Simple Thoughts for a Complex World

According to U.S. News and World Report, as many as 80% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Many of these aren’t even doing THAT well. Paying last month's bills with next month's income. Face it, life is hard. Statistically speaking, the majority of everyone reading this falls into the category of, “Yeah, tell us something we don’t know.” Life isn’t hard, frankly, it isn’t THAT easy.

So, what do you do? Here is a thought: Live with an air of expectation. Will it change the temperature or your height? Nope, it won’t. But guess what, neither will worry. Worry can affect your digestive system, lead to obesity, decrease immune response, affect your nervous system, and damage your circulatory system (McEwen & Sapolsky, 2006, p. 2). Simply put, worry will kill you. News, huh?

What does living with an air of expectation (hope) do for you?
First off, expectation generally makes you happier. To save time, take all the negative aspects of worry and turn them around. Expectation (Hope) is not “fake it till you make it.” Expectations are planting seeds today. […] hope involves activity, a can-do attitude, and a belief that we have a pathway to our desired outcome” (Worthington, 2020, para. 2).

Put some upbeat music on ALONG with your walking shoes and get out there. Plant seeds, sharpen your plow, and get ready for the increase. Get excited about what tomorrow will bring. Is this whistling in the darkness? Some, but whistling in the darkness beats the heck out of grumbling in that same darkness. At least you have a nice tune.

Expectation will help defeat worry. It just works that way.

References
McEwen, B., & Sapolsky, R. (2006). Stress and Your Health. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 91(2), E2. Retrieved January 11, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.91.2.9994
Milligan, S. (2019, January 11). Stretched Thin. U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved January 11, 2024, from https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2019-01-11/stretched-thin-majority-of-americans-live-paycheck-to-paycheck
Nelson, T. (1982). The New King James Version. Thomas Nelson.
Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2020). How Hope Can Keep You Happier and Healthier. Greater Good Magazine. Retrieved January 11, 2024, from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_hope_can_keep_you_happier_and_healthier

How Hope Can Keep You Happier and Healthier Hope is more than just positive thinking.

Life Through Different Eyes
Since I was a small boy, I thought of Christmas as a beautiful time: The lights, the crisp evening air, the sounds of Christmas carols on the radio, and who could forget those Claymation season specials? I remember laying under the Christmas tree, staring up into its branches lit with what seemed like a thousand little lights. The evergreen scent filled the air—an almost palpable sense of excitement.
It is incredible how time sweetens the memories and fades those memories that were, well, let's say, not so sweet. I remember one Christmas, my father braved the balmy 70-degree Florida December weather, cutting the first non-objectionable tree he found. In retrospect, it was a perfect tree, almost! I also remember that about three days after the tree was mounted and decorated, we discovered it was infested with seed ticks! You've never seen a tree so unceremoniously defrocked, dragged outside, and set on fire so quickly in your life!

Back then, the tree was just nailed to a base, with no water or such nonsense. I watched as my dad struck a match to that sucker! WHOOOF! The ball of fire climbed into the evening sky like something out of Die Hard! As a kid, I was very impressed! That was the start of my secret yearly tradition: the tree burning (sigh). Other than the seed ticks that now crawled through the house, they, too, went up in flames. I'm not sure if you're supposed to get a thrill out of burning a Christmas tree, but my father certainly did.

We bought and set up a small artificial tree for the remaining three days till Christmas against the better judgment of my father. It wasn't the same. Yep, real dried-out short needle pines, seed ticks, my father cursing as he dragged that infested tree through the kitchen to the back door, the sound of flames engulfing each branch; ahh, the memories of Christmas. They never get old.

Merry Christmas, everyone! May you and your memories be blessed this year.

Tis the Season, but not for ALL
Christmas is here again, with a Santa Claus on every corner and at every mall. Twinkling lights with blue, green, and gold decorations everywhere. But why is the Christmas season the most depressing time of year? And the depression seems to be getting worse. Many families have money, credit cards, and savings to blow through, but many do not, mine included. So, when does the joy start? Fighting crowds at the mall, standing in line, jostling for position to get that perfect shirt, to give it to someone with drawers full of shirts. To quote the Grinch, “The Madness never ends!”

In Luke 6:38, we are told, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap; the amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Bible Gateway Passage: New International Version, 2011, Luke 6:38 section). Too many assume this refers to money; it only includes money, not just money; you can give happiness. Happiness is given by providing a plate of food to a shut-in, serving in a soup kitchen, and making an effort to greet an uncomfortable guest at church. Make a gift basket; it doesn’t have to be large and place it at the door of a random stranger. Love does not have to be expensive; just an expression of concern.

The lights will twinkle a bit brighter, the carols sound more joyous, and the warmth that spreads through you will drive away even the coldest winter night. Make a basket from your pantry, fill it with canned goods, put a bow on it, and take it to your church; if you don’t know who needs it, believe me, they do. There is a need all around, and YOU have love to give.

Merry Christmas to everyone; I pray you feel the love, hope, and cheer this season.

“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.” Eleanor Roosevelt