Uncommon Common Sense

I have a favorite pair of jeans. They are comfortable, the fit well, and when I wear them...well, I feel "comfortable", and I feel pretty good about myself. I think I look good in them, and I feel like I can do just about anything when I'm wearing them. And I do. I do just about everything in them. I work in the yard, I putter around the house, I've worn them hunting. Seriously, they are my favorite pair of jeans, and I think I look great in them. There is another person in our household, who shall remain nameless at this point in time, who strongly suggests that perhaps this particular pair of jeans should not be worn in the presence of a discerning and potentially discriminating public. This other as-yet-unnamed member of the household points out that the side-seam has a tear in it, the back pocket has a hole in it, and there is another hole (barely noticeable, in my opinion) that is to the side of the back pocket. It has been brought to my attention that the spot ...

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Unless, of course, your opinion is in direct divergence with mine. Then, you're an idiot. Or a bigot. Or a freak. Or a ... well, pick a name to call someone. And then? The firestorms begin. Interesting creatures, aren't we? We are all for diversity, love everyone, free expression of ideas...right up until we disagree with them. What is it about us that does this? Tell you what, let me take the generic "us" out of the picture. Let me focus on where the problem really lies....me. What is it about ME that does this? Perhaps it's time to look at my own opinions and see how I arrived there. Opinions are exactly that...opinions. They may be based in fact, or knowledge, or...not. It is a view or judgement of something formed or held by an individual (sometimes a group). It can be thoughts, viewpoint, way of thinking about something, ideas, outlook, attitude, stance, beliefs, perspective, standpoint... So, in a nutshell, ...

OK, it's probably a little geeky of me, but it just seems fun to write "1-17-17". But on to more important stuff. I've been getting nudged lately. I don't know if you can relate, but I think God gives me nudges from time to time.  Little hints, little messages, little interactions with people or conversations where it seems to me that I'm getting the same message over and over, from totally different sources. Over the years I've noticed one thing repeatedly about these messages...if I try to ignore them or push them aside, they keep coming back, each time a bit more "insistent". For me, a bell-weather of having a good idea whether or not the message is coming from God or not is a feeling I have that "I don't wanna do it". Yes, usually in that petulant, 5-year-old voice. Whenever I catch myself thinking that (or sometimes even saying it out loud), that is usually a strong indicator that I need to look much harder at whatever "...