As those of you with kids know; they grow up fast. You blink and you miss something. It's not just growing kids, it's every part of life. Are you taking time to "see" the world around you, or simply running from point A to point B.
On my recent trip to Duluth, I walked into the room where the hotel, situated on the shore of Lake Superior, had set up the continental breakfast with a view of the lake. As I walked in I noticed the sun hovering like a giant red ball, just above the lake's surface. This was unexpected, because the forecast was for more rain. I recognized the beauty before me and reached for my phone to snap a picture, but decided there was time; grabbed a bagel, a single serving of peanut butter, and a banana and made my way to a table. As I finished eating my bagel I turned back to the window, only to find that my beautiful sunrise had ascended into a cloudy sky and was gone. Why didn't I take the picture when I had the opportunity? I felt foolish.
Throughout the first chapter of the book of Genesis we are told time and again that when God finish creating this or that, he looked at it and saw it was good. I think I know how he felt. I've finished projects and sat back to admire my work, but more importantly, God, the creator, didn't rush from one task to the next. He took time to enjoy the creation before him.
Do you? Blink, and this life will pass you by.
Take time to enjoy what God created, and to enjoy those he has blessed your life with.
Genesis 1:31 (NIV)
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
08 November 2008
05 November 2008
4QTR APFT Results
Ok, I'm a month late, but thought I'd follow on the heels of the election results with my APFT results.
Still struggling in the push up arena, despite having a former Scout/Sniper tell me the secret to scoring well. Wide arm position. It shortens your up and down distance travelled. I missed having Jina holding my feet and encouraging me during the sit up phase. The hotel room coffee table just didn't get in my face enough. My last excuse is on the run. I was really pleased with it, but the worn out old treadmill took way to long to get to the pace I needed to run a 13:30. Oh well, I've improved some over the year, stayed fairly consistent overall, and had fun doing it.
Will see what January 1, 2009 yields.
January
Push Ups = 41 Reps/67 Points
Sit Ups = 57 Reps/84 Points
2mi Run = 13:13/100 PointsTotal score = 251
April
Push Ups = 40 Reps/66 Points
Sit Ups = 64 Reps/87 Points
2mi Run = 14:42/91 Points
Total score = 244
July
Push Ups = 49 Reps/75 Points
Sit Ups = 74 Reps/98 Points
2mi Run = 13:30/100 Points
Total score = 273
November
Push Ups = 44 Reps/70 Points
Sit Ups = 72 Reps/96 Points
2mi Run = 13:42/99 Points
Total = 265
Still struggling in the push up arena, despite having a former Scout/Sniper tell me the secret to scoring well. Wide arm position. It shortens your up and down distance travelled. I missed having Jina holding my feet and encouraging me during the sit up phase. The hotel room coffee table just didn't get in my face enough. My last excuse is on the run. I was really pleased with it, but the worn out old treadmill took way to long to get to the pace I needed to run a 13:30. Oh well, I've improved some over the year, stayed fairly consistent overall, and had fun doing it.
Will see what January 1, 2009 yields.
January
Push Ups = 41 Reps/67 Points
Sit Ups = 57 Reps/84 Points
2mi Run = 13:13/100 PointsTotal score = 251
April
Push Ups = 40 Reps/66 Points
Sit Ups = 64 Reps/87 Points
2mi Run = 14:42/91 Points
Total score = 244
July
Push Ups = 49 Reps/75 Points
Sit Ups = 74 Reps/98 Points
2mi Run = 13:30/100 Points
Total score = 273
November
Push Ups = 44 Reps/70 Points
Sit Ups = 72 Reps/96 Points
2mi Run = 13:42/99 Points
Total = 265
03 November 2008
Post Voting Dissonance
In business school my primary focus was marketing, in fact, the university messed up and despite being one strategic planning class short, they awarded me a Marketing Degree instead of the Business Management Degree that I had opted for when my new well paying job, marriage, and the schedule of classes for that final marketing class couldn't be reconciled. When I discovered it after requesting a transcript 10 years later, I was told that it was too old, which I guess meant that I was old, and that as far as the university was concerned, I had a B.S. in Marketing.
I tell you this mainly to have something to type about and also to get to the point of my blog which has its roots in the concept we learned as marketers called Post Purchase Dissonance. Simply put, have you ever bought something, typically a big ticket item, and then couldn't decide if you had done the right thing or not. Post Purchase Dissonance.
After voting early on Saturday, I feel the same way. For the first time in my voting life, I walked out of the polls feeling uneasy and uncertain about my decisions. Well except for the 3 guys I voted for in the county council at large race, but then that one isn't the one grabbing the headlines.
Anyway, as I've wrestled all weekend with my decision and after seeing the various political hacks standing on the street corners this morning with their "Honk if you support...." signs, I'm certain of a few of things.
First, I'm proud to be an American and proud to say I exercised my right to vote. It took me three and a half hours of waiting, but it was worth it. Too many people don't have the right to choose their leaders and far too many have died to ensure that I do for me not to exercise this right and privileged.
Second, no matter how this turns out, it was great to see the diversity of people who were gathered to vote. All ages, genders, races, positions and life stages were represented in the 400 odd folks who sat waiting patiently with me on Saturday morning. A lot of joking, small talk, and friendly conversation took place in that crowded hall way, we were all pilgrims on a very slow journey.
Last, as I saw the hacks on the corner this morning, my mind kept going back to a song and a thought that had been running through my mind since I dropped my ballot in the lock box.
I tell you this mainly to have something to type about and also to get to the point of my blog which has its roots in the concept we learned as marketers called Post Purchase Dissonance. Simply put, have you ever bought something, typically a big ticket item, and then couldn't decide if you had done the right thing or not. Post Purchase Dissonance.
After voting early on Saturday, I feel the same way. For the first time in my voting life, I walked out of the polls feeling uneasy and uncertain about my decisions. Well except for the 3 guys I voted for in the county council at large race, but then that one isn't the one grabbing the headlines.
Anyway, as I've wrestled all weekend with my decision and after seeing the various political hacks standing on the street corners this morning with their "Honk if you support...." signs, I'm certain of a few of things.
First, I'm proud to be an American and proud to say I exercised my right to vote. It took me three and a half hours of waiting, but it was worth it. Too many people don't have the right to choose their leaders and far too many have died to ensure that I do for me not to exercise this right and privileged.
Second, no matter how this turns out, it was great to see the diversity of people who were gathered to vote. All ages, genders, races, positions and life stages were represented in the 400 odd folks who sat waiting patiently with me on Saturday morning. A lot of joking, small talk, and friendly conversation took place in that crowded hall way, we were all pilgrims on a very slow journey.
Last, as I saw the hacks on the corner this morning, my mind kept going back to a song and a thought that had been running through my mind since I dropped my ballot in the lock box.
'Cause I don't think that I can take anymore
Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.Stuck in the Middle with You by the Stealers Wheel
01 November 2008
Getting out to vote 2008
No, it isn't a typo. I'm getting out to vote, not "the vote" this morning. At least I'm getting ready to leave and try to early vote, since I will be out of town on Tuesday.
For some this election has been easy. They've wanted change and they've gotten a candidate who claims to be for change. Other's will easily choose based on a candidate's position on one issue or another that is paramount for them.
As I sit here at the computer, having spent the morning trying to glean one last bit of wisdom from various sources, I'm not sure. At this late hour I'm still undecided. My human wisdom has failed me and I can not deduce the lesser of two evils.
Do I choose based on my opinion on the 2nd Amendment and abortion or do I choose a candidate based on economic packages and health care reform. Based on what I can find, I'm stuck choosing one or the other, neither supports my views on all, and I haven't even thrown in the war.
So anyway, off I go, I will pray for God's will and pull a straight ticket lever....just kidding...I will choose my local and state candidates, then my presidential candidate, remembering that ultimately God controls this country and this world, and he can use any man or woman, democrat or republican, conservative or liberal, Christian or atheist or Jew or etc., to accomplish his will.
Afterward, sometime today I will run a long run, and in that time I will wrestle with my decision, but in the end, no matter who wins, I'll cling to this...
Romans 13
Submission to the Authorities
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
For some this election has been easy. They've wanted change and they've gotten a candidate who claims to be for change. Other's will easily choose based on a candidate's position on one issue or another that is paramount for them.
As I sit here at the computer, having spent the morning trying to glean one last bit of wisdom from various sources, I'm not sure. At this late hour I'm still undecided. My human wisdom has failed me and I can not deduce the lesser of two evils.
Do I choose based on my opinion on the 2nd Amendment and abortion or do I choose a candidate based on economic packages and health care reform. Based on what I can find, I'm stuck choosing one or the other, neither supports my views on all, and I haven't even thrown in the war.
So anyway, off I go, I will pray for God's will and pull a straight ticket lever....just kidding...I will choose my local and state candidates, then my presidential candidate, remembering that ultimately God controls this country and this world, and he can use any man or woman, democrat or republican, conservative or liberal, Christian or atheist or Jew or etc., to accomplish his will.
Afterward, sometime today I will run a long run, and in that time I will wrestle with my decision, but in the end, no matter who wins, I'll cling to this...
Romans 13
Submission to the Authorities
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
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