Yawn Away

Better to be tired from accomplishing everyday important things than to be wide awake and just existing.

By no means am I doctor, so take what I about to say with a grain of salt.  According to the Wall Street Journal yawning is good; it cools off your brain and keeps it at an optimal working temperature. Just saying that makes me feel so much better.  The reason being is I am a guy who gets up too early and does my fair share of yawning. 

Here are some believed to be true facts about yawning:

-People tend to yawn when they see someone else do it.

-Tends to occur more in the summer.

-A yawn can keep our brain alert during stressful situations.

-Air conditioning can cause yawning to decrease.

- Yawning can occur as often in the AM as in the PM.

-The typical yawn last about six seconds.

 

It is also a fact that people yawn at the strangest times.  For example, people about to make a speech or a parachutist about to jump out of an airplane or Olympic athletes about to compete have all been caught yawning.

Yawning has always been an annoying habit I can’t seem to shake. Seems to me I must do it every night, despite how much I fight it.  If I am really tired I even do a strange air puffing thing instead of a yawn. 

People seldom look at yawning as a good thing; rather a cue that they are boring or that maybe they should leave now. So, the other day when The Wall Street Journal considered it a good thing I took this as encouraging news. If for no other reason that one of my faults can be explained by the fact that at least I am using my brain.

Now, I know this sounds foreign to most of us because yawing seems like an indicator and it very well may be.  But in my opinion, many times yawning is a good indicator that we are trying to do too much or have done too much and it’s just time to call it quits for the night.

One last thought on yawning or any habit people have that annoys us.  Maybe we should put ourselves in their shoes before we judge them because who knows what crazy life they may be living. Remember, people could do a lot worse than annoy you, just watch the evening news.

What a concept: as you yawn away you are air conditioning your brain.

Swavel

 

 

Whisper Loudly

The world’s best offer doesn’t need the world’s best salesman to validate it. 

Who or what should matter most in my life?  The answer I came up with is one word and five letters long: JESUS.  Now, I’m not attempting to be deeply religious here, because that would be an epic failure.  However, it is often been said it is not what you know, but who you know.

Here are few examples.

Once I was talking to a friend of the family who had just under gone life threatening surgery.  As they wheeled my friend away on a gurney to the operating room the only word she uttered was JESUS.  It was a very simple approach, but a very effective one.  Since she was a believer, no matter the outcome it’s was a win-win.

Another time I was killing bugs at an elderly lady’s house. As I was walking by a cluttered desk  in her pantry I saw these words:  Only what’s done for Christ will last.  That profound message that I read some ten years ago still whispers loudly to my soul today.

Lastly, there’s the story about the renowned author and Holocaust survivor, Corrie Ten Boom.  At her funeral, she gave specific instructions to the pastor that he should not make any eloquent speeches about her life, but rather to speak about the love of Jesus. It was obvious from what I have read about Corrie that she loved Jesus more than anything else in the world.  Corrie Ten Boom’s life personified this verse from First Corinthians:  “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Sadly at times, my life has been a pitiful example of Christ.  Nevertheless, it is a deep desire of mine to point some to Him, despite me.  I t always has been about Jesus anyway; even my brokenness can’t ruin that. 

Whisper Jesus loudly with your life and then get out of the way.

Swavel

Prepaid

No need to panic because every now and then we all feel like Amelia Bedelia

“I can’t believe I just did that.”  That was my first thought when I prepaid for fuel at gas pump # 6 the other week at the local mini mart, only to discover an hour later I had forgotten to fuel up.  My mind had simply revolted as it was a classic case of being over tired.  After an extra-long day at work I had gone into the gas station with coffee on my mind, prepaid for the gas, jumped in my car and zoomed off toward home. 

It is always best, no matter how dumb we can feel sometimes, to try and learn from our mistakes.

So here goes, 6 THINGS I LEARNED FROM PUMP #6:

1-Don’t be defined by dumb.  Just don’t let yourself to go there.  Moments after I realized my transgression my ten year old daughter, who was in the car at the time, offered up this advice, “Dad, it’s not the end of the world.” The fact is she was absolutely right.

2-Foolish things have value.  This is something I love about God.  The Bible says that God likes to use the foolish things of this world for his benefit.  My perceived foolishness reminds me that without God I can nothing and he can redeem even the silliest thing I do. 

3- Could be worse.  That same night I was listening to the Phillies ‘game on the radio when I was making the drive back to the gas station.  Pitcher Cliff Lee had just thrown a pitch when he started shaking his head and pointing at his elbow. Seconds later the trainer came out and Lee was done for the night and is now on the disabled list.  At least my inconvenience didn’t cause me any physical pain.

4-Fess up as soon as you can.  People lie way too much and often I think when you tell someone the truth it refreshingly catches them off guard.  When I called the gas station I identified myself as pump#6 and then admitted it was my entirely fault.  In response they were very gracious and allowed me to come get the fuel I had prepaid for hours earlier. 

 5- Keep the receipt.  It is always good to have proof that you did what you said you did.  It also gave me creditability with the gas station if necessary. People would like to take your word for it, but nowadays we just don’t know everyone we come across anymore.  Documented proof keeps everything on the up and up and keeps people from yelling less.

6- I’m grateful for the ultimate pre-pay. Now, I know what I did the other day can sound rather silly, but bear with me.  There are so many of us who are driving along in life with tanks that are on empty.  All we need to do is trust Jesus with our lives because He is the ultimate pre-pay.  Jesus prepaid on the cross some two thousand years ago for our sins and all we need to do is cash in on it, by repenting and following him.

A full tank of gas is nice, but it is better to be full of grace to others along life’s journey.

Swavel

 

 

 

 

 

Go Green(e)

 

Greatness of character is always something to be cheered.

It’s about time. That’s what I thought when I read that the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to retire Mean Joe Greene’s # 75 this season. This is big news especially since the Steelers have not retired a number in over fifty years, simply because that’s not the Steeler way.  They couldn’t have picked a finer human being to make an exception for  than one a coach once described as a fort on foot.  

With all due respect going green and helping the environment is a noble thing.  However, even more noteworthy is when people take difficult situations and poor behavior and turn it into something good. Take Mean Joe Greene for example.  For when it comes to being a man of great character I believe he can teach us how to Go Green(e) :

1-Have grit

Joe Greene was the very definition of grit and determination coming out of a small school in Texas in 1969.  The Pittsburgh Steelers saw promise in him and drafted him fourth overall much to his dismay because he knew the Steelers were a losing organization. 

However, the Pittsburgh faithful were not quite sure what to make of the 6-4, 275 pound mountain of a man.  Days later a newspaper headline read posed this question, Who’s Joe Greene?  Mean Joe, who was a rare combination of a defensive player who was both mobile and hostile, answered that question with a resounding Hall of Fame career and a relentless pursuit to be the best. 

2-Make others better.

From every article and interview I ever read or heard about him Mean Joe hated to lose.  He also made his intentions very clear to those around him in the Steelers’ locker room.  Early in his career this was detrimental, however his insatiable desire to be the best seemed to be contagious as was proof in the Steelers four Super Bowl wins.

3-Pick others up.

The picture that best illustrates Joe Greene is the one above of him single handedly picking up an injured teammate.  Greene performed this merciful act during a playoff game in the early seventies when wide receiver, Lynn Swann, was knocked out cold by devastatingly brutal hit from an Oakland Raiders’ defender. 

 Joe said later he did it so the team didn’t have I had to waste a time out on Swann.   However, it seemingly inspired Swann so much that he played two weeks later in the Super Bowl and was the game’s MVP. 

4-Be excellent. 

Mean Joe was twice named NFL defensive player of the year, was a ten time pro bowler and was named to the NFL and Pittsburgh Steelers All Time Team.  Not to mention he was also suitably inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Number Seventy Five was a special player who had the unique ability to take over a game when needed, making him nearly unstoppable.  For instance, Greene once had five sacks in one game against the Houston Oilers which propelled the Steelers to victory and the playoffs that year.  

5- Learn gentleness.

Greene had many great attributes, but unfortunately all heroes have flaws and his poor sportsmanship was his weakness. Especially in his younger years, Greene lived up to his moniker, Mean Joe.  The notorious list included getting kicked out of games in high school, spitting on Dick Butkus,  kicking a Cleveland Brown offensive tackle, and  snapping a football prematurely while the other team’s offense was setting up to run a play.

Then in 1979, he made a sixty second commercial that allowed the world to see him in a gentler and kinder light.  To this day the iconic Coke commercial when Joe Greene throws his jersey at the kid who gives him a Coke still has to be one of the best. Greene showed us it’s never too late to change.

The best way to Go Green(e) is to turn you anger into kindness.

Swavel

 

Forward Motion

 

 

 

"Swift and resolute action leads to success; self-doubt is a prelude to disaster.” Joseph Addison

The word maybe might be the most allusive word in the entire English vernacular. Just saying the word tends to evoke doubt, instead of a straight answer it leaves the outcome to chance. 

Here’s a few examples:

-Maybe, due to times being so hard, I’ll lose my job?

-Maybe sometime soon I will get my act together?

-Maybe it was someone else’s fault?

-Maybe I should exercise more and eat healthier?

-Maybe I will finally catch a break and things will go my way?

-Maybe I should stop complaining so much and enjoy life more?

-Maybe today I will pull myself out of my funk?

-Maybe I will start taking responsibility for my actions?

The last question reminds me of a young man named Raymond, who I used to work with when I made sausage years ago.  One day while he was mixing a five hundred pound batch of sausage I saw a bag of seasoning standing directly behind him that he had neglected to add.  When I asked him if he had forgotten something, he shrugged his shoulders and sheepishly said, maybe?  His non-committal response only made me want to dump the seasoning on him.

That got me to thinking that instead of maybe living we should be exhibiting some forward motion. For examples, Columbus took a chance and discovered an entire new continent.  Peter used forward motion when he obeyed Jesus by getting out of the boat and walking on the water.  Moses, with God’s help, parted the Red Sea and then walked to the other side.  Abraham Lincoln was actively applying forward motion when he helped free the slaves.

 Even the fictional character, the Winter Warlock, in Santa Claus is coming to Town, put one foot in front of the other and switched from being bad to good.  And let’s not forget the one cut and run philosophy in football that Mike Shanahan invented that forces the running back to make up his mind and move forward gaining positive yardage.

There is a fine line between properly waiting and then there is hesitation fueled by doubt.   No one wants to be a fool and rush in where angels fear to tread.  On the other hand, no one wants to miss out on doing something significant with their life because they were afraid.

Forward motion simply sees an obstacle as part of the course and then scales over it.

Swavel

Favorite Neighbor

A good neighbor is someone who makes you feel welcome at all times.

Undoubtedly, Kass Detweiler is who Mr. Rogers had in mind when he said, “won’t you be my neighbor?”  To make a long story short, allow me to introduce you to my favorite neighbor.

Here are the basic facts:

Kass Detweiler and her husband, Al, have twelve children.  Three were born to her, nine were adopted.  Kass was a Pastor’s wife in a church in Allentown and then they moved to Boyertown where she now resides as my landlord for the last twelve years.  She and Al we instrumental in founding Spruce Lake Wilderness Camp in Canadensis, PA, a Christian retreat center.  Kass and Al were married over fifty years when Al changed his address to Heaven in 2005.  Kass loves the yard mowed once a week and I believe in Heaven, her yard will look immaculate. 

Here are a few stories:

Kass is a giver.  Often when I call Kass on the phone, it is to ask for eggs or milk or sugar or soy sauce or lawnmower money.  Whatever it is, this is how I start the conversation: “Hey Kass, this is your favorite neighbor.”  She always laughs, “So I hear, how I may help you?”

Kass doesn’t sugarcoat the truth.   When I was about four, I used to live next to Kass and Al, but I don’t remember much about it.  However once out of the blue, Kass clued me in on how I was as a kid. She said that I was a snotty nosed kid who was always wiping my nose.  Just Kass calling it the way she sees it. 

Kass treats my kids like her kids.  All my kids have had or still do have their picture on her bulletin board in her house where her family pictures hang.  This reminds me of the time my wife and I took Kass to our son’s high school graduation, where he was salutatorian.  After his moving speech, Kass, who was sitting next to me in the audience, turned to me and not so quietly said something like this, “I couldn’t hear a thing,” she said, “but I’m sure it was great.”  That night Kass taught me how just being there for someone is the best way to show you truly care.

No one can pray like Kass.   In June of 2012, we were in China and were adopting our youngest daughter.  However, we were having a tough time adapting to the time zone, culture, and just feeling lost.  Not to mention, the threat of a typhoon right as we were about to leave.  So, we called Kass in the middle of the night more than once and she prayed with all heart.  I swear that Kass Detweiler has a direct line to God and that He takes what she has to say into consideration.  No one else I know can use the word “crappy” in a prayer and get away with it. 

Kass is full of wisdom.  She once told me a story in regard to dying.  “Just like a parent has to call a child in from playing so he can eat supper, God the Father is not being ugly when you die and He calls us home.”  As she would say, like only Kass can, “It’s just time to come in.”

Here is the conclusion:

One day I believe that our kind and generous heavenly Father will bring us together once again.  And off in the distance I will hear, like only Kass Detweiler can exclaim, "Look who it is, it’s my favorite neighbor, how may I help you?"

To be a favorite neighbor, one must act the part.

Swavel

Kill the Bum

 

A game official puts his shirt on just like you and I; however, we are the ones who chose whether or not it has a bull’s eye on it.

Back in the day, when a questionable call would occur at a sporting event, you could often hear a certain refrain.  It would belong to an unhappy patron yelling kill the bum.   This universal obsession to blame the man in blue or zebra stripes seems to be prevalent in every sport and in every era.

Here are four options to entertain, instead of just yelling kill the bum:

1 Take personal responsibility.

During the World Cup of Soccer this year, I remember hearing on the radio that the Mexican coach was blaming the referee for their loss.  Unfortunately for him, from what I could gather, their poor play was what truly led to their defeat. 

Of course, the calls going against them made it more difficult to succeed, but good teams use adversity to fuel them.  A fellow softball coach once told me that if you lose a game due to bad call, you should have never left the game get that close in the first place.  Fate is not always kind. 

2 Don’t throw a fit.

A perfect example of how not to respond to an umpire’s bad call has got to be baseball’s famous pine tar incident.  The image of a ballistic George Brett as he came charging out of the dugout to confront the head umpire for having too much pine tar on his bat, is unforgettable.  Needless to say, the above picture aptly conveys that he certainly was feeling like killing the bum because the call had ultimately cost his team the game.

Eventually, his team, the Royals would win the game when they replayed the inning weeks later. However, that visual still stays with me as a testament that you can be right and still be in the wrong, if you lose your temper.

3 Try putting yourself in their shoes. 

A few years ago, during an NFL game, the Seahawks trailed the Packers by five points with seconds to go and twenty five yards to go for a score.    The Seahawks’ quarterback heaved a desperation pass into a group of players and it appeared that a Packers’ defender had intercepted the pass.  However, after the Packer fell to the ground a Seahawk player, grabbed onto the ball. One referee called it a touchdown and one referee called it an interception.  After a lengthy review the play stood and fans everywhere couldn’t believe what they had just seen.

The play has been dubbed the Fail Mary, because of how badly the referees blew the call.  However, the real story was that the poor referees doing the game were just replacements filling in for the real ones who were on strike.  In essence, these referees were doomed to fail sooner or later.  They had no professional experience doing mostly high school and lower level college games and were in way over their heads.  Frankly, anyone of us could have made the same poor call, if we had been in their shoes.

4 Be the bigger man.

Speaking of big men, BJ Raji, a 300 plus pound defensive player for the losing Packers appropriately summed up his feelings about the famed Fail Mary play.  He said this, “right now it’s a tough pill to swallow, but we’ll get over it.”

Sadly, I must confess that as teen I chose far too often to act like a raving lunatic when playing sports and the calls went against me. Consequently, somewhere in my adult years I discovered that being right doesn’t give me the right to act like a spoiled brat.  Over time, I also discovered that regardless of what the referee or umpire called that he was a human being too and tried accordingly to treat him as such.

Ask yourself this: if your child were old enough to officiate would you like someone to scream kill the bum at him?

 Swavel

By George

 

May we never forget America’s Independence wasn’t free; it cost many all the bravery they could muster.

This time of the year got me to thinking about the phrase home of the brave.  Of course, that comes from the last words in our National Anthem, in which the author was referring to America.   And we need look no further for someone who  best epitomizes true bravery than the example  set by George Washington.

Here are the givens regarding George Washington.   He was First President of our proud nation. He led the Crossing of the Delaware in the Revolutionary War. His wife’s name was Martha. And as a child, he chopped down a cherry tree which sadly was just an old wives’ tale.

Although, before one can be great there is a lot that goes into building that character. Strange thing about George Washington is that things didn’t always seem to go his way. 

While our First President reportedly stood 6’ 3  1/2”  tall, he was not traditionally regarded as being overly attractive.  It has been said that his facial appearance had been scarred as a result of small pox during his teen years and this apparently seemed to make his relationships with the opposite sex difficult.  Twice, women he proposed marriage to rejected his offer.  On top of that, his father passed away when he was eleven and he seemingly was raised by a domineering mother. 

Let this be a lesson to us all; appearances can be deceiving.  Although, the beginning of his story was difficult, George did not allow this to define his character and the man who he was becoming.

For example, nothing more embodies Washington’s bravery than when he was a young officer fighting in the French and Indian War.  It was July 9^th, 1755 when he quite frankly should have not survived, in a war which pitted the British against the French. Under the leadership of General Braddock, one of England’s most experienced officers, they went to battle seeking to forcibly evict the French from Fort Duquesne, which now is Pittsburgh, Pa.  However, the French, along with their allies the Indians were lying in wait for them in a heavily wooded ravine.

General Braddock’s plan of attack was the European approach in which the soldiers march in columns while staying in the open, never retreating.  Despite George’s warning, Braddock  refused to considering any other tactic than what worked in the past. Unfortunately, the British in their bright red coats were easy targets for the French and Indians who were hiding behind trees and rocks.   It was quite literally a massacre. 

After only hours,  more than half of the 1300 men were dead, Braddock among them.  On the contrary, only thirty or so of the French and Indians suffered fatalities.  Yet, somehow, by George, our first President survived.    History tells us that his coat had four bullet holes in it and that two horses were shot out from under him, yet he refused to retreat.

This, in his own words, is how he described his miraculous escape from death.  “ By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation.” In my opinion, using modern terms, he was claiming God had protected Him.  The Indians agreed, in principle. 

 

Years later, Indian soldiers swore that they had singled out Washington to kill him, but each time they fired at him they mysteriously missed.  The Indians sincerely believed that  an Invisible Power was watching over Washington.

 

The Father of our Nation was quite a man. Certainly when it comes to true examples of bravery, you need look no further that the example set by George.   

Bravery, unlike bragging, allows its actions to speak for itself.

Swavel