Absurdity

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's life.”

-Phil Ochs

This weekend, I hosted 23 members of my family for a pre-Christmas dinner since we all have Christmas plans that do not involve our being together. I was hosting because I asked to.

Why would I do such a thing? In order to motivate myself to clean my house. You see, having so many people over meant that I would finally have to take care of the huge piles of paper everywhere. It meant organizing my bedroom… at least a little. It meant going through the boxes of stuff that were just sitting in my living room. This is my motivation; put yourself in a situation where action MUST be required, or else I simply will not perform the action.

Nothing was done Saturday morning. My reasoning suddenly seemed, uh, flawed.

Then mom came to the rescue. It was as if she knew that I wasn’t going to be ready. (It was if she knew that I was absurd enough to try to pull this off.)  In a matter of two hours, the bedroom, the desk, the living room were all in order. We could start cooking after that, and, of course, she did the cooking, too. The absurdity of me planning a family event to get me to clean my house was counter-balanced by the absurdity of my mother doing it for me. I’m 28 years old and my mom cleaned my house.

We all had a great time and it was fun to be able to get everyone in one place, if even cramped. Apples to Apples was hilarious and the food was fantastic.

Then again, the whole reason for the Christmas season was because of an absurd mother. A 14-year-old virgin, engaged, no less, got pregnant. Her pregnancy was not the result of her boyfriend at the time. She rode on the back of a donkey – a DONKEY – to a town several miles away while she was nine-months pregnant. When she got there, she was refused at an inn. She instead decided to stay in the stables where she gave birth, and to top it all off hid her kid for years afterwards because of a nightmare she had where the king of her country wanted to kill the baby. Let’s not forget about the fact that this whole baby-before-marriage scenario would have mandated her stoning at the time. Minor detail.

Our world would be very different if that mother decided not to accept the above absurd proposition from an angel that just happened to show up and explain the whole ordeal. It would seem I am not the first first-born son to cause a great deal of angst and anxiety among his mom.

I love the end of this quote: “That’s life.” Yes, it is. Apple was absurd for dreaming up the iPod. The Wright brothers were absurd for thinking they could invent a flying machine. Our parents are absurd for having children that will endlessly consume them for dozens of years of their life. Through their respective absurdity, we push our world forwards, leaving the next day better than the first. Sometimes it means pulling off a family dinner.

Sometimes it means bearing the Savior of the world.

Merry Christmas.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Foundations

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Life is made up of pluses and minuses.

The pluses give us hope.

The minuses give us strength.”

-Unknown

The past two weeks have been replete with dropped balls, frustration and stress. I do not at all like being this way. Not during December. Not during Christmas. This is a time for joy, peace, hope and love. Not blood, sweat and tears. We can save that for the other 11 months, thank you very much.

2011 has been a very hard year for me. There is no good reason as the following happens to all of us. It started with a new job that was very difficult to transition into and challenging to maintain. It seemingly took forever to get on my feet. Still not 100% sure I’m actually on my feet, to tell the truth. There are more good days than bad, but it is so hard to have to walk into a situation and not know what is going on. Lack of experience is one of the most frustrating attributes I have ever encountered. There are just so many questions out there that I don’t know the answers to. Yes I’ll learn, but this past year has been learning the hard way.

It was the second week of January when I had a car wreck. Nobody was hurt, maimed or killed, but my insurance dropped me. Getting new insurance significantly cost more, and I paid for the repair out of my own pocket trying to get my original carrier to not count the wreck. That didn’t happen. Then the transmission went out. The radio quit. The dash lights have burned out. Now the check engine light is on. Again.

The senior class that I grew to love in my youth group graduated in May. It was the first class that I spent all four years with as a volunteer. I had no idea that was going to be so hard. Transitioning into the new group of freshmen after so many that I love left for college was much more difficult than I imagined. All of a sudden, there were a ton of kids that didn’t know my name and I didn’t know theirs. In a way, it felt like I was starting over.

Then there was, of course, the loss of one of our own teens due to suicide.

I could continue my lamentations for 2011 but if you have any sense at all you should have stopped reading them half-way up already. Suffice it to say I’m done with this year. I hope it burns with the heat of 10,000 suns in raging fires of hell while I sit and watch it from above while eating kettle corn. I’ve never been a huge fan of New Years. This year, I’m having a party. I may even smoke a cigar.

(I will never smoke a cigar.)

There are enough pluses in 2011 to give me a real sense of hope for 2012. A lot of ground was broken. There were a lot of new starts. There was a lot of foundation work. There’s a girlfriend. (True story!) My hope is that with the extra strength that I have gained from all the minuses, I can quickly build a strong house on top of that foundation and bounce-back from all these setbacks. Indeed, there are times when you have to tear down before you can build up. This is my time.

My sincere hope is that you can do the same. May your pluses and minuses grant you the hope and strength that you need to carry on always.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Acne

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“If I didn’t have acne, I would be a model.”

-Adam Loya

Adam, I’m not going to lie, I absolutely love quoting you. Of all the teens, you honestly crack me up more times than any. The above quote is why I have a Virtus-approved man-crush on you.

For those that need context, (As if that were necessary…) Adam came walking into Blackdog, our local coffee shop wearing is classic Adam-Faux Hawk. A group of us were talking about it and how good it looked. Adam, without hesitation, acknowledged his pristine hair, and then simultaneously stated that if he didn’t have acne, he could be a model.

Oh, brother…

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Something to Ponder

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a warm place to sleep…you are richer than 75% of people in this world.

“If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, spare change in a dish some-place…you are among the top 8% of the wealthy.

“If you woke up this morning with more health than illness…you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

“If you have never experienced the dangers of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of physical starvation…you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

“If you can attend a church or temple meeting without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death…you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. (HALF the world’s population)

“If your parents are still alive and still married you are very rare; representing 33% of the population in the United States!

“If you hold your head up high, with a smile on your face and are truly thankful…you are truly blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

“If you can, hold someone’s hand, hug them, or even touch them on the shoulder… because you can offer a healing touch. You have more than what most people in the world can imagine.

“If you can read this message you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.”

-Unknown

As per Gun’s Quotes tradition, “Something to Ponder” is posted this week, Thanksgiving week. Most of us will wander back to our homes and eat turkey, stuffing, rolls and, of course, pumpkin pie.

Most of the world will not.

The accuracy of the above information has likely changed from when it was originally written. Things may be better or perhaps they are worse, but in any case I hope it provides two things for you this week.

First, I hope that is serves to help you see what you should be thankful for. I hope it brings about a reality that says that you should thank God and your friends and family for the wonderful things that you are blessed with in your life. I hope the above helps you become grateful.

The other thing is that I hope it makes you angry. I hope it makes you see that there is way too much suffering and anguish and sorrow in this world in 2011. I hope it stirs up something in your soul that says, “This is not right,” and I hope it makes you want to do something about it.

My house has decided to adopt a family this year. We know that we are part of a larger community and that somewhere a family is in need. While we cannot save the whole world, we will make sure that this upcoming holiday season is special for a family who right now is probably wondering if they will have much to be thankful about.

Count your blessings. They are as numerous as the stars.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Mask

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“It's not through our successes that we connect to others. Wearing the mask of success keeps us separated. We connect when we share our brokenness.”

-Bob Ramos (Submitted by Lisa Blackstock)

I’m still trying to catch up on the Gun’s Quotes… I have a few others I need to post still, but this week I’m going to write about this week because my thoughts will not permit me otherwise.

This week, many of my friends and I attended the wake and funeral for one of the teens in the youth group for which we volunteer. The young man, a senior in high school, took his own life last weekend.

Some teens took it very, very hard. I met many – some for the first time – who told me that they had never known in the decade (or longer) that they knew him that he was ever sad. Others, despite being involved in the youth group, didn’t know him personally and didn’t know how to react. They didn’t know if they themselves should be sad and mourning, and they didn’t know how to deal with mutual friends that were sad and mourning. In at least one extreme case, some turned to substance abuse to cope.

The adults weren’t in much better shape. The parents of the young man volunteer for our youth ministry and have for years. We know them well, and it is tough to see them hurting so. Of course, there isn’t an adult in the church who isn’t asking the question, “Are we doing enough to prevent this,” “Should we have known,” “Were their any signs,” “Did I do anything wrong,” “Could I have done something different,” and so and so forth.

The answers to the above are yes, no, no, no, no, respectively.

Yet, I admit it is very hard not to place blame on ourselves. This community, this church – neigh, this family – is very much in pain right now. We simply do not understand why this happened, nor did anyone know that it would.

After all of this I became very much aware of just how close this community is and how fortunate I am to be in it.

The reason I can say with whole-heartedness that there is nobody here to blame is because we, as a community, don’t wear masks. We understand and realize that there is more to life than a house, a car, a job, and a dog. We are very much aware of the joys and sorrows alike that each separate soul shares. We do not bounce around the “scary” topics and just get to know people on a surface level. We get to know people’s souls. This idea, I think, it what keeps our community so close and personal, and why we are hurting so bad after this terribly unfortunate incident. We, as a community, share our hopes, fears, joys and sorrows with one another, and that helps us all connect in a way that helps to address our times of sorrow and fear in a healthy way.

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the importance of reporting somebody who is suicidal in this Gun’s Quote. If you hear somebody talking about thoughts of suicide, or if you know a family member or friend who is depressed, please tell someone. Talk to the person’s parents or teachers, and if their life is in immediate danger call 911. Do not be afraid of asking the question, “Are you thinking about killing yourself,” because asking the question doesn’t “make” him or her think about it. What it does is give you the answer as to whether or not you are dealing with a suicidal person.

Of course, if you aren’t sure, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. You can call this number anytime if you or someone you know needs help.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Beautiful

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.”

-R. Buckminster Fuller

I have been an advocate for energy efficiency as long as I can remember. For me, it just makes sense. The human race is going to eventually run out of oil and gas, and while there is plenty of coal to last for hundreds of years, even with our current population growth rate, there is also plenty of evidence suggesting that the more we burn the warmer the planet is going to get. Regardless as to whether or not you buy-in to Climate Change or your political affiliation, it is hard to argue against being prudent with your resources and simultaneously saving money doing so.

I have had the most energy-efficient house within a mile radius for some time. It isn’t hard. I have compact fluorescent light bulbs in every fixture (even my utility lamps for when I need to crawl around my attic) and I have a programmable thermostat that doesn’t allow the heating and cooling to run unless I’m home. There is no difference in comfort at all, and yet by my own estimates I save several hundred dollars a year on energy costs because my house simply doesn’t heat and cool when nobody is home and because I use light bulbs that put out the same amount of light as regular bulbs, yet use 25% of the energy.

That’s it. The level of effort is really quite minimal.

If everyone in the US followed such practices, we would save so much energy that the nation could put all of the electric plants currently under construction now on hold for the next ten years and we would still have enough power in ten years, even with our current construction rates.

However, as I learned this week, such ideas are boring, dull, not practical and not followed. That was, however, until Tony Fadell, the famed Apple inventor who came up with the concept of the iPod, decided to start his own company and start making… thermostats.

As I read articles from the New York Times and several tech blogs, I learned what I already knew… Only 6% of programmable thermostats in the nation have a program. Most people try to hide their thermostats. Nobody has any idea how their HVAC system works let alone how to make it work more efficiently. Personally, I have found the world ripe with need for education in these matters, and I have tried to help many of my friends and family make their HVAC systems work for them instead of work against them.

Apparently, the reason why these concepts don’t catch on with those I speak with is because I’m not as sexy as an iPod.

Hopefully, the new Nest Thermostat can (finally!) entice some people to conserve their energy because they are interested in hanging something that looks more like a contemporary wall-hanging than a thermostat. I find it almost insulting that this is the case, but the well-polished and well-known iPod guy will attract a following much greater than the engineering community will.

It goes to show you that no matter how much time, effort, passion or pride you put into your work, nobody buys it (and it isn’t done well) unless it is beautiful.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Nothing to Say

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”

-Your Mother

I missed the Gun’s Quote last week.

I’m not sure what to write about this week. The ideas that came forward were critical of events in the world and leaders whom I feel have not done their jobs. I don’t want to talk about either.

I seem to be having a weird case of writer’s block and, combined with a cold, am not feeling up to the task of being inspirational this week. Sorry!

I guess I should take this opportunity to remind all of us that we all need a break sometimes. We will get sick, we will get tired and sometimes we just need to stop and take a breather.

For now, I’m going to take my break. We’ll see what happens next week.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

BOOM!

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“When was the last time you broke your finger nail on a computer monitor? That's right... BOOM!”

-Jeff Brann

So I sit in the back room of church every Sunday watching the sound board and helping teens in my youth group run “lyrics.” (They put lyrics up on the projector screen during Mass for the music) One day, Jeff, who is outside the room and reaches in through the window to shake my and another teen’s hands, accidently rams his hand into the back of the computer monitor sitting in front of us. He jumps back and starts to shake it off, and then as to make it look intentional and make the situation even more hilarious, drops the above line on us.

You’re right, Jeff. I’ve never broken a nail on a computer monitor before. You’ve got me there.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Tenacity

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Few win on the first try. Success is never easily and quickly won.”

-LLIC 2010

The Kansas City Chiefs today.

The Yo-Yo Ma Concert in January.

The project thrown on my desk on Thursday.

All of these things are thematic with this week’s quote and speak to the great power of tenacity. All of them continue to prove that life gives opportunities to those who refuse to walk away defeated.

I love the Chiefs, but with their key injuries in the first three weeks of the season, fans have little to be excited for. Jamaal Charles’ knee. Tony Moeaki and Eric Berry. Gone. Arrowhead was so empty today I thought for sure the game would be blacked-out. Nevertheless, the boys in red had some fire in them today and wouldn’t stand to be defeated again on their home turf. Certainly not the prettiest win, and certainly not against the best team, but a win nonetheless. It’s good to see that my team hasn’t given up!

While I whined last week about that missed opportunity to see Yo-Yo Ma, I didn’t give up. After all, the concert is in January. I checked the symphony website. Daily. I checked E-Bay, Craigslist, wandered the internet almost aimlessly to see if I could catch any news whatsoever. Finally, last week the symphony website opened up a single-seat in the nose-bleed section of the Kauffman Center. Somebody had refunded their season tickets for whatever reason. Yeah, it cost a pretty penny, but you know what? I got a ticket. I’m in!

Work spoke to the theme as well. From out of nowhere, a project landed on my desk on Thursday morning. A client needed a design for a new warehouse done by Monday. I was the only engineer in the office who didn’t have a deadline at the end of the week. I stayed late on Thursday and tripped over myself a few times as I tried to decipher the notes and other work started by others in the office who couldn’t take on the project any longer because they had their deadlines to meet.

Almost a year ago it would have taken me two weeks to have done the same job. My boss wanted me to learn efficiency, and he did it by piling work on me, forcing me to make decisions quickly and to worry about the things that mattered and not about the things that didn’t. Those first few weeks on the jobs were maddening and I must admit that I thought about going back to my old job. Yet, I told myself that I had a lot to learn and that this was the way to do it. To see the progress that I’ve made in such a short year because I decided to stick-it-out is jaw-dropping. I didn’t think it was possible to learn so much in such little time.

I’ve preached it a million times and I will preach it again. Never give up. Just never give up. Never. People who win and succeed do so only because they failed time and time again. The moment that you give up, you end all opportunities to succeed.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Too Late

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Procrastination is like masturbation.  At first it feels good, but in the end you're only screwing yourself.”

-Unknown

There is a reason why the Gun’s Quote is coming out late this week. It’s partially because I thought it would be fun to play on this week’s theme. The other and larger part is because last weeks’ Gun’s Quote got out on Wednesday so I needed to put a little space between the two.

I feel like I have gotten a lot better about procrastination. Yet, this past summer I hit a brick wall, and I get to pay for it now.

We’ll start with how I was without a car last week. Again. This time, it was clearly and undeniably my fault. You see, I knew my transmission was going out. (Reference Gun’s Quote: “Desire”) I had made the decision to repair it as buying a car right now is equivalent to buying stocks while they are high instead of low. Did I fix the car? Sure I did… but only after the transmission went out in the middle of the highway and I had to call a tow-truck to haul my sorry butt to the transmission shop. Naturally, because I didn’t make an appointment, they couldn’t get me in right away. One week later, I picked up my car on a Friday night. I owe Erik, Laura and Kris many thanks for pitying me enough to taxi me around town.

Perhaps the more painful thing that I managed to mess up, however, was tickets to the symphony. I love the symphony. I have always gone as often as I could and have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I’ve always felt it was one of the best-kept secrets in Kansas City. Well, that secret was let out after the opening of the Kauffman Center. (Reference Gun’s Quote: “A Day with Dad”) While I had the opportunity to buy season tickets this past summer for less than $300, (For 14 concerts) I turned it down because I didn’t think I could make every one and I didn’t think I wanted to see them all.

Oops.

The first symphony they played this year featured one of my favorite songs of all time, the Pines of Rome. (YouTube Reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYz7PfHrDWk) I missed it. Why? Because it was sold out. So is Yo-Yo Ma. So is Beethoven’s 9^th. Nobody slept to get tickets for the German Requiem except me it seems. All of a sudden I’m not the only guy in the city who wants to go see a symphony. It would appear, however, that I will not get to see many of them at all. (Those that are left have fairly high ticket values going right now… two or three individual symphonies now cost what 14 would have this summer.)

Procrastination was one of those things that you could do as a kid and get away with it. Teachers would let you turn in assignments late, or you could get an extension. Mom and Dad would usually let you get away with doing your chores later. There were no huge consequences, it seems, for not getting things done on time.

To be honest, there still aren’t. Now, so many good things in life simply pass you by. I’m not hurt nor suffer any consequences because I’m not going to the symphony this year, but rather I know that a real opportunity was lost and real beauty will be seen by others, but not me. The car still got fixed and my friends will be my friends and will forgive me. Yet, I had to ask them to go out of their way for longer than what I should have. I have inconvenienced them even if they claim otherwise.

We all know better than to procrastinate, but it seems I have re-learned the lesson the hard way. I do hope my pain will serve as a reminder that this path is not the preferred one. Life’s too short to miss out on all the wonderful things that cross your path. Jump at them if you get the chance. Don’t wait. It isn’t worth it.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

A Day with Dad

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Be especially good to those who are good to you.”

-LLIC 2004

Even the parking garage was beautiful.

On Saturday, Dad and I got in to our suits and drove up to the parking garage for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in the Crossroads district of Kansas City, MO. There, we jumped out of the car and walked into the building, and were in absolute awe over the $400-million+ facility that was constructed all from donations and trusts of civic leaders, businessmen and corporations who dreamt of a world-class facility in the heart of Kansas City.

The magnificent structure was built by one of the world’s most imminent architects, Moshe Safdie. Acoustics were done by the world-renowned acoustician, Yasuhisa Toyota with Nagata Acoustics. The lights, the windows, the whole facility was built minding the finest detail and highest quality components. It was an exquisite facility.

Of course, we were there to hear the symphony. It was the grand opening of the Kansas City Symphony’s new home in the state-of-the-art Helzberg Hall. It was also Dad’s Birthday, and I decided that he and I were going to go watch something that we would not see again in our lifetimes; the opening of a cultural and artistic icon. How do you open a world-class performing arts facility? You invite Itzhak Perlman to play the violin there.

While Dad loved the symphony, I think his biggest trip was meeting George Brett. Of course such a high-profile event garnered the attention of so many local celebrities. He and George got their picture together, and it is now proudly posted on Dad’s Facebook page.

The weekend was magical. I wish I could have taken Mom, too, but the budget was definitely strained just to get two tickets.

In any case, I’m very glad I was able to give Dad a memorable weekend. My parents have been very good to me and have afforded me opportunities that most people can only dream of. These opportunities helped me grow into the person that I have become. I want to be good to them because they have been so good to me.

I hope that if there are people in your life that are good to you that you are able to be good to them, too.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

“No.”

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“No.”

-The Officers of the Cameron High School Student Council

2001-2002 School Year

I haven’t shared this story with many. I suppose the reason why is because I didn’t want it to be misinterpreted. I didn’t want people to think of me as arrogant. I didn’t want people to think that I was apathetic or didn’t care. I assure you, neither is the case here. However, on this day, I feel like this story which I have mainly kept to myself all of these years needs to be told. Its timing seems appropriate.

Ten years ago, and just a few days after September 11^th, I and the other officers of the Cameron High School Student Council were called into the Art Room by our advisors, Mrs. Brizendine and Mrs. Fish. It was about a week after the tragic attack in New York, and the administration had a request for us. They wanted us to change the theme that we had selected for Homecoming that year.

“We just think it would be more appropriate for you to use the theme of ‘Heroes’ where we celebrate our police, firemen and the military.” Mrs. Brizendine said.

The original theme that the Student Council had selected was the one I had brought to their attention at the very beginning of the year and got the other Executive Officers to buy-off on during our summer planning session. That year our football field was 100 years old. It was started as a football field by the Missouri Wesleyan College. When the College went defunct in the 1950s, the field was deeded to the school district, where the Friday Night Lights took place ever since. The first football game in town was played on that field in 1901.

Now, fast-forward to today for a minute. You see, sometime between 2001 and 2011 the terrorists won. The terrorists won when 7-year-old boys have their penises groped by TSA agents to make sure they aren’t carrying any heat aboard an airplane. The terrorists won when an 85-year-old woman is cavity-searched to make sure she isn’t storing a bomb up there. The terrorists won when I had to throw my toothpaste away just to get aboard a plane to go back to my beloved Michigan for a weekend.

They also won when they convinced our government to start an entirely separate cabinet office just to guard against them. They won when we steadfastly refuse to use our energy more efficiently and continue to fund them through our liberal use of oil, despite all of the public knowledge linking the late Bin Laden and many of his cronies to the oil industry.

10 years and trillions of dollars later, we still fear an attack, a bombing and a threat on a day when we should all pause and remember those whose lives were lost in one of the most horrific scenes of modern time.

I don’t know a lot, but I do know something about fear. When I fear, I am defeated. When I feared on the football field, that same one that turned 100, I was sacked, tackled, threw interceptions, and had my feet collapse underneath me. When I feared in school, I flunked tests, grew anxious, ran out of time on assignments and stuttered during speeches and presentations. When I feared during work, I made mistakes, lost time and had to face an unsatisfied boss. When I fear, I am miserable, unhappy and worthless to the world.

That is exactly the goal of terrorism. Terrorists don’t want to really kill anybody. They want everybody to fear them and in so doing control entire nations and economies. So they have.

So how do you combat a feeling?

“No,” I said. Mrs. Brizendine almost looked shocked. In discussing with the other officers in the meeting we made a bold decision. We were not going to allow our senior year to be defined by a tragedy. We were not going to allow nameless faces who knew nothing about us to define our school that year. We were not going to come back to our class reunions year after year after year to talk about how our Homecoming was about a terrorist attack. We did not want our yearbook, the culmination of our school’s history that year, to tell any other tale other than our own celebration of our history and legacy. So we have.

Because with all due respect to those people who chose September the 11^th to do some form of service work, you should want to do that everyday. You should honor our military, police and firemen every time you see one. Kindheartedness, service and love should not be reserved for times of horror. They should be daily staples in our lives. We should not give those who seek to harm us the dignity of only one day where we all come together as Americans. No, we should do that everyday. Then, and only then, will we ever hope to overcome the fear that they have so successfully entrenched into our lives.

When we as StuCo officers came together and told our administration, “No,” we really told the terrorists, “No.” Refusing to allow my senior year to be defined by September 11^th is, to this day, the most important and proudest decision I have ever made in my entire life.

We, as a country, shouldn’t be defined by it, either.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Desire

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Have what you like, but like what you have.”

-The Gun

The above quote, if its words are in a different order and are placed with other words between them, can be attributed to several people and are found on several websites. However, the two sentences above don’t seem to be replicated verbatim anywhere on the internet. Interesting. I certainly don’t think I was the one who made the above phrase up, but beings that the internet cannot verify that anybody else can claim it, I guess my own little motto that I carry around with me on a daily basis is, in fact, my own. (If somebody knows that I am in error, please tell me!)

This past week, my car, Blizzard Bullet, decided that it’s transmission had a few too many miles on it and thus bucked and jerked and made a little dash board light come on to tell me that it was quitting. The transmission guy verified it… I was staring a $2,000 repair in the face.

I decided it was time to go shopping for a new (and by that I mean different) car. So, I cancelled my annual trip to go camping (I couldn’t drive down there #1, and #2 I would just worry about it the entire time I was down there anyway) and went car shopping instead. After all, with it being Labor Day, there were bound to be sales, right?

The Hyundai Azera was nice, but it needed work. Fairly certain that I was going to have to buy a water pump and a timing belt, and the tires were bald. The Honda Accord was actually hideous. First of all, why is beige such a popular color? Blah… but anyways, it was obvious that the interior took a beating and the exterior wasn’t much better. It needed a paint job. What does a Honda that is three years newer than my Mazda (but in worse shape) and with 2,000 more miles cost? $10,000. Ha!

The Acura could be best described in the same words that my late grandfather, Jerry, would constantly say: “It’s like you put this car on and take this car off.” It felt more like a cocoon than a car. Just the five minute ride in that thing made my back hurt. Sheesh.

Of the five cars I drove this weekend, the one I liked the most was… mine.

I think there’s something to be said for liking what you have. I think there’s something to be said for being happy with what you have. I think there’s something to be said for desiring what you have. You see, in a world where we are constantly being pulled to buy this and that, grab the latest and greatest thing or follow the newest fashion trend, the idea that I can turn my car on and know that for the money nobody else can offer me anything that can make me happier is… bliss.

So, instead of sinking the $10,000 to inherit somebody else’s problem, I will sink $2,000 to re-inherit my own. After all, I know something about the guy who’s driven it for the last seven years, and I have a decent idea about its accident history. (Ahem.) The rest of the $8,000? Well, I did end up with the aquarium I wanted this weekend. (No, it didn’t cost $8,000.)

Know what else? I like the aquarium, too.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Full Circle

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

-Wayne Dyer

It was Saturday afternoon and I was running out of options. Erik was going to hang out with his girlfriend that evening. Brian was going to hang out with his. Both did invite me along to spend the evening with them, but I always feel like I’m crashing someone else’s party when I’m invited along just because I have nothing else to do. Texting other friends of mine revealed some were out of town, others were hanging out with their girlfriends and by dinner time it became apparent that I was going to be spending the evening by myself.

I actually considered doing some “work,” like balancing the checkbook, cleaning off my desk or (Gasp!) cleaning my room, but that would be lame sauce. We cleaned the house and did laundry all day long and it was time to relax. I wasn’t going to sit in front of my monitor and admire how much money I had because I wasn’t taking some hot girl out.

So I called my aunt Margaret Ann. I told her that I wasn’t going to be the only guy in the city not taking out a girl, so I asked if she would like a night out. The first place we went on our excursion (I didn’t call it a date… that would be creepy) was a local pet store. You see, earlier in the day when I recognized that I was going to have a free evening, I decided it was time for a little redecorating in the house.

For my entire college career, I had an aquarium. I loved that aquarium. Taking care of my fish was one of the things that I absolutely loved to do, and I don’t mind saying that I got pretty good at it. I learned all about the nitrogen cycle and how to treat the tank so that it stayed clean and the fish healthy. I would feed them the kind of food that made them more colorful and would watch them every night. I even had a snail. I loved that aquarium. Thus, the living room has been rearranged and a place for my 50-gallon tank (you read that right) has appeared. I’m excited.

I took Margaret Ann to a locally-owned pet store in Shawnee so that I could start pricing equipment up. 50-gallon tanks (and their accessories) aren’t cheap, so I need to budget appropriately. When we were on our way, an unexpected revelation occurred.

“Mike used to work there 40 years ago.”

“Really?” I asked. Mike was Margaret Ann’s late husband. He grew up in the Shawnee Mission area.

“Yep,” she said. “He was a junior in high school when he got that job.”

It was the same pet store. She recognized it. Who’da thunk that the family-owned pet store in Shawnee that I found on Google as the closest to my house would be the same place that uncle Mike worked so many years ago. I, of course, had no idea he ever worked for a pet store. Full circle.

We admired all the different kinds of fish. Mike had an aquarium, too, a 75-gallon tank that their family had when they lived in Plano, just outside of Dallas. Margaret Ann would correct me when I couldn’t pronounce a fish name correctly, (I think I finally figured out how to say “Cichlid.”) and remembered what kinds of fish would and wouldn’t play well with other kinds of fish. She pointed out her favorite varieties from that tank of old. When Mike passed away and they sold their house in Plano to move closer to family up here that aquarium went away, too. Early on, she gave me Mike’s old fish books because she knew I enjoyed aquariums, too.

The evening turned out awesome. It was both enjoyable and therapeutic for the both of us, having reflected on cherished memories of old and anticipation of a cool new setup in my house. Of course, the aquarium will take months to properly prepare – nitrogen cycles take time and chemistry has a way of making you adhere strictly to its rules – but I was glad I chose to go out and do something instead of cleaning my room.

At the end of the day, you choose what you are going to do with the situation you are handed. I could have gone all “Woe is me” and cleaned my room, or I could do something that I’ve always wanted to do but just continued to make excuses for. I finally decided to do it and I think that I was surprised as to how fun it was to get the ball rolling.

Look at things differently. You might be surprised as to how easy it is to make life a little brighter!

…or in this case, more colorful.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Pericles' Politics

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!”

-Pericles

This week, Sly James, the mayor of Kansas City, MO, instituted a new 9 p.m. curfew in the city after “unruly youth” have been crowding The Plaza, the local popular entertainment and shopping venue in recent weeks. Last weekend, when Mr. James went to the Plaza with his entourage to assess the situation himself, gunshots rang out between three teens in an unrelated dispute. Mr. James’ entourage covered him up in a flower bed for protection, despite the fact that he was not the target of the violence.

The police say that the curfew enforcement went well this weekend, and that no tickets were issued.

In other news, Deryl Dedmon, a 19-year-old teenager is accused of a hate crime in Jackson, MS. Mr. Dedon is accused of murdering James Craig Anderson. Mr. Anderson was black.

I enjoy the Plaza. I’m no fan of big crowds that are being annoying, rude, or otherwise getting in your way because they are too inconsiderate to allow you to enjoy yourself too, but I’m a bit weary of telling all of the teens in Kansas City that they can’t be out at night past 9 on Friday and Saturday. (Hello… football games?) Yes, I’m aware of the fact that there are exceptions to the policy, such as being with your parents, but simply because you are young doesn’t mean you are a criminal. It equally doesn’t mean that you are up to no good. I recall many a times as a youth I went to the Plaza to hang out with my friends. We caused no trouble or harm to anyone. Knowing that some of those trips may have been “illegal” under the new law seems unfair.

…and what is a hate crime anyway? Let me get this straight… person A kills person B and person A goes to jail. OK, I can wrap my head around that. Person C kills person D and person C goes to jail longer than person A because person D is black. Excuse me? Since when did we start judging the severity of murder based upon race? Isn’t murder, murder? Isn’t it a deplorable tragedy no matter who is involved? Aren’t all murders hate crimes?

I know it’s a fairly random topic… teens at the center of laws and all. Nothing occurred in my life this week that necessarily prompted it. I very well could have chosen a myriad of other topics. Yet, with these two stories both showing up in newspapers this week, I felt it an adequate time to remind people in this otherwise (relatively) dormant political time of year that your government gave you your rights… and it can remove them, too. While elections are a ways away and we will see numerous ads on the TV talking about who is right and who is wrong soon enough, don’t forget that these discussions and debates are important.

I’m all too aware of the fact that many turn a blind eye to these discussions and debates, but simply because you don’t care doesn’t mean your leaders won’t pass policy that may target you. Get involved, stay informed, and hold your leaders accountable for the policies that they see fit.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Swagger

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“That's right, I showed off my swagger and I climbed into my mom's van.”

-Grant Mayfield

The last few Gun’s Quotes about people leaving, car wrecks and working too hard all seem really serious and deep. I think it’s time for a bit of fresh air and light-heartedness.

Enter, Grant Mayfield. Grant is a member of a small group I’m in, and he’s not 16 yet. Thus, he can’t drive. Further thus, he has no set of wheels with which to show off.

Grant was at Chipotle one day when (he claims) a girl started to check him out. Grant gave his characteristic head nod to acknowledge the glance, then proceeded to really show off his attributes by crawling into his mother’s car.

No worries, Grant. I’m sure your new girlfriend was impressed with your mom’s ride.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Goodbye

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Do not cry because it ended, but smile because it happened.”

-Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) (Submitted by Tia Barraco)

It has been a tough, tough weekend.

For (almost) four years, I have volunteered for the youth ministry program known as Lifeteen at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. It is my unquestionable, unapologetic and undeniable purpose in my life. God has called me here to serve, and I do so.

I do not mention this as a bragger; I intend no self-conceit. I preface this Gun’s Quote in this manner because if you were to ask me who I am and what I do I simply couldn’t respond without describing the above. It is firmly cemented into my very soul and identity. Its removal from my life would fundamentally change who I am.

Today, the very first freshman class that I started with will be leaving Holy Trinity. Very soon, they will part from their families’ homes and go on to college, tech school or the military. One has already departed.

These were the first kids I got to know for four full years. These were the kids that shared their stories with me from the beginning of their high school careers to the end of them. There have been many different kids of struggles, pains, joys, fears, celebrations and, of course, God Moments. Some lost their faith altogether. Some found it.

Today, in my final act of ministering to them has members of our youth group, I served them dinner. They, in turn, left the rest of the group with parting words of advice and what they wish for us. Finally, to end the evening, they stooped down in great humility and washed our feet.

That was a special moment…

***

Friday night, I did, indeed, visit one of my best friends, Chris Muer, in Manhattan as I said in my last Gun’s Quote. Chris volunteered for youth ministry as well. He introduced me to his youth minister and his youth minister’s family as well as another adult volunteer. His youth minister, Rick, just started at the parish this year. Chris was there to help.

During his parting speech, Rick said that he had no idea how he would be able to do youth ministry this year without Chris. His help, wise counsel and devotion to the youth in Manhattan filled a void that Rick says would have gone empty had Chris’ arrival never materialized. Rick’s daughters – I believe the oldest was 14 – shed tears over his departure. They loved him. All of them do. I wasn’t surprised.

Chris is a great friend. His life has impacted mine. Like Lifeteen, part of my identify is shaped because of his friendship, advice, council or a swift kick in the butt, whichever I needed at the time I needed it. I minister better, know God better and live better because of him.

He went back to Michigan yesterday. Before heading north, we followed each other on the 2-hour segment of I-70 between Manhattan and Kansas City. We talked on the cell phone the entire time, trying to say everything we wanted to say before he started his new life as a seminarian. Before he took I-435 north and I took I-435 south, we both pulled over and gave each other a big hug.

That was a special moment, too.

Gun’s Quotes Facebook edition is saying goodbye, too. This is the last post that will be posted on Facebook. Next week, the Gun’s Quotes will only go out on Blogspot. I will delete the Facebook group this week.

It’s not that any of these departures or goodbyes will be permanent. Certainly Chris and I will still be able to talk, albeit much less so, and there will be Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter breaks to see teens leaving town shortly. Facebook helps a ton.

Yet, I simply cannot deny the fact that I will miss all of these people dearly. Words fail to convey how each of their stories has shaped mine. I am who I am because of them. While nobody knows what lies ahead, nothing can possibly change the important role that they have, and will, play in my life. It is with great humility I ask God to allow me to continue to play a role in theirs, knowing that role will be different now.

So, I ask God to abundantly bless all of the people who are parting ways with me. I offer this final prayer to them all: (If even slightly plagiarized…)

May the Lord protect and defend you.

May He always shield you from shame.

May you come to be a Blessed and a shining name.

May you be like John and like Mary.

May you be deserving of praise.

Strengthen them oh Lord, and keep them from the strangers’ ways.

May God Bless you and grant you long lives.

May the Lord fulfill our Parting Prayer for you.

May God make you true servants and wise.

May he give you good friends who will care for you.

May the Lord protect and defend you.

May the Lord preserve you from pain.

Favor them oh Lord, with happiness and peace.

Oh hear our Parting Prayer.

Amen.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Waiting

Gun's Quote-of-the-Week:

“Why wait?”

-Snickers Commercial

Chris Muer has been one of my best friends since my final year of college. This young man, several years my junior, still inspires me today with his words of encouragement, confidence and humor. He is a funny, goofy guy that can make me laugh like no one else can.

Chris is going to the seminary this fall to become, God willing, a Catholic Priest in six years. If you know him, you know that there are ladies all around the world who are praying that he changes his mind. Sorry ladies.

We met up this weekend for one of our last times together. He heads back to Michigan on Saturday.

Chris lived in Manhattan, KS for about a year, maybe some change. In that time we were only able to get together a handful of times. Two hours separated us, yes, but considering that we both agree our friendship is strong, it shouldn’t have stood in the way that much.

We both worked, however, and many of our weekends were spent in the office. Of course, we have separate lives. He spent time in his youth ministry at St. Isidore’s and I spent time in mine at Lifeteen. That said, we’re single, we’re not really tied down to anything, and have no children that we would have to worry about pawning off to our wives for the weekend if we wanted to get together.

It’s over now. The times we could have, and should have, hung out are now but vanished. I’m considering driving up to Manhattan this weekend for one final hurrah. It would be the first time I ever drove up to see him. See what kind of friend I am?

I have two fraternity brothers, that I know of, that live in KC. How many times have we visited each other? Once, I think. (That’s inside of four years, mind you) My grandmother lives in Leavenworth, an hour’s drive. How many times have I seen her this year? My parents? My brother Alan and his (relatively) new wife Veronica?

Hell, why did I think I needed to wait until after high school to date?

Just for kicks and giggles, let me also throw in the fact that this week our esteemed government decided to put off fixing the debt crisis to just a mere few hours before our nation defaulted for the first time… ever.

Why do we wait? Why do we put off? Are we not all aware of the fact that tomorrow is no guarantee? A million people die every week in the world. Why are we so foolish to believe that somehow one of them couldn’t be us?

So as I sit here at my computer after finally getting home at a decent time from work, I type up this late Gun’s Quote which I have – no less – been putting off since Sunday. I find the theme applicable in my life and something that needs to be addressed post-haste. It is my hope that in my realization that time waits for no one that you come to realize it yourself and commit to doing something you’ve been waiting for, too.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Right... not Easy

Gun's Quote-of-the-Week:

“Everyone will come to a point in their life when they have to choose between what is right and what is easy.”

-Albus Dumbledore

In light of the last movie of the Harry Potter series finally being released, I thought it only appropriate to use a Gun’s Quotes from one of the lead characters.

My stress level has been maxed out for a while. I sat down with my bosses to discuss my workload and the conversation went well, but this past week and this upcoming week will be 60+ hours trying to get a massive project out the door. It has been trying.

So when my car ended up in yet another wreck, I was at my wits’ end.

Driving to work on Monday, I was making a right turn. In the middle of the intersection, the guy behind me changed lanes and caught the right rear fender, barely missing the door. We pulled over. He gave me his contact info, but he didn’t have his insurance card. I made the police report and we both went about our business.

After trying to get a hold of him last week so that we could settle the $2,500+ damage he did to my car, none of my phone calls or texts were returned. I’m having to turn the claim into my insurance company for repairs and I’ll end up paying my $500 deductible. Because he didn’t return my calls and didn’t have an insurance card, my insurance company and I will be treating this as a case where he didn’t have insurance. Their claims department will pursue him for money, but I’ve been told not to be optimistic.

I’m paying $500 and without a car for two weeks because of something the police report and insurance company clearly state is not my fault.

While at the body-repair shop to get an estimate, the estimator came outside and stated, “Oh I remember this car!” As if my week needed a cherry on top.

As he was jotting notes down on his clip board, he noticed the large scrape of paint and hole punched into my rear bumper that was left from when a family member of mine accidentally backed into a pole while borrowing my car. (Love you, Mom!) This damage was right underneath the new damage caused by the wreck.

“Where’s this from?” he asked.

It was about that time that all of the stress, frustration and embarrassment from work, getting into my 5^th car wreck, dumping $500 of my own money into somebody else’s mistake and learning I was going to be car-less for two weeks crashed into an ethical dilemma. What should I tell him? Was this from a previous wreck, or was this caused by my current wreck?

It would only be a little-white lie. After all, this guy who hit me left me with the baggage… why not stick it back to him as an additional cost the insurance company would shake out of him? I’m spending $500 anyways… why not pretend that I was spending $500 to fix my own problem and pretend like he was fixing his mistake for free? I was inconvenienced, I was the victim… why not get something out of the deal? I’ve always hated the scrape on my rear bumper, I’ve played with the idea of getting it fixed for a while, I knew what it cost, and I knew that it would be awfully nice to get that $750 repair done for free…

The car goes to the shop tomorrow to start repairs. It will sit there for two weeks. When it reemerges, it will have a new taillight, new rear fender and new rear wheel well. It also gets “complimentary” detailing.

It will also have that hideous scrape and hole in the rear bumper, the scar that I’ve wanted to go away for years.

The decision to live with it for a few more wasn’t that easy.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Betas

Gun's Quote-of-the-Week:

“Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is called happiness.”

-Chinese Fortune Cookie

In the news this week was a Princeton study that came out about baboons. Published by the journal Science, this study left us with the common-sense knowledge that everyone already knew, but needed to be reminded.

In baboon culture, there exist alpha males. The alpha is the male who leads the pack, getting access to better food, the better place to rest his head and, of course, the first pick of the fertile females. One would think that all of these things would lead to a longer, more fulfilling life for the alpha, but Princeton tells us otherwise.

Princeton researchers collected poop from the baboons during their 9-year study. They weren’t looking for corn or seeds or anything like that; they were looking for testosterone and glucocorticoid, hormones produced by males when they are gearing up for intense physical activity, especially during a threatening situation. Larger amounts of these hormones, especially glucocorticoid, indicate stress levels.

From this smelly work, they were able to determine that the guys who ranked dead-last in baboon social order had the highest stress levels. They found that as you increased in rank your stress level decreased. More popular, better looking, stronger baboons enjoyed less stress than their scrawny, awkward, virgin peers.

This inverse correlation was true throughout all social classes, until it hit one… the alpha male.

For the alpha male, the stress level was on the same level as the lowest-class baboons. The researchers concluded that all of the work necessary to stay at the top of the heap had a detrimental impact on the alpha. The alpha was constantly fighting to keep their place, to ward off other challenging males, and to court females. Beta males actually showed the lowest stress levels. While they didn’t get first pick at dinner or in bed, they generally enjoyed acceptable, comfortable status in their social order while not necessarily having to worry as much about being challenged by other males.

Included in the study were the obvious findings that high levels of stress resulted in wearing out immune and reproductive systems faster, as well as other adverse health effects. In other words, alphas needed baboon Viagra just to keep up.

I have a plethora of Gun’s Quotes that talk about rising to the top, going the extra mile, never giving up, never quitting, staying in the fight, and being a champion. All of us are taught to be the best we can be and to achieve greatness. We tell ourselves that 2^nd-place is the first loser, that middle-management is only a stepping stone and that white-collar work is where it’s at. Silver will never be more valuable than gold, and the guys who show up to work just to do their job and go home always will be equated with the 2^nd-string guys who will never have their names called out before the start of the game.

Nobody wants to be a beta.

I think I’m changing my mind about that, though. After taking a job because of an opportunity to rise to the top, I’m discovering that the journey may not be worth it. The long hours, the high stress, the lack of sleep… I need only look at my bosses who work 7-days a week and evenings just to keep up. This is not the life I want.

I want to write a Gun’s Quote every week, not be so busy that I have to skip one like last week. I want to cook again instead of leaning on Brian and Erik, I want to fix my bathroom, clean my junk out and, the most important of all, serve my church. Knowing what it takes to be a leader in a career-field, I’ve all but concluded that perhaps I don’t want to lead after all.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Paleness

Gun's Quote-of-the-Week:

“Every time I enter a room, I'm told I brighten it. Which I don't know how. Maybe it's because I'm so pale.”

-Michelle McOsker

It’s been one of those weeks where I just wanted to scream. So, I decided that the Gun’s Quote this week needed to be a good laugh. Michelle is definitely one of those people that can make you laugh when you need to, and her quote, being designated at this weeks’ Gun’s Quote, does just that.

Thank you for being pale, Michelle. You brighten up my life!

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

A Conversation over French Toast

Gun's Quote-of-the-Week:

“Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left.”

-Hubert H. Humphrey

Articulating the Gun's Quotes tonight is particularly difficult. There are a lot of different things swirling around my head that I don't quite know how to pen down. One has to deal with heroism. Another has to do with strength. Yet another has to do with will and resolve, and finally a fourth has to deal with support and coping.

I met Keegan for the first time at Boys State two weeks ago. We were both on staff together. For him, it was the first time back as a staff member, having been a citizen last year and a newly-minted high school graduate this time around. For me, it was my 10th year back. I always enjoy getting to meet the new guys and so we did our basic introductions and got to know one another. From the moment we first met, I knew this guy had a story to tell.

On May 21st, he graduated from EMT school. On May 22nd, he graduated from Joplin High School. 15 minutes after he left graduation, he began saving lives.

The stories can't be repeated here, both because I fear I would get something wrong and also because they are too numerous to list. The jest of it will be enough. His fellow high school graduates showing up in blood and mud. A few hours earlier, they were getting a hand shake among family applause. Now, he was mending their wounds. Then there were the bodies he uncovered. The little girl with a fence post through her arm. The man lying on the ground complaining of a headache with a metal pipe lodged through his neck and poking out the back of his head. Later Keegan would find out his best friend, Will Norton, whom I wrote about some time back, didn’t survive.

Will was memorialized at the end of the Boys State Session this year. He and Keegan went to Boys State together.

It's one of those stories that you know continues to unfold and evolve, and know that it will not end soon.

“You're kind of a hero now,” I said this morning at brunch. Keegan came up last night to watch the Royals with his cousins and paid me a visit on his way back down.

“Naw,” he said. “They just interviewed me that's all.” CNN had interviewed Keegan and several others telling their stories and accounts of the tragedy and broadcasted it to the national stage.

"Have you had time to process it yet?"

“No, haven't thought about it. Yeah, it sucks. You've lost your town, your high school, and your best friend, but you've got to get up and just move on.” Keegan knows the work is just beginning. “Just don't forget about Joplin,” he said. “In three months the media will be gone and the volunteers will disappear. We are going to need help in three months, too.”

I wonder how he carries on as he tells his tale. There is no stuttering or tearing-up. It seems as though he is telling the stories for the umpteenth time and they are a distant memory. He’s just working non-stop on debris removal and EMT duties, and has been doing so after starting right after the storm with some of the most traumatic medical emergencies that even the most seasoned veterans have ever seen. He got a break for Boys State and another this weekend, but he left by noon to get down there and tear into it again. For now, “It's just life,” as he puts it.

“What can a guy do who you just met two weeks ago?”

“Pray.”

Far removed from the devastation, his humble request seems inadequate. I don’t know what kind of man has the willpower and strength required to drive back to his hometown so mangled by the EF-5 that he gets lost because all of the road signs and local landmarks are gone. Yet, maybe such a man walked into my house this morning, ate my French Toast and went home to get back to work again.

Please join me in prayer for Joplin and support whatever relief efforts you can. This page lists a few links: http://www.joplinmo.org/tornadoinfo.cfm

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

It Gets Better

Gun's Quote-of-the-Week:

“Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment.”

-Mark Twain

I’ve been involved with the Missouri Boys State Program’s volunteer staff for 10 years. Two of those years were spent as an Assistant City Counselor, where I was on the “front lines” of working with the participants and guiding them through the program. The last eight were spent as an “Operations Liaison” between the Operations side of Boys State (Behind the scenes work, if you will) and the counseling side of Boys State. (The aforementioned guys who guide the participants through the program)

This year, we had our fair share of problems with Operations. People didn’t fill out forms correctly, a few procedures early on weren't followed, and the golf cart keys went AWOL on Sunday.

Despite the challenges, doing this for eight years demonstrated something that I haven’t ever really experienced before, at least not to the extent that I did this year. This year, I fixed the problems and handled all of the break-downs before they impacted any part of the program. Did I do this without help? Of course not. As with anything in life, you must work together as a team to accomplish a greater goal. Knowing what needed to be done, however, allowed me the flexibility to tap help when I needed it and to do what needed to be done. No panicking was involved. (Well, almost no panicking…) No climbing the chain-of-command. No looking up policies and procedures in the manual. The experience I had gained in years past really came to fruition this year. Problems and situations were put down and the program went on. Hopefully, most people didn’t even know there was a problem at all.

Contrast this with my “real” job where my experience is limited to six months and I know so little about what my boss wants that I have to bug him virtually everyday to make sure I’m doing my job right. He’s been unhappy (to put it nicely) with some of the work I’ve put out. The situation is painful to say the least and I shudder to think about the amount of time and money I have wasted (and will waste) because I simply don’t know what I don’t know.

The frustration level with knowing that you are somebody else’s burden is enormous. At times, I have wanted to give up. Yet, in this week that I volunteer to inspire and transform the lives of young people, I found that I myself walked away with a simple, friendly reminder and a bit of inspiration, too: It gets better.

There will be times when finding victories might as well be like finding a needle in a haystack. There will be times when you are criticized. There will be times of loss and frustration and struggle. When these things happen, you will look at the debris that is your life at that moment and wonder if you should keep on fighting the good fight. The answer to that question is yes. Why? Because it gets better.

Experience is not something you learn, can buy, or obtain through any other means than simply participating. It is a tool that is not manufactured or forged in even the hottest furnaces in the world. For some things in life, you simply have to tough it out by staying involved and not giving up.

So for those times when the thought of quitting creeps up on you, and those times when some challenges seem so daunting and undefeatable that you wonder if you shouldn’t just surrender, know that in the end that next battle will be a little bit easier, a little less daunting, and a little more manageable.

Know that it gets better.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!