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Space Cadet?

"Humility creates space and opportunity for others. It doesn't try to fill space with noise."

Dan Webster
National Youth Workers Convention

Thankful

I have been extremely grateful recently for many things big and small. Tonight was one of them. We went to Publix supermarket for a "sample" supper. Publix was having holiday fest. It was a fest too. As we walked in they had some teenagers playing Christmas music and free food samples everywhere. We laughed and ate as a family and appreciated the effort to sell us stuff. In true Akers fashion we didn't purchase anything...ha ha. I thanked the youth playing music and I thanked the folks giving samples and Maddi thought I was more than a little over the top. I must admit, it was very, very jolly in there...maybe because Santa was there as well.

I am thankful for our spontaneous unscheduled evening.

Reflection

I have been asked recently as an assignment to reflect upon the last year and see what God was teaching me through it. I really have to be in the mood to reflect. I was blessed or cursed with a practical side that always argues with my reflecting side and if I have to reflect my practical side tells the "whiny" reflecting side to shut up cause it don't matter anyway. Mr. Practical is really loud.

However, Socrates said, “The unreflected life is not worth living" and he was a smart dude. So, Here we go...

"Here I sit all broken-hearted tried to reflect, but only..."

See, there is a prime example of me not taking my assignment seriously.

So, now focus...hmmmmmmm reflect, reflect reflect...

I am thirsty...be back in a minute.

OK I am back. It really bothers me that cokes are now a $1.25. I almost always have a buck, but not .25 I blame OPEC for that one.

All right. Focus Tony, get in the zone...

So here is what I learned (I think) this year.

Things are not always as they seem
Done deals often come undone
Disappointment lingers beyond forgiveness
The enemy of the future you imagined is waiting for it to happen on your behalf (Practical side thinks this one is a little too artsy and perhaps that I am becoming too "metro")
People are resilient
People are fragile
The love of family is second only in power to the love of God
I fight battles most people don't care about. A little too Don Quixote.
I am proud and bull-headed
Facebook is killing my blog...OK Tony focus again.
I do not like being vulnerable (as evidenced by my continued bent toward humor)
Innovation is overrated
Simplicity is cool
I re-discovered a love for the outdoors
The core is what I care about

So, there you go. Evidence that even those who do not like to reflect can (and should).

I feel better...

Unfortunate reader I pray you feel better too.