The Color of Her Crayons

As children we are often told to color inside the lines, even though some of the world's most famous artists didn't seem to follow that concept when making their masterpieces. Actually, I believe the color you choose to draw or paint with is even more important, especially when it comes to life.

Several months ago, my wife and I were out in our storage shed searching for a winter coat for our youngest daughter. As I was checking through the pockets of the coat we had found, I discovered six Crayola crayons. This may seem like an insignficant find to most, but to me, it was gold. These crayons were last used by my oldest daughter before she passed away (at 7 years old). The colors I found were: yellow, carnation, brick red, apricot, magenta, and orange.

The crayons now sit prominently on my work desk and as I gaze at each one, there is a specific thought or word that comes to my mind. Yellow means bright. Carnation reminds me of the flower. Brick red means hard work. Apricot reminds me of fruit. Magenta reminds me of the dog on Blue’s Clues, and orange, being my favorite color, means fire or passion. If I had to draw with those six colors, from a seven year old’s perspective, it would look like this: orange man, with a magenta dog, picking an apricot off a tree, with a brick red house in the background, carnation flowers next to the house, and lastly, a bright yellow sun in the sky.

I believe the colors we choose to use in our everyday life are important. Are we using angry words like, black, or sad colors like, blue, if we are discouraged? After I lost my daughter, these are the colors I chose to draw with. Orange was and is my favorite color, but for years I put it away or maybe I just refused to use it. It just didn’t seem appropriate, but now I've realized that all six colors my daughter had been using are bright colors. These colors show up best when used on a dark background. God has taught me yet again how children, even unknown to them, can teach us powerful lessons. The darkness and depression I was in for so many years, has set the background that now can be used to draw brilliant pictures I never imagined possible.

Perhaps when choosing a color to draw with for the day, we should choose a bright one.

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

Swavel

Courage Defined

Courage can best be summed up in six words: Make a statement, take a stand. To find courage I believe it is important to imitate it and who better to replicate than former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill.

He was born in 1874 and died in 1965 leaving behind him a legacy of famous quotes that few have equaled. From his trademark hat, bow-tie, and ever-present cigar there was just something about Churchill you had to respect. No one could deliver a speech like Churchill.

Though up until World War II, public opinion had labeled him as one who lacked judgment, stability, and many found him to be untrustworthy. All that would change when Adolf Hitler and the German Nazis came knocking on Great Britain’s doorstep. History has recorded that Churchill and Great Britain not only survived but flourished, in large thanks to his ability to rally the troops and nation.

In my personal opinion, here are the words that best sum him up taken from a speech he made in 1941:

“Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

We all experience discouragement from time to time. For me personally, I had a long period of depression to the point of despair, where life had gotten the best of me and it appeared I had quit trying. But, when I finally took my eyes off the ground and started to look up I realized I was focusing too much on the pain. In an effort to regain my courage, I gave up feeling sorry for myself and stopped thinking about myself. Courage demands we think about others first, put on a brave face and make a stand regardless of how we bad we feel or how bad the situation looks. So now I have adopted a new philosophy: Pain, like evil, must never triumph.

“It’s not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what’s required.” ~Winston Churchill

Swavel

Feathering the Chicken Coop

You are only thirteen once, thankfully. It was a year I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere, except, for one week at summer camp. For me they were memories I will never forget, it was the year I feathered the chicken coop.

My friends and I were trying to make the most of being at a camp where the cabins were outdated and you literally had to walk a mile for each meal. So, we did what any group of teenage boys would do, we began a feud with the cabin next door, 'the chicken coop'. It made for a week of relentless bantering between our cabins. Then my one friend decided to take it a step farther and devised a brilliant plot to 'feather' the chicken coop. We waited till no one was there and then went crazy hurling feathers from his down pillow. My friend and I thought we were so cool 'feathering' the ‘coop’ until, we were busted by their counselor. Fortunately, he went easy on us and only made us sweep the feathers under their bunks. We later learned the guys were furious, but never figured out who 'feathered' them. It became camp legend.

There were many things I learned during that week besides how to 'feather' a chicken coop. I met a guy named, Leon, who taught me a lifetime lesson. Leon was from the city and had a confidence I envied. He was out of his element with a bunch of crazy kids from the suburbs, yet he joined right in. He wasn't intimidated and I admired that. He was a great example of how different can be good especially when it comes to friends.

Then there was the night a bunch of us guys, with the promise of all you could eat pizza, took off for the cafeteria in the pouring rain. On our way there we had a blast jumping in mud puddles and getting drenched without a care in the world. We arrived totally soaked, but happy as clams until we realized there was not a slice of pizza to be found. We had been lied to. The only thing in this cafeteria was a bunch of hungry, miserable teenage boys. Sometimes life can be like that, you get your hopes up only to be dashed. Perhaps the best part of the experience is the journey.

Being thirteen can be like a maze of mirrors at a carnival. It can be so confusing, yet one right turn makes all the difference. In my mind, my summer camp experience made the whole year tolerable. Thirteen will always be the year I 'feathered' the chicken coop.

“Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.” ~ Gilda Radner

Swavel

Get Back Up

Have you ever had your bell rung? It can be a mind clearing experience. Have you ever rung someone else's? It can be scary. I've experienced both and found out you can learn from these unfortunate situations, if you decide to get back up.

One night as a teenager, I decided to tuck a pillow under my arm and tried to score an imaginary touchdown in my bedroom. For some reason, I decided to leap while attempting to score. The result was my head slamming on the doorframe and my feet sailing through the air. There was a horrific thud as my body slammed to the floor. I laid in silence, but it was only for a brief moment as I heard my dad’s footsteps coming up the stairs. Suddenly, I was miracously healed. Fear of my father motivated me to get back up.

When I was in my twenties, I was warming up to pitch in a softball game when a throw got away from me. The ball had sailed over a snack stand and directly behind it were bleachers full of spectators. Quickly, I ran to retrieve the ball. To my horror, I found my coach’s mother-in-law laying in her daughter's arms. At first glance I thought I had killed her, thankfully she was fine after the headache wore off. The realization I needed to improve (and of course, practice in the opposite direction of the fans) motivated me to get back up and eventually pitch again.

One very early morning a few years ago, as I attempted to get up for work, I lost my balance and banged my forehead squarely onto a desk. I felt like Goliath lying on the floor as I waited for the room to stop spinning. The commotion apparently woke my wife and she asked, "What are you doing?" Not having a good reply I got up, dusted myself off and left for work. Embarrassment motivated me to get back up again.

We all suffer setbacks from time to time and some more serious than others. Perhaps the best advice is to follow this Chinese proverb, “Failure is not falling down, but refusing to get up.”

Swavel

Wild Geese

Have you ever found yourself complaining about someone else and wondered, “What in the world are they thinking?” With that thought in mind, have you ever wished more people thought like you? Careful for what you wish for.

Several winters ago, I was staying at a prestigious hotel in Colorado when I learned a valuable lesson. As I was walking the grounds, I was captivated by the beauty that surrounded me. Above me were brilliant greens, blues, beiges, and dabs of white majestically blended against the jagged mountain peaks. Off in the distance, was an old style church with its steeple reaching skyward like a schoolboy posing a question. While directly below me, was a partially frozen pond adding to the tranquil setting. To enhance the moment, I could hear a locomotive’s whistle in the distance. It was spectacular, as if God had painted this landscape just for me.

Then suddenly out of nowhere I caught a glimpse of wild geese as they landed on the icy pond. They honked and swam irreverently as they ruined my picturesque setting. The geese seemed so out of place. It was like someone had just spilled a bucket of red paint on a masterpiece. I left feeling a bit agitated.

In hindsight, the geese helped me to realize that I can be seen as annoying as these birds who ruined my perfect landscape. Furthermore, I am grateful God chose to paint me onto his canvas despite my shortcomings. Perhaps because of this lesson I will be more gracious to others despite theirs.

"Be grateful; the other choices are not nearly as pleasant."

Swavel

Seven Again

This past weekend I was at a birthday party for one of my daughter’s friends and it got me to thinking. What was the best birthday gift you ever received? For me, that’s an easy one.

It was the summer before I turned seven when my grandfather took me into his attic. As we climbed the stairs, the room came alive to me. My eyes lit up as I scanned the room, there were treasures to be found everywhere. Then off in one corner I saw a bunch of old dusty deer antlers hanging from the rafters. My grandfather proudly explained how he had acquired the antlers. I listened intently to his every word as he told me his stories. It was a moment I won’t forget.

Before I knew it, summer was gone and fall arrived bringing my birthday with it. Though it’s been years, I can still remember the smile on my grandfather’s face when I opened his gift. There inside the box were those dusty antlers, now beautifully mounted and shined on a wooden plaque. Better than the gift was how special it made me feel. My grandfather had given me more than a birthday gift; he had given me something of his, something he prized, and with it a little bit of himself.

To say I loved the man would be an understatement. I admired him for many reasons, but most of all because of how I felt when I was with him. He always seemed to find time for me and always believed in me. It is a privilege to have his blood flow through my veins.

Every now and then when I am in my daughter’s room, off in the corner I can see those dusty antlers on a shelf. And perhaps, for just a moment, I am seven again.

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” ~Alex Haley

Swavel

Mad as a Hornet

There are just some things in life that are blatantly obvious, such as never skydive without a parachute, never spit in the wind, and never disturb a nest of angry hornets. If you choose to disregard the last friendly word of advice, the outcome can be extremely painful. I know from experience.

During my time as an exterminator, I was at a customer’s house and there was a large hornets’ nest in a difficult to reach spot. So, I began spraying them from about thirty feet away, thinking I was safe. However, much to my dismay, one of the hornets followed the stream of spray right back to me and stung me right on the cheek, to be precise, the one I sit on. It must have looked hysterical as I jumped into the air and fled into the nearby bushes. Come to think of it, the reason I was stung was because I was in a hurry and didn’t wear protective gear. Dumb gets you stung.

In an effort to avoid such confrontations, you must be familiar with the bald faced hornet. This angry menace is black with a white face similar to a wasp or yellow jacket. Their nests come in football or basketball type shapes, the texture of papier-mâché, and are gray-ish in color. Often hornets attach their nests to sides of houses, buildings, and tree branches. They begin making nests around the fourth of July and often they stay active until the first frost. By nature, these hornets are protective of their nest and when they feel threatened will sting hard and often.

Speaking from experience, I recommend you hire a professional instead of doing it yourself. If you insist on going it alone, make sure you treat the nest at night, follow the instructions on the can, soak the nest thoroughly, and then run for the hills. Whatever you do, don’t stand there to admire your work.

To my discredit, sometimes I become as mad as a hornet. So, I’m talking just as much to the man in the mirror. When something angers you, take a deep breath and stop. Just stop. Anger is a split second decision but it is still a choice; no one can force us to be angry. We need to recognize it, show restraint, and walk away. Perhaps, this Chinese proverb says it best, “If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.”

Swavel