Good service goes a long way. Bad service goes farther.

I recently stayed at the Kearney, Nebraska Wingate Inn for a Conference. While I was there, the service was great, and even after I left and forgot some items in my room, the service was spectacular... they had put the items in box and shipped it to me (which I have to pay for, but it was my fault that I forgot the stuff). They also had the box to me within a few days. Nice!
While I at the Conference, our Center had such great service - everything from wifi connection to seating to finding a restroom. Awesome!

So now when I want to "get away from it all", any guess where one of my first choices would be?

In contrast, I'm sitting here waiting for my contact lenses that were ordered nearly a month ago. Because I have an odd eye, I have to wait a little longer, or so the story goes. Yet if I was to order from the 800Contact company, the price would have been nearly the same, and they were in stock.
I could understand certain issues, but the attitude of the people that work at the clinic leaves a lot to be desired.
Even tossing up a hand when asking "what" when they were waiting on me one day. =/

When people give good service, it needs to be mentioned. The positives need to be brought up, and those who do something nice, even if it's their job, need the praise and affirmation.
At the same time, when something isn't right, it helps if something positive can be brought up, but also to nicely bring up to the proper people - maybe to the person who may have done something wrong, for they may not have realized it - that something isn't right. After all, people shouldn't be looking to ruin a business, and by not saying something, you're just as guilty of hurting a business... if they don't know there is a problem, they can't correct it.

Always say something positive. You can be part of the problem, or you can be part of the solution. Or you can make someone's day =)

The past, the present, the future

My brother has seen this on another blog, and I figured, "why not!" After all, it seems like people were doing so many "share this" on Facebook (and I don't do a lot of 'shares', sorry), but thought that this might be interesting... 

1 - What did you do in 2012/will you do in 2013 that you've never done before?

• I started my new lifestyle in May 2012, and to date, have lost almost 72 pounds. I haven't seen this number on the scales in years. I've even found that I can do an easy jog up the road, so I'm hoping that my walks will become more brisker and quicker, and eventually turn into jogging.

.

2 - Did you keep your New Years Resolutions and will you make more for 2013?

• I don't really do resolutions. I've tried, and would usually fail by day two or three. But if there is a goal to be set, it's to continue on my new lifestyle.

3 - Did anyone close to you give birth?

• I just found out that a nephew of mine had a baby. I'm also waiting for my 2nd grandchild any day now. Along with being a step-grandpa, I'm collecting the gray hairs. =)

4 - Did anyone close to you die?

• Not personally close. 

5 - Which countries did you visit?

• just a home-body

 

6 - What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

That's a hard one. I can want a lot, or be happy with what I have.  -  Probably the personal "space" to allow me some down-time.

 

7 - What dates in 2012 will remain etched in your memory?

• March 24 - My folks 50th anniversary.
• August 17 - Graduated Course of Study,
• some times at the end of August - I know, and that's what matters 

8 - What was your biggest achievement of the year?

• My new lifestyle, as well as completing Course of Study

9 - What was your biggest failure?

• How I handled some situations... I can always do better.

 

10 - Did you suffer illness or injury?

• The first thing that popped in my head was an illness after I returned from Course of Study. We all thought that it was just a bad case of allergies or something, but whatever it was, it sure knocked me on my butt. I was still working, but it was a big struggle.

 

11 - What is the best thing you bought?

• I now own a Keurig Coffee machine. After seeing a couple of people with theirs, and how they went on and on about it, I have to say that I was impressed. Then when Paulette "pushed me" into getting it for myself because I tend to be really frugal, I did. Maybe a little overboard, but we all do in some way.

 

12 - Whose behavior merited celebration?

• A lot of people, to be able to put up with me. Paulette and I have jumped some hurdles, and will do so forever (that's life), my folks for putting up with each other. My brother for surpassing some marathon goals. My nephew, Alex, for winning recognition and a college scholarship, and many others that will pop in my head at about 3 a.m.

 

13 - Where did most of your money go?

• Travel. Both business and personal. I've driven a lot this past year.

14 - What did you get really really really excited about?

• When my name was called to come forward for the blessing at Course of Study Graduation.
• When I slid the scales down more and more pounds
• When I was able to jog without losing my breath.

15 - What song will always remind you of 2012?

• 2012 - don't know... it depends on where I was and when. Ask me when a song is playing.

16 - Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

• Happier, by far. Things aren't perfect, but nothing is "perfect". But in reflection, I am much happier now!

17 - What do you wish you'd done more of?

• Doing it now - new lifestyle (happy, relaxed, eating well, living better)

18 - What do you wish you'd done less of?

• I wasted a lot of my life worrying. I still worry - that's still a battle, but earlier in 2012, I sure did waste my time with petty stuff.

19 - What was your favorite TV program?

• NCIS
• Parenthood
• Burn Notice
• Suits
• (whatever I enjoy)

 

20 - What was your favorite film of this year?

• I've only seen Les Miz, and given the fact that musicals and operas drive me up the wall, I was SUPER impressed with this movie. Granted, I zzz'd a pinch, but it was a long day - but I'll be buying the DVD when it comes out.

21 - What was the best book you read?

• I've had to read so many for my job that I have to say that they're all good, but also I'm losing the enjoyment of reading. Right now I'm reading/listening (I have the books, as well as the Audio Book) to a couple of Dale Carnegie books.

22 - How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

• Oversized...  some of my clothes are too big =)

23 - What kept you sane?

• Who said I was sane?
• Laughing.
• Walking

24 - What political issue stirred you the most?

• The issue that stirred me the most is the people who think they know what's going on. No matter how much people "think" they know, it seemed like the attitude of the year was Tunnel Vision. Hardly anyone wanted to see all sides of an issue, and many people seemed to be good at pulling one or two sentences out of a paragraph to fit their agenda. Thank God for DVD movies!

Today is a gift... Enjoy!

As I preached recently, Christmastime continues through Epiphany (January 6), but people are in such a hurry to move past Christmas and get on with their lives.

But why?
After all, in about ten months (maybe sooner, depending on which store you shop at), we'll start seeing Christmas decorations for sale. Sometime around then, or maybe sooner, or maybe later, we may do some Christmas shopping. And at some point, we'll start complaining again about how those Christmas decorations are come out in the stores earlier and earlier, yet inside, we'll be whistling along to the Holiday tunes playing overhead.

Advent Season, the four Sundays preceding Christmas, is a time of preparation, marked by themes of hope, love, joy, and peace. These are the themes that (should) come out at Christmastime, but are they not themes we should practice year-round?

So I've decided to mark each day (starting this past Jan. 1st) with something I learned, realized, accomplished, or whatever. I've already started by marking them each evening on Facebook ("Day 1", "Day 2", etc). My goal is to have something each and every day for the year.
Whether or not other people will find my items inspirational, positive, uplifting, or exciting is not up to me... these are things that I've learned or gained. And maybe someone can learn or gain something in the process of any of those days. Again, it's not up to me.

Already, I've had comments from people... how I'm different than months or years ago.
I can't say it's from this - for all I know, it could have something to do with not carrying an extra 70+ pounds around. Beats me. But I know that I'm happy, and people around me who are matter the most are happy.
I can only hope that it continues from there.

I don't know why exactly I started something like this - maybe it was because I saw someone in the store the other day who was a dead ringer for the Jeff Dunham character "Walter". Or maybe because people say I scowl too much. Or maybe a combination of everything.
But whatever the reason, I'm enjoying that ride now!

Plus, I look at it like this - I'm sure that somewhere in my brother's office or home, there is a board somewhere that is already counting down the days until Christmas.
It's easier for me to count up - 1, 2, 3, 4...
(but when I run out of toes, I'll have to look back at previous posts)

The ultimate goal is to show signs of hope, love, joy, and peace every day.
"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." ~Unknown

I, I, I, I, I

Ever have a conversation with someone who tries to "one up you" on everything?

For example (and this has never happened, just a hypothetical situation), someone walks into my office, and tells me how they had a rollover accident once, and then procedes to say that I don't know what it's like.
Hmm, let's see - I'm on Fire/Rescue, so I've pulled people from rollovers, as well as treated their injuries and transported them to hospitals. I've also rolled a truck down a hill.
Yeah, I do know what it's like.

But in any conversation you have, something they say has to be about something great they've done, or something that's happening with them, or why their life is more important/miserable/lousy/better than someone else.

Sad.

In my "line of work", I see these people almost every day. Some might be because they're lonely, are unable to get out (maybe because they're a shut-in or something) and need someone to talk to.
I understand that. Woe to their family for not coming to visit more. There's a lot they can learn.

Some are because they can't listen to their own advice.
Really? You're going to talk about how bad someone is, yet you're doing the same thing?
Get help.

Some are because they really do think that their important, but don't have a clue who they're talking to.
Nevermind the fact that someone could have once worked with aircraft weapons, or been won top in his profession at one point in time, or rescued people from a flooded river, or caught wanted felons, or spoke multiple languages, or traveled the country, or made world-wide news, or crash-landed, or been invited to speak to a group of government officials, or...

Point is - we are all important, and we all have something to share. So stop the "I, I, I, I" and listen to the other person for a moment.
You just might learn something.

Christmas is all different now

My Christmas is coming to an end, but only as the day. As I preached in my Sermons last night and this morning, Christmas is something that needs to be celebrated all year long - it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice for each and every one of us.

But as I was thinking about my day, and how it was different than last year, and different than years past, I started to think about all sorts of things...

For example, I seem to remember, as a kid, going home and hearing whatever was on the radio being interrupted by updates from NORAD on Santa's location. Now, you can log on from about any social media and get current updates as well as video feeds.

And in line with that, I remember how packed our church was. One year, my brother and I lit the candles down the aisles of the church. Now that I've seen the church as an adult, it doesn't seem like it as a lot, but as a kid, it felt like a thousand candles, with a million pairs of eyes watching.

And now as an adult, I think back, and I wonder in some ways. I ponder on my brother's words from last year as he wrote of how my "job" has me "working" at Christmastime, and, as he put it, "as he usually has some more important matters to tend to during, what I would consider, the most important time of year for any Christian."

But as I gave the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Worship Services, I looked out upon the crowds, and I couldn't help but noticed who was there and who wasn't. Some people had already saw me and mentioned that they would be with family - in some cases, shut-ins, and that is most important.

The last 24 hours was an important time, with an important Theme and Message all tied together. This past couple of days is the start of something critical.
This past month is the beginning of a different way of thinking, a different way of living.

The question is, to again, use my brother's words,  is it the most important time of the year?

Ah, the Holidays. (or OH, the Holidays!)

This week, I had lunch with a colleague of mine. It was a great time of fellowship, as I haven't seen her much in the past year, even though our Parishes are only less than an hour apart.
Last year at Christmas, one of her churches invited people to come for lunch, and because of Christmas being on a Sunday (a "work day" for me), and some other pastoral obligations I had that day, I drove to her church for lunch and good fellowship.

So lunch this past week made me remember something my brother wrote in his blog last year about how people should observe Christmas, but he made a note about how I was working ("occupational hazard"). And then I started to consider what I had through the end of the month...

1. Two Worship Services on Dec 23rd
2. Two Christmas Eve Services
3. A Wedding on Dec 29, and all of the rehearsal and final planning that goes with it.
4. Two Worship Services on Dec 30th

Then, I was nice enough to consider doing a Christmas Day Devotional Worship Service at each of my churches, because apparently something happened in the past, and it would be nice, and so on and so forth... but ok, sounds good.
Then I added the numbers.
And then I pulled out the aspirin.

But in all honesty, as work as it is going to take, and as much as I'll be expecting certain people to be at particular Services (because they encouraged me, so if they wanted it, they should be there as well, right?), it doesn't hold a candle to WHY I'm doing the Worship Services...
Because it's Christmas.

No matter what you say, or how you say it, people have many reasons for being busy at Christmas. But if you're going to use Christmas as an excuse, you need to know what Christmas is about, and the best place for that is church.

In between all of the times that I'll be busy, I'll find some time for personal escape. The people will just have to understand it. Just as I understand that some people will give me several reason why they can't make it to any of those eight different Worship Services. Sure, some people are away with family in other places, but as I recall past years of people telling me how "busy" they were and couldn't make it to church, but they would drive past me at the church, I think of why they were so busy... was it to celebrate Christmas, or to avoid the reason for Christmas?

So stop for a bit, and give up on the excuses...

• "Holiday" means "Holy Day"
• "Xmas" means "a celebration of Christ" (it's Greek)
• "Season's Greetings" is a welcoming of the Season (hence, the "Christmas Season")

Find a local place of worship, find a friend or neighbor to go with if that makes you more comfortable, and go.
Who knows - maybe you'll learn something.
In the meanwhile, read Luke 2:1-20. Or watch this...

Are we forgetting something?

This past few days have caused me to reflect more and more. This isn't the first time something like this has happened, and situations such as this has been closer to me than what some people know. So I enter into my time of prayer with confusion as well as strained feelings.

What I do know is that I've watched a lot of opinions on the news, in social media, and across the tables and in the aisles at various small-town businesses. But one thing I haven't heard a lot of is a simple fact - no matter what side of whatever issue you stand on - whether you're pro-this or anti-that; left-here or right-there; whatever...
Just leave it. Please.

The facts are that lives were lost, and none of us really know the details. Period.
So please, go do something nice for someone, instead of debating.
Go plant a flower. Go buy someone's lunch. Go give someone a hug.

So do something nice.

Maybe a little "nice" is really what we need.