My talk with God

People fascinate me - especially the ones I don't like - which for the most part are most of them.  To paraphrase a quote ...Oh I love mankind, it's the people that give me the most pause.. I suppose the ones that cause me the most disdain are the preachers (not necessarily the ordained ones),  Perhaps you know some - the ones that tell you how you should live, what you should do, what you should say - yet have never spent 10 minutes of their life talking WITH you,  for no other reason than they have spent their entire life talking TO you.  For the most part, I have lived a life of passionate zeal - but have rarely expected others to live any different than they do.  Recently, several people have told me I should change my life.  Granted, they have not seen me in over 25 years, but they feel they have the answer - THE WAY - as they called it.  They will quote scripture after scripture - as if memorizing words will change the world - even change me.  What they don't know - and only a few people in the world do - is that I am a true believer in God.  Not a BETTER believer, not a HOLIER believer, but a believer nonetheless.  My belief is so deep that if today, I were provided empirical data that the Holy Bible was just a book, my faith in God would not diminish, it might actually grow.  You may find that odd.  The truth is -  people debate stuff in a circular pattern - they argue a point using the point as the premise.  If you argue that the Bible is the truth, while referencing only the Bible - only someone who believes your way will listen. 

Anyone reading this will most likely have a different relationship with God than I do.  I may have read somewhere a personal relationship with God is what is expected (Oops...I may be doing the same stuff others do - quoting).  The real answer lies within each of us and not amongst us.  So, if God and I had a conversation in human terms - I think it would go something like this:

God:  How's the knee?

Me:   Getting better.  Thanks for helping me find the duct tape this past summer.

God:  You think I did that? (Smiling)

Me:  Of course! Blood was pouring out of my knee and I needed to stop it fast.  We both know when I need something in my garage, it takes me a week to find it,  That day I found it right where it was supposed to be  .... in just a few seconds.  But then again, you are the miracle guy, so maybe you had my girls put something back from where they got it.  Lord only knows it would take a miracle. No pun intended, God.

God:  No offense taken.  Even I need a little humor.  So much misery in the world I created.

Me:  Yea, I have been meaning to ask you about that....why so much?

God:  You know the answer - people.  Free will presents quite a few challenges, yet it allows people to grow - to understand and to see a clear path.

Me:  It also allows for destruction and pain.  Not the kind of highlights you thought when you created us huh?

God:  Excuse me?  Of course I knew...careful little man.  My hope was that there would be more like you and a whole lot less like some others.

Me:  Please tell me you did not use hope as a strategy?

God:  No - but it is a human process, so my children will.

Me:  Not me

God:  Yes, even you....as a matter of fact - you more than most.

Me:  What?  You must have me mixed up with that NY singer Chip Prince - the one when I search for me on the NET, I get a picture of a short, bald guy.

God:  No - you Chip Prince of Springville, AL.  You - the one who wants to make a difference in others' lives.  You  - the one who can by doing - not by telling.  You like being anonymous - but I know....

Chip:  You think I am going to bring people to you?

God:  You already have. 

Me:  You know I only pray for my health.  For I know that with that I can do most anything - I will figure it out.  I don't ask for stuff.  I don't ask for help.

God:  I know, but many do and that is OK. 

Me:  I suppose it is.  As I was driving the other day, I was thinking  about my life.

God:  I know you were.

Me:  Of course you do.  Can I finish? God!

God:  Yes, but clean up the language, I am right here you know.

Me:   Ooops!  Anyway, as I was thinking about my life, I realized how many times you were there to help me in my one request for my health.  When I was 15 and you had the police stop the fight.  When I was 19 and allowed me to not get hit with a punch from my old man.  When I was in the Army and no real harm came to me.  When I have travelled so many miles on planes and cars - yet I arrived safe.  When I have helped people in situations that needed help when others simply would not.  I know that I was not smart enough to do it all on my own - and I just wanted to say thanks. 

God:  I know..

ME:  Of course you do...sometimes knowitalls are agitatng

God: (Smiling)  You have a mirror my son?  But the truth is,  I need more like you Chip.

ME:  I am no preacher.  I am not a hand raising fundamentalist.  I am not the guy to bring people to God with scripture.

God:  No you are not.  You are effective though in the what you do.  Be an example for those that do not know me.  People that know YOU -  would never expect it from you and will watch and listen.  Never let them see you coming.  Reach those not in the choir - the ones that need a different type of messenger.  Believe me - they will NEVER expect you.  Never let them see you coming - until you are there

Me:  You saw that movie too?  Never mind, of course you did....

God:  So, big day today?

Me:  Funny...tomorrow is the celebrated anniversary of your Son's birth and of course my girls with Santa and all.  Guess I should not put those together huh?

God:  Happiness and Good Will toward Man is my desire....I see nothing wrong with what you said.  Besides we know the truth...

Me:  Yep - Our Saviour's birth was most likely in June or July, the only reason we celebrate Christmas in December is ...

God:  ....People.  Got to love 'em.

Me:  I guess YOU do....

God:  You try so hard to act like you don't - but your actions differ so much.

ME:  Sometimes you are tough to talk to.

God:  People say the same thing about you Chip.  The reason is we speak the Way and often that is not easy for people to understand.

Me:  What if I blogged about our conversation today?  What do you think people will say?

God:  Some will like it, most will hate it - call it sacreligous.  But not me...so go forth my good and faithful servant.  You have done well and you will continue for I do answer Prayers.  So how's that knee?

ME:  Better each day - just like life with you.. Most of all thanks for understanding..

God:  Anytime...

ME:  Merry Christmas Father...

God:  Save it for July!!!

Yes, Carlee and MattiLynn, there is a Santa Claus!

"Who is the real Santa?"  My girls ask.

 I could give them a philosophical, esoteric answer - and while  sounding both logical and important, would not truly answer the question.  I could give them a folksy answer - sounding like I was an old man on a rocking chair reliving my life.  I could have given a lot of answers about heart and feeling and such- nah! So I went with....... "Santa is really me and your mama"..(I know that is bad grammar) ..and it went something like this,,,,,

ME:  You see girls, parents do these things for their children because in this world children are often forgotten. Oh they are loved, but sometimes the pleasures of adulthood become first in parents' heads and little girls and boys are left out most of the year.  So at Christmas time, parents have to make up for the time they wasted on stupid stuff like work, cleaning, talking with friends, gossipping about people, arguing about the government, and other entertaining - but not really important things in life.

My girls:   They looked puzzled

ME:  Thinking I know that look - I continue..Let me give you an example.  Let's say it is July and you want to go to the park.  Parents say, can't today - have to do the yard.  Let's say you want a friend to come over to your house and the 'Rents say - sorry the house is too dirty or they say We just had it cleaned - can't mess it up.

My girls:  I could actually see a tear on their faces.

ME:  Oh girls don't cry - we did not intend to be mean, we just got busy with life.  We did not forget about you. It is just as adults - other things become important too.  You will understand later.  Besides that is why we as Santa give so much - we are trying to make up for what we did NOT do with you all year.

My little girl begins to suck her thumb.  My oldest just stares at me.  Both get up off of the couch and walk toward the stairs to their rooms.  I feel a bit of sadness come over me - not exactly my finest moment - but the truth just has that sense of "right" that needs to be said or so I think.

My youngest one:  Now I am sad, those little kids with bad daddys and mommys...why would they do that to their own children...Sure glad our Mommy and Daddy aren't like that....

My oldest one:  Yep!  Plus, Daddy thinks he is SO smart and he does not even know who Santa Claus really is....

I could not believe my ears....oh I heard the words, but the meaning is why I believe in Santa Claus, cannot think of two better reasons....

So that is my Christmas Story - at least that is the way I tell it...Merry Christmas and Keep First Things First!

Are you - your parents now?

If you are reading this,  most likely you are over 40 - closer to 50 even, you may say you are NOT - but most likely you are.  Our parents did not have this way of talking with folks.   It is kinda cool, but in a way a bit removed from the human interaction most of us want - perhaps even need.  I never wanted to be my parents.  Like most of you, when I was younger I made myself a promise "that when I get that age, I will be different."  Ok, maybe my parents were not the best examples of "how to be", so it was easier for me, but I bet you still said it anyway.  I look around now and I see so many people turning into their parents, sad really, at least I think so.  When we were young we were going to change the world, change the government (ok some of you still want to), make all those daring choices, stay in touch with our friends, live - not just exist.  Some of us have, but frankly, we do so at times the "gurus" call a "SEE" (significant emotional event) - you know the ones, births, deaths, marriages, divorces, job gains and losses - you get the picture.  Most days though we say things like - I will do that AFTER the kids grow up and move out, we will do it next year, we will do it after the rush of the holidays, just as soon as I make more money, or whatever we consider a "rational reason" not to do something.  Sounds just like my parents - does it sound like yours?  You may say that is just human nature, people grow up and mature - that is what adults do - it is not bad.  No,  it is not bad - but it goes against what we said we would do and to me that is sad.  I will never be a great songwriter - but I still try.  I will never be John Grisham - but I try.  I will never be President - but I still enjoy debating.  I am pretty good at business, but if that were all I did, I wonder how good I would be? 

Perhaps your passion changed from the time of your youth and that's cool. ---If it actually changed and you didn't just give up so you could be "your parents".  Without desire all important aspects of life fade - marriages, jobs, our lives in general.  I encourage you to live your life - not the life of your parents.  You may say "I am not my parents - I am nothing like them".  If you are over 40 and reading this you should have reached a level of reading that allows you to understand I am not talking truly about "parents", I am talking about getting old and wandering without the wonder we used to have.

One thing though that would be nice about going back and being my "parents" - I would have seen each of you and talked with you about this. Instead I just write it and put it out there in the hopes that maybe you understand and talk back or at least think about it.  Somedays I guess being my "parents" would be better........

Round Earth and Square People

As a young boy, I learned that the Earth was round.  Not that great of a revelation in the 60's, but back then I thought people were square.  Everyone around me had an idea about how things (usually me) should be.  I can still remember people fascinated with the moon landing - we stopped school to watch it in class.  Everyone wanted to be an astronaut, so math and science HAD to be learned.  People became fascinated with race integration in school - and since I lived in Alabama (starting in 2nd grade - 1969) we were seeing "different" kids come to school.  I can still remember laughing with Winston Miller - he did not seem so different to me.  But going to his house was not allowed - "good" folks just did not do that. Someone actually told me that is was forbidden  - "says so -  right there in the Bible",  I remember school work stopping so we could watch President Nixon's resignation - in a Democrat controlled Alabama - many were happy.  All around me people were talking about learning history and laws, as if knowing that made a difference in whether you told the truth as President.  As I got a little older - I noticed  these other "group" of people - GIRLS.  Their hair was usually longer and fluffier (I mean really big - but it was the 70's), they smelled better than the boys did, although a couple of them were not always dressed in the latest trends.  I still remember being told that "those" girls were not "proper" and I should stay away - besides they were poor and weren't like me.  Well I knew poor - I lived in a nicer part of town but in a very small house. I had little to eat and helped raise money for food by raking yards - so I could relate to those girls.  Plus - them not being "proper" sounded really cool to a 13 year old boy~!  I still remember one girl - her smile - her gentle voice and when we parted that summer - she remained "proper: Shocking isn't it!!!

Today I am much older and hopefully wiser.  I never did learn much science - I caught a little math over the years (mostly business oriented).  Race is of no concern to me - but how one views it causes me much consternation. I have read the Bible many times - still searching for the forbidden verse the "right" people say is in there - must be a different "version".  I like history - studied it all my life. As my high school classmates  (and not just from my Alabama High School) reach 50 - I wonder how much we have learned from it and how often we will distort it to fit our version of what we think are the Constitutional laws.  Alabama is not a Democrat State anymore - and I suppose people have changed their allegiance - and they now seem genuinely happy about that fall too.  Poor is a far distant memory for me - although I force myself to remember where I came from and will not look down on those who are still there - knowing how it feels. As for "proper" - well I have known a few that were - and perhaps more than I should have that weren't - yet life still goes on. 

After all these years - the Earth is still round and people are still square......but I do OK  -----------------------------I suppose some things "took"

Almost there with my Grandfather's Hammer

Sometimes a hammer is just a hammer and sometimes it is life.  In less than a year, I will be 50.  An age many thought I would not reach, me included.  On any given day, I talk to scores of people, some good - some bad - (the talk - not the people, although.....).  It is during some of those banters that I learn the most about life.  I was asked recently if I thought I was going through a mid life crisis.  I was only so happy to say I hope so...that means I will live to be almost a 100!!  People fascinate me and I am continually amused by the differences amongst us. 

About three years ago, I hired a mother and daughter team to paint a room.  While I suppose they did an adequate job, they most certainly did not do an admirable job.  No putty, no sanding of spots - just paint.  When I wrote the check to pay the bill, I had to move a hammer in order to get to the checkbook.  Over the past twenty five years I had moved that hammer many times, mostly just out of the way, never for anything "manly".  On this day though, with a little disdain in my mind,  I looked intently at that hammer and said "why not"?  I had never been a builder or a painter-  I really had done nothing with my hands, except write checks.  So with that nudge, I embarked on a series of projects - paint, landscaping, rocks formations and finally my latest achievement - an 8 x 12 playhouse.  I poured not only sweat and energy into the projects, but a part of me as well.  I am proud of what I did, but perhaps not for reasons you think.  Oh it looks OK for an amateur, but inside I felt something - like I had done something and not just with this hammer.  For years I had moved that hammer from drawer to cabinet and back again, a hammer once owned by my maternal grandfather, a man I never met. 

During all of these projects, I would catch some ribbing from guys about how long it was taking or questioning "when was I ever going to get finished".  I gave up many weekends of leisure - but I had a purpose.  Someone once told me "I have spent my life making relationships and Chip, you have spent yours trying to make money"  That one phrase obviously has stuck.  Anyone could have built what I did and perhaps it would have been done better.  What others could NOT have done - was build me.  What? (you may ask).  You see during those times of building, I talked with people, not about production, sales and accounting, but about important stuff - life, purpose, reasons - topics I had just let go over the years.  I enjoyed long wonderful talks with people at the building supply, a few more chats with some funny folks at landscaping places, and even a few with the collection guy that picked up the tree limbs I cut.  I laughed with them, listened to them talk about all kind of things, I got to know some of them beyond just a transaction of money.  I talked with guys at work about how to build stuff and what to do and not to do.  I spent time with my wonderful brother, who would make me laugh so hard I would cough my head off.  In the end, I built some stuff, but mostly I built a better me.  All of it started by me looking at a simple hammer, passed to me from a man I never met.  So one day when I see my grandfather, maybe we can talk about what I built - but I will be willing to bet it won't be about walls and floors - it will be about how I did building lives for 2 little girls and 1 almost 50 year old man...."Now where is that hammer"????