Luke's Thoughts

One’s humanity is precious

I just got done watching a show that absolutely broke my heart. Yes, it was fictional (thank God), but it was utterly depressing. I’ve only seen three episodes of Black Mirror, a British sci-fi series on Netflix, but boy there’s some seriously heavy stuff in there. I don’t know whether to be entertained, sad, angry or depressed. Do the show’s directors enjoy messing with our heads and making us squirm uncomfortably in our seats? It certainly appears so!

The episode I just watched was called “Fifteen Million Merits.” It’s basically the story of a near future society absolutely SATURATED with media, and a lack of human soul and individuality. It’s definitely a dystopian story. The main character, a young man named Bingham Madsen, spends most of his day in a room covered in TV screens. I liken it to a high-tech version of solitary confinement. Instead of padded walls, there are screens which pump in media infomercials all hours of the day.

Bing’s life is incredibly boring as well. From the time he gets up, to the time he goes to bed, he spends his time trying to earn credits by riding an exercise bike and spending credits on useless things. He’s a human hamster on a never-ending wheel. The world he lives in has no purpose. It has no soul. And what little humanity there is in it, is stifled by the gloomy, monotonous, mundane way of life that he lives with other people who are in the building with him. But Bing doesn’t know any better. Until he meets a pretty girl named Abi who aspires to be a professional singer, and to leave the sterile, soulless world behind for something bigger and better. She touches his heart and snaps him out of the colorless, gloomy world they’re both living in.

Getting to know Abi makes Bing realize that his humanity, compassion and love for her, are far more fulfilling than what he had been doing up until he met her. Bing gives her the millions of credits he has inherited from his deceased brother, so she can pursue her dream of becoming a professional singer, and so she can have a better life for herself outside “high-tech solitary confinement” earning and spending credits on hollow things all day, every day.

Abi enters a singing competition called Hot Shot. She impresses the judges with her singing. It’s her big break. Her ticket to freedom. Her way out. Right? Nope. Dead wrong. After complimenting her performance, the two male judges ask her to strip naked. And the female judge enables their shitty behavior by doing nothing. Hell, she eggs them on. All three objectify Abi. They give her an ultimatum: Toss away her human dignity and lower herself to a sex object in order to be made a singer, or return to being a “slave to technology,” pedaling the bike, earning and spending credits every day for the rest of her life. Folks, that scene was one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve seen in a while. You’d have to see the episode yourself to understand what I mean. The actress who plays her, Jessica Brown Findlay, really tugged at my heart with her acting. I was both genuinely sad for her character Abi and pissed at the scumbag judges. I wanted to help Bing get her out of that situation, and cuff the two male judges upside the head! But alas, it’s only a show.

Abi unfortunately gives in to the pressure of wanting to escape her boring life. But as is the case most of the time in true dystopian novels and movies, there are no happy endings. Sometime later, Bing sees Abi on the screens in his cell. Not as a world-famous singer who is free. But as a porn star forced to do awful things against her will. She loses her soul, her dignity, and her humanity. They break her. Turns out the “freedom” offered by Hot Shot was an illusion after all. There was no freedom at the end of the line.

Seeing Bing’s reaction to Abi being abused hurt my heart. It made me hope that he would break out of his cell to save her, and that the episode would end on a positive note with the two of them happily together. Unfortunately, we never see Abi again. And Bing ends up becoming a podcaster for the other people living in the dystopian society. He resigns himself to living his gloomy, stifling life. The girl who he loves is gone, and so there is no point to his life anymore other than to continue running on the never-ending hamster wheel. He contemplates suicide, but can’t bring himself to do it. So he performs for the masses, like a bird in a cage. Fade to black.

Even though the show was incredibly depressing, I noticed a few interesting and hopeful messages and themes. One was loud and clear: HUMANITY AND INDIVIDUALITY, ALONG WITH LOVE FOR OTHERS, ARE PRECIOUS THINGS, AND SHOULD NEVER BE STIFLED OR SACRIFICED FOR ANYTHING OR ANYONE. Our humanity and individuality add color and uniqueness to the world, and to the lives of those we interact with. Plus it is always better to live the raw, messy, gritty, authentic life that comes with the human condition, than to live in sterile bleakness. Being human is both beautiful and painful. It’s both joyful and depressing. But it is real. As long as we are allowed to live it, we are always FREE!

I got a sort of Anthem meets 1984 Orwellian-type vibe from this show too. Long story short, Anthem by Ayn Rand features a character who nicknames himself Prometheus, who lives in a sterile society, similar to the one Bing and Abi lived in. Human individuality, creativity and personality are seen as crimes, and are stifled. But “Prometheus” eventually rebels against his oppressive life, finds love with a woman he nicknames “Gaia,” and breaks free, taking her with him. They become like another version of Adam and Eve. A new hope for humanity. The society in the Black Mirror episode definitely seemed like the one in Anthem. But the episode ended like the ending of 1984. The main character resigns himself to his fate, there is no happy ending, and the bad guys win.

I usually write upbeat, happy stuff. But I had to blog about this episode of Black Mirror that I saw. It just affected me in such a deep, emotional and profound way, that I had to share what I saw and felt. It reminded me of what is precious in life, as well as what it truly means to be human. Loving others, sacrificing for them, bringing color to the world with our gifts and talents, and living freely. THAT is just the tip of the iceberg of what it means to be human. And if we ever lose our humanity or willingly give it up, we’ve lost ourselves forever.

I did my duty

I went and did it. I voted. I didn’t want to wait until the chaos of Election Day, so I went out and voted early. Mostly to relieve stress about the Election, and to make sure I went out and did my duty as an American. But now that it’s done, now what?

I think I’m going to try my best to stay away from big media and just wait until Tuesday night. Although I seriously doubt the election will be over until Thanksgiving at the earliest. Things will likely drag on for weeks. The amount of last minute funny business from both the Democratic and Republican parties would not surprise me in the least. I’m sure they’re up to no good. We just don’t hear anything about it from their friends at Fox and CNN. After all, they’ve gotta cover the asses of those they’re in cahoots with, don’t they? 😉

But I still felt a duty and necessity to vote. Many don’t vote as a sign of protest or dissatisfaction with the current system. I don’t blame those people and entirely understand how they feel, but I strongly disagree with their thinking. If I don’t vote, I feel like I am slapping George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and others in the face as a sign of disrespect. They, thousands of soldiers, and millions of common American citizens worked, fought, bled and died for my right to vote. It is the least I can do to honor them by exercising it.

From 1775-1783, our Founding Fathers, leaders of the original Patriots, fought against a tyrannical British King and Parliament, to ensure that we had a right to have a say in how our government operated, and who should be installed by us to run the country. We did not always have a say in how to govern ourselves. But we should never forget where one of our most important rights came from, or when it originated.

Before the Revolutionary War was fought and won, the common person in the colonies of Delaware, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, had no say in how they were governed. They had no representative in Parliament in England nearly 3,000 miles away to speak for them.

Unfair taxes and oversteps by King George III, such as the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, the Quartering Act, Townshend Acts, Intolerable Acts, and the Tea Act, were all passed without the consent of the American People in those days. Our ancestors were largely expected to shoulder the burden of much of the cost for the French and Indian War, no questions asked. When they refused, the King attempted to force them to comply.

Things eventually built up to such a fever pitch with events like the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770, the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773, and the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. After that, the rest as they say, is history. In the following years, thousands suffered and died for our freedom. It is because of them that I voted today. And I am sincerely thankful and grateful to all of them for the right to do so.

Fast forward from then to now, in late October 2020, and even though the country is far larger and much different than it was in those days, whether we know it or not, the people from America’s earliest days left us with two important duties: The duty to vote, and the duty to transform America into a country all people can be proud of. It is our duty to use our voice at the ballot box through our vote, and our duty to strive for a country in which all people have a say, all people are fairly represented, and all are heard and helped by our elected public servants.

I am not going to use this blog post to try to influence you all to vote one way or the other. You’ve likely made up your mind by now for reasons known only to you. That’s completely fine, and I totally respect it. But for those of you who are still on the fence this close to Election Day, I urge you to check out Ballotpedia at this link.

Ballotpedia is one of the best resources for finding out who is on the ballot in your area of the country. If you type in your city, state, and zip code, it will generate a sample ballot that shows which issues and candidates are up for election. I would then encourage you to do a little research and weigh each candidate or issue against what your values are. After that, you’re ready. Ballotpedia is great resource! It helped me make a confident, well-informed decision at the polls today, and reduced my stress during one of the most chaotic and uncertain times in American history.

November 3rd is fast approaching, folks. I encourage you to do your duty as an American. And I will also tell you this: No matter which way the election goes, the sun will still rise in the sky, and you will still be okay. While this country does have problems, things are nowhere near as bad as those in big media will have you believe. After all, they’re paid to spin things a certain way that is favorable to their handlers and buddies. Money and power talks 😉

The main thing we need to focus on in today’s screwed up America and world, is treating each other with kindness, decency and respect.

Something tells me it’s what our Founding Fathers would want. God bless you all, and God Bless the United States of America!

What the word Catholic means to me

Hi everybody! It’s been almost three weeks since I last posted. But I hope everyone’s doing well 🙂

I have one rule for myself when I write, and that is, to only write when I am inspired to, or when I have something on my mind that I feel I should share. This is definitely one of those times. But I feel like what I have to share could help you guys. I know I’ve been calmed and helped by thinking about it.

I’ve seen on the news recently that Pope Francis voiced his support for same-sex civil unions. I do not know what everyone’s opinion on the whole thing is. But I know that I do not mind that the Pope supports same-sex civil unions. And that’s for one simple reason that is one of my personal core values: It is not my job to judge, or look down on others for what society says is their perceived “sin.” Why should I love anyone any less for any reason? I wouldn’t want people to love me any less for any of my perceived shortcomings when I know I am an unworthy sinner. After all, we’re ALL sinners in need of Jesus’ saving grace.

Plus, unless something has drastically changed in the last few years, marriage has ended in divorce at around a 50% clip among heterosexual couples. That could be for any number of reasons. Infidelity, incompatibility, etc.

Marriage hasn’t been taken all that seriously by heterosexual couples. So to me that means people should be more focused on improving and maintaining their own marriages instead of worrying about what same-sex couples do in their own private lives. It shouldn’t concern anyone.

I think Pope Francis’ support of the LGBTQ community on this matter also shows me part of what it might truly mean to be Catholic. And that has little to do with religion, dogma or any of the things associated with the Catholic faith as we know them.

The word Catholic comes from a Latin word meaning “universal.” I found that term both hopeful and ironic. Ironic in the sense that my view of the Catholic Church is that it is not inclusive of all people at times, even though it should be. And hopeful in the sense that if we truly love our neighbors as Jesus taught us, the Catholic Church can begin to truly live up to its namesake: As a place where ALL God’s children (i.e. all of humanity) can feel the love Jesus has for them. To me, truly being Catholic is living out the word “universal” and trying my best to be accepting and loving toward everyone (even though I obviously routinely fail, as do we all).

Plus, reading Scripture is indeed important, and gaining wisdom from it is important. But I sort of view the uproar over the Pope’s support of same-sex civil unions, and using the verse in Deuteronomy as justification against the LGBTQ community in a variety of ways, to be similar to how Pharisees in Jesus’ time viewed their law versus the true application of it. Let me explain:

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day seemed far more concerned with keeping up appearances as holy and righteous, while not truly being holy and righteous. They looked at the sins of others, and frowned upon them. While not looking at their own sins, and realizing they were just as much, if not more screwed up than the prostitute, tax collector, or drunk they refused to associate with. They failed to keep the deeper, true meaning of their law, which was this: Love God and neighbor. No exceptions. Jesus never looked down on any of the people He spent time with. He loved them so deeply, even while recognizing they were unworthy sinners He came to save.

In a similar way, opponents of the Pope’s stance, at least the ones I have seen on Facebook, seem angry over it because it’s a perceived transgression upon something they view as sacred. While not realizing that the true thing that should be held sacred, is that it’s our job to try our best to love all people without exception. Jesus instituted that command for all of humanity for all time, at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. And I do not agree with those in the Christian community who think opposing the LGBTQ community is loving people.

I will admit it, I used to live by the Christian-sounding saying, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” Sounds good enough, right? I used to think so. Until I read an article unpacking the saying and proving that it wasn’t a Christian way of looking at things at all.

When we live by “Love the sinner, hate the sin,” we do a couple things wrong. First, when we hate the sin or shortcoming of another person, we either consciously or unconsciously start identifying them with what we perceive to be the main sin in our eyes, rather than loving them for the person that they are. Like I’m sure you’ve judged someone as the town gossiper, or someone who eats too much, someone who doesn’t manage their money right, etc. I’m certainly guilty of the same thing. While we should always strive to be the best that we can be in many ways, when we judge someone for the reason or reasons they aren’t perfect, we don’t really practice loving them as Jesus wants us to do. When our judgmental, human side comes out, we can’t be the people Jesus calls us to be.

The second thing we do wrong when we live by “Love the sinner, hate the sin” is more obvious: It isn’t our job to hate someone’s sin. Nope. It isn’t our job to rail against someone’s wrongdoing or shortcoming, especially when we have a TON of our own shortcomings to worry about and try to improve on. There’s only one being anywhere who has the job of judging sin along with the authority to do so, and He’s the one who created all of us 😉

Only God can judge sin. Plus it makes no sense for us to point at and shame others for their sins. That would be like pointing and laughing at someone for being filthy dirty…while we ourselves are also filthy dirty. I obviously do not know the mind of God, but I do know He sees sin differently than we do. From what I know, I do know these things: God is perfect. We are not. And we cannot enter Heaven as we are because we are not perfect. But if we truly claim Jesus’ death on the Cross, try our best to live according to His word, and try to emulate the compassion He showed others while on Earth, we will enter Heaven thanks to His grace.

But while we are here, it is our job to love our neighbor without exception with the spirit that Jesus had while He was physically here on Earth. He loved the downtrodden, the poor, the outcasts of society, the disabled, the prisoners, the physically and emotionally persecuted, and every kind of sinner imaginable. While exposing, shaming and embarrassing those who thought they knew God best. Perhaps if we all lived this way, instead of clinging to dogma, all of humanity could live out the true meaning of the word “Catholic” and be the united body of Jesus on Earth.

God bless and take care everybody! 🙂

Remembering Eddie

I still can’t believe it. And it breaks my heart into a million pieces to write this. But rock legend Eddie Van Halen died yesterday from cancer. He was 65 years old. Why must 2020 take legends from us? Kobe Bryant died at the beginning of the year, and now Eddie near the end of it. I really don’t know how much more of this I can take…

But while I mourn his death with the rest of the world, I also want to remember him as he was to me: An insanely cool, happy piece of my childhood introduced to me by my father. I can’t remember the exact moment I was introduced to Eddie’s musical genius by my dad. But that’s only because he’s been such a part of my life when it comes to music, having fun and happy memories, that I have never known life without him in it. I guess I was spoiled for almost 30 years huh?

When I think of Eddie, so many things come to mind, such as his frenetic pace on the guitar, always smiling and having fun performing, being able to recognize his unique sound instantly as a fan, and frequently thinking, “How in the hell did he do THAT?!” when it came to many of his virtuosic solos. God blesses many people in spades when it comes to talent or gifts. Not Eddie Van Halen. God blessed that man with a sheer TIDAL WAVE of talent! We were all just speechless, awestruck fans left in the wake of a Category 5 heavy metal hurricane! Take a listen to one of my favorite solos of his:

I apologize for all the shattered windows, noise violations, and melted faces that caused 😉

All jokes aside though, Eddie was (and always is) absolutely AWESOME! I firmly believe God sends musicians like Eddie Van Halen, Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston, Elvis, and others to not only entertain us, but to also reach a deeper part of our hearts and souls with their music or dancing. Something that cannot be entirely put into words, and can only be truly felt with the soul, at the core of our humanity. I don’t know what that “thing” is. But I do know Eddie reached it with his music and touched millions (if not billions) of people!

I also remember and celebrate Eddie because he showed me what REAL music is. It’s not the autotuned, edited, sanitized, same-y stuff today’s kids listen to. Eddie’s music and his legacy that we all get to enjoy, are the fruits of a truly hardworking musician’s labor. So many great songs and solos came from him just sitting down, and practicing, tinkering, writing, and working for hours on end! Sure, when he got huge he eventually had record producers, agents and all the stuff that comes with being a worldwide rock star. But before that, he would just constantly work, practice and perfect his craft. And I think that’s where the core of his brilliance came from, no matter what stage of his career he was in. There doesn’t seem to be many musicians like that in today’s world. And if they’re out there, they’re not getting the exposure they deserve.

I’m trying to keep this post mostly positive and celebrate Eddie’s life. But it still stings to know that not only is Eddie gone, but so is Van Halen as we know it. The chances of the band ever even being Van Halen again went with him. I’ll never get to see them on tour like I wanted, and they will never sound the same, even if for some reason Dave, Alex and Wolfie decided to keep going with a different guitar player. Van Halen just isn’t Van Halen without Eddie. Ever.

Van Halen: 1972-2020. That was one hell of a run! Nearly 50 years of kickass music! But it’s still incredibly sad to me, because it feels like part of me died inside. Part of my childhood died. This loss truly hurts my heart. 😦

I know I’m about to use an overused cliche, but I feel it’s definitely true in this case: You don’t know what you have until it’s gone. But I definitely feel that void today, and will for a while until it’s fully sunk in that Eddie is gone. God always seems to take the best ones from us, the ones who have such a profound impact on so many people, FAR too soon. Eddie was one of them for sure. The world is darker, and certainly a lot quieter and less fun without him in it.

I have been praying for Eddie’s soul, and for God to bring comfort, strength and peace to his family and friends. Hopefully somewhere upstairs, he’s getting ready to play a golden guitar, and shake Heaven with an otherworldly solo that’s like nothing our human ears have ever heard!

Rest in Peace, Eddie. You are loved by the entire world, and your legacy is untouchable and will be preserved and enjoyed by many for generations to come!

Thoughts on the First Presidential Debate

Just when you think things can’t get worse or any more ridiculous, they always do. I’m normally a positive, happy man with life in general. But even I can’t put a positive spin on the travesty that was the first Presidential debate last night. It didn’t show me anything new, offer any new insights into which way I should vote and why, and neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden seemed interested in truly stepping up, and being the President that America SORELY, SORELY needs.

Last night’s debate (I use that term extremely loosely) did show me a lot of negative things that need fixed with this country. Particularly the lack of civilized conversation and treating people with opposing views with respect. Trump and Biden kept constantly talking over one another, instead of exchanging ideas and countering with facts like in an actual debate or civilized discussion. And neither could refer to the points they wanted to make in the open discussion without being interrupted by the other, even though Trump was far worse at interrupting. Simply put, they didn’t behave like gentlemen, and it often felt like their sparring match was an ugly “Facebook war” played out in person.

You know what I’m talking about. Surely you’ve had an idiot troll you on Facebook before. Even if you make a good point or come with your guns loaded on a solid argument, they hurl insults at you because they know you’re right, or because to them, conceding anything is a sign of weakness. And if you keep pushing, some of them will sound as if they are yelling at you across cyberspace. That was the debate in a nutshell.

Both men conceded nothing, taught us nothing of any lasting value, and showed any sane, clear-thinking American that they both are incapable of leading this country. Biden didn’t admit to any point Trump made because he’s scared of losing his voter base. Trump was the same way when Biden brought up any points, AND he’s that insecure about his manhood that he has to hurl insults and attack, rather than logically defend any argument he has.

Yeah. I went there. I see Trump as less of a man. If you have to constantly hurl insults, deflect and project your weaknesses on your opponent, I question the thickness of your skin and the quality of your character. I may be a broke-ass average joe living in an apartment, but at least I have the self-confidence to treat people with respect, I don’t assume the world is out to get me, and I don’t care what most people think, so I let things roll off my back for the most part. I only attack when I know for sure someone is being a jerk to somebody else, or starting in on me or my loved ones. Then I get nasty. I am completely secure in who I am. I’m not overcompensating or covering for anything. That’s part of what makes a man and adult in my book. That’s where I think Trump’s parents screwed up when they were raising him. Something happened in his childhood where he only learned to attack any perceived threat and nothing else. But I’ll let the shrinks diagnose him and figure that one out. I would not want to be inside his head.

I also think the debate showed us that those at the top think it is okay to treat each other poorly in general. Yes, we have the responsibility to treat others well in our own lives, be they loved one, friend, stranger or even enemy. But when our elected leaders are behaving like Biden and Trump were last night, what is that teaching us? Even though they are our civil servants and we are their bosses, how those in Washington treat each other not only reflects the state of our country, but it sends a message to all 328 million of us on how we should treat our neighbors. And the message has been downright shit for at least over a decade. When was the last time we treated those different from us with respect, and dare I say love and care? Probably September 12, 2001, the day after the greatest American tragedy in my lifetime.

President George W. Bush and our other leaders at the time were focused on helping us heal from a national tragedy. It didn’t matter whether they were Democrat or Republican, they grieved with and for those in New York City, DC, and Pennsylvania. And we grieved right along with them. They weren’t looking to politicize someone’s death to further their agenda or demonize those different from them, as is often the case now. They wanted to let us know where we could donate or how we could help in person if we were in the area. They simply loved and cared about their fellow human being. Where is that same love in our society today? I don’t see it very often, and Trump and Biden squaring off showed us that we have a LONG way to go before we’re back there again. If we were where we need to be as a country, neither of these goons would be anywhere remotely close to the highest office in the land! We wouldn’t put up with them! Do we really need another national tragedy before we relearn the severely painful lesson in empathy that was taught to us by 9/11?!

The reactions to the debate also showed me that people aren’t willing to hold Trump or Biden accountable either when both of them lie, or when they sidestep important questions or issues with prospective voters. The supporters of either side will merely overlook any flaw, dig in, and vote for their candidate because the other is evil personified. I ask these questions to all those people, and I ain’t gonna sugarcoat ’em: What the hell happened to your decency and principle? Where is it? Was it ever there in the first place? What happened to voting for a President or other official for the right reasons? Our once proud republic is hurting right now, and those people aren’t helping to heal it. Shame on them.

I end this post with something said by Ben Shapiro that I think we all can agree with: I’m not sure who won the debate. But I know we all lost.

T-Minus 40 Days

Are we really that close to the biggest election in United States history? Yep. I’ve stayed quiet, and away from political stuff most of the time up until this last week. But with the impending nomination of a new Supreme Court justice following the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the looming Presidential election, I’m forced to pay attention to a lot coming down the pipe before November 3rd, and it stresses me out. I don’t know what to think or how to process all this chaos. Between each big media network demonizing whichever party they hate, the petty, childish fighting over the upcoming Supreme Court nomination, absolute venom on public Facebook threads, and tension so thick you could cut it with a knife, this whole thing is coming to a head soon.

It boggles my mind how clear the struggle for power is to my own two eyes, but not to millions of other people. To me, Ruth Bader Ginsburg passing away just exposed the power struggle, and put it in plain sight for all to see. All they have to do is look. The problem? Many people seem to be willfully looking the other way. Even though the Constitution dictates that vacant Supreme Court seats need filled, the Republican party seems to be rushing to fill the vacancy ahead of the election so they can get a Conservative justice. The Democrats, on the other hand, are going to try to do everything they can to stall it until after the election. They’re banking on taking all three elections, and having Biden install a Liberal-leaning justice if he becomes President.

Both parties seem to be trying desperately for an all-red or all-blue government with the impending House and Senate elections as well. They’re trying to buck the naturally gridlocked system installed by our Founding Fathers. The system was built to stop power grabs like the one unfolding before our very eyes. Both parties are reaching for all the power they can get, while they tell you what they do is for your own good. Don’t kid yourself, folks. You’re being lied to. It’s alarming!

Where do I stand?

I’ve been trying to figure out my answer to that question ever since it was made official that Trump and Biden were the two choices to pick from. On one hand, we have a loose cannon, narcissistic asshole who can’t shut up on Twitter for five seconds, and who threatens to use Presidential authority that he may or may not have, to try to get rid of things he doesn’t like or agree with. On the flipside of the same coin, there’s a geriatric who I don’t trust to run the country without being controlled by his party like a puppet. Biden should be at home with his wife, children, and grandchildren happily living out the remainder of his days. Not one step away from running the country! I’m still absolutely incredulous as to how we got here. Even though I still believe there are good people who are Senators and Representatives in DC, minus Tulsi Gabbard, none of them seemed to want to run for the right reason. None of them seemed genuine to me other than her.

So which way do I vote? Do I go with the masses, hold my nose and vote for Trump or Biden because they’re touted as the “lesser of two evils”? Or do I do what I did four years ago, and vote third party again as a proverbial middle finger to all this junk? As of this article, I’m leaning third party. Partly because I think both Trump and Biden are extraordinarily unfit for, and unworthy of the Oval Office. But I also am feeling secure in voting third party because I believe in being a free thinker. If I can help it, I do not want to vote out of fear. Allowing yourself to be scared is the first step toward allowing the powers that be, to pull the wool over your eyes. Then, once you vote whichever way they tell you to vote, they’ve gotcha. You just did their bidding. You didn’t think for yourself, and you’re none the wiser. Simple as that.

A third party vote, when cast for the reason I might cast it, is a statement. It is a statement that people are angry, dissatisfied with a lack of good candidates, and that they wish to have a new system in place where they don’t feel forced to choose between a flaming dumpster, and a shit sandwich. A third party vote is also a statement that people believe that there are thousands or millions of others out there who are just as fed up with the state of the country as they are. Only difference between a voter who is fed up, and a third party voter? The third party voter has the courage to act on their frustration by not buying into the two-party lie, no matter what their friends or family tell them.

Big media networks as well as everyday people, have fooled so many into believing the lie that a third party vote cannot make a difference. So they don’t even consider a third party vote. Even though millions of people voting third party would certainly shake this country up! Apart from a civil war (an absolute last resort), a third party shakeup at the ballot box from millions of fed up people is probably the only way this country’s government can be changed for the better. Or so I thought.

Ranked Choice Voting

I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of something called Ranked Choice Voting before today, when one of my college friends told me what it is. On paper, it sounds fair. I really like it! Basically, everybody would rank ALL the candidates running for President (hint: more than two), and if a candidate didn’t get 50% or more of the votes after the first round of voting, the candidate with the smallest amount of votes is eliminated. Then, people vote on the remaining candidates, and repeat the process until there is a clear winner. I like Ranked Choice voting in principle for three reasons:

All candidates and their platforms get maximum exposure. The two-party stranglehold on exposure would be eliminated, and the corrupt system would be greatly weakened or eliminated.
People wouldn’t be forced to choose somebody they don’t like to stop somebody they hate. They would actually have to weigh the options and do some critical thinking instead of giving in to the “us vs. them” mob mentality that is killing this country.
An actual majority from the people would be required for the candidate to become President, which might help decrease the bitter and nasty fighting between people. Sure, it’s impossible to make everyone happy. Some will always complain. But if the winning candidate is one most people like, there might not be as much fighting and divisiveness.

However, I do see two cons to the system:

This sounds like a popularity contest, just in a different format. There’s no way of knowing that the winning candidate won the Presidency based on their policies and character.
Is there any way to be certain that someone’s vote in Delaware or Connecticut holds the same weight as someone’s in California or Texas? I don’t know how that would work.

Here’s a video explaining how things work with Ranked Choice Voting. Hopefully I didn’t miss anything. I found it really interesting!

Where do we go from here?

I’m just trying to hang in there, folks. But this stuff has REALLY been wearing on me today for some reason. I guess all I can say is this: Work for peace in your own lives by trying your best to treat others with respect, no matter what they believe. And when Election Day finally gets here, VOTE BASED ON YOUR VALUES. Let me say it again: VOTE BASED ON YOUR VALUES! DO NOT VOTE OUT OF FEAR.

If you find that you identify as a Democrat or Republican, go ahead and vote that way. But if you find that you identify more with the Libertarians, Green Party, Constitutionalists, or any other of the many choices out there, vote for them! I voted for Constitutionalist Darrell Castle in 2016 and was completely comfortable and confident in my choice. I identified with most of his positions, respect that he was a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, and thought that it was really cool that he and his wife help and take care of homeless children whenever they can.

I voted for Darrell Castle in 2016 because he is a man of integrity in many ways. The same absolutely cannot be said for Donald Trump or Joe Biden, yet here we are. We once had truly great people like George Washington, John Adams, and Abraham Lincoln leading this great nation. They all had character and loved this country dearly. Don’t you think it’s time we get back to that?

A Wonderful Opportunity!

I have been richly blessed throughout my life. I’ve gotten to do many wonderful things, and meet many colorful people. But I’ve just started doing something close to my roots that’s been an absolute blast!

Last Thursday, I got a call over Facebook Messenger. Derek Stock, one of the assistant coaches for the Carey High School football team and an old high school friend of mine, called me and asked if I wanted to help call the Carey vs. Bucyrus football game over an internet livestream. I couldn’t believe it. I was so excited I agreed to it, even before I was sure I had a ride to the stadium!

But after agreeing to it, one thought ran through my mind: Wait a minute. I’ve NEVER been in a position like this before. I’ve never done any kind of broadcasting before. What if I suck? Should I have really said yes to that?

But those negative thoughts didn’t last long. Particularly when Coach Stock told me I was one of the few people he knew who was that passionate for Carey football. My sister Christy kind of tuned me up too.

When Carey head coach Jon Mershman, Derek Stock, and the rest of the coaching staff were discussing who they wanted in the booth with Eric Mullholand, the play-by-play guy, who was also my junior high History teacher, my name came up for two reasons: I’ve always loved and been extremely passionate about Blue Devil Football, and I’ve had some experience working in a studio environment. I’m still extremely honored and touched to know that they thought that highly of me!

I have the NASTY habit of being my own worst critic and selling myself short though. Cue the pep talk from Christy. She was nice to me, but she was like, “You may not have been in front of a microphone before, but you worked around audio equipment for four years in college. You know how to be professional. You’ve had a lot of experience in that environment, and probably have more experience than most of the people there. You always sell yourself short! Don’t do that!” She’s great, and I am truly grateful she’s my sister. Sometimes our siblings need to give us a come to Jesus talk and a kick in the pants, don’t they? Glad she did!

I listened to her, buried my fear as best as I could, and did my absolute best in preparing by researching teams and studying rosters and newspapers. And I can now say that taking that chance to do something new and different has brought me SO much new joy! It’s also allowed me to return to my roots a little. I was a 2010 Carey High School graduate, as well as a student manager for the football team from 2007-2009. It may have been 10 years since I graduated. But somewhere in there not far from the surface, that same passion, fire, energy, and love for Carey Blue Devil Football is alive and well! That fire burns bright. Always! I was nicknamed “Animal” by a few close friends for always getting wound up, trying my best to fire up the team, and always giving 100 percent in serving my teammates. Animal came out of retirement last Friday night to help out his friends and the community!

Once a Blue Devil, Always a Blue Devil!

Carey Football has always had a very special place in my heart ever since the first time I stepped on the practice field as a high school kid 13 years ago on August 6th, 2007. It was HOT, humid, and a really long day since the team was smack dab in the middle of two a day practices. But I did not care in the least. The head coach at the time, Todd Worst, asked me if I wanted to be the student manager since I could not play football due to my Cerebral Palsy. As if I’d say no to that!

Saying yes to being a student manager was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. Period. I got involved in the everyday tasks of filling water and Gatorade containers, helping lay down drill cones and setting out tackling dummies. My main goal was to do the small things everyone on the coaching staff used to do, so they could focus entirely on teaching the game to my teammates, and whipping them into shape so they were the best team they could possibly be on Friday nights!

But being a student manager gave me so much more as well. It gave me a sense of belonging, like I had a purpose, in serving and firing up my teammates. Plus being a student manager allowed me to be squarely in the middle of the action! Whether that was at practice, Thursday night “feed the team” nights where I got to sit down with the rest of the guys and eat great food prepared for us by parents and volunteers, or Friday nights under the lights! Even though being in front of our home crowd at C.D. Wentling Field was awesome, I always enjoyed road games too. There was something cool about those bus trips to other stadiums. I think it was exciting to me because I knew that we were going into hostile environments. This meant that I had to be extra loud, energetic, and at the top of my game if and when the team needed anything, such as equipment, water, Gatorade, or that extra emotional oomph for when they needed to dig deep to win.

Plus I always made sure the players on the sidelines were fired up and supporting their teammates. Football is an emotional game! And the players feed on whatever emotion they’re receiving from fans and their teammates. So if that meant I had to work myself into a frenzy to the point where the vein in my neck was popping out, my voice was hoarse from screaming, and I was sweating, so be it. Besides, if I didn’t give a damn about the game, why would my teammates?! I tried my best to be a great motivator for the guys!

I was very fortunate to be a part of three straight playoff teams. In 2007, we went 8-3, earning Carey’s first playoff berth in four seasons, and in 2008 and 2009, we had a pair of 10-2 seasons, which are among the best in school history. But I know why we had such good teams. Sure, we had big, talented guys who executed the game plan exceptionally well. But I think more importantly, we had a team of 60+ guys who trusted each other, worked together as a unit, and who trusted the men next to them to do their job. We got along really well the vast majority of the time and had plenty of fun! But for the times some guys weren’t getting along, we could still dial in and do really well. When the time came to play a game, we put any differences we had aside, and worked our asses off to get a W in whatever way we could. And most of the time, we did!

I still miss those days, even if they were over a decade ago. But now getting the opportunity to serve as the color man for Carey Football livestreams allows me to channel that same passion, share my football knowledge, and fire up and excite the fans like I used to do with my teammates! Even though I’ve only done two games behind the mic so far, it’s been unbelievably fun! I hope I can do many more broadcasts as a volunteer in the future. Above all though, I’m just gonna have fun and enjoy the ride. The booth overlooking the stadium is my new favorite place to be. It’s Animal’s new home!

Remembering Grandpa Don

It’s been 17 years to the day since he left this earth behind. But I always miss him. My Grandpa Donald Wickiser was quite the character! The things I remember most about him, are his bluntly honest nature, never knowing a stranger because he was really outgoing, and his fierce love and protective instinct for those he loved the most.

He passed away on this day in 2003, but I often wonder what he’d think of the current society we’re living in, and how people treat each other. He was born in 1934, so he was definitely old school. He came from a generation where a man was only as good as his word, where he was expected to be strong, and where there wasn’t any filter on what many people said. There also wasn’t any thought of creating a carefully polished self image, and then broadcasting it to the world like we have now with social media. Grandpa was who he was. What you saw was what you got.

Most of the time people loved what they saw and got with Grandpa. He had so many friends! From the people he knew as a farmer, to his coworkers and the kids he drove to school when he was a bus driver for the Carey School District, to the neighbors who lived next to him and my Grandma Bernie, many people loved “Dynie” as he was affectionately called.

I know everyone who knew Grandpa has their own memories of him, but I remember a few that still make me chuckle to this day. He never turned down good food, for starters. He would eat just about anything! And he always loved to drink Diet Coke. I chuckle how he used to think it was healthy, haha. But I still find myself misting up whenever I see Diet Coke, and I’ve definitely drunk a few in his honor. I also remember spending a LOT of time with him and Grandma Bernie as a little boy…although I remember having to sleep downstairs a few times because he snored so loudly! And even when I was downstairs it was hard getting to sleep. His snore sounded like a diesel engine!

But I have sentimental memories and stories too. When I was very little, he would hoist me up into the cab of the old John Deere 4430, or the red and white 1086 International tractor, or sometimes the combine, and he would take me out into the fields with him when he was working ground, planting crops or harvesting crops. It was peaceful out there. I know he was working very hard as a farmer. But as a little boy who couldn’t have been more than five or six years old, that time with him meant everything to me. I was his little “farming buddy.”

I remember how often he worried about me too. I think he worried about me a lot because of my Cerebral Palsy. I don’t know if he ever fully understood what the condition was, but he knew I was somehow different from the other kids, even though he loved me with all his heart like any good grandpa would! He probably thought that I was more frail due to my condition, which I completely understand. He was a worry wart at times, but I know that his heart was always in the right place and he always meant well.

I often struggle to reconcile that side of Grandpa with who he normally was around everybody else. Here’s this decent sized guy who I always saw as incredibly tough, and someone nobody messed with. He was either their loyal, caring friend or their worst nightmare! Who he was to somebody depended entirely upon how they treated him. But when it came to family, I remember him worrying and working himself up so much at times that he’d cry. It just goes to show that even the biggest badasses have soft hearts for those they love the most!

I still remember a dream that I had shortly before Christmas 2013. It’ll be one of those that I remember until my dying day. I remember visiting Grandma and Grandpa’s house in the dream, but for some reason only Grandpa was there. And I was sitting across from him as he was sitting in a blue folding chair. He didn’t say anything to me, but simply smiled and opened his arms as if to say he wanted me to give him a hug. So I walked over to him, and squeezed him tight. Folks, it was one of those dreams that was so vivid, that I could literally feel him hugging me, and smell the Old Spice he always used to put on. But as I hugged him, I woke up in my dorm room at Kent State. I try to be a tough guy most of the time, but there have been very few times in my life where I’ve cried that hard. I woke up from my dream and cried like a baby!

But it was as if he was trying to say, “Hey Luke Duke! I’m doing fine upstairs, but I figured I’d just check on you to see how you’re doing. I’m always here for you. Love you!” I know not everyone believes in this kind of thing, but I truly believe dreams that vivid and comforting are messages from departed loved ones who are in Heaven. I absolutely believe that wholeheartedly. I wasn’t missing him terribly or hysterical when I had the dream. He just showed up seemingly out of nowhere. If that’s not a message from Heaven, nothing is. I haven’t seen him in a dream since. But it would be nice if he showed up again at some point.

But even though he’s physically gone, I recognize him in a lot of my own mannerisms and traits. I’m incredibly outgoing and love meeting new people, and talking with them a lot. I often say what I think, with a few choice words here and there. Sometimes that’s gotten me in trouble. But most of the time, I think people admire that quality about me. I like and try to befriend the vast majority of people I come across. But if I REALLY don’t like somebody, which is rare, I let them know it! I have the temperament of anywhere between a puppy dog or wolverine depending on how people treat me. And I fiercely love those who are closest to me with everything I have!

All of those qualities are given to me by God. But I think he made sure Grandpa Don lived on through them as well. If I ever have a son, I have sometimes considered giving him the middle name Donald or Don to honor Grandpa. But until then and always, I will remember who he was: An old school man who said what he meant and meant what he said. Someone who gave everything to those who were good to him. And someone who loved God and his family with every fiber of his being.

I know there’s no perfect example to follow on how to live one’s life other than Jesus. But for the most part, Grandpa Don certainly lived a life worth emulating. I’m just glad I had the honor of being that great man’s grandson! 🙂

F1 Race #8: Italian GP

I’ve missed the last couple races on the Formula One calendar. But boy did I pick an interesting time to tune back in! The 2020 Italian Grand Prix was an exciting, chaotic race! This year’s Italian Grand Prix had EVERYTHING a fan could want in a race! An iconic leadership team managed their last race, F1’s most successful team struggled mightily, and one of the youngest podiums in the sport’s history was topped by a first-time winner! Check out a driver’s seat view of the race here!

End of an era at Williams Racing

Even though I am a new Formula One fan, having only followed the sport closely since March, the Williams F1 team has definitely grown on me. Founded in 1977 by Sir Frank Williams, his team has been a mainstay of the sport since then, winning a total of 16 combined Championships in their history (nine Constructor’s and seven Driver’s Championships). Unfortunately, they haven’t been close to competing for a Championship of any kind since 1997, when they won a double Championship, winning both the Driver’s and Constructor’s title.

While Frank Williams and his daughter Claire are greatly respected by many F1 fans, as well as in the F1 community as a whole, many people have called for a change in leadership at the top. After Sunday’s race that became a reality, with both Frank and Claire stepping down from their respective roles as Team Owner/Principal, and Deputy Principal, respectively.

The Williams team was recently bought by Dorilton Capital, an American investment firm. While this signals new leadership at Williams, the team will still retain the Williams name, history, and will stay at their home base in Oxfordshire, England.

While they have struggled to return to relevance, I can’t help but root for Williams to go back to the top. I love underdogs. I also love the story of how the Williams team was founded. Frank Williams is a pioneer of the sport. Here is this tough, blue collar English guy who loved to race hard and go fast in his younger days, and he put together his own team and challenged the bigger car manufacturers like Ferrari and McLaren. He beat them fairly regularly once he got rolling too! It took balls, stubbornness and belief in himself and what he wanted to do, in order to be a success. You can check all this out in a documentary called Williams, which is on Netflix. I highly recommend it if you like inspiring sports movies/documentaries!

I wish Frank and Claire Williams nothing but the absolute best in whatever they choose to pursue next. And I will be rooting for their team to one day return to where they belong, at the top and fighting for and winning Championships. I see a parallel between the Williams team, and my own beloved Cleveland Browns football team: A once proud team that used to win a lot and set the standard for others has been down on its luck for a long time. But all it takes is the right leadership, and there will be a glorious turnaround that will be worth the wait for all the hardcore, passionate fans. It will happen. Guaranteed. It’s a when. Not an if 😉

Limping Pony: Part II

Boy, things just keep getting worse for Ferrari. Nothing seems to be going right for the team or its drivers, four-time Champion Sebastian Vettel and young hotshot Charles Leclerc. The two men struggled mightily in qualifying, with Leclerc starting 13th on the grid, and Vettel qualified 17th. Unfortunately when it rains, it pours. Sebastian Vettel was forced to retire his car only seven laps into the race due to brake failure. Charles Leclerc had a rough day as well, losing control of his car and crashing into the tire wall on lap 25. Luckily he walked away from the accident unscathed! Neither driver finished the race for Ferrari in front of their home crowd, and at their home racetrack in Monza, Italy. I would be making an extreme understatement if I said Ferrari had a bad race!

I can’t begin to imagine how frustrated and pissed Ferrari fans are right now. After reading up on and studying some of Ferrari’s team history, I can see why Ferrari fans, or as they call themselves, “the Tifosi,” are so passionate. Their team was founded and built by an incredibly passionate and competitive man in Enzo Ferrari. He went into every competition and race expecting to win. Whether that was as a driver in his younger days, or as a team owner and businessman before his death in 1988. He would not tolerate losing. It’s that stubbornness, refusal to be second best to anyone, and willingness to grow from a loss that made not only Enzo Ferrari a success, but that also made Scuderia Ferrari F1’s most successful team. This attitude has defined Ferrari’s fanbase as well, which I completely understand. They should absolutely expect their team to be a winner!

While I will be keeping a watchful eye on the rest of the season, something tells me it’s going to take a massive change somewhere inside the team structure of Ferrari before the team regains the winning form it is known for. Either Team Principal Mattia Binotto probably has to go, or a new Head Engineer needs to be hired. Until then, Ferrari will continue to struggle. Enzo Ferrari is probably rolling in his grave.

Party time for Pierre!

Over most of the 2020 season, I have gotten used to seeing three drivers at the front: Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas for Mercedes, and Max Verstappen for Red Bull. While I understand these three men and their teams are currently the best F1 has to offer, it gets a little old seeing the same driver or drivers qualify high, get the pole, or win the race.

So it was definitely a breath of fresh air seeing Pierre Gasly, a young French driver for AlphaTauri, a smaller Italian team, cross the finish line for his first Grand Prix win! Several things had to go right for him to take the checkered flag, though.

**Pierre Gasly, 2020 Italian Grand Prix winner**

A rare mistake by Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc’s crash paved the way for Pierre Gasly to win, and for Carlos Sainz, and Lance Stroll to join him on the podium. First, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen spun out near pit road. This caused a safety car to come out, and for the the pits to be closed briefly while Magnussen’s car was moved off the track.

Lewis Hamilton didn’t realize that the pit lane was closed, and took a pit stop. This later resulted in him getting a 10-second stop and go penalty. This meant that Lewis had to take the penalty after the race resumed following Charles Leclerc’s crash into the wall. Being forced to wait 10 seconds in his pit box caused Lewis Hamilton to lose far more than just 10 seconds. All in all, Hamilton lost around 30 seconds of race time. This pushed him far down the field, and gave Pierre Gasly the chance to charge from 4th to 1st on the restart.

The finish was really exciting! It was definitely a white-knuckle race down to the wire! Carlos Sainz Jr., a young driver for McLaren, was pushing Pierre Gasly HARD the final few laps. However Pierre Gasly crossed the finish line first, four-tenths of a second ahead of Sainz. That was the closest race finish I’ve seen since becoming an F1 fan. This should be what the sport is all about: Close, exciting finishes, and different winners every once in a while.

I’m happy for Pierre Gasly. The 24 year-old driver from France has been through a LOT over the past year. He was cut from Red Bull in the middle of the 2019 season, and lost his good friend and fellow French driver Anthoine Hubert, who died in an accident at 22 years old in August 2019. Yesterday’s Italian Grand Prix was definitely an emotional win for Pierre Gasly, and he deserves to enjoy every bit of it! I always love seeing sports stories where people overcome personal tragedies with big triumphs!

It was cool seeing a trio of young guns each take spots on the podium! Pierre Gasly is 24 years old, Carlos Sainz is 26 years old, and Lance Stroll is 21 years old. Sainz and Stroll also stayed around and congratulated and talked to Gasly after the race, which made me smile. Good sportsmanship never goes out of style!

Next up? The action is staying in Italy, as the Tuscan Grand Prix is set to take place on September 13th. Hopefully there’s another unpredictable, exciting race. Although it will certainly be tough to top this year’s Italian Grand Prix!

2020 Italian Grand Prix Results

Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
Carlos Sainz (McLaren)
Lance Stroll (Racing Point)
Lando Norris (McLaren)
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
Daniel Ricciardo (Renault)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Esteban Ocon (Renault)
Daniil Kvyat (AlphaTauri)
Sergio Perez (Racing Point)
Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo)
George Russell (Williams)
Alex Albon (Red Bull)
Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull, DNF)
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari, DNF)
Kevin Magnussen (Haas, DNF)
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari, DNF)

World Driver’s Championship Top 5

Lewis Hamilton (164 Points)
Valtteri Bottas (117 Points)
Max Verstappen (110 Points)
Lance Stroll (57 Points)
Lando Norris (57 Points)

World Constructor’s Championship Standings

Mercedes (281 Points)
Red Bull (158 Points)
McLaren (98 Points)
Racing Point (82 Points)
Renault (71 Points)
Ferrari (61 Points)
AlphaTauri (47 Points)
Alfa Romeo (2 Points)
Haas (1 Point)
Williams (0)

He Always Provides

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost six months. Six months since the Coronavirus changed our way of life here in the United States forever. I don’t like this other version of “normal.” It has SEVERELY tested my patience and faith, and sometimes broken both of them. At my best, I consider myself a really patient man. Patient, loving and understanding with friends and family. It makes me sad that I struggle to have the same patience with God.

But I may have gotten a shot in the arm this morning. I spend WAY, WAY too much time on Facebook. So I made the conscious effort last night to cut back or avoid Facebook altogether today. And I filled that morning time I unfortunately habitually use for checking Facebook with a little bit of Scripture and a devotional reading. In both instances, the message was clear: God provides for you, or will provide for you. Please be patient with Him. In the devotional, the author talks about how God gives us work to do, but that it is ultimately accomplished by God, and that we are sustained by Him through our faith.

I picture God in a certain way when I think of this kind of situation. Yes, we work hard or do what we think will move us forward through life. But I imagine God up there in Heaven being like, “Okay. I know they are intelligent, hardworking people. But I’m about to throw them a curveball to test them. Let’s see if they get the message.” And God chuckles to Himself. Not in a mean way toward us, but like a parent trying to teach their child something in a loving way that can’t be taught by showing us directly. He’s quiet and He watches us without saying anything. We bang our head against the wall in life, over and over again. Until we FINALLY realize that it is not our own effort that will get us out of the dead end, but rather that He will.

I feel like I’ve been banging my head against the wall a lot recently. And that either God or my guardian angels are either chuckling to themselves, or they have their head in their hands. I imagine they’ve probably been this way with me many, many times 😉

He finally tossed me a bone when I read the first part of John 6. I have always seen the story of the five loaves and two fish as God saying, “I have provided here. And I will provide for you everywhere else.” Jesus provided food for 5,000 people. He provided for them in a seemingly impossible situation. His disciple Philip thought like we did when he said, “We only have five loaves and two fish. What good are these for so many?” He didn’t see a way out of a seemingly impossible predicament.

Yet Jesus showed that He was, and still is the ultimate provider, and that we need to look to Him to provide, always. Life has a lot of difficult situations that we might see as impossible or never ending. I know the Coronavirus sure seems like one of those. There is seemingly no end in sight to it. My job situation seems like that too. Normally when I’m faced with these things, I usually get discouraged, beat myself up for not handling everything as well as I think I should, and then struggle through the rest of the day. But for the rest of this day, I will work hard like I think I should, but also trust that God will eventually provide a way out of every obstacle and situation that I encounter.

And he will do the same for you all! All you have to do is humble yourself, quiet your mind and heart and have the tiny bit of faith it takes to trust in Him. Count on Him. Lay your issues, worries, doubts and fears at His Cross. Drop your burdens, and pick up and take stock of your blessings. For like any good father would do for his children, the Father always provides for you. Not always in ways that we want, but always in ways that we need.

God bless and take care everybody! 🙂