Don't Wait

We live in a world of don't wait. We completely ignore the saying of "good things come to those who wait" and what about the verse "Wait upon the Lord." Jingles come to mind---"I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now!"

We live in a world of certificates. For anything and everything we award people with pieces of paper and a chance to walk across the stage to applause. Especially in a child's world. Certificates of participation are my favorite. Wow--participating--now that takes alot of effort, doesn't it? It's alot like getting a reward for breathing! Our children don't really have to earn much anymore.

A very smart Sunday School teacher once told me that the only advise or criticism that really matters to people has to come from someone that they respect. An education professor that I had used to make the point that the only comments that were meaningful to students must be specific--not a general "good job," but actually what makes it a good job. And yet, we continue to hand each other pieces of paper that say "You did this." Did what? What made it worthy of appreciation? What made it worthy of notice?

I remember the value of my high school diploma and graduation because it was something I worked for and I waited years to walk across that stage. It documented that hard work. It said that the work was worth noticing. And my first limosine ride, after I got married, something to be valued and cherished and I waited for it. Again, it marked a once-in-a-lifetime event-something worth appreciating and noting. It also set that day apart from any other. Something that is getting harder and harder to do because we have all done everything so there is nothing left to set a memory apart from all the others.

And what about anticipation? The anticipation is part of a good thing. You know, the wait for your birthday. The wait for Christmas morning. Even the planning and packing for vacation is sometimes part of the fun. But what do our youth know of anticipation? of working hard for something, of watching others get things and thinking--I'm going to get that one day if I work hard enough? What do we do to encourage hard work and following dreams? Nothing--and then we wonder why our society is self-centered and materialistic. Well, I guess actions really do speak louder than words.

Even this blog is a bit narcissistic. I'm hoping people will look at it! But more than that I'm hoping my words help you today, to speak up and get creative and let's start giving each other true, constructive, valuable, personal praise to build each other up! And stop killing trees with the certificate game!

Puzzling

Ever notice how when you do a puzzle, you have to touch every piece? You sort, you turn, you look carefully at size and shape and color, you try one then the other.

It's the same with other problems, too. To really solve it, you must touch everyone involved. You must sort out ideas and opinions. You must look from all sides at the problem and consider how each solution will affect each person. You may even have to try several solutions before it all comes together.

What a wonderful world we can look forward to when God has touched each of us. He will look closely into our lives and turn us in many directions, but in the end the "pieces" will come together!