ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE
You would have to live under a rock to not know about the ALS "bucket challenge". From celebrities to young children hundreds of my friends and co-workers have put themselves before us on social media with their "ice bucket challenge". This challenge actually began in frigid weather and ended when the heat and humidity of summer made it a refreshing treat. Some of the challenges were funny, some were ridiculous and some actually touch the heart. Those who did it in honor (of someone who is currently suffering this dreaded disease) or in memory of a loved one who succumbed to the disease moved me the most. Lately I have dreaded looking at Facebook as every other post is yet another one trying to "draw attention" It was mostly about "look at me" and now I challenge _____ who has "24 hours to comply!" What "moved me" were those who were heartfelt about the disease and really wanting to make a difference. Although we can justify this as a "worldwide trend" which raised a lot of money for a good cause, I wonder if other worthwhile causes could receive such notoriety if not started by celebrity sanction. I do fully support the difference this will make in finding a treatment and possible and end to this horrendous horrid disease. My prayer is all those who are now suffering from this diagnosis are heartened with some sense of hope.
One can only wonder what Summer 2015 will bring...
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Tire with a Nail
I do not have good car tire experiences. In fact, my regular mechanic tells everyone who will listen, "this is the lady with all the tire issues". Suffice it to say, if there is a nail, screw or other puncturing object my tires can find it. Last spring
while visiting my daughter for the birth of her second child I was ready to leave for home (a 3 1/2 hour trip) when I noticed my car's left rear tire was critically low on air. Asking my son in law if he had a pump, or where could I go near by his reply was, "well there is bound to be a Quick Trip somewhere on your route. He obviously did not have the same anxiety about traveling 70+mph on a highway with a bad tire that I did. I turned my GPS on and it led me to a Phillips 66 station which offered free air for 50 cents a shot. My experience has taught me to always carry a gauge and how to use it, the tire read 20 lbs. Filling my tire to 35 lbs. I prayed that somehow it would at least carry me a ways before it would need more air. Every bump, every piece of rough roadbed caused me to cringe but finally I worked up the nerve to travel at road speed. About halfway through my trip I stopped for a cold drink and a cautious look at my sick tire. It was still holding firm. I was amazed and pleased but still not confident it would last all the way home. Those final miles were excruciatingly tense.
The next day I drove to the mechanic who only shook his head and said he would check it out and try to repair it. About an hour later there was a call that indeed a screw had found its way in and the tire was repairable. Coming to pick it up I was told that heat and speed of my travel had actually saved my tire. The expansion from the heat acted as a seal and kept tire inflated.
Now anyone who knows anything about "physics" or cars could have figured that out. But for me it was a paralyzing fear of what "could happen" if the tire began to go flat while I was traveling. Most of us live our lives depending on all the systems of life working the way they should. We don't want to think that something may interfere with our smooth roadbed. There will always be the occasional "nail" in our roadbed. Sometimes it will take quick fix and we are on our way again. And there will be the time when it's a deeper issue requiring a more serious and perhaps even ongoing repair. The lesson for me is that I was worried and stressed out about "what could" go wrong instead of living with an issue that would need my attention but was holding. My faith is like this sometimes. Everything goes along and then the "nail" appears and I begin to fret and stew without approaching God for the help, support and calm I need.
Next time I will put air in the tire or call for help. I'll leave the "hours of worry" for something God can't handle........oh, that's right God can handle it all.
while visiting my daughter for the birth of her second child I was ready to leave for home (a 3 1/2 hour trip) when I noticed my car's left rear tire was critically low on air. Asking my son in law if he had a pump, or where could I go near by his reply was, "well there is bound to be a Quick Trip somewhere on your route. He obviously did not have the same anxiety about traveling 70+mph on a highway with a bad tire that I did. I turned my GPS on and it led me to a Phillips 66 station which offered free air for 50 cents a shot. My experience has taught me to always carry a gauge and how to use it, the tire read 20 lbs. Filling my tire to 35 lbs. I prayed that somehow it would at least carry me a ways before it would need more air. Every bump, every piece of rough roadbed caused me to cringe but finally I worked up the nerve to travel at road speed. About halfway through my trip I stopped for a cold drink and a cautious look at my sick tire. It was still holding firm. I was amazed and pleased but still not confident it would last all the way home. Those final miles were excruciatingly tense.
The next day I drove to the mechanic who only shook his head and said he would check it out and try to repair it. About an hour later there was a call that indeed a screw had found its way in and the tire was repairable. Coming to pick it up I was told that heat and speed of my travel had actually saved my tire. The expansion from the heat acted as a seal and kept tire inflated.
Now anyone who knows anything about "physics" or cars could have figured that out. But for me it was a paralyzing fear of what "could happen" if the tire began to go flat while I was traveling. Most of us live our lives depending on all the systems of life working the way they should. We don't want to think that something may interfere with our smooth roadbed. There will always be the occasional "nail" in our roadbed. Sometimes it will take quick fix and we are on our way again. And there will be the time when it's a deeper issue requiring a more serious and perhaps even ongoing repair. The lesson for me is that I was worried and stressed out about "what could" go wrong instead of living with an issue that would need my attention but was holding. My faith is like this sometimes. Everything goes along and then the "nail" appears and I begin to fret and stew without approaching God for the help, support and calm I need.
Next time I will put air in the tire or call for help. I'll leave the "hours of worry" for something God can't handle........oh, that's right God can handle it all.
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