Chores ... just do them!

I remember as a kid that there were things I just didn't want to do, at some point I didn't want to brush my teeth everyday.  I don't remember why, but I think it was just that I had assigned the task a negative label in my mind.  When I was first in the Army I didn't want to run, anything I could do to get out of running I tried. 

Maybe these things were all just unpleasant chores that had to be done and my human nature kicked in and pushed me to avoid them.  I think everyone is like that in a way, but as we get older we we know better than to give in to the voice that says "don't do it ... life will be easier if you don't".  Of course, some folks never out grow the little voice.  They still avoid things they need to do or address and give childish excuses as to why they can't or won't do the right thing.

Don't do that!  Stand up, do what you know is right, and keep doing it everyday.  Even when it's not fun or a chore ... really folks, grow up!  In the end we all have to do what we know is right or we are just wrong, so don't be wrong!

J

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Don't bother ducking the rock is still going to hit you!

Sometimes the world weighs heavy on you and sometimes it just crashes down on your head like a ton of rock!

If you are lowly in authority these heavy weights are different than those experienced by people that wear a mantel of authority.  Not better or worse, tougher or easier, just different.

I can say this because I've felt the pressure from both sides.  Today as I write this I am thinking of the trials I'm in the middle of right now and at this time and in this place I have some measure of authority and responsibility.

No matter what the issue that you are dealing with as a leader, someone will second guess you ... most often it is you that starts the second guessing.  However, others are soon there to point out any questionable decision, thought, action or word you have ever had, whether it is relevant or not.  Somehow, the things you say and do are more of an issue than people without responsibility.  Somehow, the folks who don't make the hard decisions know all the answers and are very confident in telling you what those answers are.

I'm not sure why they don't just take up the reigns and take charge, but at least they are here to tell me when I am wrong.

But ... I'll tell you this, after being pummeled for a while you develop a thick skin, and that helps you to see truth more clearly than ever.  Mistakes and all, you have to own all that you are, in order to effect change and lead people ... you are right, wrong, good, bad, slow, fast, but most of all you are a leader.

So shake off the falling rocks, and brush the dust out of your eyes, and take responsibility for your decisions while you hold other accountable.

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Never, Never, Never, Never, Never Give up!

Sometimes taking a stand is painful ... no scratch that, it is always painful!  Everyone (even those that stand with you) seem to have a ax to grind with how it is handled.  Some thing you are too strong, some think you are too weak.  Some say don't be so gruff, some say don't be a wimp.

The bottom line is that when you find an issue meaningful enough for you to take a stand on ... you know drawing a line in the sand and saying everything on this side is okay but when you cross this "we've got a problem" ... don't expect that the crowd will rally around you and praise your eloquent handling of those that have an opposing view.

People are often afraid of how the world will judge them if they stand too firm.  They're afraid that someone will "call them out" and make fun of them or argue better than they do.  In short they are afraid of being made a fool of, and that is a powerful deterrent for most folks.

As I age I'm less likely to take a stand on minor things but much less fearful of being made a fool of, in fact I could care less about people that know me thinking I'm being foolish.  The lack of fear is my best asset in a moral battle.  People can sense when you are are solid ground with your understanding and at peace with the consequences of your stance.

Your confidence will shake theirs, your fearlessness will instill fear in them, your calm attitude will shake their resolve.  When you are not worried about the pain of a moral stand ... truth and right will prevail!  So, don't be afraid if you are standing firmly on the side of right, the pain will fade and when the smoke clears the world will be better for your sacrifice!

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You don't need to be faster than the bears just faster than your friends!

The theme of the week for me seems to have been, you don't need to be faster than the bears just faster than your friends.  Only thing is, the bears in my life are chasing me while no one else is around.

Most of the time I am just running from one thing to the next with precious little rest between.  I think that many of you can relate.

Work, kids, church, keeping up on my house and chores ... it's enough to make you think that the cave man had it right.  Just a cave near the food and no dishes to wash!

I think we all look for simplicity from time to time but I usually find a reason that I need to keep up my crazy busy life.  Of course when I look back at years gone by I realise that Tena and I have packed a lot of experience in to the days we have had together, and if running like a madman is part of the deal then so be it.

I may be wrong here, but I don't think you'll ever hear someone at the end of the their life say, "I wish I had rested more."  Just doesn't sound like something that you would hear at the Pearly Gates.

I hope your week is so full that you sleep like the dead and I hope you cram a ton of adventure and excitement into the time you have.

Take care

J

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Hog wrestling a noble pursuit for young people!

Living in Indiana and in rural Indiana at that, we have a culture that is a mystery to the rest of the world.  Since it is county fair time, hog wrestling is on every one's mind.  It is the single funniest thing you will ever see and is unique to the county fair.

A group of kids (some older than others) will be in a pit of mud chasing a pig around in circles with the goal of snatching that pig up and pl;acing it on a barrel top in the center of the mud pit, and the fastest time wins.

I have to tell you though, it is the slowest ones that are my favorite.  Everyone is covered in mud and laughing so hard that they are probably eating some of that mud.  It is one of the best photo opps ever! 

My kids have all tried it at different times and some years they were more successful than others but in the end it is about the experience for them and not the prize ... which I believe is a tee shirt.  So it is purely hog wrestling for the sake of muddy performance ... art for the sake of art.  What could be more noble than that?

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Bacon Ice Cream ... like licking a cold pig on a hot day!

Sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind and try something that scares you. The only problem with that philosophy is that once you throw caution a couple of times you start to get braver and doing wilder and crazier stuff.


So when I was a very young man, my mom encouraged me to try new things, and especially food. Later in live I challenged myself to try new foods all the time, sometimes in a foreign country with questionable sanitation and unrecognizable meats.\

This has led to a lifetime of foodie thrill seeking and the latest is bacon ice cream. Don’t stop reading now, you really need to try this as it is incredible and worthy of a thrown caution!

I’ll get to the point, below is the recipe … try it and let me know what you think … oh and remember I’m a insurance agent and I’m wanting to quote your business (although if you are such a risk taker with your food, I might have to rethink that.


Bacon Maple Ice Cream

1/4 pound Bacon, raw, roughly chopped
2 cups half & half
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar, light, packed

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine bacon, half and half, cream, maple syrup, and sugar and bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Reduce to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat, cover, and set aside to steep until a deep bacon flavor develops, 10 to 20 minutes. Strain through a medium-mesh strainer and set aside to cool to room temperature.
Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
Put it in your ice cream machine and run it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Makes about 5 cups of ice cream.

Candied Bacon bits

While waiting on the ice cream to get done you can take ¼ pound of bacon and pack brown sugar on top then boil in the oven on low until the sugar is melted and the bacon is crisp. With kitchen shears chop up the bacon into small pieces to sprinkle on top of the ice cream.

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Justice!!!

People all seem to have a natural since of Justice.  We all want the bad guy to get it in the end, and the mean kid to get what's coming to them. But is that what we should really be focused on?

When we here about someone being accused of something, we usually think they are guilty regardless of how unlikely their guilt is.  When we hear of misfortune for those accused we often say "serves them right!"  But I've been around long enough to have seen the Innocent accused and the guilty go free.  How do we feel when the convicted are proven to be innocent?

Justice is a concept with a flaw in it ... the flaw is we are too flawed as humans to pick the right punishment for the crime.  We get it wrong too often to be considered a good judge.  Why do I bring this up?  Well, its been on my mind with some recent events in the news and I find myself thinking that we are stilled flawed and that our judgement should be slow, measured and only after thoughtful consideration.

More than anything we should be slow to act in matters of judgement and forgiving of those convicted cause we are seldom certain of anything when we are called to judge truth from lies, fact from fiction and real from imagined.

J