I received a book for Christmas titled A Book That Takes Its Time. In it there is an article on postponed pleasure which discusses the current need for instant gratification and its effects on people. Because of their need for instant gratification, people are missing out on a sense of anticipation, like waiting for Christmas…
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On Hold
Recently, due to my own forgetfulness, I was on hold waiting to pay a bill for an hour. You might say, why didn’t you just hang up and try again later? The problem was that it was the last day of the month, and if I didn’t get the payment posted, it was going to…
Roller Coasters
I am not a fan of roller coasters. The constant up and down and being thrown about does not appeal to me and often makes me sick. I don’t find any fun or thrills in the process. We often refer to life as a journey which includes mountains and valleys, but when the mountains and…
Little Blessings
Sometimes it is the little blessings that bring us joy and comfort at just the times we need them. One day I caught a glimpse of a fawn drinking from a misty creek on an early morning commute. It made the daily grind a little brighter. It was a small thing really, but it brought…
The Great Vending Machine
Vending machines can be very convenient, even more so since many of them now take debit cards. You don’t even need cash. You just walk up, swipe your card, make a choice, and out comes your desire. Of course, most of the choices are not healthy, but it is our choice to make. However, sometimes…
Mindfulness
In yoga there is a discipline called mindfulness. It is being conscious of what you are doing, focusing. In yoga it is often a focus on your breathing and the movement of your body. It brings a sense of calm when you are able to let distractions go and take a moment to just be….
Forbidden Path
In Acts 16:6, Paul said “6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.” Have you ever planned a trip only to have something interfere, like the weather or schedules or accommodations? It seemed like a great idea and…
Not the Mama
Several years ago there was a TV show called Dinosaurs about a family of dinosaurs. The youngest was a baby who could clearly say Mama, but when the father would try to get the baby to say Dada, the baby would point to him and say “Not the Mama.” It drove the father a bit…
Customer Service Representatives
My students were given an assignment to write a paragraph sharing information, first with a friend and then a potential employer to see a contrast in the way we write for different audiences. When faced with a potential opportunity for employment, we put our best foot forward in an effort to make a good impression….
Reality Check
Everyone once in a while we all need a reality check. It is not fun, but it is necessary to keep us in right standing with both God and our fellow man. It is very easy to point out failures in others and ignore our own. It is even easier to feel superior to others,…