God's Plan... We Can Choose to Participate

God’s Plan… We Can Choose to Participate

September 16, 2013

God uses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plan

I feel the most centered and stabilizing factor in my life has been my faith in God. I’m sure my faith was born from my parents. I’ve always felt that God is aware of me. I know that many times he has placed good people in my path to encourage me and to help me through life’s tests. I feel that sometimes we get the opportunity to be God’s helper in the lives of someone else.

One such experience that has impressed me and strengthened my faith is that God knows all of us and is aware of all of our needs. This event happened as I was nearing the completion of one of our fiber optic jobs. An employee and I were busy putting the final cleanup touches on a 400 mile cable job.

About 11:00 a.m. a huge rainstorm came upon us. We jumped into our truck to keep from getting wet. As we sat there watching the rain pour down, I noticed that it was getting close to lunch time. I asked my partner if he would like to accompany me into town for lunch. He thought that would be a great idea. We hadn’t had a prepared lunch for quite some time, so we drove about 10 miles into town and stopped at a Denny’s restaurant. They were very busy and the place was filled with happy, laughing, and talking people.

The only place left to be seated was at a table next to a window. As we waited for our food to be served, my eyes were drawn to a car parked outside the window. As I lazily stared at the car, I noticed a slight puff of smoke came out from under the hood. I wasn’t quite sure that I saw what I saw, so I called my partner’s attention to it. He watched with me and concluded that I had seen only steam from the rain, and then went back to his own thoughts.

I couldn’t comfort my feelings that I had seen smoke and sure enough, a large puff of smoke came out from under the hood. I jumped to my feet and hurried to the nearest waitress. I asked her to let the customers know that there was a car on fire. She tried to get their attention, but no one would listen. I caught myself shouting above the noise of the crowd. “Could I have your attention please? There is a car on fire in the parking lot!”

Immediately the noise ceased and I explained that a dark blue car outside of the window was on fire. All was silent and then a small voice spoke up, “It’s my car.” I looked toward the voice and saw an aged, frail, little lady sitting next to a middle age man. I said, “Will you come with me? We’ll have to unlock your car hood.”

I grabbed a fire extinguisher from my truck and she unlocked her car. As I lifted the hood of her car, flames exploded into the air. I quickly put the fire out with the fire extinguisher.

We stood there looking at the damage that was done to her car. The wiring was completely destroyed. The sweet lady began to cry and her son tried to comfort her with the words, “Don’t cry Mommy, it will be alright. Don’t cry Mommy, it will be alright.”

The only ones who came to help were two of the waitresses who came with their fire extinguishers. No one else seemed to care. I told the lady that I would take care of everything after we had finished eating, and she was okay with that.

When I arrived back to my table, my lunch wasn’t there. My partner told me that the waitress had picked it up to exchange it for a hot one. As I waited for my lunch, the lady had been trying to make a phone call from the phone booth. Just as my hot lunch arrived, she came to my table crying. She couldn’t get the phone to work. I went with her and we tried to call several of her relatives and everyone she could think of…but there was no answer.

I assured her that I would see to it that she got home and asked her to wait until I had finished my lunch. She agreed and we went back into the dining area. I returned to my table to find I had no food again. My partner informed me again that the waitress had taken it. The waitress soon returned with a new, hot meal. I proceeded again to eat.

Then an elderly gentleman came to my table and said, “I’ve been observing what’s been going on here today and I’m sure you need to get back to your work. My wife and I would like to offer to drive this lady safely home.” She lived about 60 miles away. We loaded her groceries into his car and I thanked him for his kind service.

When I returned to pay for my meal, the attendant informed me that my meal was on the house. She shared her appreciation for the effort that I had made and said, “If my mother should ever be caught in a similar situation, I hope you would be the one there to help her.”

As my partner and I drove back to our job, I was overwhelmed with the thoughts of God’s love for all of his children. I felt that my circumstances had been altered to meet the needs of that sweet lady and her challenged son. My heart and my soul was happy that I had had the opportunity to help in God’s plan.

Sensing that my partner hadn’t experienced the significance of it all as I had, I asked him, “What are the chances that we would be forced from our work by the rain? What would cause us to drive to town for lunch?” We hadn’t gone to town to eat lunch for over a year.

“Why did we stop at that busy restaurant? Why was there only one table available by a window, next to a car that was simmering and getting ready to burst into flames? Can you imagine what would have happened if we had not decided to go to lunch?” He replied, “Her car would have burned up and her insurance company would have purchased her a new one.”  Nevertheless, all turned out well and the privilege of helping someone in need brought me much joy.

I hope that you will take time to recognize how you may be a part of blessing the lives of others along your way. Everything happens for a reason, there are no coincidences.

In fact, it is no coincidence you read my story. Think about it.

My Mentor, My Moral Strength, My Mother

My Mentor, My Moral Strength,

My Mother

September 13, 2013

Mother has provided everything in my life that has to do with tender. I have my mother’s conscience and at times I’ve wished that it wasn’t so. Any offence I may have committed, no matter how big or how small, harrowed up my soul. My most often used lament was, “Why Mother, are you doing this to me?”

She had such a commitment to living a good, honorable, and pursuit of right over wrong life. She instilled those values into her children’s souls. We knew when we were treading on dangerous ground. Our hearts and consciences told us so. I never wanted to act in a way that she wouldn’t approve of. If for some reason I got out of line and she was forced to scold me, my heart would ache until I slept that night. By the next morning, everything was good again and I went about life happy once more.

When I was a teenager, I felt that my mother had cursed me with that tender feeling of conscience. As I grew older and more mature, I understood that those feelings were a blessing to me. I found that I could use those feelings as a compass to guide my life for good. I learned that if I, without thinking, offended someone, those feelings would tap on my soul and reminded me that maybe an apology was in order. What a great blessing from my mom!

My mother had so many great values that I admired. Her life was filled with hardships and sorrow. Many sad, heartbreaking events tried to bring her down, but she fought back and became stronger each time.

Three of my sisters died in tragic deaths. The first died of food poisoning. On this occasion, several others in the family became very ill. The second died in a car accident along with three children. The third died at the hands of a gunman after she was abducted from a store where she worked.

These tragedies along with many other heart rendering experiences should have shook her from her foundation. Her strong faith and her never ending campaign for good kept bringing her back from heartache and despair. The example of my parents hanging on together strengthened my resolve to be like them.

My life would have surely been different without my mother’s guiding hand. ” Mom, I hope I will always feel that tender, uncomfortable feeling that you planted in my heart. If I should stray from the direction that you taught me…may I receive your tender reminder with thanksgiving. Thanks, Mom, for always being with me.”

Thank you for reading as I go to places in my life through my blog that have shaped and molded me into who I am. It has proven to be therapeutic and life affirming. I truly appreciate all who take the time to read my stories.

Our Challenges and Blessings of Daily Living

Our Challenges and Blessings of Daily Living

September 13, 2013

Both Challenges and Blessings

The summer has been hot and dry. The weather environment has not been kind to farmers and ranchers in our area. Every day hope for rain was met with  dry, hot, wind, causing the grass and crops to wither on the stem.

A lack of snow in the mountains promised a short irrigation season. Worried minds of the farmers and ranchers wondered,”What are we going to do?” The hay is not growing. Irrigation water can’t keep up with the needs of the crops.

Herds of cattle are running low on feed in the pastures. Notices were sent out from the water manager’s office. Water would be shut  out of the canal on the 28th of July. Hope of having a fruitful summer was almost lost.

Humbled by life struggles, all that anyone could do was look Heavenward and call upon a higher power than themselves.

Our water was shut out of the canal on July 28th… the rain came on July 29th. Worry and despair  was replaced with joy and thanksgiving. New hope was born again. Grass and crops shed their yellow, dry look. Lush green filled the country side.

The picture of cattle trailing in dust clouds changed to cattle lazily chewing their cud on green hillsides. Music seemed to be ringing through the air as neighbors smiled and greeted each other with a slap on the back.

I called my farm partner brother on the cell phone and when he answered “hello”,  I said,”Thank you Bro for living good…I think we are going to get a 3rd crop of hay!”

How can things going so bad, turn out so good in one season? I think the change happened the day everyone looked Heavenward. In our journey through life’s struggles, it is so important to look around us.

We need to know and recognize that we are such a small part of the happenings that go on in this big world. We are really quite insignificant when you think about it. We become significant when we humble ourselves and join hands with our fellow travelers. It’s so important to look away from ourselves and out to our neighbors.

Who are our neighbors? It’s everyone that we can reach out to and we can reach out a long way. We become significant when we reach out with a helping hand…with a desire to do good. If enough of us take hold of hands, we become a force and a force for good can change the world.

I’m happy to be with you in this movement. May the power of Heaven be with you until you become the person whose hand I’m holding.

Join hands with me by clicking the button below.

The Night the Entire Universe Worked Together for a Common Goal

The night the entire Universe worked together for a Common Goal

September 6, 2013

In the 1980′s I worked on the Upper Still Water dam project. This dam is located in a high mountainous area. Extreme working conditions were not uncommon. Dangerous , steep mountain terrain resisted our efforts every day.For three years those of us who worked there, faced and fought that unfriendly environment.

Today this huge concrete wall greets it’s visitors as a monument to hundreds of men who struggled to construct it. This massive structure became my schoolroom for life’s lessons.

The first order of business was to remove the trees from the area to make the footprint of the dam. Then came the process of removing all of the rocks and loose material down to sheer bedrock. We excavated high on the steep mountain slopes and the deep mud through the valley bottoms. Every day was a struggle and the struggles were met with human mindset and determination. Eventually, determination won out and progress towards filling the massive excavation with hundreds of thousands of tons of concrete began.

This dam was the first dam in the United States to be constructed with rolled concrete material. The technology of rolled concrete was very unforgiving. The moisture content was very low and the temperature had to be exact. This material was carried from the batch plant to the dam site on conveyor belts. Each batch on the belt had to be exactly one truckload, no more or no less. Every part of the operation had to be perfect. Timed spacing between batches had to be such as to allow the next truck to pull under the belt.

You can see that any deviation in scheduling could cause a big mess, shutting down the entire operation for cleanup. I’m touching on a few of the  troubles that could interfere with the operation. Besides the things I have spoken of, there are many other troublesome  situations that could and did take place.

During this stage of building the dam, I was working as project foreman, overseeing the rock quarry and the crushing of the rock materials. My shift went from 8:00 o’clock p.m. to 6:00 o’clock a.m. I never saw the light of day while on the job. I hope I’ve manifested the improbability of anything ever going all right on the job for any period of time.

During the summertime of the last year of construction, I was called into the office. I was given the responsibility of filling in for the project manager during his vacation time. My job was to keep things together until he returned. As I went about getting to know some of my new responsibilities, I became impressed by the knowledge and abilities of the different division foremen. We quickly became friends and worked very well together.

Someone came up with the idea of putting together a perfect shift. The question arose, “What could we accomplish if we had a perfect shift?” I said, “Let’s see if we can make it happen in the next two weeks.” The challenge was on and the planning began.

First we got all the maintenance on the equipment caught up. Then we stockpiled plenty of sand and gravel close to the hoppers. We filled the huge bins with ice to cool the concrete. We made sure all the computers were working properly. We planned a new rotating system for the haul trucks and shortened the spaces between the batches on the conveyor belt.

Finely came the night when everything was ready.I announced over the radios, “Gentlemen, start your engines!”….and the movement was on its way. Everyone was focused and manning their posts. Our planned organization was carried out to a tee. The night  shift finished without a flaw. Records were smashed as hundreds of tons of concrete was placed on the dam. We were so pumped that we went for it again the 2nd night and even exceeded our previous night’s tally.

Yes, the moon gave us light and the stars in the Heavens watched as men’s minds and efforts excelled to greatness. The lessons I learned that night were, if you give men an opportunity and unite them with a common goal and then set them free, there’s no end to what they can accomplish.

We have all the tools we need, as well as great leaders who have already been there. We have no excuses.

We Are Born to be Free

We Are Born to be Free

September 4, 2013

In my mind there have never been more inspiring words, ‘we are born to be free‘. So much of life’s experiences tend to hold men back. The monotony of every day living deadens our senses. A very real example of hum drum rhythm that beats the drums of boredom, are means of acquiring money to provide for our well being.

I have seen and experienced in my life as well as my parents’ and grandparents’ lives this effect. We were poor people, poor in having any money and limited means to obtain it. I watched my father try day after day to find any kind of work to earn a meager amount of money to supply for out needs.

Many days he returned home with his head down unsuccessful at finding employment. It’s no wonder after many years he may have become resentful and somewhat negative in mind. However, he plodded on day after day and year after year doing what he could, never quitting.

Eventually he found a job in Colorado and moved our family there. His example has been inspiring to me and his never quit attitude became legendary.

My father was born to be free

Can you just imagine what happened when a man with this background came in touch with Amway? He read the books as well as attended all of the rallies. His attitude changed from a negative zombie to a positive working machine.

What a wonderful transformation! That’s when we fell in love with network marketing. This business set him free. He learned how to dream and his dreams put air under his wings. In just a short time he was making friends all over the country. He became a servant to everyone in need.

One cold winter day as he was driving down the highway, he came across a stranger trying to catch a ride. My father stopped and picked him up. As they were traveling and visiting, a sad story unfolded.

The stranger, who’s appearance was very unkempt, had his car broken down and his family was stranded in a motel. He had no money and was really down on his luck. He had no one that could help him through this situation. At this time in my father’s life, he knew just what to do. He drove the stranger to the motel and picked up his family, paid the required bill at the motel and carried the family home with him. My mother welcomed them with open arms. She provided them with a nice hot meal and a warm bed to sleep in.

Charlie and his family were born to be free

The following day, my father being a good mechanic, took Charlie (his new friend) back to his broken down car and repaired it. You can probably guess Charlie became my father’s new Amway distributor. This opportunity changed Charlie and his family’s lives, good things came to them. They learned how to dream. They became successful in their own right. My father and Charlie became life long friends. Charlie and his wife stayed in close contact even though they moved far away.

We are born to be free!

Freedom comes from being able to make your own decisions. That’s why I like network marketing. There is no greater vehicle to work on personal development, it provides the opportunity to dream and the ability to work towards those dreams. I am a witness to the success that comes in multiple ways through network marketing.

If you have hopes and dreams in your life, if you would like to step up to a higher peak, come hitch your wagon to mine, that’s my destination as well.

My Family... Past, Present and Future

My Family Past, Present and Future

September 3, 2013

I haven’t mentioned in my writings, at this point, my favorite topic which is my family. When I speak of my family, I feel that I’m treading on sacred ground. Hopefully, as I treat this subject, you will forgive me if I tend to expose some of the feelings of my heart. I honor and respect all of my family members who have been such a part of my entire life.

I remember my grandparents well. I, being the first born grandson on both sides of my family, was able to have the opportunity to experience their love. I learned the importance of values, faith, and honor from their examples. I lived in harmony with their children…my aunts and uncles. Knowing them and their standards have helped me to want to be like them. My hope is that I bring no shame to them. They are my stalwart examples and my foundation.

My parents came from those families and incorporated their great strength into our family. I was raised with 3 brothers and 6 sisters. We were blessed with the attention of these two good people. I was planted in fertile soil. It has been my responsibility to grow tall and straight. Sometimes I did okay and other times I fell short, but I always had the support of this great family.

My extended family has been the community that I grew up in. I’ve eaten at their tables and slept in their beds. I’ve been served by this community and hopefully I’ve served them as well. As I have lived among them, I have felt as close to them as my own brothers and sisters.

Then came the crowning experience of my life. God must love me. I’m sure He had a hand in getting me in the right place at the right time to meet my special wife. She has been the frosting on my cake. I love and respect her to no end. She has been my supporter and my companion for 50 years….Thanks God! Together we have raised 8 children, 3 sons and 5 daughters. My dear wife has left her valuable imprint on each of them. I am a blessed man.

I’ve had the opportunity to travel far and to work with many people. I cherish the relationships I have made. My new experience of meeting friends in the social media are bringing me a great deal of joy. I like hearing the stories of your lives. It seems we have each come from different walks of life. Some haven’t had the kind of support that I have had. I think we have one thing for sure in common…we have need for one another. We respect one another and in that, we can be friends. Call on me…if I can be of help, I’ll be there.

Friends on Country Roads

Friends on Country Roads

September 2, 2013

I have a friend that I would like to shine a light on today. A few days ago, I met him on the road. As we approached one another, his arm slowly came out of his window, inviting me to stop.

One of the things that I enjoy about living in the country is that you can stop and talk to friends in the middle of the road. I enjoy those times when we can roll our windows down and just sit back in our seats and visit about anything.

My life is so enriched by having him as a friend. He isn’t the kind of guy that gets in your way, but he’s always right there when you need some help. It’s not uncommon to have him call you late at night or early in the morning.

He has an uncanny ability to observe everything that’s going on  on my farm. He usually has some helpful report that I need to know about…like…”You have a cow out of the pasture”,  or  once he reported that one of my horses was chasing the cows. He always has my back.

His wife is just as helpful. One Sunday morning while I was in church, she left a message on my cell phone and said that someone had run their car through my fence. She was worried that the cows would get out on the road. I live thirty-five miles away from that pasture. By the time I arrived on the scene, she had already gathered the cows and herded them into the corral to keep them safe from harm.

I feel that their friendship in action goes far beyond the duty of a good neighbor. I’m reminded that the world could be a lot better if everyone was as concerned about their neighbor as Frank is.

I have two more acts of kindness that Frank has done for me that has touched my heart deeply. One of his occupations is making headstones for family graves. My father passed away a couple years ago and he had purchased a beautiful headstone for my mother and himself. She had passed on earlier.

Everything had already been engraved on the headstone except the date of his death. In 

preparation for my father’s funeral, we stopped at the cemetery to prepare the grave site. 

We were surprised to find that the headstone had the final engravings. My friend had 

already visited the cemetery and performed that act of kindness.

On another occasion, our family dog had died. She had been such a wonderful friend for over 15 years. My wife, Gail, cried and felt so bad. We buried her in our pet cemetery.

To help Gail feel a little better, I found a nice, smooth, rock and gave it to Frank and he engraved the words, “Poochie, Fond Memories”  1996-2012. He and his wife gave this stone to Gail as a Mother’s Day gift. You can see why I love this friend and his dear wife, Carolyn.

Frank has a little statement that he uses in every situation. It doesn’t matter what life’s trials have dealt you, whether you are shoveling manure or basking in the sun, it’s fun to hear him exclaim, “It doesn’t get any better than this!