Time is the most amazing gift in life! Spend time with a kid and change the world!

 It’s amazing that everyone regardless of age, gender, social economic circumstances and race have the same twenty-four hours in a day. How each of us choose to use those 1440 minutes in a day will determine the course of the world and the health of our families and communities. I believe that one of the most important uses of our time, isn’t playing video games or watching sports by yourself but intentionally spending time with a kid or teen.

It’s rather sobering to realize how many hours a day we spend focused on our iPhones or Androids every day. Imagine the impact in a child’s life if a mom, dad, friend or volunteer tutor were put to put down their electronic device and use that time to teach a child and fellow adult to read? So, what stops me and you from rethinking our use of time?

One of the great opportunities we have in life is to rise above the status quo and intentionally be someone that gives without expecting accolades or rewards. Last night at our tutoring program I have a new friend come and sit for an hour with one of my barrio kids. What’s so incredible is that my friend came with intentionality, passion and kept one of my kiddos who can’t read captivated for an hour with a BOOK. I know that my friend truly touched my little gal last night.

What will it take for you to be better at time management and be motivated to impact the life of a kid, teen or adult who doesn’t know how to read? I know that seeing a child, teen or adult struggle to read touched my heart and soul. What happened to allow time to slip by where my little friend hasn’t learned how to read? Instead of blaming or shaming someone choose to step up and walk alongside the life of that little person or adult and invest the energy that is required to walk with them.

I know that the stock market is breaking records at present and that the tax cut will impact many still doesn’t address the inequality of those that can read vs those that can’t read. The excitement of watching a kid read a book or an adult a novel will transform that child or adult’s ability to think and dream about their lives!

Change the world by helping a kid or adult learn how to read!

Button pushed? React of stop and think?

I don’t know about you but I consider myself to be a patient individual who can usually determine whether a situation is worthy of getting bent out of shape. I know that my mom was clearly a proponent of never crying over spilt milk. Yet, the world that has evolved is so far removed from reality. Why is it the case people get their button pushed over the craziest and silliest things?

I almost lost it a few days ago when I pulled up into an almost empty parking lot except for a mom watching her kids. I admit that I pulled up in my Truck and must have appeared like a drug dealer or a misplaced older white guy. I was picking up a group of teen guys who had played basketball at the park. I mistakenly pulled into the area parallel instead of perpendicular to the court. I was on the phone talking so I couldn’t really hear this mom. She seemed to scream at me that I shouldn’t be parking this way. I attempted to explain I would be gone in a few minutes and did this really matter?

I was fortunate to have a wave of common sense come over me, thank you Lord, instead of reacting to this demanding individual. I responded by saying SORRY and then turned my truck around. Just as I did this the guys jumped into the truck and we were off. I can’t fathom why this was so life threatening that this required the lady to engage in a war?

If this wasn’t enough in the next minute or so I was at a light getting ready to pull out after the green appeared only to be HONKED at by the guy behind me. As I pulled away from the light this guy rushed around me. As usual we ended up at the next light right next to each other. Did the honking of the horn really help improve the flow of traffic that afternoon?

I have memories of pulling out of a parking lot with no oncoming cars. Just as I get into my lane I see this car literally whip around me and then crazy enough actually stops and almost causes me to hit him. Initially I’m thinking he’s in this small little car and I’m in a truck with a big bumper. Does he really want to play this game? Yet, he was totally serious and almost seemed as if he wanted to fight. The incredible thing was that the light changed as all of this was happening. My decision was do I engage this crazed individual or just let it go. My blood pressure was still up because of having to slam on my brakes so it wasn’t an easy choice.

Again, there was a supernatural force that stopped me from becoming a statistic! I can’t fathom being so wacky as to engage into a cat and mouse fight with a truck when I’m in a little car? What in the world is happening? Why is there so much anger, bitterness and apparent hatred that pushes someone to make a nonevent into a life and death emergency?

Life lesson for the new year is to stop reacting to the people and ‘stuff’ around you and purposely learn how to catch your breath and walk away. Why let your button be pushed?

Eating a meal together will change the world and your life!

I have to admit that most often my wife, better half is always correct, especially when it comes to life values and goals. I know that there is a huge transition as your kids are now all grown up and the likelihood of the family sharing a meal together is infrequent at best! As the new year is upon us and too many resolutions are now a thing of the past one of the simple goals I believe that will make a difference is the intentional choice to eat a meal together with your spouse, family, friends and community. I know that it’s too easy today to go out for a dinner but my two cents is make a goal that at least once a week you prepare a meal at home.

It’s an incredible gift to your family or friends to sit down at your dinner table and share great food and the amazing interaction of listening to one another. The sad tragedy of today’s high-tech society is that too many are not eating at a table but playing video games and snacking. The real test, which I often fail, is to purposely put down your smart phone and turn off your iPhone so you can tune into your spouse, family or friends. How is it possible to carry on a conversation while the T.V. or YouTube is blaring out noise?

I know that the generation of my parents never gave an option about eating meals together. It was an assumed part of family culture to know that you couldn’t miss dinner especially on Sundays. Yet, as we have evolved into a society that is too mobile its’ so easy to become too busy and to be honest lazy to plan, shop and cook a great meal at home. I was very fortunate to have a mom and dad that were both incredible cooks. I learned so much as a kid growing up because I was never given a choice about cooking but watched and helped as my dad created awesome dishes.

One of the downsides to a totally high-tech society is that we have created online friends that are far from being part of our real lives. I confess that even as a sixty something I’m too geared to seeing responses, likes or shares of my various posts. What’s most important in the new year is to cultivate relationships of substance. This isn’t going to happen via texting, twitter or snapchat but through sitting down at a table and chatting, listening to another eyeball to eyeball.

What’s incredible today, thanks to the internet, is the ability to get recipes and instructions on how to put together an amazing meal. So why not impress your family dad and actually plan, shop and then cook a meal that will turn everyone’s eyes and delight your taste buds!!