kenlassblog

I miss my dog. Our dachshund Oscar passed away three years ago. He was such a good companion. Affectionate, fiercely loyal and protective, and playful. His love for us was so consistent. You really get attached to that. Even on our worst of days, we knew we could come home and Oscar would jump into our laps and cuddle with us.

It’s hard to find those qualities in people. For so many, love and attention are conditional. Human nature usually demands something in return for kindness. It’s just the way we’re wired. Dogs, at least some dogs, are different. They want your companionship no matter what.

We’ve often thought of getting another dog. But we’ve kind of enjoyed the freedom from having to board them when we’re away, and freedom from vet bills and poop clean-ups. But we miss the love. You never get too much love. Too bad you can’t get more of it from people.

I am just not good at waiting in line. If the line is moving forward I’m okay. But if I’m not making progress it doesn’t take long for me to start fidgeting and fussing and get generally frustrated. The weird thing is, I may not even be in a hurry. I may have nothing else to do all day, but I still get agitated and grumpy when I have to wait.

So you can imagine how well I deal with waiting on God’s timing for something. When I pray and ask Him for something that only He can do, I quickly get disappointed if it doesn’t happen quickly, or perhaps doesn’t happen at all.

We all need to just trust that God has the universe under His control and is working for the good, often in ways we don’t understand. I know this, and yet my impatience persists. Don’t be like me. Remember that old song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”?

Whoever wrote that song obviously never had to wait in line.

We recently had the exterior of our house repainted. We chose to change the color scheme, which turned out to be more of a challenge than I anticipated. Sharon and I had difficulty agreeing on colors. But in more than 50 years of marriage she has always demonstrated better taste and vision than me. So I gave in and went with her ideas.

That was a good decision. The house looks great and the colors blend well together. There’s no shame in yielding to someone else you trust when it comes to a big decision. Don’t fall into the trap of being prideful and stubborn. It’s important to know yourself. Know your limitations. Know when to accept help and when to assert. Take a deep look in the mirror and make an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses.

That way the colors of your life will always match perfectly.

Electric bicycles and scooters are all the rage now for children. When I drive through any suburban neighborhood these days I see countless kids riding these small, motorized vehicles, weaving from the road to the sidewalk and back again. I wonder if they have the wisdom and the patience and the maturity to handle the power beneath them safely. After all, they’re just kids. Kids having fun.

Some of us struggle to find maturity and good judgement even in adulthood. It can be frustrating and difficult to wait on the perfect time and place to make a big decision. A decision that will radically affect your life. It’s always a good idea to think things through, to pray over them, and get some other opinions before doing something rash. Make an informed, researched decision.

Kids on their electric bikes may not be aware of potential danger. We have to be aware for them. And for ourselves.

Have you ever walked away from a conversation with someone and thought to yourself “Man, I really like that person.” You felt so immediately comfortable around them. They listened when you spoke, laughed at your jokes, and felt free to share things with you that you have in common. They were open, courteous and friendly. Unassuming, unpretentious and humble, maybe even self deprecating.

They were, in summary, everything you wish you were. They were the embodiment of what a nice person should look like. Chances are, if you meet such a person, you will find they are popular and rarely without being surrounded by friends. Yet they always find time for you and seem to enjoy your company as well. You don’t picture yourself ever having all of those endearing qualities.

It can be frustrating and depressing to get caught up in comparing yourself to folks you admire. We all should try to be the best version of ourselves, but that doesn’t look the same in all people. You are talented and special in your own way, created by God for a specific path that only you can walk. You may not be your favorite person, but you are the only you in the world. Not everybody can be, or should be, popular.

I have always wanted to write a book. Just never got really committed to it. Until now. I’ve started working on one. They say you should write about what you know. So this is basically going to be about the story of my life, and since I am nobody special, I am pretty sure it will be of interest to no one except me.

But that’s okay. Writing about my life has helped me kind of examine the paths I have taken, the mistakes I’ve made, the things that worked out well. It’s also made me recognize how God has worked profoundly in my life to steer me in certain directions. The more I write, the more I become aware of how incredibly blessed I have been, even though I have failed to live up to godly standards so often.

When my book is finished I doubt anyone will buy it, much less care about reading it. That’s fine with me. I just want to make sure it has a happy ending. I hope your story does as well.

After 36 years in our house, we are having the siding replaced. As I write this, workers are pounding, sawing and pulling the old exterior boards off the house. It is making a terrible racket and sometimes they strike the house so hard the room will actually shake. Their trucks and dumpsters are clogging the driveway, denying our cars access to the garage. This is not a fast process. They’ve been here every day this week and still have a large portion of the house to complete.

Sharon and I are trying our best to tolerate the noise and inconvenience. We are trying to focus on the nice new look our home will display after new siding and paint have been finished, and how it will increase the value of the property. Short term pain for long term gain, right?

Not unlike life itself. Often we must endure adversity and heartbreak and temporary setback to accomplish a positive goal down the road. That holds true in matters of health, finance and relationships. So don’t despair. Don’t give up. See the long view. Things will usually get better, and always keep in mind you will win the ultimate victory.

It’s easy to cruise through life with blinders on, intentionally oblivious to the adversity around us. I guess we feel safer that way. Less vulnerable to unwanted commitment and disappointment. Mind your own business. Focus on your own needs. Don’t get involved with other people’s problems because it only means more work and stress.

But the thing is, ministry to others is why you were put here. Without it you have no real purpose. Selfish motivation will never bring you any kind of lasting joy. You will always want more.

If you look around you, you will find heartbreak, loneliness, sickness and pain everywhere. And you can make it better. Your love, generosity and time can heal so many wounds, bring so much joy, relieve so much pain, perhaps even save many lives.

There’s nothing quite like filling a need to fill your need.

Why does time pass so quickly when you’re busy, but so slowly when you’re lying in bed at night unable to go to sleep? Of course, the pace of time doesn’t really change. It’s just your focus on it.

I can’t help feeling, when I am wide awake overnight, that I’m wasting time. Like I should get up and do something productive. I’m awake anyway, so why not make it worthwhile? Yet if you deprive yourself the opportunities to go back to sleep, it will catch up with you in the long run. Your body will run down and your brain won’t function sharply.

How we manage time pretty much defines us, and our quality of life. There’s a balance in there somewhere. If I don’t sleep well overnight, I try to make time for a day nap. Not always easy, I know. One thing for sure: time is not going to stop. It will keep marching on, and we only get so much of it. So use it wisely.

No matter how fast or slow it goes by, time is a gift we should not take for granted.

I like to perform gargalesis on my grandkids. And they love it. Gargalesis is the technical term for tickling. Every time I see them, I haul out “the tickle bug” from my pocket and gently poke them in the tummy, sides and armpits. They giggle and scream and pretend to try to fend me off. But when I stop they always ask “where did the tickle bug go?”

Ever wonder why you can’t tickle yourself? It’s because the sensitivity to the contact is a reflex to something unexpected. Obviously, if your brain knows you are going to poke yourself, there is no reflex. Your prepared for it. No giggle. No laugh.

When life pokes you with something unexpected, instead of brooding and complaining, consider it a tickle. Try to laugh it off, pick yourself up and move on. The tickle bug of life will always buzz around you. Make sure your mental reflexes are sharp and ready.