Fishing for Votes

FISHING FOR VOTES

Dad was a fisherman. My brothers and I have some happy memories from fishing with him on a lake.

Row boats are fun for fishing

“Careful there!” Dad would urge caution when I moved to toss my line off the other side of the boat. I wasn’t a great fisherman, but I could bait my own hook and remove my own fish. I even ate the bony things, but I always refused to clean them.

I once wrote a story about fishing for votes, but I never shared it. Since another national deadline is nearly here, the story seems suitable. Here it is:

Political fishermen move about casting lines for a prize-winning catch by season’s end. Some troll the waters with negative ads and generalities abound. But once in a while there’s a feeding frenzy as voting fish grab a line and swim with it. “Time for a change,” they say, and go for the bait, oblivious of danger.

Change may be needed, but so is caution. Our political boat with its freedom of choice has left the shore, fished for votes and returned with its catch for over two hundred years.

Plenty of people have rocked the boat, but time after time cautious voices urged balance. “Careful there. Don’t jump up and change without warning. What’s your plan?”

But while caution was urged in the boat, a similar scene played under water.

Fish are aware of the bait

Fish are wily creatures. Bait can dangle off a hook in many appealing ways, but rarely does a fisherman cast his line and get an immediate response.

Unseen fish warily circle around. Prize fish are not easily hooked. They can live with the intrusion of bait in their waters, biting only when they are ready.

Their choice is the fisherman’s unknown. All he can do is bait and wait while the fish circle around to determine the real from the fake.

Can a fish rock the boat? He can if he strikes the line of a comfortable fisherman who sees only calm waters. He may be staring toward shore through colored glasses, dreaming of his big catch.

Under water, however, the fish may be comparing notes and bragging about the bait they have learned to ignore.

Uncle Sam and Citizen Sam admire their catch

In political fishing season some say they feel like a little fish in a big pond, but to the people fishing for votes each fish has value.

Count yourself as important, too. Instead of avoiding political waters, become a registered voter and freely circle the bait with a wary eye.

When it’s time, grab a line. You are an essential part of someone's catch.

Ashes of Burnout

ASHES of BURNOUT

You’ve heard where there’s smoke there’s fire, but nobody talks much about ashes. Fires bring a lot of action, from fire trucks racing down the street to curious onlookers watching firemen handle heavy equipment while dousing the flames.

Investigators will come and sift through the remains, but why bother when it’s too late to save anything? Ashes have proven to have answers and inquiring minds want to know how did this start? Could it have been prevented?

I was on fire for ministry in a large church for many years. I enjoyed my challenges as a leader and organizer of several departments. Like an enjoyable fireplace, my personal flames felt cozy and comforting to me.

They lowered from time to time but never actually went out, until one night at a women’s event.

While sitting by myself at a small table, feeling disconnected and isolated, I had a sudden thought. I’m going to the women’s restroom. I’ll see if anyone misses me.

Looking back on it now I can smile. But that night, when I was gone for nearly twenty minutes and no one came, it was not so funny. I went back to the event thinking so much for that idea. No one cares. But my feelings bothered me and I tried to analyze what was wrong.

Later I learned that resentment is a sign of burnout. It’s easy to get to that stage in our society. Sometimes it seems that people are valued more for what they do than who they are.

About a year later, my husband and I took a sabbatical. We were not involved in any kind of ministry or work. It was a very restorative time and not at all wasted. In fact, it created many happy memories with family and friends.

I sifted through my ashes and discovered what I considered important to help prevent burnout: REST.

You can’t have restoration without rest. Things being restored are generally out of service for a time. For people that could mean a fifteen-minute break or a power nap, a day off or a vacation---something to break the routine and bring about rejuvenation.

While dealing with the demands of life, even responsibilities we enjoy, it’s easy to forget that God has always considered rest important. He modeled it in Genesis 2:2 and commanded it in Exodus 20:8-11.

Forest fires are fought with fire breaks. We can get lost in our modern forest of busy-ness, but let’s be honest. When someone asks, “What are you doing,” isn’t “nothing” the last choice on your answer list?

Controlled fires do a lot of good. So how will you create your restorative break? Only YOU can prevent ashes of burnout.

Lost in the Lettuce

LOST in the LETTUCE

What!! I couldn’t believe it. My wedding ring had slipped off my finger into a full bin of iceberg lettuce.

I did a quick mental quiz. Have I lost weight unknowingly? Did I not eat any salt today? Is cooler weather keeping my fingers from swelling? My answer to all three was I don’t know, but I’ve got to DO something!

Feeling like a crazy woman, I started piling up the lettuce to the back of the bin. I could see my ring between the iron grates. Even more worrisome was the slot in the front, not far from my ring. I didn’t want it lost down there!

I struggled to pick the ring up between two fingers. When that didn’t work, I walked through the swinging doors to the back of the produce department. “Hello!” I shouted. “Hello!” There was no response and I didn’t see anyone.

I’m on my own, I thought. Maybe I can pull it out with a couple of pens. I hurriedly dug through my purse. With a ballpoint pen in each hand I tried using one pen to push my ring onto the clip of the other. The ring would go on but then slip off when I lifted it up.

It was a relief to see I was still alone. I thought I’m going to have to push my fingers through that grate to get my ring. It hurt, but I struggled again to hold onto the ring while I pulled it free.

When I finally got it back on my finger I felt like shouting, “I got it!” It was then a story came to mind about the search for a valuable pearl.

It’s an extremely short story, only about twenty-eight words. Jesus’ stories, or parables, used common things to illustrate spiritual truths.

The story that came to mind was this: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! (Matthew 13:45-46 NLT).

My wedding ring, like that pearl, was valuable to me. I wasn’t about to leave it laying in the lettuce bin!

Parables can illustrate more than one truth. Feeling the ring on my finger, still loose, I thought about the effort the man put forth to own the choice pearl. He sold everything he had to make it his own.

The Kingdom of Heaven, like the pearl, is very desirable. The question is, how much value do we place on it? Our answer is shown by the effort we make to pursue it.

To seek the Kingdom of God means to give God first priority in our life. We apply His guidelines to personal decisions and are not swayed by others' goals or opinions.

Lettuce is quite perishable. In a world filled with lettuce-like values, we need to pursue the pearl and not get lost in the lettuce.

Don't Be a Jumper

DON’T BE A JUMPER

Everyone seems anxious to share their opinions now days. Email, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter make it easy.

My question is this: Would more be accomplished if people dug a little deeper, or waited a little longer, before jumping to a conclusion and dashing off an opinion?

Good Stories 

I used to enjoy hearing Paul Harvey share human interest stories on radio. He would lead right up to an intriguing point, then say, “Page Two.”

After an advertisement, he would continue with another side to the story, or behind-the-scenes information. He always closed by saying, “And now you know the rest of the story.”

Jumping to conclusions means making a judgment quickly without knowing all the facts. I used to be a good jumper, but I learned to be more careful.

My Story

I worked in church offices for years and noticed a common practice when people asked for help. Women generally came in alone. But it was not uncommon to see a man waiting in a vehicle outside.

One day a couple got my attention by coming in together. They shared their need and we helped them out. I invited them to church and they came.

As I mentored the wife in a weekly Bible study, we became better acquainted. I learned they had not always been homeless.

They had once enjoyed a good life. The husband was a contractor and they had actually built their dream home.

Page Two!

The house burned down and they lost everything. The wife said, “I just never had the heart to start over.”

Now I knew the rest of the story.

Jumping Instruction #1

When I felt cautioned about jumping to conclusions, the wisdom of John 7:24 seemed applicable. It says, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

Appearances are only one side of the story. You don’t have to live long to learn stories have many sides.

I still remember a young man telling me something years ago. I jumped to a conclusion and shot off a reply. 

I’ll never forget how he looked at me and said, “It must feel good to always be right.”

Ouch! My judgment was faulty. I had not taken time to hear the rest of his story.

Jumping Instruction #2

I’d love to say I’m no longer a jumper, but the truth is this: I still have to remind myself that jumping to conclusions is dangerous.

Another good reason for caution is found in Matthew 7:1-2. Jesus said whatever measure we use to judge others will be used to judge us.

Do we want people to see a few things and jump to conclusions about us? Or would we prefer they learn more about our situation?

Caution

I’m now cautious about sharing quick opinions.

Join me. Don’t be a jumper!

Lighten Up

LIGHTEN UP

Some days are a little heavier in life than others. Whether at work or at home, demands can be made that turn our day upside down. We wake up thinking the day will go one way, then it gets entirely off (our) track.

Now that I’m a care giver again, I see days like that quite often. Being a care giver for a family member means I’m on tap twenty-four seven. If I was employed as a care giver outside the home, I’d have hours at work then time of my own.

Most of the time I feel at peace, but today was one of those days when life seemed just too challenging. After dinner I decided to look through my idea file for this week’s story.

I was surprised by some very humorous items. Most had been shared as emails from friends, but not all. I started to smile as I read them. My focus changed and my load felt lighter.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who needs to lighten up. So, how about sharing a few smiles?

Bumper Stickers

• He who laughs last thinks slowest
• Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine
• Cover me. I’m changing lanes
• Out of my mind. Back in five minutes
• Tell me to ‘stuff it’---I’m a taxidermist

Confusing Accident Reports

• The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.
• I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment.
• My car was legally parked as it backed into another vehicle.
• I was sure the old fellow would never make it to the other side of the road when I struck him.

Punography

• I tried to catch some fog. I mist.
• I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. I can’t put it down.
• I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger? Then it hit me!
• What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.

Good Humor

Wife:         We could swing by DQ and I could treat you to a small sundae.

Husband:  If I go by myself I can get a big one.

Mom to Little Boy:     We can’t get that. I’m out of money.

Little boy:                  There’s a bank. Go get some.

Mother:  Did you find my message about the sandwich and milk I left you?

Son:       Yes, thank you. But I wanted to leave you a note.

Mother:  What was that?

Son:       Things go better with coke.

There’s more, but I’ll quit here. Now that you think about it, I’m sure you can find your own smiles.

In the New Living Translation Proverbs 17:22 puts it this way: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

When life gets heavy, lighten up!

When the Wind Blows

WHEN the WIND BLOWS*

Just a couple of days ago a strong stormy wind got our attention. My husband and I saw the dark clouds while running errands. We were thankful to be safe inside when the storm arrived.

I've been in major rains before, but this storm seemed even more fierce. From our living room window, we watched the wind blow sheets of rain off our roof and out over the deck.

The electricity went off and on three times in fifteen minutes. I was glad we had a couple of battery-powered backup units for the computer and entertainment center. But the storm reminded me to share a story I had written about another windy day. 

Here it is:

A Photo Reminder

I always smile when I look at a photo posted in front of my desk. I took it on a vacation while trying to keep my balance by leaning against a tree. The wind nearly bowled me over as I was standing on a bluff overlooking a small valley.

I finally decided to enjoy the view from our car, though there was a wire fence in that area.

I thought the fence would hinder my view but I had some great entertainment. A variety of birds did touch-and-go landings on the fence just to the right of my passenger-side window. With such strong wind I was amazed they chose to land on a wire at all.

Finally, a pretty blue bird with a white underbelly landed with his feet about two inches apart. His tail stuck nearly straight up for balance. My photo is a little blurry because I hurried to get the picture.

I thought he would take off quickly like the others, but he didn’t. My husband and I both admired that little bird’s tenacity since he was fighting the same wind we had just fought.

High Winds

You’ve probably heard about winds of adversity. Adversity can be something physical or mental that causes us to struggle. It may cause us to feel perplexed, confused or uncertain and we feel at a loss, wondering what to do.

In Psalm 42:5 David asked himself, Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? In 2 Corinthians 4:8, Paul wrote about being hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted and struck down. Those are good reasons to be downcast, but both men chose to keep their focus beyond life’s challenges and frustrations.

High Hopes

David encouraged himself with a little self-talk saying, “Put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5).

Paul wrote that in spite of all the adversity he experienced, he was not crushed or in despair, nor did he feel abandoned or destroyed. He chose to focus on things unseen, “since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Keep Your Focus

As I watched that little bird land on the wire, I wondered what’s your motivation? All the other birds barely landed before they took off! One thing for sure, it was a personal choice.

Like the little bird, we do a balancing act. 

While acknowledging the reality of what our senses tell us is happening, we can move past that to focus on eternal, unseen things known by faith and hope in God and His word.

Remember, when the wind blows and you’re facing adversity, choose your focus and hang on.

Note: Do you know someone who would find this story encouraging? Why not forward it to them?

*When the Wind Blows is from my book REFLECTIONS: Inspirational Stories from Everyday Life (available from BookLocker.com)

Can't Stop the Rain

CAN’T STOP the RAIN

As a child growing up on Midwest plains, I was always happy when it rained. To my mother’s dismay, that also included stomping through muddle puddles. It was fine if I had on my rubber boots. But one rainy day created an indelible memory.

As a first grader, I was walking home from school when it started to rain. I was so happy at seeing a big muddy puddle, that I actually sat down in it. I had great fun splashing the water around . . . until mom saw me.

She was extremely upset and brought me inside the house. While changing clothes I got the clear message NOT to do that again! But mom used a real clincher to make her point. She sent me to bed without supper.

That was a first! Mud puddle fascination disappeared on my empty stomach. But it didn’t destroy my joy of rain.

More Rain

In adult years we moved to the coast of northwest Washington. As a newbie, I decided to enjoy a walk in light misty rain. Even with an umbrella I got chilled to the bone. I looked forward to home and a nice hot shower.

Here in northern Arizona, I’m presented with another type of rain. Flashes of lightning and pounding thunder are preludes to cloud bursts. I own umbrellas, but at this stage of life I prefer to wait it out. Cloudbursts are many, but they don’t last long.

A Rainy Day Song

I used to enjoy B.J. Thomas singing “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.”* The melody and rhythm were catchy, though I never caught all the words.

I recently looked up the lyrics and enjoyed the story line. First, the guy acknowledges that annoying raindrops are falling on his head. Then he decides not to get the blues.

He doesn’t believe you can stop the rain by crying over it or complaining about it. So, he chooses to stay positive and believe for a happier (dry) day. With that attitude, he’s free to enjoy life in spite of the rain.

Rain . . . Now What?

I was thinking about the old platitude “into each life some rain must fall.” Rain seems to be a code for troubles, with many variations. Have you ever truly known a person who lives a totally trouble-free life?

Jesus even told his disciples they would have many trials and sorrows on earth. He also gave words of encouragement with no exclusions.

First, He said, Peace is available in Me.” Second, He said, “Take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33NLT). After being crucified, God raised Him from the dead on the third day. What could be more powerfully overcoming than that?

We can't stop the rain, no matter how it comes. But we can decide how to respond to it.

*Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969.