What Will People Say?

For the last several months, for maybe a few reasons, I have had this occasional recurring thought or wonder of what people would say about me after I passed from this world into the loving arms of Jesus.  I know--it's weird and a little eerie.  However, this thought has come to the forefront as we recently mourned the death of my brother-in-law, Phil.   Thus, my thoughts now being put to pen and paper. 

As we had the privilege of meeting some of Phil's friends and colleagues, we heard over and over again of what a wonderful man he was.  A man of professional and personal integrity.  A man who loved his family above all else.  A man who had made a difference in the lives of so many.  His funeral service bulletin read:

"Phil just simply left this world a better place.  He was a life force, driven to lead and support all of us on our unique journey.  With integrity, optimism, humility, and an unexpected but funny one-liner, his insightfulness, passion and compassion, will be sorely missed by his family, friends, co-workers, and the Community." 

Wow!  For all of us, to know Phil was to really love him.  We're still sad to think and even harder to  understand, why he was taken from us at such a young age?   We continue to trust in God's infinite grace and wisdom as we move forward. 

In preparation for Phil's eulogy, somebody had shared a story that we found quite interesting and was certainly the opposite of what was said about Phil.  They had recently attended a funeral of a man who, his entire life, was mean-spirited and degrading.  His brother-in-law was asked to provide the eulogy.  As he spoke, he repeatedly referenced the man's distasteful demeanor and how he did not enjoy being in his, now deceased, brother-in-law's presence.  The attendees of the funeral were quite shocked at the man's honesty and some, were quite uncomfortable as the man continued to speak.  Later, somebody asked the new widow if she was upset or even outraged at her brother-in-law for the eulogy that he presented.  She replied that she was not because anybody that had known her husband could not argue that anything that was said was not truthful.  We all found that story to be so sad.

In addition to the passing of Phil, over the last several months, I have had the privilege of walking beside a dear friend whose husband has chose to walk outside the realm of integrity by leaving his wife and children for another woman.  Prior to this choice, this man was respected by his friends, peers, and colleagues.  Now (many tears later), most of us are left in a state of disgusted amazement--trying to figure out, including his wife, what has happened to this gentleman.  If this man continues down his current path of destruction, what will be said of him when all is said and done?   Again, a true story that is so sad. 

All of these events and stories (from good to bad), lead me back to my original question--at the end of my life, what will people say about me?  Admittedly, I haven't always reflected the character traits of Jesus and sometimes the professional position that I hold, has left me to be the "heavy"--which carries its' own baggage or persona. 

However, taking my last few statements into consideration, the one thing that I take great comfort in as I move forward, is that God is the God of second chances.  The first step, seeking God's forgiveness (and maybe the forgiveness of others) for the times that I really "blew it" and then, leaving it at the foot of the cross.   A new opportunity to be kinder, filled with more compassion, and an individual who leaves people much better off than when I found them.

The even greater news--God is a God of second chances for everybody!  New opportunities to repent and seek forgiveness, to be kinder, to love more, and our positive attributes could go on and on.   

So, what about you?  What will people say about you when it comes the end of your time on earth? 

Merry Christmas 2012 from the Howards!

Merry Christmas 2012 from the Howards!

Its’ hard to believe that its’ that time of year again when I sit down, Christmas music playing in the background, coffee in near proximity, for me to write—what has become an annual Christmas letter.  Merry Christmas from Mike, Linda, and of course, our beloved companion, Meghan!  2012 brought significant loss to our lives, but also brought wonderful times spent with family, friends, and opportunities for “growth experiences.” 

Shortly into the New Year on January 17, we lost Mike’s mom after her courageous battle with cancer.  It was an incredible loss for us.  Not only was she Mike’s mom, but she had become a mother to me who loved me unconditionally in the absence of my own mother.  We shared a very special bond that I will cherish the remainder of my days.  Most recently, as the year comes to a close, we also lost one of our dearest friends, Kathy Stokes.  She and her husband have been personal friends of ours for over 25 years.  Kathy also fought a courageous battle against cancer and somehow, for whatever reason, God chose to take Kathy, at the age of 48, on December 4.   Both Mike’s mom and Kathy will leave a significant void in our lives.   In the midst of our sadness, we take great comfort in knowing that both are now pain-free and are rejoicing with the angels in Heaven. 

Despite those significant losses, we’re thankful to say that between January and December, we had several opportunities to celebrate and allow our spirits to be refreshed by the presence of family, friends, and time spent with just Mike and I.  In February, we ventured off with 16 of our new SCUBA friends and spent time in Utila, Honduras.  We both enjoyed the underwater adventures as Mike SCUBA’d and I snorkeled.  After the recent loss of Mike’s mom, the warm sunshine and the wonderful opportunity for much needed rest and relaxation was exactly what we needed as our souls were refreshed. 

In July, my brother Tom and his wife, Carolyn rented an RV and joined us for a camping and boating adventure at Willow Bay.  My two additional siblings, Laura and Gary, as well as “Mahon” cousins and old family friends, were also able to join us at various times throughout the week.   It was such a fun time!  Some of Mike’s and my fondest memories and times of refreshing are spent in our RV or tucked away in some cove in our boat along the Kinzua Reservoir. 

August brought significant changes in our life as well.  Mike was offered a new position with a different company.  We stepped out in faith and Mike accepted the position.  He continues to work many, long hours away from home in the oil and natural gas industry, but we feel that he is where God wants him to be.  He’s learning new skills that will compliment his extensive experience as a driller and look forward to what God has for him (and us) in the future.  Me, I celebrated my16^th anniversary at Bradford Ecumenical Home, Inc. and continue to teach for the SUNY network.  I love both positions tremendously and feel blessed every day that God has provided such great opportunities and experiences for me.  As I told you a couple of years ago in our Christmas letter, the book of Matthew tells us, “you have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share in your master’s happiness.”  We are still convinced that God has shown favor on us as we have tried to honor Him in our professional lives.  Speaking of professional lives, after four years of taking one or two classes at a time, I will be graduating from Alfred State University this month.  I have done well and will be graduating with honors.  With my required schooling behind me and after the new year, I will be applying to sit for a National exam in Registered Health Information Technology.  Upon passing, this will allow me to carry additional credentials.   My heart overflows with gratitude to God for His faithfulness and the strength that He has provided to keep me going semester after semester.

For us, it seemed that the summer flew by (with a huge home improvement project behind us!) and before you knew it, we were entering into September.  Would you believe that on September 26, Mike and I celebrated our 20^th wedding anniversary?  This accomplishment, in itself, was definitely worth celebrating!  I am so happy to say that, through better or worse, richer or poorer, and in sickness and health, Mike and I are the happiest that we have ever been in our married life.  Over the years we have matured, placed God first in our relationship, and look forward to many more years to come.  And yes, we snuck away for a few days and headed to Hershey, PA (which happens to be one of my favorite places in PA!) and attended the “America’s Largest RV Show.”   We had a blast and can’t wait to hopefully go again next year! 

Can’t put out a Christmas letter and not mention the nieces and nephews!  They are our pride and joy and its’ so much fun for us to watch them grow, excel, and now have children of their own.  A few highlights (oldest to youngest)—Keith continues to work in the Oil and Gas Industry and does very well.  He & Uncle Mike often share dinner while away from home.  Ashly continues to climb the corporate ladder and can proudly boast of the highest retail sales in her region.  Kevin, who serves in the U.S. Army, was promoted to Staff Sergeant (E-6) and became an “official” Drill Sergeant in August.  He and his wife, Kelli, were then assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia.  Ryan and his wife, Joy, will be expecting their second child in the Spring.  His daughter (my great-niece!), Sydney, just turned 3.  Phil proposed to his sweet girlfriend, Courtney, and we will be celebrating a June 2013 wedding!  Our California boys, Peter, Will, Vince, and Michael continue to do well in college/high school and excel on the athletic field.  Zach is pursuing Jr. Fireman and EMT training and really enjoys it.  He’s thinking about following in his Uncle Mike’s footsteps by pursuing a degree in Petroleum Engineering and heading into the Oil and Gas Industry as well.  Again, we are so proud of each of them and continue to pray God’s blessings over each of their lives. 

We would also be remorseful if we didn’t include how much our Sawyer Evangelical Church family means to us.  They provide encouragement, prayer power, and friendship that is such a blessing to us.  I continue to teach one of the many Sunday School classes, the ladies “Care & Share.”  I enjoy this group of ladies immensely and am excited to see where God takes our class in 2013! 

As we look to Christmas, we celebrate the “reason for the season” as we anticipate Jesus’ birth.  It is to Him, that we say “thank you” for another year of His faithfulness—in the good times and the bad.  We look forward to and wait with expectancy to what God has in store for us as we approach 2013.   We pray that you can also rejoice in God’s faithfulness and we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous “banner” New Year! 

Love,

Mike & Linda

Another Day In Paradise

Last evening as we were waiting at the dock, getting ready to board the boat that would take us out for Mike's first night dive, Mike & I both were commenting on how grateful we are for this very special time away.  Not only are we experiencing adventures that few may choose or have the chance, but we are feeling rested and are enjoying activities that we have grown to love.  Yes, we have worked hard & have saved for this adventure, but ultimately, it is God who has provided this time of respite.  To Him, we give all praise and glory. 

Not only has it been a time of respite, but we have met some wonderful people (from all over the world!) along the way that I'm sure, will remain in our circle of friends and acquaintences for many years to come.  The resort only accommodates 32 guests, so as you can imagine, everybody somewhat gets to know everybody. It is always a great feeling to be able to expand our "neighborhood" and to look for opportunities to influence new lives around us and to learn from the experiences of others.     

Our days have began early.  Of course, the resort caters to divers, so their days begin early--the earlier they get started, the earlier they can get in the water.  Breakfast is served in the main beach house beginning at 7 a.m. (Central Time).  It's pretty hard to take fresh pineapple and papaya for breakfast every morning!   From here, for their first dive of the day, the boats leave the dock at 8 a.m.   Rather than accompany them on the boat, I have taken this time to rest, relax, and rejuvinate my spirit.   I'm usually at the pool (that overlooks the ocean) by 8:15.  There are a couple of other ladies that usually stay behind and it has been nice getting to know them.  Besides basking in the warmth of the morning sunshine, this has been a time for Bible study and communication with the Lord--which my spirit has desperatly longed for.  Not only communicating my praise & requests, but an opportunity to hear from Him as well.  Not quite sure what He is trying to tell me, but he has placed 1 Peter 1:15,16 on my heart this week--"15 As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness.16 God said, "I am holy; you be holy."  I'll be expectantly waiting for Him to reveal His purpose behind these scriptures & making sure that He finds me faithful in regards to His above instruction along the way.   

The boats usually arrive back around 12 noon.  Shortly thereafter, again, we fellowship and share lunch together as an entire resort.  On their website, the resort "boasts" about the finest cuisine on the island.  We have all agreed--it is indeed worth "boasting" about.  The food has been exquisite.  A short rest period and then we all board the boats again for an afternoon of more diving and for me and a few others, we take the opportunity to experience marine life at its' best by snorkeling.  Our afternoons have truly been a wonderful adventure.  On several occasions, I have been completely in awe of God's creation (& have made sure to tell Him so!)

We arrive back to the resort & the smells of the kitchen draw us back into the main beach house for dinner.  Yes, it seems as if all we have been doing is diving/snorkeling and eating!  Casual conversation around the tables, stories from the days' adventures, and the opportunity to watch the sunset in the background all make for a glorious day in paradise.  By 8:30 or 9 p.m., as you can probably imagine, we're all ready to retire to our private bungalows.  Here, for a while longer, we may sip fresh mango juice and read on our back decks or crawl in for a good night's rest as our next day will once again begin early.

Friday, rather than an afternoon dive (to allow the divers' bodies to decompress before boarding the plane the next morning), we'll all be boat-taxied over to the main village of Utila.  Here, we'll have the opportunity to spend the afternoon with the locals, do a little souvenir shopping & stop in to a couple of the local "water holes" to rehydrate.  We're all looking forward to this excursion.  It will be a great opportunity for me to "brush up" on my Spanish and again, experience people and cultures that are outside of our norms (and if you didn't already know, I love doing the latter!)

Before you know it, our vacation will be over.  Yes, I could stand a few more days of sunshine and being pampered, however, we realize that our "callings" await us back home.  The one thing that will remain, whether here or there, will be the memories of our experiences and adventures that Mike & I have been able to share as a couple--special, intimate memories and adventures of our days in paradise.   




 

Happy New Year from the Howards!

A New Year is almost upon us.  Imagine the possibilities...

I'm sure that we would all agree--this past year has flown by!  So much so, that I'm finding it hard to put my thoughts down on paper.  I wouldn't necessarily say that the year was a big "blur," but definitely busy and packed full of adventure, challenges, and new "norms" for both Mike and I.  The one thing that has remained constant throughout and has always been the case in years past, is that God continued (and continues) to show Himself faithful.  As the conclusion of 2011 draws near, that is truly the one factor that stands out in my mind more than anything.

So, what were we up to this past year?

As the Marcellus-Shale Oil and Gas Industry has continued to thrive in the Eastern part of Pennsylvania, the year started with Mike now working away from home--two weeks on, one week off.  Since its' just he and I in our household (and of course, our trusted and much loved German-Shorthair companion, Meghan!) it has been a significant transition for all of us.  Although our circumstances not considered ideal to most, I cannot begin to tell you, literally story after story, of how God has used Mike to minister to what we would consider, a pretty rough crowd.  He has earned the respect and admiration of his superiors (they have personally told me so!) and amongst his colleagues.  I firmly believe that is why God (and his superiors!) have not allowed him to work his way back towards the West and closer to home.  We continue to stand in faith, asking God to open new opportunities to bring him home--however, we're now beginning to wonder if God has something totally different in store for us.  With that in mind, our prayers have become somewhat different.  We're continuing to stand in faith, but learning to keep our hearts and minds open to what may become another "new norm."  We'll be anxious to see how the next several months unfold as we listen and look for God's divine direction.

My work, as the Director of Facility and Staff Development at Bradford Ecumenical Home, Inc. and as an adjunct instructor for Jamestown Community College, has kept me extremely busy.  I'm not sure if you remember me telling you last year at this time-- that for years, I always defined who I was as an individual by my career.  However, until God got a hold of my heart and reminded me that all He wanted from me was indeed my "whole" heart and to love HIM more than my career, my career and accomplishments would always be mediocre.  As stated last year, upon that realization and through my personal repentance, my career has taken a totally different spin!  New opportunities, new challenges, and new accomplishments have fueled a love and passion for the work that I do on behalf of the elderly and to the other end of the spectrum, seeing my students (young and older) succeed in their personal career paths.  Speaking of students--in the mix of all of the above, I am still a student myself.  Taking one or two classes per semester (with only 4 to go!), I have managed well.  As the student, one thing that I did learn this past semester (which was SO VERY frustrating to me throughout the process) was how to become a better instructor by NOT doing what my professor was doing--enough said! 

Our mantra--when we work hard, that allows us to also play hard!  Mike and I always make it a priority to take vacations and occasional weekend get-aways to refuel and charge our batteries.  We had memory-making, fun-in-the-sun times, as Mike became certified in SCUBA.  Although not the least bit interested in learning or becoming certified in SCUBA myself, I have loved being the benefactor (by association) of having the opportunity to spend some quality time on a beach with a good book!  Not to mention, all of the awesome meals that were cooked over an open-fire or in Mike's dutch ovens as we enjoyed spending time out in the wilderness in our RV! 

Over the last year, in addition to our busy careers, the other thing that significantly stands out on the forefront of my mind is the declining health of Mike's mom.  In July of 2011, mom's previous diagnosis of ovarian cancer re-occurred and came back with vengeance.  After seeking opinion after opinion from some of the best OB/GYN oncologists in the country, and after trying a couple of months of new treatments, mom's body was just not responding.  After having heart-wrenching, heart-breaking conversations, mom decided to forego any further treatment and has been under the care of Hospice since the first part of October.  She continues to be an incredibly strong woman and has surpassed the expected life-span that was predicted.  We continue to take one day at a time and trust that God will keep her in the palm of His hand and allow her remaining days on this earth to be comfortable and pain-free.  One of these days, I really need to "pen" exactly what my mother-in-law means to me and how she has loved me, unconditionally, as her own (Don't worry--she and I have had lengthy, heart-warming conversations regarding such over the years and especially, over the last several weeks!)

With the above circumstances surrounding Mike's mom, we have had some great family time!  Mike's sisters, Jo and Dawne, have been in from out of town on several occasions and our Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays have been extremely meaningful.  Over Christmas, Grandma was surrounded by her grandsons--which brought so much joy to all of our lives!

Speaking of grandsons, which would be our nephews, I'm sure that I don't have to tell you how much Mike and I enjoy and love our nieces and nephews!  Having no children of our own, we delight and take great pleasure in spoilin' and braggin' on the nieces and nephews!  It's so hard to believe that the youngest is now 15 and the oldest is in his mid-thirties!  Up until this last year, our one and only niece Ashly, whom we refer to as our "Princess", will now have to be promoted to "Queen" since we have a new niece-by-marriage (Kelli, who married nephew Kevin in September) and a great-niece, Sydney (daughter of nephew Ryan).   We are extremely proud of all of these kids--(in age order) Keith, Ryan (Sydney), Ashly, Kevin (Kelli), Phil, Peter, Will, Vince, Zach and Michael!  Each have their own unique personalities (Michael--definitely resembling his namesake--Uncle Mike!), great accomplishments already under their belts as young people, and all enjoying life to the fullest.  The Scriptures tell us that with each new generation they will continue to accomplish greater things than the previous generation.  With that being said and believing the scriptures to be true, Mike and I pray blessings upon blessings, and favor upon favor over each one of their lives and look forward with anticipation to see what God is going to do in and through them!

Another memorable moment--my big brother, Tom, turned 60!  My sister Laura and I surprised him by boarding a plane and showing up at his door-step on Carolina Beach!  When Tom's wife, Carolyn, summoned his aide to help unload the groceries from her car, I think we almost gave Tom a heart-attack as we jumped out from behind the car, "SURPRISE!"  The stunned look on his face was priceless!  We had a great few days of celebrating by spending time on the beach and of course, partying! 

With all the above being said--in the busy times, challenging times, fun times, and in the moments of relaxation, Mike and I have learned that when you're in the center of God's perfect will, there is a sense of peace.  Our days have no longer become filled with struggle.  Yes, we've had some challenges and some tough times to push through (and I'm sure, more to come!)  But overall, we really enjoy our life.  I know we both feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.  We both rest our head on the pillow each night, feeling at peace, knowing that we're in God's current perfect will for our lives. 

As we look toward a New Year, praying that Mike, I, our friends and family (that includes YOU!), not only survive in 2012, but THRIVE!  Blessings for a great year! 

Out With the Old (2010) and In With the New (2011)

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Prov. 16:9). God must give us the vision for what He calls us to do. After we have the vision, we must ask Him if He wants us to take action on that vision and what the action steps entail. The Lord wants to direct each step of the planning process. David learned this lesson when he went to battle against his enemy, the Philistines. One day he inquired of God as to whether he was to go up against the Philistines, and the Lord said, "Yes, but only when you hear the marching in the balsam trees." It is a mistake to reason and analyze in order to come to a decision on a matter. The Lord already knows the answer. It is our responsibility to seek Him to find out His mind on the matter. Our planning must be established in Him. Only when we remain so connected to the source can we be assured of putting God's plan into place. Also, getting that plan confirmed through others will assure that we are not following the deceit of our own heart." (Taken from Os Hillman's Marketplace Leaders: Plans for Success)

As I head into the New Year, I want the above to ALWAYS be on the forefront of my mind!  With that being said....For the last three years, I have been specifically setting aside the weekend between Christmas Day & New Year's to quietly seek God and His wisdom, direction, and vision for the coming year.  In year's past, I have outlined every area of my life and then attached specific scripture verses that I could fall back on throughout the year to help sustain me and remind me of God's faithfulness in each of those areas. This year, those same areas & scriptures are still very relevant, however, I'm taking a different approach--I'm just openly and freely saying "YES."  The Lord knows the desires and dreams of my heart (for He's the one who has placed them there in the first place!) and He wants to direct each step of the planning process. My only real responsibility is to remain so connected to Him so that I can be assured of God's plans for my life--that is why I so appreciated God sending me the above devotional. It was the affirmation that I needed. Not only does God want me to stay intimately connected, He wants me to say "YES" to his leading. So, Lord--here I am.  Not exactly sure of what you have in store, although I know its' going to be good because you are Good! (However, I now have tears streaming down my face because I know that in saying "YES" may lead me to places that I may not want to go or to situations & circumstances that may be painful and hard, but I have to continually trust that it is during these times, that I see God move in miraculous ways and where the majority of my growth and maturity will take place). So again, with somewhat of a  trembling heart, I say "YES" to what you have in store for me in 2011.

Before I completely move on to 2011, let's take a look at 2010.  My verse for 2010 was found in 2 Peter 1:3 & 4 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who has called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." I cannot begin to tell you how many times that those specific verses would lull me to sleep at night. I had to continually remind myself that everything that I needed--whether it would be for physical & emotional strength, direction, wisdom, finances, protection, healing, etc. were found in His promises (which led to me to track down those promises in the scriptures). Now, as I find myself at the conclusion of 2010, His Word and His promises were indeed faithful! God' promises were faithful through such times (in chronological order) as: our house being burglarized (which continues to be an on-going saga), through Mike's shoulder surgery, and through Mike's work transition (a transition for both of us & thankful that it appears to only be for a "season!"). His promises also proved to be faithful during times of celebration--family vacations, favor within our occupations, great grades as an adult student, and specific dreams coming to pass!

For me personally, 2010 also brought two specific "defining moments." The first, within my employment. My career has always been very important to me and continues to be so. However, looking back for many, many years, I let my career define who I was as an individual and I based my self-worth on my ability to "climb the corporate ladder." A particular ladies' Bible study (Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge) in Care & Share brought my misconceptions (& sin) to light. In a nutshell, all along, all God really wanted from me was my heart--not necessarily additional items to add to my resume. This realization (& repentence) has brought great freedom. Guess what happened once I relinquished control of my career to God? You guessed it--significant accomplishments and responsibilities that look fabulous on my professional portfolio!

The second defining moment was in regards to relationships. I guess if I would have listened to Mike in the first place (after all, he does have the spiritual gift of discernment!), this area might have not been so painful. With that being said, his advice is somewhat stern & definitely not "warm & fuzzy" like we women tend to like it! Let's just say and I'm going to take James' word for it when he states in Chapter 1, verse 19 "My dear brothers (& sisters), take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." The realization (as much as I hate to admit--LOL!): When dealing with specific relationships, I need to heed the advice of my husband!

Now, back to 2011. In looking ahead, there seems to be a recurring theme that has been affirmed through many methods (& for obvious reasons, has left me very curious!)--my 2011 verse, which is a familiar one, is found in Proverbs 3:3-4 "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." In addition to continually saying "YES" (which is a pretty hefty goal in itself!), the only other goal or resolution for 2011 that I'm going to set for myself is this: To choose to live each day passionately and as a positive reflection of God in my world. I'm going to choose to put actions behind my faith and leave a lasting legacy for my family and my world.

As always, may Mike, I, and our families, not only survive 2011, but THRIVE!

A Life Lesson

As I was driving into work this morning, in some areas, the fog in the valley was so thick that you could barely see a few feet in front of you.  At one point, I just turned off the radio, slowed down and began to pray my way.  As I began to crest the hill, the fog broke and the sun, with all of it's brilliance, shown to display God's Autumn splendor. 

At that very moment, I realized that the busyness of life and our day-to-day routines are often like that dense fog that I had encountered this morning.  In order for us to reach the crest of the mountain and see God's splendor in our daily lives, we need to be in constant communication (throughout the day) with our Heavenly Father.  Communication that helps us to successfully navigate through the day when the busyness and uncertainty "fogs" our view.  When that occurrs, we will always be able to see God's faithfulness at the end of the day--similar to the brilliant sun that had appeared as I reached the top of the mountain. 

Lord, thank you for your protection and guidance this morning. More importantly, thank you for my "life lesson!"  May you find me faithful as I encounter each day and I pray that I would make it a habit to be in constant communication with you so that I can successfully navigate through my days. 
In Jesus Name. 

The Likings of A Nerd

With my glasses on, my nose pasted to a textbook, and my laptop at close bay, I remind myself of those individuals that in junior/senior high-school that we deemed as “Nerds.” Looked upon (and unfortunately, sometimes not so favorably)—have I now become “one of them?” To throw myself into that category, it can’t really be all that bad—or can it? With that burning question in mind, I set out to find or discover the makings of these mysterious individuals. With my own research and extensive help from Frank Barnicle, a former newspaper columnist, this is what we have determined:

“Nerds come in every size, shape, and color. Some are good-looking, others are less than ordinary in appearance. You’ll find nerds neatly attired for the most part, avoiding the extremes in dress often indulged in by their peers. The names of Nerds appear regularly in a number of places. They’re on honor rolls in elementary and high schools, on deans’ lists at colleges and universities and on records that indicate membership in churches and synagogues. Conversely, their names are notably absent from police blotters and lists of students who have been cited for violating school regulations.

In group conversations, Nerds are generally quiet and attentive. When they do speak, however, everyone listens.

Nerds enjoy spending time in libraries in the company of such illustrious parsonages as Hemingway, Dickens and Manchester. However, you may be hard-pressed to find one hanging around a barroom with John Barleycorn or frequenting those neighborhoods where drugs are known to be available.

Here are a few more little-known facts about these men and women who indeed are a breed apart:

No nerd has ever been accused of burning the American flag. Nerds seldom become involved in fights or brawls. They will, however, battle long and hard in support of causes they feel will lead to a better life for everyone.

Contrary to belief, Nerds enjoy fun and good times as much as the next guy or gal. But if choice must be made between attending a party or spending a few extra hours studying for that upcoming exam, you can bet the rent money that a Nerd will opt for hitting the books.”1

Mmmm, taking into consideration the above findings, do I resemble the likings of a Nerd? There are some similarities and yet, some obvious differences. For those that know me well, you’ll easily be able to distinguish those differences. However, what I have found to be true—if I were to fall into the category of a true-blue Nerd, I think that I may be in good company. With that being said, “Let’s raise our glasses high in toast to all of the Nerds of the world—may they never change or compromise their values. Their contributions to society are as endless as time itself.” 2

1,2 Frank Barnicle. Life, Love, & Laughter—What is a Nerd?  Southern Heritage Press, St. Petersburg, FL 33733. 1997

Addendum:

How funny! Today (Sept. 7), one of my “friends” on FB posted a recent speech given by Bill Gates entitled, “11 Rules Your Kids Did Not and Will Not Learn in School”--Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.