The Summer of Phil...

As I was watching golf this weekend, I was reminded of the scene that followed Phil Mickelson's final round at the Masters.  He walked off the green and embraced his wife Amy.  With everything the Mickelsons have been through this last year, those few moments made for a very touching scene.  It was right up there with Ray Kinsella playing catch with his father in 'Field of Dreams.'  I couldn't help but think about what would have happened had Tiger won.  Who would he have embraced?  Who would have been there to celebrate with him?  Who would have shared his joy?  It will be interesting to see how the rest of this season plays out.  Tiger is obviously distracted and Phil seems to be as sharp as ever.  That is why I am going to declare this, "The Summer of Phil."  Hopefully he doesn't slip on an invitation and fall down the stairs.  That would be tragic...

I'm out.

With a little help from my friends...

We celebrated Danielle's birthday with my family tonight.  I've never really given much thought to birthdays in general.  One year, I actually forgot it was my birthday until I received an email from Danielle's Grama.  However, this year is a big one.  I'm going to be 30.  I'm going to officially be an adult.  Why is it that you have to be in your 30's before anyone will take you seriously?  Just a question I've always had.  Anyway, I've recently found myself looking back over the last 30 years and thinking about what I've accomplished.  I learned how to use the restroom by myself, graduated from high school and college, married my best friend and passed the CPA exam.  Obviously, I've had more accomplishments, but these were some of the more important ones.  None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support of people that cared about me.

I've thought about the family I was blessed to be born into.  Without my parents' discipline and guidance, I would of had a very different life.  I hope to someday provide the same for my children.  I've also thought about the friends I've made, the ones I've lost and the ones I've reconnected with over the years.  These friendships, some lasting longer than others, have all played a vital role in my development as a person.  I've thought about friends and loved ones that have passed away.  Some lived full lives while others were taken too soon.  I've thought about all of the people that have had an impact on my life.  I'm grateful for everyone that took the time to make a difference in me.  I would not be here today if it weren't for these people; these friends.

I'm excited about what the future holds, but want to take the time to look back and think about where I've been and the people that have walked with me along the way.  It's been a great 30 years.  It took me 19 of them to meet the love of my life and I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my journey with her by my side.  Hopefully she can live with the gray hairs because I'm not really into dyeing it...

I'm out.

The Zen Master says...

The following is from the movie Chalie Wilson's War:

There's a little boy and on his 14th birthday he gets a horse.  Everybody in the village says, "How wonderful, the boy got a horse."  The Zen master says, "We'll see."  Two years later, the boy falls off the horse, breaks his leg, and everyone in the village says, "How terrible."  The Zen master says, "We'll see."  Then, a war breaks out and all the young men have to go off and fight, except the boy can't cause his leg is all messed up.  Everybody in the village says, "How wonderful."  The Zen master says..."We'll see."

The wisdom in the concept of "We'll see" is simple, yet profound.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Life is a journey, not a destination."  Everything we experience, both good and bad, is simply a precursor to the next life event.

Too often my reaction to situations has been based on the short-term and I would quickly respond in one of these two extremes.  A while back, I decided to stop making quick assessments, to stop worrying about situations and allow time to prove everything out.  As Jesus said in Matthew 6, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

Will it be wonderful or will it be terrible?  We'll see.

I'm out.

Jefferson lives...

I'm not much of a blogger, but I thought I'd give it a try. I love this story and feel it is appropriate on this, the day after our nations birthday. On July 4, 1826, just 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died. Adams' last words were, "Thomas Jefferson survives..." Little did he know that Jefferson had actually passed away just hours before. Although they were political rivals for most of their lives, Jefferson and Adams began corresponding later in life and became good friends. Each one contributed to American independence in his own way. It's a good story and I always think about it this time of year.

I'm out.