THE BARN OF MEMORIES

 

I recently have been introduced to the program "The Repair Shop." It combines two things I enjoy: tinkering and stories.  It is a British program about a place that repairs or restores items of priceless memories.  People bring their family treasures to the barn, and the artisans begin working to restore it to its glory days.  When they drop off their items, the people explain the significance to the team.  In other words, they share the story about the items and the loved ones attached to them.

People get attached to items that remind them of a past loved one.  It helps them feel connected to that person.  It could be anything from an old toy to a rare painting.  

There are various artisans in the barn: mechanical engineers, seamstresses, woodworkers, restorers of furniture, ceramics, and the list goes on.

When people come in, they explain the story and significance of their item.  When they return, their precious item is unveiled to declare its new life.  The artisans are paid by the production company, but the real pay is seeing the reactions on the faces of the item owners.  In a sense, they now share part of their story.

I don't have many items to remind me of my parents, so these stories mean something to me. 

What objects do you have that contain a story for you? We would like to hear about your story items.  Please post in the comment section below (click the pencil).

Points Of Commonality

 In new social environments, we tend to start conversations with something we have in common:  weather.  Eventually, we talk our way through sports, the economy, etc.  If we are smart, we won’t talk politics (did you know politics comes from two words: “poly”, meaning “many,” and “ticks” are blood-sucking creatures!).

Covid is another such topic of commonality.  Everyone has been impacted by the pandemic, either physically, financially, or around school and job changes. School kids many years from now will talk about their shared experience of Zoom education and disruption of person-to-person relationships.  I think my grandkids will remain close later on because they were each other's only playmates during the pandemic.

 You have probably heard of six degrees of separation.  (See below.)

The idea is to choose anyone to find a connection to others.  How about Abraham Lincoln? Let’s say you and I have just met and have shaken hands.  The story goes that my great-grandfather shook hands with Mr. Lincoln.  If I start with you (#1), you shake my hand (#2).  I shook my dad’s hand (#3), who in turn shook his father’s hand (#4).  My great-grandfather (#5) met Lincoln (#6) when he was reviewing the troops at Harrison’s Landing, Virginia.  So, I shook the hand that shook, that shook the hand of President Lincoln. Six degrees of separation.

As President Lincoln was reviewing the troops at the Berkley Plantation, Harrison's Landing, VA, in 1862, a history of my great-grandfather's regiment states:

    

"As President Lincoln passed along the front of the lines he was preceded by Gen. McClellan.  He was dressed in the costume familiar to the people by his portraits and his angular, attenuated figure seemed intensified by the high stovepipe hat he wore.  The men had but a glimpse of his features as his horse was moving at a brisk trot, but the glimpse was sufficient to make a lasting impression..."

Based on this statement, it is doubtful that my great-grandfather shook his hand, but the tradition of the handshake continues down the generations.  Maybe he had a chance later?

Below is a copy of a painting that covered the event.

Sometimes our stories launch a similar thought or experience that we have in common with others.  As a student, I represented my college.  I traveled to various locations in my role.  In one place I stayed, I told a joke to a high school student.  He in turn remembered a joke that related to mine, and the cycle began.  We spent numerous hours trying to be funny. Joking was our point of commonality.

We live in a time that separates people, especially politically.  Rather than focus on what we don't agree on, we should look for what we have in common. We may have more in common than we think.  Make it a point to find that commonality in others and discover connection. You may find some interesting people in your “six degrees of separation,” or is it “six degrees of connection?”

NEW YEAR FISH!

As we approach a New Year, we may think things don't look too promising.  If we only look at the news, we will get a very negative view of things.  It seems like people's enthusiasm has dwindled. What would happen if we shared some enthusiasm in 2024?  What might it look like?

My wife and I were on our way to visit my new hematologist.  His office is in the Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, OR.  It is certainly a different atmosphere than one finds in a typical doctor's visit.  While walking down the halls, you see children and families everywhere, along with multi-colored decals on the walls.  Each nurse's station was identified by a certain animal.  We walked past elephants, giraffes, lions, etc.  I don't remember what my station was, but knowing my luck it was a laughing hyena!

There was this beautiful large aquarium.  When we walked by, a little girl, with great enthusiasm yelled "Fish!"  She didn't want us to miss it.  Apparently, she didn't want anyone else to miss it either. Everyone who walked by got the same enthusiastic message.

I can't get that little girl out of my head.  Now, throughout my day, I yell, "Fish!"  My wife has even caught on!  Try it.  Whenever you need enthusiasm, think of this story and yell, "Fish!"  It sounds so simple, but what it can do to lift your spirit and get excited about something is amazing! It is contagious. Spread the "Fish!"

‘Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement,’ writes Rabbi Abraham Heschel because ‘everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.’*

*This phrase is used by Julian E. Zelizer in Abraham Joshua Heschel: A Life of Radical Amazement, (Yale University Press, 2022) p.88

HAPPY ENTHUSIASTIC NEW YEAR!

DIVINE CHRISTMAS APPOINTMENT

I have a row full of Bibles on my bookshelf.  Now you can download and read them on a tablet and save space, yet, there is something about physically holding a Bible.  

I parted with one of my Bibles today.  My eyes aren't stellar anymore.  I bought the Bible recently but when it arrived, I realized I couldn't see the print very well.  

I sold it on social media.  Rafael contacted me about buying the Bible for his son.  We agreed to meet at a designated place.  I got there first and waited a few minutes for him to arrive.  He drove up, got out of the car, and I greeted him.  He said his son is 37 and has had a drug problem.  "He wants to read the Bible," he told me.  When he paid me, I asked, "Rafael, can I pray over this Bible for your son?"  He said, please do." We both held on the to Bible and asked God to help his son, Emanuel, to overcome his addiction, and that the Word of God would help him on his journey, and give wisdom to his parents. His face beamed with a smile as he thanked me.

In the Bible, Isaiah 9:6 proclaims, 

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  

With that kind of Wonderful Counselor helping him, Emanuel can discover a new life.

I learned a long time ago, you can't plan these things.  They are truly divine appointments.  I find it interesting his son's name is Emanuel, meaning "God with Us."  This all happened less than a week before Christmas.  His message still makes a difference!

Merry Christmas!

FOCUSED

 

I’ve had a hard time getting to this post.  Every time I start typing, another topic comes to mind and I get that started.  I have a string of post beginnings but none completed.  I don’t know about you, but I have several projects going on at one time.  I wouldn’t call it multi-tasking, but rather multi-doing.  I’m a multi-doer.

 My doctor once called me a Renaissance man; “a man with extraordinarily broad and comprehensive knowledge.” (Well, mine may not be so comprehensive).

Consider the different jobs I’ve had: grocery stock-boy; steel worker; lawncare; janitor; radio disk jockey; after-school childcare worker; pastor; counselor; police chaplain; writer; author; speaker; computer consultant; blogger; and more.  I’ve gained a lot of working and life experiences.

To be honest, I’m only a Renaissance man because of YouTube.  I’m a do-it-yourselfer.  I’m willing to attempt things I’ve never done before.  When I was in graduate school, I had lean finances.  Growing up, I depended on my brother for car repairs.  Now I was far away and had to learn car mechanics myself.  So, I bought a repair manual and did my first brake job.  The word got around at school that I was a “mechanic.”  Other students started calling me to work on their cars.  I would say, “I won’t charge you, but if I need a tool to get the job done, you’ll buy it.”  I had a good start on a tool collection.

 Out-of-focus means we don’t see things clearly.  That is why I can’t stand dirty eyeglasses.  The blur makes things look fuzzy.  Now I have cataracts.  Sometimes you don’t notice that your eyesight is changing because it is a slow process.  When you put on your new glasses, what a difference.  Like the song, “I Can See Clearly Now…” 

 

How to stay focused:

1.     Stop making excuses.  I have several physical ailments.  Sometimes it provides an excuse to not finish something.  I have to ask myself, “Am I really that tired that I can’t at least do some writing?

2.    Have an accountability person.  It’s like trying to lose weight.  If you have someone who has joined you on your quest, it becomes easier.

3.    Quit looking at the big picture.  When I buy ear swabs, I buy them in bulk size.  My wife will say, “Why did you get such a large pack?”  I use several swabs a day, who knows how much she uses.  Before you know it, the mountain of swabs becomes a little hill, and then it’s time to re-order.  Buying bulk saves money, and cotton swabs don’t spoil, right? (BTW...We just opened our second, huge box of Costco cotton swabs.  I smile at my brilliance in shopping :)).

4.    Get rid of distractions. My dad was a sports nut. He would read the newspaper's sports page with the radio and TV on to different games.  He would fall asleep on the couch, so I would turn off the TV.  He would wake up and say, “Hey, I was watching that.”  “Really,” I’d say, “What is the score?”  He replied, “Never mind, turn it back on.”

5.     Is there something else contributing to the problem?  I also deal with perfectionism.  We tend to start something but may be afraid to finish it because it may not be “perfect.” 

6.    Perhaps it may be a health issue.  It may be time for a physical and medicine check.  Perhaps your doctor and prescribe something that doesn’t say, “Sleepy, dizzy,” on the bottle.

I’m glad we had this conversation today.  Now I need to put my feet to my own recommendations. 

QUESTION: How do You stay focused?  

Please share your comments by clicking the pencil below.

 

 

AMERICA'S CORN MAZE

 Well, folks, it's that time of year again, Autumn, when the trees turn multi-color and coffee shops serve pumpkin spice coffee.  It's also time for corn mazes, you know when farmers cut mazes in their corn fields and people try to navigate through them.  Most places have maze maps to help in case there are lost adventurers.  Some stubbornly refuse because they claim they don't need maps...until they do!

Imagine if everyone was given a different map, but there was only one true map.  Some might make it through by sheer accident, but most would be at a dead end.  People can claim the right map but that doesn't mean they have the right map.

Mr. Holland's Opus with Richard Dreyfus is one of my favorite movies.  Here is a composer who has to support his trade by working as a teacher.  He is not thrilled about the job, and in the clip below, his principal gives him a piece of her mind:

Mr. Holland is not giving the students direction and an example to show them the way.  Years later, when the principal retires, she has a different message for him.

Remember the corn maze map?   Consider being lost in a wilderness (like the reality show, "Lost.") and someone has given you a compass from a pile of compasses with a different North.  That compass may send you to a place you don't want to go.  At that point, you better send up a flare...if you packed one!

By living in a world where everyone has their own truth, we bump into each other without finding True North.  What is to become of our moral compass and how do we know what is right and true?  We may find sound advice from Fredrick Douglass, a former slave who became a leader of the abolitionist movement in the 1850s and '60s:

"There is no such thing as a new truth:  error might be old or new, but truth is as old as the universe."

To whom can we look for an objective truth?  It was a carpenter-builder from Nazareth who said,  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

How do we know if Jesus was who he said he was?  And how do we know the Bible is reliable?  Those questions go beyond the limits of this post, but if you are truly interested in knowing the answers, I direct you to the following YouTube videos: The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith

In the meantime, try not to get lost.  It's no fun in the dark!

(Please share your comments by clicking the pencil icon below.  I look forward to hearing from you.)

How Do I Say This?

 If you are a follower of this blog, you know the posts have not come out on a regular basis.  That was not my intention, however, there is something you should know.  I have some chronic health conditions that make it impossible for me to get things done in a timely fashion.  I have decided to rethink this blog.  I need to have at least 6 posts ready for publication before I start publishing again.  That will make it easier for me to handle and hopefully you will be able to depend on a weekly post.

Another goal I had was more comments from you, the readers.  I wanted it to be a place to share our stories. Your story is important and I believe others should hear it.  So please share! Just click on the pencil icon at the bottom of each post.

I would appreciate your prayers and thoughts for me.  They will be greatly needed and appreciated.  You can also drop me a line at journeyintostory@gmail.com.

In the meantime, weary traveler, enjoy this song below.

Until then,

Wally Johnston