Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.

 Today, I remember Martin Luther King Jr.” with these quotes:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

"Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.”

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

"Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals."

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great of a burden to bear.”

Family Day & Halloween

The movie Coco inspired me.  I already knew about the Day of the Dead (November 1) because I lived in South America for two years as a missionary.  It’s a day of family reunion, both living and dead, and remembering family.  It’s a time to think about family with a deeper perspective.  

If I had my druthers, I’d transform Halloween into more of a Family Day.  I wouldn’t lose the positive things I like about Halloween; I’d only place more emphasis on family history, family love, and (of course) family fun. Hey, let’s start a movement!

Speaking of fun, I have selected 10 Halloween-type movies that I think are appropriate for families with children (all G and PG rated).  Consider selecting one or more to watch with your family.

• 
  Coco         
  
• Monsters, Inc.
• From Time to Time (a family ghost story)
• E.T.
• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Hotel Transylvania
• Spookley, the Square Pumpkin (only 47 minutes)
• Scooby-Doo and the Goblin King
• Hocus Pocus
• Goosebumps

The final two may be a bit questionable for some families.  Check Common Sense Media for a review.  

Do you have any movie suggestions you’d like to add?  And do you have any ideas for the next Family Day? 

Coping with Commotion

It’s been years since I’ve contributed to my blog.  I write today because I see difficult days ahead, and today’s message focuses on four dimensions of living—mind, heart, spirit, and body. 

Mind

These days, we tend to think of ourselves as African-American, White, Latino, Asian, Dallas Cowboys fan, consummate Bar-b-cue master, Republican, Democrat, Soccer Mom, ace Pickle Ball player, and so on.  Without discarding any of the positive ways we view ourselves, please consider a new, over-riding and primary identity.

You are a child of God.  Think about that a little.  Perhaps you’ve always known this.  If you are a child of God, then you can approach Him in prayer.  You can expand your perspective.  Your spiritual heritage also implies that there is a lot of goodness in you.  Thus, you can relate to others from that good heart of yours.

Heart

Speaking of heart, COVID time is family time and friendship time.  It’s an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with those we are closest to, those that we most love.  We may wish to reconcile with Aunt Alice or smooth over the contention with Brother Bob. 

In response to the current and future civil unrest, I’d like to quote Martin Luther King, Jr., who pointed out that “hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.... Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”  Let’s get tough with ourselves and turn to love.

Spirit

For me, the epitome of living is being “alive in Christ” and relying on His love and grace to strengthen me in time of need. Regardless of your religion or spiritual path, turn to the principles of your God.  For me, those are found in the Bible and The Book of Mormon.  If you are not religious, seek for the good that you can find.  Often, you can find the silver lining in dark clouds and become a support to those in need.

Body

I’m always saying to myself, Dave, get in better physical shape and eat right.  That’s sound advice for all of us.  Have a 72-hour supply of food, emergency items, and water.  Be wise with your credit cards.  Create a plan for possible tough times ahead, whether it’s ice storms, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, riots, or an overlong visit from relatives. 

God bless you and keep living!

Enter the Young

All you teens and young adults, pull up a chair

‘Cuz Uncle Dave has something to share.

When I was as young or younger than you, I heard this wonderful song by The Association that inspired me.  Here are the lyrics.

Here they come, yeah
Some are walking, some are riding
Here they come, yeah
And some are flying, some just gliding
Released after years of being kept in hiding
They're climbing up the ladder rung by rung

Enter the young

Yeah, they've learned how to think
Enter the young, yeah
More than you think they think
Not only learned to think, but to care
Not only learned to think, but to dare
Enter the young

Yeah, here they come
some with questions, some decisions
Here they come
And some with facts and some with visions
Of a place to multiply without the use of divisions
To win a prize that no one's ever won

Enter the young

Here they come, yeah
Some are laughing, some are crying
Here they come
And some are doing, some are trying
Some are selling, some are buying
Some are living, some are dying
But demanding recognition one by one

Enter the young.

Here them sing it here.

As I grew older, I saw that Henry David Thoreau was onto something when he said, “The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth; and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed with them.”

What are your dreams?  It’s never too late to get started.  Listen to the lyrics of the following song by Crosby, Stills, and Nash. They sung this tune as older men.

Look around me, I can see my life before me
Running rings around the way it used to be
I am older now. I have more than what I wanted
But I wish that I had started long before I did.

And there's so much time to make up everywhere you turn
Time we have wasted on the way
So much water moving underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away

Oh, when you were young, did you question all the answers
Did you envy all the dancers who had all the nerve?
Look round you now, you must go for what you wanted
Look at all my friends who did and got what they deserved

So much love to make up everywhere you turn
Love we have wasted on the way
So much water moving underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away
Let the water come and carry us away

Here them sing it here.

So take a tip from Uncle Dave: whatever your dream, make your plan, gather your “materials,” and go for it.  And keep living!

Who Needs Rules?

Recently, two writing clients have expressed their irritation at formatting guidelines and the rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation.  After all, shouldn’t a writer or anyone else be free to write any way he or she wants? 

It’s a good argument, and I’m buying it. People should be free to write in whatever manner they feel comfortable.  After all, it’s not like the arbitrary rules of English are like the Ten Commandments, although who needs those?  I should do whatever I feel like doing. I have my own path. And we can begin to be truly free by first abolishing the rules of punctuation, grammar, formatting, and spelling.  So I decided I don't need no stinkin' rules.

Me when I decided no more rules!

Sins than Ive feel AWESUM free!!! 2, be a riter & rite weather u approve or, not & i lol @ ennyone who aint lik it asap i comm w/ any ya dont say or that fyi my stressload reduced greatly & that a, fact wanna me singin LIKE BIRDIES now i FREE to cree-ate + u can 2 by plunk down w/ me in protest & its duh new lazee fair! thoses are French words haha who can say 1 writing is better than another HUH u can c that now no 1 can judge

what does it matter example 1

Woman without her man, is nothing

example 2 same words w/ punct rules

Woman—without her, man is nothing.

what does it matter who needs them! dum! stupud! rules!  I just keep living....