Your gifts / Happenings In The Outhouse 30-Oct-2020

Everyone has strengths.  Natural gifts, in other words.  And they're not all the same.

Some can regurgitate facts as if their brain was a giant encyclopedia.  Others struggle to find the words to say in certain settings.

I am always amazed at how some can converse on social media with ease.  For me, my mind has a tendency to seize up, depending on what's being said.  I may know what to say--or would like to say--but for whatever reason my fingers can't find the words.

I read a verse in Proverbs the other day that really got my mind thinking about this entire season of life, from COVID-19 to the 2020 Election in the United States.  Take a moment and read the entire 17th chapter of Proverbs, but one is verse 14: "Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out."  This is why I don't like to start arguments online, because (I know this sounds corny) I just want everyone to get along.  We have more in common than we realize.

Another verse is Proverbs 17, verse 16: "It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning."

Think on these verses.  We all have gifts.  Use them wisely.  Mine seems to be silence, with engagement after much thoughtful wondering.

What are your gifts?  What comes naturally to you?

Monday is just another day / Happenings In The Outhouse 23-Oct-2020

It irks me when I hear people say, "Oh, God, it's Monday!  I hate Monday!  Ugh!  Why can't this day be over?"  Or, "No one talk to me until I've had my coffee!"  Or, "Can this year just be done?  2020 sucks!"

The last one, concerning 2020, was covered two weeks ago, so I won't rehash it.

Oh, I forgot one more: "Is it five o'clock yet?"  Or whatever time you get off work or whatever you see as the end cap to your day.

This negative mentality has to stop.  It's a self-fulfilling prophecy to tell yourself that a certain day is bad and that day ends up being as bad as you thought.  Everyone knows someone who tells themselves they're not a morning person or not an evening person or they have to drink (fill in the blank) before getting going with their work.

Think about the words you say to yourself.

And remember, Monday is just another day.  If we worked Saturday and Sunday, and had the rest of the week off, I'm sure there would be people saying, "Oh, God, I hate Saturday!"

Something to think about.

How much is too much? / Happenings In The Outhouse 16-Oct-2020

Too much research?

Too much thinking?

Too much planning?

These may lead to . . . not enough doing.

If you're putting something off because not "all of your ducks are in a row" or if you wonder if planning a bit more will make it better, chances are it won't.  Start now.  Whatever it is that you're putting off, don't put it off any longer.

Start today.

Right where you're at.

If something needs to be fixed, you can fix it later.

On a side note, I have surpassed the 20,000 word mark on the new thriller novel.  I seemed to have hit a stride the last few weeks, logging in 30-45 minutes of writing each morning before work.  By the end of the year, it would be nice to hit PUBLISH on it.

2020 Doesn't Suck. You Do / Happenings In The Outhouse 09-Oct-2020

Earlier this week, rock legend Eddie Van Halen passed away.  This caused many people on my Facebook feed to post things like, "That does it!  2020 sucks!"

Sorry, 2020 doesn't suck.  You do.

Let me say it a little different: your mindset sucks.

Each year, whenever some celebrity dies, people come out of the woodwork spouting off that (fill in the blank on the year) just sucks.  It doesn't matter if it was 2019 . . . 2018 . . . 2017 . . . 2012 . . . 2011 . . . or 2000.

Let me say it again.  The year doesn't suck.  Your mindset to it does.

Last year, my wife's health took a turn for the absolute worst.  I could have spouted off that 2019 sucked the big one.  But I didn't.  I had so many things I was thankful for, and wasting my time being negative wasn't going to be one of them.

On January 16, 2020, when my wife finally passed over into the glorious arms of God and Christ Jesus, I was devastated.  But at the same time, her passing was the end of a chapter in my life.  I have absolutely no regrets.  I cherished every single moment I was with her, even right up to the end.

I am not going to sugarcoat that the events of 2020 surrounding COVID-19 really aren't pleasant.  I feel bad for business owners who were forced to close due to government mandates.  I also feel bad for the employees of those businesses too.  But at the same time, many businesses have re-orientated themselves to serving customers in new ways.

How you view the world is a reflection of your life.  If you think everything sucks, then sorry you suck.  Can you change it?  Absolutely!  I relish those who do!

Focus on what is important / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-Oct-2020

It's easy to get distracted.

Especially in today's time where more and more are vying for out attention.  All of our social media channels thrive on people staying on their platform longer and longer.  The 24/7 news media companies are offering up the latest BREAKING NEWS.

But I believe this has always been the case.  We want to stay busy, work longer hours, constantly feeling needed by those around us.

Step back for a moment and ask yourself, "What's important?"

Health?  Family?  God?  Hobby?  Something else?

When I updated my quarterly "Top Five" for the next quarter, I reviewed last quarter's.  I had more than five things.  And I barely accomplished any.  So I kept it simple for the last quarter.  Just five.  Five goals.  Are they attainable?  Yes.  Will they be easy?  Depends on how you look at it.  I broke the goals down into smaller chunks of five total, so I should be able to do at least three, if not four.

Another item for consideration is cutting down on the amount of podcasts I listen to.  Yes, again.  My list seems to grow and grow, and although I get through them all in a given week, I still wonder if I can cut them down more.

Look back in the archive of this blog and search "podcast fast" and you can see I've done this before.

It's okay to quit something.  Nine years ago, I resigned my part-time job as a licensed peace officer.  Sure, the extra cash was nice, but other areas in my life suffered.  Do I regret it?  Nope.  If you need to quit something, do it.

Remember to focus on what's important in your life.  God gave you a purpose.  Fulfill that destiny He gave you.