TSA, you're alright...

Ah, what a blessing they are. Those rare moments when those things that typically bring you grief or irritation actually manage to brighten your day.  

Thank you TSA!  Thank you for letting me keep my shoes on.  Thank you for letting me keep my laptop in my computer bag. What a way to start a Monday!  

Basking

in the glow of unbridled joy, I told the TSA agent "you're my new best friend!"   She told me I should thank the K9 squad.  Apparently running the dogs up and down the security line was enough to let us retain our clothing, computers and a smidge of our dignity. I'll be honest, when they told us to form a single line, making me step out of the priority line, I was a little miffed. But I mustard up my good spirits and waited for the K9 sniff-down. An adorable black lab was making the rounds and it was only the steely black sidearm of the police officer that kept me from reaching down to the dog and showering him with baby talk snugg'ems.  It was a little unnerving when the lab stopped right in front of me and buried his feet on my shoes (Merrells). A quizzical look from the officer made me blurt out "He must smell the horse manure."  Really?  Did I just say that?  Hey my shoes are clean but for some reason I had to channel the idiot in me and say something utterly ridiculous.  Oh well, at least I made it through security in record time.  

Ok, so off to Texas. Let's hope the good fortune of my TSA experience carries over throughout the rest of the week.  

One or the other...

Seems kinda ironic to me that we measure ourselves and others in "absolutes" when in fact we live our entire lives in the gray area.  True or false, yes or no, with me or against me, introvert or extrovert, there's not a lot of wiggle room in those alternatives.  Sure absolutes help to define, measure, determine and execute on matters that make up our physical world.  Where would the IT guys be if it wasn't for "1's" and "0's"?  "Sorta's" doesn't put a man on the moon and there's certainly no middle ground when it comes to being pregnant.

But it's a dangerous practice to see things in absolutes.  It sets boundaries and limitations.  It keeps us locked up in our own prison of awareness without possibility of parole.  It clings to the finite while damning the infinite.  It fosters fear, insecurity and hate, all of which are the building blocks that form the walls we build around ourselves.  However, to entertain alternatives and to consider other options is a means of creating bridges between our own understanding and the unknown.  Where absolutes bring all things to a conclusion, living in the gray inspires hope.  I know some of you feel that if you open your mind's eye to things that are not in line with your way of thinking that it somehow means you're surrendering your own convictions.  On the contrary, in most cases it strengthens your convictions, giving you a broader and deeper understanding of your place in this world.

When it comes to individuals there is no such thing as absolutes.  I would argue there's no one that's pure good or evil although we've seen our fair share of folks that have tried to be one or the other.  Nope, we all pretty much reside in that gray area, some more gray than others.  I believe there is really only one absolute and that's God's love for us all.  Anything beyond that is just a manifestation of our own doing and as far as I can see it really hasn't served us all that well.  Hey, it's not to say I don't like my iPhone or that my hate for the St. Louis Rams or Los Angeles Dodgers isn't real but if we really want to insist on an absolute then let that be love and let the rest of the world fall within the gray areas. 

At least that's my opinion...

Fresh starts...

It's a new year and it's a time for new beginnings and fresh starts.  If 2013 wasn't quite what you expected, just call a "Mulligan" and start 2014 on a clean slate.  Forget yesterday.  Let's see what tomorrow brings.

On this first day of the year we all wish and pray for our friends and families to experience continued blessings throughout the year, full of joy and good fortune.  As wonderful as that might be it's really an unrealistic expectation.  Sure, none of us want to be faced with hardships but life has a way of making things "interesting" for us while we're trying to enjoy life's good fortune.  Love, happiness and joy will certainly make an appearance but so too will obstacles, challenges and unfortunately for some, despair.  I would love to see all my friends and family experience nothing but pure joy throughout the year but I have to be realistic and acknowledge that all of us will experience difficult times during the year.  Some may face greater challenges than others but there will be challenges for all nonetheless.  It is my hope and prayer that when difficult times arise, and they will, that each of us will be blessed with the courage, faith and perseverance to emerge from these challenges stronger, wiser and full of grace.

I know you will experience love and joy during year but you're also going to experience difficult times as well.  I pray that you not only find the strength to endure these hardships but also have the wisdom to look upon them as blessings.  It's through these struggles that we discover our true character and realize the depths of our resolve and our personal fortitude.  Our ability to love and to forgive are never more tested as when we're in our darkest hour.

Hoping for good fortune is pretty much a given.  Let me hope and pray that each of you, each of us, have the courage and the strength to overcome all things that put our hearts and minds to the test and to look upon ALL of life's experiences as true blessings.

This new year is our year to be all that we are capable of being.

Let's bring our A game!