud and identity theft.

The days when we could trust the general honesty of folks are long gone. I miss them. Wonder if they will ever return?

We used to have a cute little dachshund named Oscar. Wiener dogs have a reputation for being fiercely loyal and protective of their masters. Occasionally, I would plop down into my living room recliner and take a nap. Inevitably, my mouth would fall open and I would begin breathing heavily, or even snore a bit.

Apparently, Oscar, upon seeing and hearing this, thought I was in some sort of distress. So he would jump on to my chest and begin licking my face intensely. It would scare the beejeebers out of me! But it meant a lot to me that the little critter cared so much for my well being that he rushed to my aid when he thought I was in danger.

It’s always a blessing to let people know they are loved. Nobody gets tired of love being demonstrated for them.

Probably not a good idea to lick them in the face though.

It is truly amazing what human beings can train themselves to do when they focus on a goal. Run a marathon. Go back to school at night and get a masters degree or a doctorate. Climb the world’s most treacherous mountain. Love your child with impossible patience. Fly an airplane. Lose great amounts of weight. Memorize long passages of text. Rise to the top of your company.

All of these things begin with a goal, and then plenty of hard work, focus and determination. You can change your spiritual life in this way as well. Choose to resist evil, and to walk a godly path. Focus on it every day. Let nothing deter you from your goal.

You can do this. You have it within you to lift up, to bless, to encourage, to help and to serve. Let the training begin today.