The End of the World

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly.”

-Richard Bach

There were some genuine opinions by some that we all wouldn’t make it past the weekend. The proverbial “Mayan Apocalypse” came and went without much fanfare, without much fuss, without much of any major event in the world, actually.

This perhaps surprised some considering all of the darkness surrounding our world in the past few weeks. The crisis in Egypt. The Connecticut shootings. The Fiscal Cliff. In a time when we are often happier and more joy-filled with the upcoming Christmas holiday, we instead had our attention turned to darkness and evil, bickering and death.

One could argue it hasn’t been a very Merry Christmas, and it would be difficult to counter the argument.

Yet, here we are. Despite so many of humanity’s failings in the immediate past, humanity will carol, will give gifts and many of the less fortunate will be blessed by the generosity of others.

We are all still here, and love will prevail.

That is, after all what Christmas is about, right?

In the midst of the world’s darkness, God lights a light… Himself, as human, as one of us. This human comes in to the world and, through love, makes the blind man see, raises Lazarus from the dead, cleans the leper, and forgives the woman. He fed thousands with five loaves and two fish, calmed a storm by raising his hand and walked on water. By his death, arguably the darkest hour in human history, the gates of Heaven are thrust open, because by His wounds, we are all healed.

Christmas teaches us that the dark hours are pierced by the love of God. We learn that we are not to be afraid of death, but that death has already lost, that love has already conquered.

Advent has concluded. The darkness of waiting and waiting on our Savior is done. He is here. Now. In your home and mine.

May His light shine for you this Christmas and throughout your life.is  May he turn our darkness to light, just like he did 2,000 years ago.

Merry Christmas.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Pain

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Because God is never cruel, there is a reason for all things. We must know the pain of loss; because if we never knew it, we would have no compassion for others, and we would become monsters of self-regard, creatures of unalloyed self-interest. The terrible pain of loss teaches humility to our prideful kind, has the power to soften uncaring hearts, to make a better person of a good one.”
-Dean Koontz

I have an acquaintance who is married who is also trying to have children. Recently, he and his wife experienced probably the greatest heartbreak a parent could have. During the third trimester of her pregnancy, my acquaintance’s wife miscarried their child.

Not being a parent myself, I cannot imagine the pain of their loss. They had the nursery ready. There was a crib, clothes, had picked a hospital, etc. Everything was coming together for the couple’s first child. Suddenly, and right before Christmas, their plans vaporized.

This event occurred last week. When I ran into the acquaintance again, I offered my condolences for their loss, not knowing how to offer my thoughts any better way.

“Thanks, but I wish you wouldn’t.”

I was a little surprised by the response. “Oh really?” Was the only thing I could think to say, confused.

“Yeah, I just don’t want to hear it from 14 different people 14 different times.”

I suppose one could be reminded about a tragic event in ways they would not want by having people offer their condolences, even if it was well-intentioned and well-thought. I run into the same problem with funerals, too.

I had met the parents of a teen in our youth group for the first time at his funeral. He took his own life. It was very difficult for many people that I know personally. Many are still struggling.

Again, what are you supposed to say? If you say anything, are you really helping?

Then again, I don’t think trying to put a painful thing out of your mind and trying to focus on something else is helpful, either. In times in my life when something sad happened, I found that putting it out of my mind let it fester and it continued to nag me until I finally came to terms with the fact that I had to talk it out with somebody, maybe even cry on their shoulders over the loss. Time might heal wounds, but leaning on your friends are the stitches.

These conversations are tough, aren’t they? Families don’t want to approach something taboo, especially over Christmas. People don’t want to breach a topic that might induce emotion. People don’t want to talk about something personal and invite others into their vulnerabilities.

Let’s remember, however, that pain is not begotten by cruelness. Simply because there is loss and suffering does not mean that such loss and suffering was the result of cruelty, vengeance, or karma. Part of life is loss.

Let’s remember this when we have opportunities to share our loss with others and when others offer to listen to us. We can take comfort in the fact that if loss is not the result of vindictiveness that solace, too, must come from a kind and humble heart.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Waiting

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.”
-E.V. Lucas

It’s the time of year when kids start to get quite anxious. There is Christmas right around the corner, accompanied with lengthy breaks, new toys and a general lack of responsibility. It’s every college-kid-and-younger’s favorite time of year.

It’s the time of year when people get anxious about the New Year. Perhaps there are reflections on what 2012 had to offer. There is a moment where one looks back on successes and failures and starts to hope that 2013 will offer opportunities for more success, a new job, better grades or perhaps just an excuse to be happy that a disappointing year is about to end and a new one with more promise about to begin.

For so many I talk to right now, they just can’t wait for the year to end. It’s a natural break in people’s lives, and the prospect of a New Year offers them hope. Perhaps they are getting married. Perhaps they a moving somewhere new. Perhaps they are graduating. Perhaps they are starting a new job. Perhaps they just want a clean slate.

You know what a doctor’s waiting room looks like, right? There is a rack of magazines with many different topics, most of which have nothing to do with medicine. My doctor’s waiting room has magazines on trucks, cars and sports. The ladies get to choose from Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and different recipe magazines. There are also the toys set up in the corner for the kids to play with. The waiting room contains a TV playing a national news channel of the office’s inflection.

In other words, the waiting room contains the great adult pacifiers to help remove the anxieties associated with whatever reason why these people came to the doctor’s office in the first place. Nobody wants to wait, but if they have to, they might as well wait with their mind focused on something other than what they are waiting on. It doesn’t just have to be the doctor’s office. Car repair shops have the same thing. So do courthouses.

Life happens in the waiting room, though. Between the phone call and the appointment, the test and the grade, the engagement and the wedding, the first Advent Candle and Christmas Day, life happens. It is perhaps in these moments, those times when we can disguise our anxieties and flush-out our impatience with distractions, which best define how the moment we are waiting for will turn out. We may be tempted to hibernate through our waiting or we may be strengthened by it, learn patience by it and thus prepare ourselves more fully for it. We can choose to be alive while we wait, or we may choose to bunker down like the roses and the insects, not reemerging until the light of spring beckons our coming out of the mud where they live for the winter.

So, while waiting sucks, take it. Live it. Go with it. But whatever it is you do, don’t sit in the mud. There’s a lot of life to live above the surface.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Thankfulness

Over the course of the last month, I have found little time to dedicate to the Gun’s Quotes. Life has demanded from my time more than being able to author these like I’ve wanted to.

There was the horrifying sorrow of a former teenager in my youth group who violently took his life. There were the adult volunteers who riled in agony at his loss. The pain is still palpable.

There was the joy of my very best friend’s wedding. Ron and Anna were wed two weekends ago. The beauty of their ceremony is an accurate reflection of the purity of the two souls who joined at the altar. Their willingness to wait for one another all of this time exemplifies the love I want in my life. Brian, my roommate and his new Bride, Laura, wed this weekend. Their personal sacrifices for one another follow in the same light.

There were setbacks and then victories at work. You think you are on top of something only to discover the project isn’t going the way you thought it was. You find out at the inopportune moment when you boss asks you for something that you didn’t do because you didn’t think you needed to. Oops. Then, you also obtained a certification for career development that has been a long time coming. The same boss gives you a hi-five. (On the same day he ripped you a new one)

How does one react to so many varying experiences in such little time?

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.”

-Author Unkown

My conclusion is that the only way to approach this crazy roller coaster called “life” is with an attitude of thankfulness. I have been blessed to know this young man no longer with us. I have been blessed with the examples of Ron and Anna and Brian and Laura. I have been blessed with the lessons at work which have earned both a raised-voice and a hi-five.

None of these experiences have anything to do with one another. I am thankful for them all.

I invite you to be thankful for the everything that has happened in your life over the course of the last year, too.

Enjoy your time with your friends and families.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Great Expectations

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Talking about a hot stove doesn't boil the water.”

-LLIC 2008

It’s tough to be a Kansas City sports fan right now. The Royals went less than .500 this season and haven’t been to the playoffs since 1985, the longest drought of any professional sports team in America. This all happened in a year in which we were all told that the Royals were going to have one of the best seasons in recent memory. The farm system in Kansas City has been highly respected for years, and supposedly we have some of the best talent in all of baseball. Could’ve fooled us.

The Kansas City Chiefs are 1-5 thus far into the season. Romeo Crennel led us to victory against the Super Bowl-winning Green Bay Packers last year. We have some amazing talent on our roster, including that of super-star running back Jamaal Charles and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. For whatever reason, we simply cannot win games.

Even the decent Sporting Kansas City has had its image tainted recently. Just in the news this week, Lance Armstrong chose not to appeal the decision to reverse all of his winning titles in cycling due to doping. One of America’s most celebrated athletes has been knocked off his thrown for cheating. Despite the fact that Livestrong, the philanthropy founded by Armstrong against testicular cancer, is not held responsible or accountable for Armstrong’s actions, it’s hardly possible to remove it from the scandal. (After all, was it built on a cheater’s dime?) Our soccer team is a lightning rod for the news considering the name of its stadium is Livestrong Sporting Park.

The longest drought in post-season appearances.

Brilliant talent pool and 1-5.

Named after a foundation with the primary benefactor now declared a cheater.

Yep, not a good year for Kansas City sports.

Perhaps what stings most, however, is that the expectations were all there. The Royals are young and have budding talent. Kansas City landed the All-Star game this year. There were definitely break-out moments where even the sharpest of critics had to admit that it looked like we had some real talent. Even the team’s motto, “Our Time,” indicated that we were on the verge of a breakthrough.

When Romeo beat the Packers last year, we thought we had a coach. When Cassell went to the Pro-Bowl, we thought we had a quarterback. Jamaal Charles was back from a season-ending injury last year. So were a bunch of other guys. What happened?

The soccer team is actually good, that is if you can put its affiliation with a cheater out of your mind.

Sadly, my hometown is a prime example of talking the talk but not walking the walk. It pains me to have to use it to remind you that your goals, dreams and aspirations are all hogwash without your actions. Simply because you want something doesn’t mean you get it. Hard work, discipline and effort will all be required to accomplish your goals. You can’t want to give up when things get hard and you can’t expect to get to the top without experiencing some serious pain and sacrifice. Life’s not easy.

Your motto, your goals, your teammates and your name are all pointless unless you can make all of the parts and pieces that are your life to work together to accomplish what you have set out to accomplish. So, quit talking about your hot stove.

Turn it on first.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Believe

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Pay no attention to what the critics say; there has never been setup a statue in honor of a critic.”

-Jean Sibelius

First, watch this video:

“Do you not believe in yourself? Can you not hear yourself?”

These are the questions Mr. Maloney is asked after performing his breathtaking rendition of Bette Midler’s touching song, “The Rose.”

Subject: Man, age 34, who has been told he has an amazing voice for God-knows-how-long. Has applied to X-Factor for five years. Has ripped up his application before mailing it in for the last four.

“People… just people,” is his response to the questions.

People. That is his reason for not risking “public embarrassment” and putting his talent out there for all to enjoy, and maybe even shed a tear or two.

Let me ask you a question. How often have you not done something because somebody told you that you couldn’t do it? Honestly?

No, I’m not just talking about applying for X-Factor or American Idol. How many of us make decisions every day based upon our BELIEFS that we can not actually do it? Are people really telling us that we are not good enough, or have we convinced ourselves of that fact?

How many girls did we not ask out?

How many promotions did we not ask for?

How many classes did we not take?

How many schools did we not apply for? I could go on and on and on.

I think we often try to hide the fact that we don’t believe in ourselves by conveniently pointing out all of our critics. One critical comment can negate 100 positive ones. Why is it that we believe our enemies but not our friends or loved ones? What gave them authority over our own trusted advisors?

So, in summary, two points:

1. Pay no attention to the critics, just like Jean said.
2. You’d best watch your mouth when criticizing somebody else. Your words could smash somebody’s hopes, dreams and perhaps even futures. You don’t know what they can do, so stop pretending that you do.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Superman

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“I don't think I ever thought of myself as Superman. But there were people who thought of me that way, and maybe I believed them a little.”

-Eminem

I got yelled at by my boss at work on Friday. It was about 2 pm, and my project was about ready to go out the door. It had been a long, exhausting week. Two of my team members were out sick – one all five days of the week – and I was scrambling to get stuff done in time to get drawings out on the day they were due. When it was all said and done, my boss gave me a task to do when I got back on Monday since I would be leaving soon.

“What do you mean you’re not leaving?” he asked after I told him that I was staying the full day until 5.

“I have to do EPA. I’ve been bugged about it all week. It has to have progress shown by next Monday.”

That’s when the chastisement began. “Don’t be Superman! You’re not Superman!” he yelled. “I had guys in the office doing nothing all week long. They could have taken your project and helped you out while you were doing this one. You’ve got to send up a flag for help!”

***

A friend just found out her mother is in trouble with the law. Mom apparently had been charging her credit card without paying the bill for over a year. The debt had been mounting and now, after not paying, legal entanglements are imminent. Understandably, the friend is upset and has started coming up with plans to bail her mother out of about $6,000 worth of debt.

The friend is a college student.

I reminded said friend of what my boss had just told me. There was nothing my friend could do to fix the problem her mother found herself in. Loving her and being there for her are all of the things that she could do. The money is not there, nor is the fault. Mom has problems, and daughter can’t fix them. She can’t be Super(wo)man.

***

“I need help with what we had talked about a few weeks ago.”

Really, I don’t know how this stuff happens. Somehow over the course of the last three years or so, I became the go-to guy for all things purity. “Purity” is what I and this teen had talked about several weeks ago, and purity is what this young man was trying to achieve.

So, I called the group of young men together that had been put together to all pursue purity. They all have each other’s phone numbers and call one another whenever they find themselves in the midst of sexual temptation. They have strength in numbers, and this one young man who came to me for advice knew that he couldn’t do it alone. As a matter of fact, that’s what he said. Then, he sought me out when he came to realize that fighting this fight by himself was a losing battle. He needed somebody to hold him accountable.

He wasn’t Superman, either.

The point of this week’s Gun’s Quote is not to point out that you are powerless. Indeed, the point of this week’s Gun’s Quote is to prove how powerful you are when you surrender yourself into the help and counsel of others. I am not good about this. I try to do everything I can by myself, then wonder why I feel like I’m behind the eight-ball all of the time. It takes great humility to ask for help, but not doing so can mean whatever it is you are doing doesn’t get done.

“It is not good for Man to be alone,” was spoken by God himself.

Perhaps this is a good reminder for those of us who are finding out that they aren’t Superman.

Join the club. Neither am I.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Break Dancing

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Break dancing is like pooping; it feels best when no one is around.”

-Timothy Aiken

So, I’m sitting at the computer, having a difficult case of Writer’s Block. I want to write a Gun’s Quote but want it to be lighthearted, funny, and perhaps even a bit off-base. As I’m contemplating what to do, a teen from my youth group Facebook’s me and asks what I’m up to. So, I tell him I'm writing a Gun's Quote but I have Writer’s Block, and he presents me with the above.

Well, that, as they say, is that.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Taxi

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Good artists copy. Great artists steal.”

-Picaso

So, I’m not going to lie. There are many Gun’s Quotes that I’ve written that don’t exactly come from me. They come from somebody else. I’m inspired by many different sources and my inspiration is not limited to just one theme.

Case-in-point: This weekend I took a cab from the hotel to the airport after my cousin’s wedding. The cab driver told me that he writes letters to each one of his passengers. Then, he handed me mine.

This was definitely the first time something like this has ever happened. So, what to do with a random stranger’s letter? Post it on the internet for all to see, of course:

Title: Late Summer Letter

Summer means different things to all of us. Some think, ‘no more cold weather, freezing ice, dangerous slippery roads.’ Summer means that warm feeling down to your bones, getting out for walks or maybe barbecuing with friends.

Maybe you think summers are hot and humid zapping all the strength out of you. You become sweaty, uncomfortable and a bit lazy. Which are you?

We’ve always gotten what we call forth; will this summer be hot and humid or warm & wonderful – I wonder!

I tell you this, your life proceeds out of your intentions. Do you intend to prove the theory that life seldom brings you what you want, or do you intend to demonstrate who you really are?

Simply notice what you’ve been choosing and choose again. It’s a great thing.

Experience has taught us that your future choices will be better then your previous choices. We all know that but we forget this wonderful “gift.” Learn to love your so-called “bad choices;” they will teach you more than all the lectures, writings, laws and yes, even that beloved advice from friends & relatives. Live and love all your choices. Keep making them. He’ll love you for it! It keeps it interesting for Him. What do you really think drives the “Big Guy?”

So there you have it. There’s yet another person in the world who tries to make others think about their lives. Of course I was made to think after reading this random letter that I received, and I hope sharing it with you had made you do the same.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Greatness

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Good is the enemy of great.”
-Jim Collins

Nobody likes to get poked in the back with pitchforks or have something nipping at his or her heals. Nobody likes to get pushed. Nobody likes to be held accountable.

Yet it is precisely this pushing – this perpetual nag or perhaps even pain – which drives us to move forward from the position we are in to something greater. Perhaps there is no better example of this than the Olympics these past two weeks.

Here you have games which are played in the international arena once every four years. Between those four years athletes from all over the world train intensely. There are diets, exercises, conditioning, training, studying and – oh by the way – all of the things associated with having families, friends, jobs and schools. In other words, these people are nuts.

Yet we almost revere them, don’t we? Michael Phelps becomes possibly the most recognized celebrity of the week during his Olympic tenure. Do you hear about him any other time of the year? Not really. Does that mean he isn’t there? Oh he’s there… in a pool somewhere, swimming for hours and hours a day to stay in pristine condition so he can go win some more gold metals. You don’t become the world’s greatest Olympian by being good. You become the world’s greatest Olympian by being, well, great.

It’s settling for good that keeps us from reaching the pinnacle of our potential. We become satisfied. We become complacent. We don’t stretch ourselves or exit our comfort zones because we resign to the fact that the perceived pain is worse than the perceived accomplishment. We think deep down that it isn’t worth it. We think we aren’t good enough to be great, so why try? We’ve failed so many times, why go at it again? We’ve been embarrassed, humiliated or ridiculed and we would rather crawl back into the safety of being good than risk being great. This security has kept millions, if not billions, from ever seeing what they could do.

How dare you think you are not capable of greatness. How dare you! Do you not realize that your God who created all of the heavens and the earth, every star and every comet, every living creature creeping and crawling on the land and fish swimming in the sea called YOU His “Beloved?” Do you not realize that you, yourself, in your current form now, are His very capstone of creation? Do you not know that you are made in His image? By suggesting that you aren’t capable of greatness would be to suggest that God is a liar and that you are not the greatest of His works. It would be as if you stood in His midst and said, “Sorry, I don’t believe you. I can’t do what You say I can,” or “I’m not who You say I am.” I’m not sure about you, but I would prefer not to call God a liar. If He says that I am, then the only thing that keeps me from being the greatest of all His creations is me.

We will not all be Michael Phelps and that’s fine. We aren’t all called to the same thing nor do we all have the same destiny. Yet, we are all called to greatness. Being made in the image and likeness of God mandates that.

So, whatever it is that you do this week, do not settle for good. You are made for more.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Vitriol

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We’ve seen some sad parts of humanity over the course of the last couple of weeks. Of course, there is the tragedy of the shooting in Colorado, where more than a dozen people lost their life and dozens more were injured, including women and children. The suspected killer was a man who is likely suffering from severe mental illness whereby the “conscience” part of the brain is damaged or altogether dead. As awful as it is for the families of the dead and wounded, I can’t imagine what it could be like to be the family of the accused amid such rousing and caustic calls from our society for his death and torture.

As if killing him would bring back the dead or make it OK.

Yet the brutality didn’t end there. On Facebook this week, my newsfeed was replete with comparisons of this young man with others that “could” have been like him. There was the “If [he] were a Muslim, there would be calls to end Islam, ” “If [he] were black, there would be calls for racial profiling, ” and “If [he] were Hispanic, there would be calls for crackdown on illegal immigrants” captions which sprang up all over Facebook. As if the race of the suspect somehow had something to do with how we should treat a particular race of people.

Then there were comparisons between those who died and other groups. Someone professing to be pro-life posted a caption indicating that America kills more than a dozen babies in less than a hour with abortion. While true, such facts and public discourse are hardly appropriate on Facebook and are demeaning to the both the dead and the aborted. The internet is not a forum for you to press your political beliefs at the expense of the suffering, folks, even if your intent is moral good.

Let’s not skip over Chick-fil-A, however. The CEO, a professed Christian man, (Was that really a secret?) had an interview with a Christian organization. Gay marriage was brought up. He said that he didn’t support it.

Now we have calls for boycotting Chick-fil-A springing up all across the country. Once again, Facebook captions on both sides spring up as if from nowhere. Gay organizations are crying “foul," and we already have a “Support Chick-fil-A Day” where we’re all supposed to file in to our nearest Chick-fil-A and buy a sandwhich in their support. Why did we decide to do that? Because Chicago has decided to deny the company business licenses to new Chick-fil-As because of their “intolerant” policies towards gays.

Really, folks? I mean… REALLY??

Let’s get one thing straight… everyone in this country is entitled to their own opinion. Let’s get one other thing straight… simply because someone doesn’t agree with yours is not a just cause for you to attack them, and even if there were an opportunity for you to discuss your opinions with your opponents, using the public forum to bastardize them is in no way appropriate, respectful or decent.

Tolerance works both ways!

The vitriol that we are seeing in this country right now, fanned by Facebook and the media, is disgusting. You can help stop that.

This week’s Gun’s Quotes advice is simple: Be civil. If you are posting this malice, hateful, and callous material on Facebook, stop it. If your conversations can’t be carried without raising your voice, clinching your fist or name-calling, walk away. Leave the civil, obedient, intellectual discussion to those of us who approach problems the respectful way. The pro-life, illegal immigration, pro- and anti-gay marriage issues all got dragged into a beating this week and none of them are better for it.

Even Obama and Romney had the wherewithal to recognize they needed to suspend their campaigns in the midst of the Colorado tragedy, and they’re blood-sucking politicians!

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Madness and Chaos

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

-Annie Dillard

If someone were to ask how I spend my life, I would response with the title of this week’s Gun’s Quote… Madness and Chaos.

Last week I spent my week with a bunch of teenagers from Holy Trinity in Lenexa. It was their annual summer trip and I was a chaperone. While there, the theme of the conference which was repeated time and time again was, “Be Present.”

It’s the idea that we should be focused on the “now” because it is the only “now” we are going to get.

This summer has been a real reality-check in terms of this idea.

This is the last year of my twenties, an idea that I don’t necessarily relent but one of which I’m well aware. Life is also in the midst of large changes. This summer, virtually all of my best friends, including my roommate, will be married. The ones that aren’t have either strongly considered or are actively discerning their vocation to the Priesthood. Some that I’m used to seeing weekly are moving away. My 10-year high school reunion is this fall.

Of course, none of these things are bad things. As a matter of fact, most are terrific things! I mention them only to give context to this idea: Perhaps the most certain thing in life is that of change.

That’s why I can’t help but busy myself on the people in my life right now. I’m spending lots of money to fly to out-of-town weddings. I’m trying to be more present to roommates. Thank God for online bill pay or else I’d probably be in trouble; I’ve not spent much time going through the mail piling up on my desk. My priorities have shifted to making sure that my schedule is packed with as much quality time with others as possible because reality is that my relationships need attention in the midst of their change. Reality is that I won’t be seeing some people nearly as often after this summer.

Reality is that these relationships are changing.

This is the middle of the summer. It’s all downhill from here. At least for me, this is the one time of the year when people are most able to get away and most willing to get out. I really feel the need to tell you to take advantage of this time. OK, so it’s cheesy, but I don’t care: Tell your family you love them not by words but by spending time with them. Do the same with your friends. Take an active role in their lives and invite them into your own. After all, we only have this moment in which to live. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring and the past is irrelevant. Look at now and live in it, even if it’s hard, even if you have better things to do, and even if it makes your head spin. If you don’t, you will eventually regret it.

You only get THIS moment once. Take care of it.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Men

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

 “Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant.”

-Stephen Covey

I'm going to start a new annual tradition here at the Gun's Quotes. Each year, I volunteer for a week for an organization that is near and dear to my heart: The American Legion Boys State of Missouri.

I have been asked this past week why I dedicate a week of my life, using my own vacation time at work, to volunteer to watch 1,000 17-year-old guys. While there are many reasons, I feel that a Gun's Quote that I have written in the past best summarizes my reasoning for committing to this organization which I am so proud to serve. Therefore, from here on out, it will be repeated each time I come back fromBoys State. That said, here we go:

Sorry, ladies. This week’s Gun’s Quote is not for you. I just need to take a moment to speak with my fellow brethren. Please don’t take it personally.

The world’s biggest problem right now is men. That bears repeating. The world’s biggest problem right now is men.

Look at our prisons. Their occupants are 95% male. One in 75 men in the United States is in prison. Rape, murder, drug charges and even white-collar crime are all dominated by men.

Look at our families. Of those families that are single-parent, 80% are single-mother. When one parent walks away from a relationship, four times out of five, it is dad. Men initiate more divorce than women. While our media is exceptional at getting our attention when a mother harms her children, they conveniently gloss over the fact that there are billions of dollars of unpaid child-support in the US by defaulting dads.

Look at our movies. “Hall Pass” is a comedy based upon our societal view on men, and guess what? I’m not laughing. “Oh, Gun…” you might say, “It’s just a movie and it’s just a joke.” Is that fact?

Well, let me tell you some more facts. We have a world where guys are still living at home after college, (or moving in with whomever happens to be their girlfriend at the time) where their idea of a good time is to drink themselves under the table and hook up with the pretty bimbo at the bar, where they spend their money on the latest video games and home theater systems, and, oh yeah, let’s not forget the car. There is a reason why the Farrelly brothers’ latest travesty-of-a-motion-pictu​re topped the box office the weekend it came out, and it’s because the majority of us think it’s cool.

And marriage? Why get into marriage when there are better looking girls on the internet, right? John Mayer even brags about sexually gratifying himself and how doing so is so much better because he doesn’t have to worry about the commitment of marriage, <sarcasm> BUT THAT’S OK because at least he isn’t cheating on a wife.</sarcasm> He even relegated women down to a playing with a box of crayons with each woman being a different color that he wants to use to color HIS life. Unbelievable.

Don’t take my word for it, though. After all, I’m just a prude with a draconian view on masculinity and the role of the man. Rather, look at the titles of these recently published books on “man-boys” in our day: “The End of Men,” “Are Men Necessary?” “The Decline of Males,” “The Death of Macho,” and my personal favorite, “Women will Rule the World.”

To quote one book: "We are sick of hooking up with guys… Guys talk about Star Wars like it's not a movie made for people half their age; a guy's idea of a perfect night is to hang around the PlayStation with his bandmates, or a trip to Vegas with his college friends. Guys feed you Chipotle and ride their bikes in traffic. They are more like the kids we babysat than the dads who drove us home.” If this isn’t damning, I don’t know what is.

Guys, I have no idea what it will take for me to convey to you that our world is failing because of our own selfishness, apathy and laziness. Women are hurting and our world is crumbling. We have problems from climate change to poverty to violent crime and oppressive governments all the way down to a 50% divorce rate, broken homes and families and “fatherless” children. No wonder gay “marriage” is becoming so prominent… Anything looks better than the wreck men have left families over the course of the last three or four decades. We will soon be living in the repercussions of millions of men choosing to not commit to anything but their own gratification. They’ll put it off, drag it out, or turn a blind eye because they are too busy looking out for themselves and lusting after their own personal entertainment.

Get over yourself. Your world is not a playground. It doesn’t orbit around you. It needs you. It needs you badly. Quit being a pansy and complaining about how it’s too hard or what’s in it for you or how you’d rather crack open a beer. You have a God-given duty to perform a God-given purpose in this world.

You have an obligation to serve those around you who know nothing of the luxuries that you splurge in day-in and day-out. You have the ability to serve your world, build-up your community and country, love your wife and children and make the world a better place to live. If the world's biggest problem is men, then the world's greatest hope is men.

This is why I take time out of my year to serve 1,000 of the best young men the State of Missouri has to offer. It is my observation that the inspiration that this program provides to these young men imparts upon them the obligation to make their world a better place. It is a joy and an honor to serve an organization such as this, and it is my hope that I may continue to do so for many years to come.

…and that’s why I serve.

Commitment

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“The difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment’ is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was ‘involved,’ and the pig was ‘committed.’”

-Unknown

I totally won an award in a carshow this weekend.

I decided that since this was the first time that I purchased and owned a really nice car with my own money that it would be fun to take it to a car show. There is an internet forum called Acurazine that I have been a member of since I was researching an Acura to buy. Well, they had a national meet in Kansas City and I decided that I wanted to see how the Silver Bullet would do.

Of course, I would need to make her presentable. I enlisted the help of a co-worker (Thanks, Jeremy!) who rebuilds old cars as a hobby. He advised me on how to shop for the waxing kits, including clay bars, detailer, the wax (obviously) and how to apply all of these various products. Then we had the lesson on how to do the wheels and tires.

This starts Friday when Jeremy comes over to talk to me about how clay-barring works. We did that first, then used detailer to take all of the clay off. The next day, I waxed and waxed and waxed. I believe I may have damaged a nerve in my arm from all of the waxing, as the fingers in my right hand are still quite numb…

It was Sunday morning when I took the car to the actual show, but not before vacuuming her out and cleaning all of the glass. There, I did the tires and wheels. (It would have been meaningless to do that before putting her on the highway to get to the show in the first place…)

By my estimates, I spent 10 hours on the car. It was ridiculous. Then again, I wanted to have the best looking car there. Beings that I now have a plaque sitting on my desk, I suppose my goal was achieved.

Contrast this weekend with this morning. Not being satisfied with results thus far, I enlisted the help of a personal trainer to kick my butt into the shape that I’ve wanted to be in for over a year now. Last time, we talked about what my goals were and my commitment level to achieving those goals. This morning, Javier pulled up my log…

“So, I was looking at how often you come to the gym…”

Uh oh. Apparently twice a week doesn’t cut it. (Nor will it cut my gut)

In talking about what would be necessary in order for me to “look good naked,” (My primary goal… don’t judge.) I was forewarned that much more effort would be required, both in terms of attendance and in terms of diet. Based upon what exercises I am able to complete, it would seem as though decent amounts of muscle tone are there, but I need to drop 10 pounds in order to see any of it. (Body fat percentage is at 14.7%. The goal would be closer to 12%.)

He tells me that if I really commit to it, I can be toned and see awesome results in as little as two months. I’m also assured that the current course will never get me there.

Amazing, isn’t it? How is it that I can decide one weekend I’m going to win a car meet and yet in almost two years’ time I’ve not done what needs to be done to get me to look the way I want to look? Clearly, the level of commitment to one differs from the other. So, thus, do the results. My car looks better than I do. (Admittedly, both are shiny. I guess I should work on that tan, too…)

Perhaps if you want something so badly you should first evaluate the amount of effort you are going to spend to get it. It’s not enough to be involved. You have to commit.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Goodbye

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“A friend is one to whom you can pour out the contents of your heart, chaff and grain alike. Knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.”

-Unknown

When I was a senior in high school, a new priest moved into town. That summer, several volunteers and I helped him move in. This past weekend, that same priest said his last Mass in Cameron, MO, and is moving back into Kansas City, MO.

This man has had a profound impact on the community that he served for so many years. He had a profound impact on my family. There were many hard times he had counseled me through, and there were many times he did the same for my brothers.

Below was his last homily, posted on the internet for all to see. It serves as a reminder that we never know how long we will stay where we are and when we will have to say “Goodbye.” Yet, I hope it also serves as a reminder that while you are there you can touch the loves of those around you and simultaneously be touched by them, too.

Eleven years ago when Bishop Boland first listed options for my next parish assignment, he said in his Irish accent, “It may not be your cup of tea, but Cameron is open.” I said, “Well, if the people there need a pastor, I would not rule it out.” After the appointments, a priest on the personnel board said to me, “You won’t have to stay there long. If it doesn’t work out, ask for a different parish in a couple of years.” But once I moved in, I told my friends, “I’m in no hurry to leave Cameron. It’s a great place to wake up in the morning. It’s less frantic than Kansas City. People get along. They love their parish and they love their town.”

When a priest becomes a pastor, the people end up telling him what kind of priest he should be. You taught me to care about the joys and troubles in your lives, to respect the history of the places I would lead, to meet others from the community, and to support local businesses. You also challenged me to offer my best because you were no less valuable than anyone in the city or anywhere else on this planet. I leave here feeling greatly enriched by the Church and community I came to serve. Cameron and Maysville have definitely been my cup of tea.

We lived through a lot together. I started work here on July 2^nd, 2001, just a few months before the attacks of September 11^th. In 2002, my father died, in 2003 I turned 50, and in 2004 you helped me observe my silver anniversary as a priest. Many times you welcomed my mother here to celebrate her birthday together with your annual St. Patrick’s Day events. You helped me pass my milestones even as you were passing your own. I experienced the support of talented staff, councils and boards. We made it through the difficult decisions to renovate both St. Aloysius Church and St. Munchin Church. You let me go to help priests and people around the world prepare for the revised English translation of the mass, and you stayed with me here as we stepped into those new words together.

On my travels, people frequently said to me, “Be sure and thank your parishioners for letting us borrow you.” You should know this: What made those talks so effective was not my knowledge of Latin, history, grammar, or liturgy. Other people have that. What made my talks effective was that I explained many points with words like “Well, in my parish, we do this.” People knew I couldn't talk about theory without having to deal with practice. They didn’t want a university professor; they wanted a pastor. They wanted me because they respected you; they knew you were keeping me real. And you should know this too: no matter how far I went or how long I stayed, the one thing I wanted most on every trip was to get back home.

Over these years we lived through joy and sorrow, suffering and glory like any family. Even though you call me “Father”, I call you “brothers and sisters” because we have one Father, and we are all his children. Saint Paul says today, “We are children of God, and if children then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” That inheritance sounds great. But then Paul throws in this reminder. We are “joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” I have inherited a lot from you - a new appreciation of community, faith and service, even at the cost of tears and struggles. But what we inherit together is something far greater - the glory that we share with Christ. I thank God for revealing the glory of Christ to me through you.



…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Invest

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Remember that who you are with is always more important than where you are.”

-LLIC 2008

As we were driving along in his brand new Toyota Prius V, Ron and I were talking about the weddings that we had this summer.

There was, of course, the wedding that we were both driving to on Saturday: My friend and Ron’s cousin, Joe and his wife-to-be, Lindsey. Come July, a mutual friend, Nick and his fiancée, Rachel. August would be Chris and Alice, both friends.

Ron gets married in November.

Everytime I go to Michigan, and it seems I will be there a lot this summer, I stop to wonder if perhaps I made a small miscue by returning to Kansas. A great deal of my life lives in that state. My deepest friendships and the maturity of my faith developed there, to say nothing of the education that I received both formally and informally. The fact that all of the weddings that I have either been invited to or will be standing in all Summer in that state is perhaps that largest indicator of this.

If I lived there, of course, I would then be buying plane tickets for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter to come back home, and let’s not forget that I have family members that get married, too.

This is not a miscue; this is a blessing. At the end of the day, I have two homes which are filled with loving and supportive friends and family. I have a job which permits me to travel enough to visit both. Yes, sacrifices must be made in order to achieve this but people are more important than places or the logistics of moving from one to the other. It is a struggle, but I would rather have the struggle of scrapping up the cash for weekend visits vs. having no one to visit at all.

The priority of friends is occasionally tough, but keep them as a priority. Your life remains rich when you invest in them, even if your bank account is broke from investing in the airlines these days, too. (Average airfare between Kansas City and Grand Rapids or Detroit? $450!) There is no excuse for allowing something which has impacted your life so greatly from dying off. Your relationships are more important than your location.

Invest.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Never Give Up

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Never, never, never give up.”

-Winston Churchill

This weekend I was honored by being asked to deliver the keynote at my home parish’s graduation banquet. Below is (roughly) the speech that I gave to the graduates and their families in attendance:

Never give up. Never, ever, ever give up. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up.

…and that’s really all I have to say to you. You see, there’s not much other advice that I could give to you. The fact of the matter is that right now I’m the only thing that stands between you and a bunch of money that these people want to give you. I understand that. Tonight is about you, not me, so I will keep this brief.

You see, there are two kinds of graduation speakers out there in the world, and in a few weeks you are going to experience one of them. The first kind of graduation speaker is the “Accomplishments” graduation speaker. This kind of speech is marked by complimenting and praising you on all of their achievements. They sound something like, “Congratulations on your graduation,” or “Great job, you made it!”

There is a problem with this kind of graduation speaker, however. You see, an accomplishment is nothing more than something you did. An achievement is something you have done. An award is something you earned. These are all past tense. The problem with your accomplishments is that they are in your past, and anybody who has ever seen an eTrade commercial knows, “past performance does not guarantee future results.”

(To audience) Does anybody else have a 401k?

All an accomplishment tells you is that you did do a good job, that you did know what you were doing, that you did get it right. Perhaps there is no better example of this than a young man I know who is roughly my age. This young man got above a 30 on his ACT. He got a large scholarship to a local university and was placed in its Honors Program. After a year of school, he decided that his major and his school weren’t for him, which is fine. I changed my major and changed my school, too. The difference, though, was that he transferred to another school and did the very same thing. After that second school, though, he never went back to college. Today, he is living in his parents’ rental property and working for them because he can’t hold his own job and can’t afford to live anywhere else. He quit. He gave up. If you were to compare myself and him side-by-side at our graduation, everyone would have said that he would have been the one who ended up with the PhD and the great job. He should have. But, he gave up.

The second kind of graduation speaker is the “advice” graduation speaker. Now, this kind of speaker feels like they have some special wisdom or knowledge to impart upon you that will make you go places in life. They tell you things like “You’ve got to study hard,” “You’ve got to work hard.” Well, that’s all well and good, but advice does you no good whatsoever unless you actually follow through with it. Working hard does you no good if you work hard and then stop. The same is true for studying hard. As a matter of fact, no advice works as long as you choose to quit it.

When you get to college and you find out that studying there is a lot harder than it was in high school, never give up.

When you find somebody that you think is really cute, never give up.

When you start going out, never give up.

When that relationship ends and you breakup, never give up.

When you land your dream job, never give up.

When you run into that special someone, never give up.

When you get married, never give up. After all, whatever it was that lead you to marriage has to stay there in order to keep the marriage working. (To audience) Parents, can I get an, “Amen?”

When you have kids that are one, three and five, never give up.

When your dream job turns into your nightmare, never give up.

When the economy tanks and you get laid off, never give up.

When your marriage is on the brink of divorce because you’ve been out of work for six months, you can’t pay the bills and the bank is threatening to take away your house and car, never give up.

When you land a job that pays 25% less than what you had before and in a field that you really don’t like, never give up.

When your kids are 14, 16 and 18 and they are just like you, never give up.

When your kids make decisions that you don’t like, never give up.

When your kids graduate from college, enter the military or the workforce, never give up.

When your kids start having your grandkids, never give up.

When your house is empty, the children are all grown and you and your spouse are going to enjoy the rest of your lives together only to be interrupted by illness, followed by suffering, pain and loss… never give up.

You see, there is no other advice that I can give you. The fact of the matter is that half of you have already forgotten my name, and the other half will forget tomorrow. The only exception is you, Tim, and the only reason why is because your family and I have known each other since, well, birth. Like I said, that’s fine, today is about you, not me. I do not mean to take away any of your accomplishments, as I am sure you have earned each one of them. I have no idea who you are and I have no idea what you want to do or what you will do in your life, but if there is any advice I can give you and anything at all that I want you to remember from this speech, remember this:

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever…

Ever.

Give up.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Priorities

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“I learned that we can do anything, but we can't do everything... at least not at the same time. So think of your priorities not in terms of what activities you do, but when you do them. Timing is everything.”

-Dan Millman

I’m back.

It’s a foregone conclusion that I haven’t written one of these in some time. Life has really been crazy over the course of the last few months, and frankly something had to give. I don’t think anybody likes making the conscious decision to give something up, even temporarily, but at the end of the day, 50 people are subscribed to this blog and probably fewer read it. In comparison to fixing my house, doing my taxes, attempting to get washboard abs, buying a car, having a girlfriend (and then going through a breakup) and buying two major appliances that decided to go caput, the decision on what to sacrifice became clear.

My boss calls this “juggling.” Each ball that you juggle is a priority in life. They are different for everybody and some have to be in the air and others have to be in your hands and require your immediate attention. You can only juggle so many balls and if you have too many in your hands at once the ones in the air fall.

Gun’s Quotes fell.

For now, things have settled enough to where I am writing this small explanation of where I’ve been. I do very much hope that I can get back to my ordinary weekly writings, and I do very much hope that I can find the creative energy to keep them at least interesting if not helpful. Let’s be honest… one of the other reasons for the sabbatical was a pretty serious case of Writer’s Block.

Thanks to all of you who had inquired over the course of the last couple of months to see what’s been going on and who also offered thanks for the times that I do write.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Urgent Appeal

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! It is a dangerous servant and a terrible master.”

-George Washington

When doing Gun’s Quotes, I observe some basic rules. I try to use a certain amount of wit. (This happens to be the most difficult rule.) I try to not press my political or religious views while still upholding what is good and just. I try to balance melodrama with even-keeled prose. Some quotes are celebratory; some are dreadful. Some are serious; some funny. In all things, I try to keep things tempered so as to not lose any of you because you get sick and tired of the same thing over and over again. After all, life is a bunch of different experiences and never an extreme of any one thing.

Today I am violating my rules. Today, I appeal for your help, knowing that the viewpoints I present are controversial and that your feelings may very well not parallel my own. My conscience compels me to appeal anyway.

For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has claimed that contraception is sin. The reasoning behind this stance is built upon a foundation of hundreds of philosophers, physicians, religious and intellectual leaders who have formed the church’s stance those centuries ago and continue to evolve them today. It is unfortunate that I lack the time and space to present to you the arguments that the church holds with this settled matter, but even if I did, the church’s reasoning is irrelevant for the topic at hand.

Kathleen Sebelius, the director of Health and Human Services under the auspices of the Obama Administration, announced that the mandatory coverage for health insurance that employers must provide to their employees must also cover contraceptives and the so-called “morning after” pill under the new “Obamacare” law. This coverage is to be provided to employees at no cost to the employee. Therefore, all organizations, public or private, are now mandated to purchase health insurance which covers contraception and emergency contraception for their employees. Abortion-inducing drugs are also covered, meaning a live fetus can be rejected by intake of a drug covered by the healthcare law.

As a major employer of teachers, physicians, social workers, pastors, administrators and dozens of other categories, the Catholic Church is now forced under this law to provide to its employees this mandatory coverage which flies in the face of the church’s long-held and deeply-rooted belief.

I need not cite the Bill of Rights, which you all know by heart and can logically deduce from your own sound reasoning, that the government cannot force Catholics, or any other religious institution for that matter, to provide any services that go against its beliefs. It’s basic to all of us.

Yet, here we are. Instead of observing the basic tenants of the document which gives it any authority whatsoever, the Federal Government has flagrantly violated the Bill of Rights that this country has held dear since its founding over 200 years ago.

It is with certainty that I cannot sway your opinions regarding whether or not contraception is moral. I will not attempt to do so. I appeal to you, however, to consider the attack the Obama administration has effectively launched against Catholics by audaciously mandating that the church violate its conscience or face penalties in less than one year.

Indeed, I plead with you – regardless of your faith, religion, creed, political views or opinions – to recognize this violation and to join me in appealing to our Senators, Representatives and Administration to reverse this illegal course of action.

Please visit www.house.gov, www.senate.gov, and www.whitehouse.gov and tell your government to stop this abomination against religious liberty in the USA NOW.

Thank you.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

It's not Easy Being Green

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security.  Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad.  Otherwise what is there to defend?”

-Robert Redford

This week I was supposed to have my first sustainability committee meeting for the American Society of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) Instead, one of the community members got sick and the other I apparently was in the same restaurant with and couldn’t find. The one committee member who I did run into briefly talked with me. We discussed some ideas, but beings that only half of the committee discussed business, our meeting was quite short.

This is after finding only three other people out of an organization of hundreds that were interested in starting a sustainability committee in the first place.

I also learned that one of my projects this week is not going to utilize heat pumps on the project. A heat pump for this particular building would literally reduce the amount of energy needed for heating the building by less than half. The heat pumps were eliminated due to budget constraints. The alternative? Electric strip heat. For those not aware, it is the most inefficient way to heat a building, at least in Kansas.

I also spent a decent amount of money on the most efficient dishwasher I could find in my price range a few weeks ago. The new dishwasher uses only a few gallons of water per dishwasher full of dishes. That and new technologies in motor design mean that it actually uses less total energy than washing dishes by hand. (And almost 80% less water than washing dishes by hand.) How can an electrically-powered dishwasher use less energy than hand-washing dishes? Simple. Because it uses so much less water, that’s less water your house has to heat. Because your house doesn’t heat as much water, it doesn’t use as much energy.

Try explaining this to the various occupants of my house who run a sink-full of water to rinse the dishes off before the go in the dishwasher in the first place. (Or wash them by hand altogether)

Certainly, I’m not meaning to complain for help in the kitchen, but I’m frustrated at the general lack of mankind’s’ desire to change habits and form new ones for the greater good of us all. Instead of considering what our future generations might inherit – or consider how even in our own lifetimes we may be impacted by the decisions we choose to make today – we instead look immediately for what is less work, more familiar or cheaper. That people insist on running their heat all day long so they come home to a warm house when a $100 programmable thermostat would do the same thing is most infuriating to me.

While not wanting to lecture and simultaneously not wanting to go political on you, I would just ask that you carefully consider ALL of your resources. Money is an important resource, true, but if we all took basic steps to reduce the impact we had on the world around us, all of us would enjoy a higher quality of life.

So would our decedents.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

...Better, Better, Better... BEST!!

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Dreams are achieved by our persistence in pursuing them.”

-Kurt Hofman

Erik is still right.

Despite that fact, however, persistence won. That is why time and time again I continue to choose to sacrifice time and try to obtain the highest quality at the lowest price. This week, it happened, and in a big way.

I bought a car.

The beautiful, shiny, Acura TSX had sat on the dealer lot for over 60 days. They wanted to get rid of it. It was certified used, came with lifetime oil changes, a 1-year, 12,000 mile warranty, an extension of the factory powertrain warranty till 100,000 miles, all of the bells and whistles, and yes, even a spoiler. It was in the color I wanted, the price I wanted, the model I wanted, the model year I wanted, had the spoiler I wanted, and even had a navigation system to boot.

Did I mention it had a spoiler?

Yes, I stretched price-wise, but if Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds are any indication, I got a good deal. The car is in perfect condition. It looks like it rolled-off the assembly line and that nobody had driven it before. Whoever had this thing last had the dealer do all the servicing and it appears as though it had been babied.

I absolutely love it.

Some might say I’m lucky in terms of the things I have. I disagree. I’m stubborn. I refuse to give up and refuse to settle to the point of fault. Yes, this has caused problems before in life and certainly there are things that do not require dwelling on them to make a decision. (I freely admit that one of my largest character flaws is deciding how much time a decision should actually take) There are other things, however, that do justify the long wait and the careful discernment. Done well, the fruits of your labors can be well rewarded. This is a case-in-point.

There is simply no substitution for persistence, hard work, determination and patience. If you want something, go get it. It won’t come to you easily, but if it’s worth it, you’ll do what it takes.

Want something? Never give up. I’m proof-positive that persistence works.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!

Good, Better, Better, Better, Better...

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Time. Money. Quality. Pick Two.”

-Phrase used, and others similar, by Project Management Professionals and Authors in various forms of business

Erik and I were talking in the car yesterday on our way to Cameron. The discussion centered on the fact that I’m trying to find a different car. It is time for the Bizzard Bullet to retire. I’ve sunk more money into her over the last year than she was worth, so it is time to move on. I absolutely hate it. I love that car… but I digress.

First of all, the used car market right now sucks. To find any of the options that I want, I’m looking at about $10,000 for a car with just shy of 100,000 miles. Ten grand! It’s absolutely absurd. So, I’ve been plodding around the internet, searching through classifieds, dealer websites, and creating custom searches and alerts on cars.com to try to find a good deal. The process has been time-consuming, and I’m getting tired of thinking I’ve found something, going to check it out, and being disappointed. This process is really one of the most frustrating that a human being can put himself/herself through, and it is the reason why I want to keep car-shopping a rare occurrence in my life. Its pain is second only to trying to buy a house.

As I explained to Erik, you have time, quality or money, and you can only pick two. This phrase I picked up in college and I’ve always found it to be true. It’s true at work, it’s true at school and, as Erik pointed out, it’s true at home, too. Simply put, if you want something cheap and high-quality, you have to not care how long it takes to get there. If something needs to be high quality and you need it now, you are going to pay out the nose. If you need it cheap and fast, it’s going to fall apart on you.

“You manage your money perfectly,” he told me going down the road, “but I wonder if the reason you struggle with time so much is because you care so much about your budget and making sure whatever you do is perfect that time gets scarified too often.” (Above paraphrased)

You know those “Ah Ha” Moments when things sudden get very clear? Yeah, that was one. Life has never really been balanced. I’m constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul, and there have been times when Peter has pounded on my door looking for me. While making sure that I’m happy with what I drive and also making sure that I can afford it long-term is important, throwing away weekend after weekend or choosing to blow-away an entire evening only to keep coming home with the same vehicle will cause problems sooner rather than later. Admittedly, I’m months behind on other priorities as well. Brian still doesn’t have a light fixture in his room.

It’s something I have to work on. At some point, you have to poop or get off the pot, pull the trigger and make a decision. I struggle with that; I want to know I couldn’t have done better.

Perhaps the lesson learned here is knowing that sometimes saving a little time is better, too.

…and that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!