FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE, JUST STAY CONNECTED

Good morning,

As you hopefully know, MTWMY has moved to our new home on Wordpress but if you have decided to follow us and/or subscribe with us to get a new notification every time we post new content, then you know this situation is a really positive one.

If you haven't yet made the transition with us, I have to ask,

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

We can't wait to see you and hear more of your insightful comments. Get over there and help support us. Here's the new address: https://mirrortimewithmistayu.wordpress.com

You're cordially invited to be a part of something special. At least, we think it is. Thank you in advance.

~Mr. Yu

MIRROR TIME's NEW HOME

Good morning, all.

Just a quick notice. Mirror Time with Mr. Yu has a new home. It is really nice looking. The address is below. It will, however, require that you subscribe there again so please do so as you come over to see us in our new spot on Wordpress. Can't wait to hear from you all. Thank you for your support.

https://wordpress.com/view/mirrortimewithmistayu.wordpress.com

MIRROR TIME IS MOVING!!!! PLEASE READ!!!!

Guys,

Due to some issues with our hosting site that I found to be unacceptable and a detriment to the kind of content I am committed to providing to my readers and subscribers, Mirror Time with Mistayu is moving from this location to our new home.

Our new blog address is: mirrortimewithmistayu.wordpress.com

If you are a current subscriber, please follow our blog at its new location. If you are a reader but have not subscribed, please bookmark our new home.

Keep sharing. Keep smiling. Keep thinking. Thank you for your patience and your support.
Can't wait to hear from you and read more of your comments.

mirrortimewithmistayu.wordpress.com

mirrortimewithmistayu.wordpress.com

WhAt a wONdeRfUl WorLD

What a wonderful world.

What do you see when you look out of your window? 

Are you privileged to see rows of red roses and trees of green? 

Children laughing and playing without a care in the world? 

Is your heart buoyed to see old friends enjoying one another's company or new friends emerging on the relationship horizon? 

Is the world wonderful to you in this moment?

What do you see on your commute to work?

Do you see that man still sitting in the same corner of the subway platform, in tattered clothes, still hoping for, at least, one hot meal today, despising the circumstances he finds himself in, cursing the voices in his head that daily torment him, hoping today will be better than yesterday?

Or the stock broker on his cell phone bragging about how much money he made this week and what kind of car he plans to buy?

Do you see the group of mean girls bullying the same little girl at the same bus stop every morning? Does it cross your mind what will happen to her? Does it make you sad? Do you feel anything at all?

Do you ever wonder what all the dilapidated buildings, if renovated, could do for that man from earlier and others in similar situations? Do you ever ask "What If"? 

Do the skies seem so blue in that moment? Are the trees rich with green if there are any trees to view at all that haven't been replaced by structures of wood and metal?

What do you see when you plug in?

Is every other post a source of outrage?

Has every log-in become a daily war of words over politics, country, or some senseless banter?

It's hunting season every day if you read your local paper. Just without rabbits, ducks, or deer.

Do you feel you are being pressured to care about the rich and famous while what really matters is crumbling around you?

Is this world still wonderful in your eyes? 

Cries for help. No one's listening.

Turning off body cams just until..... 

Still no clean water. #FlintMichigan

Values trampled under foot. 

Children in cages. 

Some of my best friends are Latino.

No substantial evidence. 

One meal a day. 16,000 kids every weekend. #CharlestonCounty

Look away.

Serial bomber taken into custody. 

Predatory lending.

#METOO

Who's right, who's left? Who cares?

Some of my best friends are Asian.

Corporate machines steamrolling transient standards.

I'm a good person. 

We feel for the family in this tragedy but we believe we followed procedure.

Still building a wall. 

Google South Fulton, GA.

My four and no more! 

Babies crying. 

Shot in the back. 

Some of my best friends are black.

Blame it on the Ambien.

Zero tolerance.

Turn your music up louder so you can't hear her screams.

On administrative leave with pay.

Guilty until proven innocent.

Go back to your country. 

Asphyxiated with a baton.

Pretend you don't see it.

Unarmed man shot 41 times.

Who's right, who's wrong? Who cares?

NATIVE Americans. 

She made a threatening gesture. 

Some of my best friends are white.

Close your blinds.  

Acquitted of all charges. 

I just don't want to get involved. 

No weapon found. 

Make America Great Again.

Hearts gone cold.

What a wonderful world. What a wonderful world.

Every one of our voices, everyone of our daily decisions, to speak or remain silent, to look or to shield our eyes, to stand or to lie down help shape what kind of world we have. We can forcefully detach ourselves from history's trajectory and turn away from what we have become or we can embrace it like a snugly teddy bear and accept the coming recourse. We can change our purview and climb harder to adjust our eye line and see things from an alternative point of view, though uncomfortable, but perhaps necessary. Maybe we will see ourselves differently in the process, too.

Sit at your keyboard and pound at the keys. Clutch the remote and yell at the TV, demanding change. Or we can become the change we want and need to see. Even if no one else is listening, you listen. Even if no one else will step out into the fray and lend a hand, you offer both of yours. If your peers are grudgingly giving one dollar, you joyfully give ten dollars. Be the change you want and need to see. While your friends are talking, you tangibly act. Take a picture. Write a letter. Use your personal and professional sphere of influence. Do YOUR best. Push for change as far as your arms can reach. When everything around you and within you is screaming "No! Mind your own business!", you respond with "Yes. I can help!" When they offer a share or a retweet, you promote dialogue, you ask why and listen to the response. You just flat out be intentional and make the effort to do better so we can be better and have better. It only takes one to start on the road to a wonderful world. Until then, we all have to live in this one. Let's take, at least, the first step to making it better.

Okay?

ThE woRLD frOm YouR wiNdOw - 6/12/18

Good morning.

It's hard to not be a little introspective when you look at all that is happening in our world. I want to start a new feature that I will be doing periodically on "Mirror Time". What I am hoping I can get your help with is the interaction. I want to open up dialogue on the issues that plague, upset, or confuse us in our world. 

As usual, there are certain types of behavior that will not be tolerated under any circumstances but I am hoping for thoughtful discussion, self-reflection, and perhaps some solutions. I don't claim to have any answers or an avenue to get your answers to others but I believe within our sphere of influence, there is opportunity to change our world, one person, one issue at a time.

So with that being said, I would like to present to you "The World From Your Window", a compilation of prevalent news stories and world issues that I hope we will be bold enough to speak to after we read these. Please fully utilize the comments section with your thoughts and opinions. I'd love to hear how you view things in your world and in our world. Before we're done, hopefully, you will see that sometimes there is a difference between the two.

So how does the world look from your window?

PEACEFUL RESOLUTION

Source: (https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/11/us/orlando-officer-shot-in-barricade/index.html)

A nearly 24 hour hostage situation comes to a tragic end when police were unable to negotiate a safe release of four children from ages 1 to 11 were all found dead in an Orlando, FL apartment, along with the alleged kidnapper at 11:45pm Sunday night. Two of the children were his and the two others were his girlfriends from a previous relationship. A police officer, Kevin Valencia, was shot during the standoff and is in critical condition.

The suspect, Gary Lindsey, Jr., has previous arrests for arson, domestic violence battery, as well as four arrests for violating parole. For me, personally, this rap sheet alone produces a lot of questions. A lot of questions.

Not many details are being released yet but this is one of those situations that make any parent cringe. What brought this to bear? What circumstances led to this tragic conclusion? Why was he not in jail based on the charges brought against him? Why was he given charge over four young children with his criminal background? I have kids and grand kids and I can't imagine the anguish of these parents. It is likely the most helpless feeling imaginable. This has become far too frequent in our lifetime. Does stories like this make you change how you trust those entrusted with your children? Or do you see this as an isolated incident and you have not made any adjustment to how you approach your children and their care? Should the suspect have been able to be over the care of children due to his criminal history? Why did he get this opportunity? Let's discuss this.

AMERICA THE BULLY?

Firstly, let's be clear on what bullying is before we start diving into the perception of our country in the eyes of other countries. Stopbullying.gov describes bullying as "unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance". I have seen this up close and personal and it is indicated by the use of power, physical strength, or influence to control, harm, or embarrass others. Name calling, teasing, public embarrassment, the use of inappropriate comments, excluding others purposely, spreading lies about someone, or abuse of a physical and verbal nature. Does that sound like America? Would other countries agree with your answer?

Source: (https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/11/politics/donald-trump-g7-chaos/index.html)

By now, you have seen some of the articles that highlighted the incidents at the G7 Summit that many are describing as utter chaos. The current administration has been littered with accusations of bullying, a lack of presidential respect and decorum, and to some on both sides of the political spectrum, what is considered a mockery of the office of President. Arguing this is not the goal today. At some point throughout history, America, as a country, was considered a savior to smaller, more vulnerable nations, and a big brother to those in needs of supplies, funding, aid, etc. What is your opinion on the America at current? Do you see us as the strong power we were in times past? Do you see us as weaker with less allies now and more vulnerable to our country's enemies? Bullying is a serious problem in this country, specifically in our schools and much of it stems from what goes on in the children's households. What kind of message is being sent to that are bullying others and those that are being bullied? Can we talk about this a little?

Here is another link with comments from proud Americans who have something important they wanted to be heard. Source: (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/letters/article-sorry-canada-americans-apologize-for-their-presidents-words)

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

(sigh) I got to spend a little time on this one. It is beginning to feel like a daily occurrence but once again, a video went viral and is sparking outrage after 10 year old Michael Thomas, Jr. is handcuffed by police officers and was mistaken to be another young man who allegedly had a firearm on his person. (The clothing was said to be similar. Of course, they were similar in other ways too.) Perhaps in fear of the police or more likely the thought of going to jail when all he was doing was playing outside his home like most young American kids do, he urinated on himself in front of family members, friends, and members of the Chicago PD. Added note: I think he was handcuffed before he was searched. That's why his grandmother lifted up his shirt because no one else did.

Now please understand that this was not a planned rant nor did I think about what could happen if I shared this sentiment as I am very likely to lose some "friends" by the time this article is read...if it is read. I don't spend a lot of time on social media but I see the posts that these "friends" create or share from someone else about matters like these. They cowardly like, love or share these posts that someone else had the courage to put their names on, harboring feelings that are pro-police, pro-Government, etc, no matter what. In many of these posts, they'd fix the issue of unarmed African Americans being shot or beaten by police by just not "resisting" or being more submissive. It is 100% the fault of the unarmed person in their minds. I won't even mention their thoughts on homelessness, racial inequity, education, community activism, implicit bias, and patriotism. 

I'm disgusted by their unwillingness to publicly profess or own up to these feelings. They just hide behind other peoples' posts. It's really not my place to judge what they like and don't like and what they support. Some of them use religion (emphasis) as a barometer and that's what ticks me off. Sherlock Holmes' call went to voicemail so let me solve that mystery: Jesus would not do what they're doing. Jesus wasn't a coward. Jesus wasn't a closet racist. Jesus walked in unconditional love and He would never accept social injustices in the name of country or the flag or because someone with power and influence said it was okay. Jesus actually cared about the human soul. Can't we safely assume that what we post or allow to be posted on our timeline indicates our belief or what we accept as valid, especially if we don't suggest otherwise? To make matters worse, these are not online friends. These are people that I know personally, broke bread with, and spend time with. I'll be hopeful to start that discussion, "friends". I won't hold my breath waiting though.

True story. I asked someone why he stopped watching the NFL and he responded "Because of the protests". I asked him "Do you know why they're protesting?". He said, "Because they're idiots, that's why!" That's the power of a 4th grade education. Let that soak in.

This case of mistaken identity is powerful in many ways. Michael's grandmother made a very cogent point. What is the first thing that comes to mind when Michael needs to call law enforcement when a neighbor's being assaulted by someone that could resemble him? Does he call or default back to 6/8/18, the day he almost went to jail? How does he walk in this community with his head held high when everyone knows (and if you lived in any kind of neighborhood, you know bad news travels faster than the speed of light) that he was handcuffed and he peed on himself in front of everyone? Some of my "friends" would say that Michael should get over it and police officers are our friends and all he has to do is obey the law. Have anyone of you ever peed on yourself in front of your friends and it didn't create a stigma, or at least, a crippling embarrassment every time you were around said friends? Stop the madness. Do all lives really matter? I wish. I hope. To be a cop in any neighborhood is a difficult and dangerous job and I am positive most officers are fearful of not being able to end their shift and go home to their families. I knew plenty in my youth and recently that were really decent, hard working, and took their jobs seriously. And mind you, these were guys from the NYPD and the NCPD. This is a crazy, mixed up world we live in but imagine growing up as a young man that is guilty before proven innocent in every situation regardless of the situation. You are public enemy #1 and there's no valid reason for the irrational fear or embedded hatred that is associated with this. You can't imagine it, can you? It is not on your radar. You don't even believe it's real. It's the figment of someone's imagination or an over-exaggeration. This issue doesn't even move the needle for you. Until it extends into your life, then you rise in outrage. What was Michael's crime exactly? Ask someone that looks like him if you really want to know. The bubble you are living in is killing you slowly. Bust it while you can! If you could change something about this continuing cycle, what would you change? How do you think relations between law enforcement and government officials and minorities can be improved? How do you approach these topics with your own children? Is your family educated on the racial climate in this country?

Thanks for listening and thinking. I'd love to engage you in conversation and hear your thoughts. Maybe we both will learn something. Thank you for reading, commenting, and subscribing.

(Note to our new subscribers: I don't send out spam. You will get one email from FeedBurner per new post. Nothing else. Promise.)

BuRNeD bRIdGeS

Recently, I was encouraged to showcase some of my writing to a very well known and respected organization that supports ministers and pastors and promotes leadership and spiritual growth. I said sure why not. The title and some of the content is from the familiar piece here on Mirror Time 'Relationship over Religion', which was pretty popular when it was originally posted. I don't normally rehash any old articles but there is a real concern for me that those charged with the mandate to showcase Jesus are more concerned with being solo artists when a group is what is being advertised.

I have seen that take place on a literal stage a little over two decades ago. I was a member of a three man singing group that truly believed we were on the road to destiny and fame. We were slated to perform at a local college, which was our first event of that kind. We were performing in front of a crowd that was VERY slanted towards their hometown favorites and not very receptive to our music or "outsiders" in general. From the outset, we can tell that this was going to be a scene straight out of one of my favorite movies, "The Five Heartbeats". 

Every group that were not associated with the college were heckled and booed and there were some "technical" difficulties with their music, lighting, etc. We received the same treatment. The curtains wouldn't open and they played our music track at the wrong time. It was pretty much a catastrophe but what made matters worse was that one of our group members, frustrated with the way things were going, attempted to take over the performance and make the crowd love us with his voice. His voice wasn't that good. We were booed mercilessly before we could get going. I was honestly thinking the Sandman was going to come out like at the Apollo Theater. I actually understood that we wouldn't have been accepted no matter what we did. What I couldn't get past was that the team, while under immense pressure, broke rank, and became all about one person. That is something that should never happen. Yet, it happens every day in my world and probably in yours.

Here is some of what I submitted to that organization I was telling you about earlier. When you read it, you'll better understand the story I just shared and why this was relevant.

RELATIONSHIP OVER RELIGION by Yusef Michael Marshall

Do you KNOW God?

The word “know” speaks to familiarity. When you say you know someone, it implies you are familiar with them and knows their character. Or you are intimately acquainted with them. Basically, you know more than the person’s name and where they grew up. Relationship says “I know Him by His character.” Religion says “I have heard of Him or I know somebody that knows Him.”  

Some of my relatives say they know me too. We are related and share a bloodline but do they really know me? My character? My tendencies? My response to specific situations? I’m just the “Jesus Freak” to most of them but there’s so much more to me than that. I think we often view God in the same way. They don’t dig too far beyond the “Old Testament Fire and Brimstone” surface. They’ll just make assumptions from the little they think they know. That’s religion, not relationship! Think about this: If Saul only heard about Jesus from guys at his job rather than a face to face encounter with the Savior Himself, how would that have affected his ministry’s success along with more than half of the New Testament writings? Relationship did that.  

Everywhere we go and in circles of friends and acquaintances, we hear people who say they know God. They’ll quickly remind you that He is in their hearts or He knows their heart, particularly when challenged with their questionable behavior. Religion says “God knows my heart.”. Relationship is Jeremiah 17:9 prompting us to repent because God knows our hearts and how wicked they are. 

It is a fact that He knows everything about us! He knows the numbers of hairs upon our heads. He is never taken by surprise by our actions or inactions. It doesn’t mean that He accepts what He knows without a mandate for change. God loves us too much to leave us where we are. If we’re wallowing in the mud with the pigs, He is longing for us to come home that He might lavish His love upon us. God is all about relationship! It’s what he desired in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and it’s what He desires with you right now! 

The prodigal son stepped out on his own, made mistakes, but returned home with a humble heart, willing to even be a servant in his Father’s house rather than a son, if need be. He just wanted to be back home where he knew unconditional love dwelled. Religion says “I have done plenty to warrant much favor and my blessing”. Relationship says Jesus has done so much for me that I repay but I can make the most of this gift every day. 

I think as leaders, we waste precious time and hinder so many people because we directly or indirectly teach “doing” rather than “being” in many Christian circles. With relationship, we have access to everything we need and the love we receive is unconditional. With religion, we have to work and earn and network to get what we think we need and it is conditional and results based.

Religion is easy and requires no true commitments or sacrifices. Relationship requires effort, time, and sacrifice. Can we put juice and poison into a bottle and then pour out only juice into a glass to drink? NO, of course not! The entire mixture is tainted as we learn from James 3:10-11 and is no good for anyone. Religion taints everything it touches. Relationship covers it all.

Honestly, we have an unhealthy luxury to cross that same "religious" bridge over and over from discipline to being morally lax and we have become complacent. We have it easy when so many believers have but were willing to die for what they believe in. We use faith as a punchline or a convenient alibi when we get into mischief. It's a travesty and as much as I am a staunchly against burning down bridges, this is one instance where the bridge needs to be demolished. As long as we have that option, we will almost take it most times. We will take for granted the grace we'e been given. We will forget the cost that was paid that allows us to do what we do. We won't appreciate or teach our children and grand children to appreciate what we have been blessed to have. Millions of people cross that bridge every Sunday and then after service, head back across that bridge to the comfort of loving, serving, and worshipping God in theory, rather than in practice. So if my vote means anything, I say burn it down and trust God every day. That place we keep retreating to is not healthy for us or the generations to come.

The Bible says that “Today is the day of salvation”. Today is also a great day to choose relationship over religion.

UniTEd wE sTAnd, DIVided We faLL

Good morning, America.

Your alarm went off this morning and you rose up from your warm pillow and you took a deep breath, yawned, and with outstretched arms, you got ready to embrace a brand new day of opportunity with dreams, goals, plans, and hopes for today and days to come.

We're inching towards Memorial Day Weekend where we are supposed to be giving honor to the fallen who have lost their lives in service to this country. It was not designed to be a platform for breaking out our new gas grills or to throw parties where we get drunk enough to debase and embarrass ourselves and our families. It is supposed to be a solemn respectful remembrance to those that made the most incredible of sacrifices to keep our country safe and to keep our liberties intact.

When you woke out of that bed, for those of you blessed enough to own one, you also may have given God thanks that you didn't wake up in a war zone (technically and hopefully), and you have healthy children, and you are not sick or in impoverished circumstances. There's so much to be thankful. Turning on the TV is probably part of your morning routine too and there you can find plenty of bad news but the one place where you used (emphasis) to go to avoid the normal bad news cycle is your national sports channel. Yesterday, you may have heard why this is no longer a safe space to just enjoy sports.

"The NFL will enact a national anthem policy for 2018 that requires players and league personnel on the sideline to stand but gives them the option to remain in the locker room if they don't want to stand, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday.

Under the change approved by team owners at the Spring League Meeting, individual clubs will have the power to set their own policies to ensure the anthem is being respected during any on-field action. If a player chooses to protest on the sideline, the NFL will fine the team. The player also could be fined by his team, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Judy Battista reported."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933971/article/nfl-owners-approve-national-anthem-policy-for-2018 (Courtesy of NFL.com) If you find yourself fearful or uninterested in chiming in on this topic, I understand. Every response reveals something about us and should be taken with the utmost seriousness and consideration. Quite frankly, the hypocrisy is thick in this situation. Many say the flag and fallen soldiers have been disrespected by a player kneeling or sitting during the anthem. Maybe so, unintended or not. It's been highly publicized that the flag code should be respected and never be broken because of what it represents. Pictures are worth a thousand words. At least, that's what I heard.

I won't rehash the obvious details such as whether we are experiencing patriotism or a strong-arming by powerful men concerned with the financial bottom line.

I won't offer many opinions on whether lost in this entire debate is the lives of young people who don't always deserve to die or be physically abused by law enforcement.

I also don't think I need to highlight the clear access that bigotry, prejudice, and politics have been given into the sport that we love so much. What I would like to do is explore the relationship between the owner and the players.

In all the discussion during the owners meeting, you will notice that the players themselves as well as some team staff, though directly affected by this situation, were not consulted or considered in the decision that was handed down. No invite. No input. It is called the "owner's meetings" for a reason but it would have repaired a major breach if the owners extended an olive branch to the players who are directly affected by any decisions made as well as the every day reasons there were even protests in the first place. 

For many of these players, this is their life and has been their every day struggle outside of the football field, where they possess some semblance of power and value and worth. It's likely one of the few places, excluding their personal households, where they feel that they bring something of value to the equation. They feel wanted, valued, and important in most cases. 

During these meetings, a silent but loud message was sent to the players that they were not thought of as any of those things, barring perhaps one West Coast based NFL owner in particular. They were the ones that produce on the field. They are the ones that execute the plays. They are the ones that do the job that garners championships and acclaim for franchises. But in cases like these, they are just employees and hired help, paid handsomely, but still hired help. Nothing is more important than the bottom line and it really showed once these meetings concluded. All this talk about flag codes and respect but how long will we look at the blatant hypocrisy of it all and call it out where it lies? It's hard for me to see how the relationship between the owners and the players (generally speaking) is not frayed beyond repair. It wasn't like players didn't already wonder how much owners cared. It's not much different than you in your workplace. Upper management tells you they care about your opinion and you matter to the company and sometimes you see signs of that evidenced. And sometimes you don't. It's usually pretty ambiguous and cloudy. Company wide surveys. Pizza days. Prize giveaways. Achievement awards. The signs that really matter come in those times when things are not going so well and there is an outcry for justice and fairness. Nobody remembers the hot slices of hand tossed pizza. No one remembers the gift card from Starbucks. They just remember the lack of response from those that said they cared or the company line used in hopes of quelling the noise.

There has always been a strange relationship between the owners and the players. I doubt it is different in any sport but football has always been a bit more unique than the rest. I don't know if there's a correlation but if 68% of your league is African American, having an "owner" that doesn't regard your cultural situation or your need to be viewed equally as important enough to listen to and engage, it sends a deeply distressing message. To many this is an old argument but if there is no progress, it remains old and bitter.

In my humble example, this would be old and negative history and it would mean nothing in today's view had the owners possessed a heart of understanding rather than choosing to emphasize control. Easy for me to say I suppose. I am not brokering billion dollar deals and raking in cash at the level they are. I don't understand their pressures or their pains. All I know is my own. Deep down, I was hopeful that this would be a great opportunity for those that didn't understand to finally attempt to. Imagine yourself as an NFL player in this climate and take race, politics, and the anthem protests out of the equation. As involved as I was in sports growing up and the avid fan that I am now, I know I can never understand this plight fully but I can't fathom that a player can ever look at ownership the same again. The player's association is going to fight this tooth and nail and they should. In fact, it's what they literally do for a living. No surprises there.

Despite the overtures spoken in locker rooms and closed door meetings, the ownership will never put you before its bottom line. That's clearly the case today and perhaps into the future. The player will always be just an employee working for his company. Maybe that's how it should be from a business standpoint. It just feels cold and callous in this social climate. At least to me.

But in my own crazy mixed up world, I dream of a time and space where people who have authority can have heart too. I hope for a time when money doesn't rise in importance above all else but love sits in the number one spot every week and is never unseated by greed. Sincere attempts to understand just trump the need to control and dictate in the lopsided world I live in. The ownership of the NFL came together and in this meeting, on this day, after all they have seen and heard, were still unable to unanimously agree that there was a responsibility to be taken. It just boiled down to business as usual. Let's just get back to playing football, right, guys?

68% sounds like a majority to me. So I would suggest that you did well attempting to get the ownership, who allegedly had your back to back you. That was unsuccessful. Now it's time to use your own money, your own name, and your own influence to create opportunities for your voices (and the collective voices of those who are not being heard) to finally be heard. I am almost positive it will amount to more than 68%.

GenEraTioN nEXt

If you have listened to me for any amount of time, you know I am a firm believer in thinking generationally. To be clear, it essentially means to consider how our actions affect others BEFORE we do them and not wait until AFTER we are facing consequences that we consider this. Might be easier said than done but look no further than your local newspaper or your Internet homepage to see the devastation in our world and how it affects the generations to come. We need to, at least, ponder the thought.

So many bad calls. So many unfortunate decisions. So many words and actions that we can't take back once they're said and made. So many lives shattered, seemingly beyond repair. WHAT IF.....

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea

I came across a picture this morning that stirred my angst about where we are as a nation. I won't post the picture for several reasons but the uppermost reason is because I just don't want to look at it every day. Every day that I log on to answer your questions or read your comments, I'd have to see that disturbing image and I would rather not subject myself or my readers to that. It is view-able online if you wish to see it but the gist is there are four "mature" women at a rally of some kind with white t-shirts and a word in red right in the center that together spells out "Make America White Again". A small child stands next to them with the word "Trump" on her shirt.

Now I am positive this isn't your first rodeo. You've seen these kinds of sentiments before. Perhaps you even ascribe to them and would rather not have anyone that is non-white in "your" country. There is a picture that is likely linked to this in a meme that has a Native American woman's picture above the words "America Wasn't White Before."

Again, I reiterate this is probably not your first time viewing a meme or picture relating to the Trump administration but the little girl in the Trump t-shirt is what caught my eye and drew my ire. Almost in the same way, the little boy or girl that would be standing with their parents while an African American man is being lynched as a main event of their Friday evening. This child can't possibly understand fully the ramifications of this. That's too much unfair weight onto the shoulders of a child with their whole future ahead of them. Even if one of the four ladies was her parent, she can't possibly fathom what the consequences are for such clear hate speech and vitriol. How could she?

She'd have to be able to see into the future and follow the lifespan and subsequent effect of every word that she speaks, every action that she takes, and see the manifestation of every thing spoken or done in her life by those with influence and proximity. Again, how could she? How could any of us really? We throw theoretical rocks (the words we speak) every day and never take any thought for where the stones land. And we do it with pride and consistency.

America, America
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

I can only suggest that a small amount of consideration is enough to change the trajectory of a life, even if only for a moment. Bigotry, to me, is a stupid person's disease because it leaves out reason, compassion, and it blatantly refuses to consider what is clearly evident. It cripples the user and destroys its victims. It is cancerous, poisonous, and merciless. It lives and feeds off of the perception that anyone that doesn't look like the bigot is irrelevant, inconsequential, or just have no intrinsic value. It is nonsensical to thieves to forcibly break into another person's home, steal or destroy all their prized possessions, assault the household members, deem the entire household savages and unfit to live then murder the entire household, and then claim that the entire household is theirs by right, because they used trickery to gain access and simply overpowered the homeowners. That sounds like the definition of savage to me but I digress. There are consequences for everyone on both sides of that scenario. Think about it.

An old pastor of mines used to love to talk to us about the "24 hour rule", which I found intriguing at first. If you walk past the window of a department store and you see an outfit or piece of electronics that you think you just have to have, instead of making the common impulse buy, you wait. Wait for 24 hours and if you still feel the same about it and deem it a wise investment, you should go back and buy it.

How much different could the world we live in be if we waited 24 hours and consider as many ramifications as we could imagine before we decided to do that thing? Is it possible that we would spare a life, perhaps even our own? Might we make a workplace better or a family stronger? Would race relations be exponentially better? Would powerful government be forced to listen to its country's voices? Would the next generation be wiser and more compassionate? 

America, America
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!

The Bible offers multiple examples of generational consequences such as Exodus 34 where crimes committed by one generation had an effect on generations later, even touching the third and fourth generation. I doubt that Adam or Eve recognized eating of a piece of forbidden fruit would make your life a little more difficult and your road to prosperity a little longer. We have the inherent ability to pass on our bad habits, our flawed thinking, and much more to the generations to follow. In actuality, we have that much power. We just don't use it very wisely. Pick an affliction. Pick a moral shortcoming. Pick something from the underbelly of our country, or our world. There's so many to choose from. What we do today has the power to affect our tomorrow. Good or bad.

The words "we", "they", and "us" are often used interchangeably but honestly, we need to ask ourselves this one question:

What is MY personal responsibility to the next generation? What will I teach them? What will I give them? How can I help them? The world is watching.....and waiting......

"America The Beautiful" - Words by Katharine Lee Bates 

DeAr FaNTasY FooTbaLL

Dear Fantasy Football,

Where do I start? I can't lie. We have had some amazing times together. It has been twelve years that you and I have been joined at the hip. I know you can sense it too. Something definitely has changed recently. I had a lot to think about.

2018 has been a year that has been different than any of the twelve years prior. I used to rise up at 4 a.m. and grab my laptop to get a jump on my league opponents on the waiver wires and free agency. I would listen to sports radio all day and almost have my cell phone glued to my hand, waiting for the next update or piece of sports gossip that might give me an edge over everyone else. Then I would be up into the wee hours of the morning in a dark room, staring at my laptop, combing through depth charts, team pages, and articles by so called fantasy experts, hoping to find the next sleeper, who will take me to another championship run. I honestly barely paid my wife and kids any attention. I was lost in a sea of statistics. Strangely, I became satisfied with that.

My fantasy football leagues shot up from two to ten total in my second year and threatened to go even higher. I used to laugh and criticize my buddies who had twenty leagues. One guy I know still has twenty two leagues. I never understood how that could be managed and maintained. It can't be without a great deal of sacrifice. I laid many important things on that altar of sacrifice. I cut important phone calls short and blew off critical appointments just to stay locked in to a sport that had my whole life in a vise grip. I couldn't even go to the supermarket to get groceries because I was worried about setting my roster or checking the injury reports. Even to this day, my head is a sea of useless statistical information that doesn't amount to much more than making me sound knowledgeable. Other than that, it has no true intrinsic value.

I played this "game" with my entire self and in twelve years, I have won 5 championships, went to 2 title games and lost, and have been in the playoffs 9 of the 12 times in every kind of fantasy league from Two-Quarterback leagues, Auction leagues, Standard, PPR, All Defense league (or IDP), 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 team leagues, in practically any kind of format you can imagine. You name it and I have played it with a 75% success rate. All of the study, research, and invested time paid off but at what cost? An impassioned plea from my wife made me step back and look at myself a little closer. I was sitting in front of a 70" TV cheering for the Patriots, the Eagles, or even our dreaded rivals, the Cowboys. I leaped out of my seat for individual players that were scoring against my favorite team. It was clear to me that I have went off the rails. Football stopped being fun for me and the whole process got weird.


I never understood why so many of my friends got out of the game entirely and say they are totally enjoying the freedom from the pressure of fantasy football. They are just enjoying the sport they love more than any other. It was hard to fathom. I thought they were nuts. I went from 10 leagues in 2010 down to 5 in 2013 to 3 leagues in 2016. Last year, I played in 2 due to a self imposed maximum limit. This year, I don't have a fantasy football league in waiting. I am still get phone calls and text messages and IM's asking for fantasy advice and that's cool. It humbles me that people even ask after all these years. I can't help wonder if I'll even field a fantasy football team at all this year.

To be honest and transparent, I still think one day I could have one fantasy football league with longevity, full of friends that I actually know and that actually love football as much as I do. I believe that is the best kind of league. It transcends the sport and puts friendship back in proper perspective. There's a good chance I may never find that dream situation and that's fine. I miss what it is like to just enjoy my favorite sport with no strings attached. I write this letter not totally sure if I will ever play again. I know everybody opines about how great they are at this game but I was really good at it. I still am good at it. I had a knack for making the right moves, the right trades, the right waiver wire pickups, and even knowing when to fold and not make any deals. It's something I did well but it changed me somewhere along the way.

In my humble opinion, if you play more than two fantasy leagues, you not only stretch yourself too thin but I believe you begin to lose respect for the process and the point of the whole game. If you're playing it for financial reasons, you are doing it wrong. You're better off playing the lottery. How fun can it be to have ten leagues and lose a twenty dollar investment in each league? Think about it. That could be a problem.

I'm not sure what this football season will hold and if I will ever find that dream situation or accept it once I find it but I do know one thing: This is one obsession that no longer has control over me. 2017 was the first year that I just had fun. I had two leagues but it never took precedence over the important things. I had my priorities in order and it felt wonderful. I was free in my mind for the first time in years. I could stop playing fantasy football for good but I wouldn't trade the friendships I developed. That was the best part.

Fantasy football taught me a lot of hard lessons. Maybe now I'm liberated enough to teach someone else.

ThE WoRld fROm YouR WinDOw - 5/8/18

Good morning, friends and family. 

It's hard to not be a little introspective when you look at all that is happening in our world. I want to start a new feature that I will be doing periodically on "Mirror Time". What I am hoping I can get your help with is the interaction. I want to open up dialogue on the issues that plague, upset, or confuse us in our world. As usual, there are certain types of behavior that will not be tolerated under any circumstances but I am hoping for thoughtful discussion, self-reflection, and perhaps some solutions. I don't claim to have any answers or an avenue to get your answers to others but I believe within our sphere of influence, there is opportunity to change our world, one person, one issue at a time.

So with that being said, I would like to present to you "The World From Your Window", a compilation of prevalent news stories and world issues that I hope we will be bold enough to speak to after we read these. Please fully utilize the comments section with your thoughts and opinions. I'd love to hear how you view things in your world and in our world. Before we're done, hopefully, you will see that sometimes there is a difference between the two.

So how does the world look from your window?

WHEN ANIMALS ATTACK

A man who stopped by the side of the road to take a selfie with an injured bear was then mauled to death by the same bear. Researchers have found that between march 2014 and September 2016, there were 127 deaths related to selfies. 76 occurred in India.

(Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/05/07/bear-mauls-death-indian-man-who-tried-take-selfie/585843002)

This is another tragic incident where nature and humanity collide. I'm still puzzled by the infatuation of selfies. The dangers of this are clearly in front of us but the practice seems to be on the rise despite said dangers. I know this is how we commemorate special events but some of this behavior is excessive, narcissistic, and flat out dangerous. Case in point. What do you think about the selfie craze? Where do you see us heading as a society because of this? Is this, in your opinion, harmless fun, or something more troubling? Are you a proud member of the "selfie generation"? Let's talk about it.

THIRD TIME IS A PATTERN

(Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/05/07/george-zimmerman-charged-stalking-private-investigator-florida/588526002)

Admittedly, there will be certain stories in this feature that will get to me personally. I think this will be one of them. Like many of you, we watch as guilty people get off on a technicality or a very slanted jury pool or we just see the guilty go unpunished for their crimes. I don't know if this situation is any or neither but this story should rub everyone the wrong way. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the original Trayvon Martin case for context or just this story on its own merits. I'm disturbed that Mr. Zimmerman seems to still exhibit certain tendencies that suggest something is not quite okay in how he views the world around him. Please share your thoughts with us. We'd love to hear your honest opinions. 

TITANIC MEMORIES

(Source: HLN video on Morning Express With Robin Meade: https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/05/07/cruise-ship-water-line-breaks-caribbean.hln)

Does this story scare you away from taking that family cruise every year? With the amount of money you pay for food and accommodations, what should you expect for your investment? I actually heard that the cruise officials had their house band playing the music from the scene in the movie Titanic as the waters billowed into the cruise ship. That's unsubstantiated at this time but that is a very unpleasant thought for a lot of reasons. Thoughts?

NOT MY CHURCH

(Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/05/07/609255051/southern-baptist-women-say-they-are-shocked-by-a-church-leader-s-comments)

This is one of those topics that I could opine on all day long because I have lived through some of this but the floor is yours. I caution you that no matter what side of the argument you find yourself on, this is not indicative of the church as intended. You will probably find the paragraph about the 2014 sermon detestable as well so I urge you to prepare yourself. I'll just leave you with a section to ponder but please read the entire article and comment here. 

"The uproar was prompted by the release about 10 days ago of the recording of an interview Patterson gave in 2000 in which he counseled women who have been physically abused by their husbands to pray for them. In that interview, Patterson recounted how he had given that advice to one woman who had been repeatedly assaulted by her husband. Returning some days later with two black eyes, the woman said, "I hope you're happy."

"I said, 'Yes, ma'am, I am happy,'" Patterson quoted himself as telling the woman. "What she didn't know when we sat in church that morning," he said, " was that her husband had come in and was standing in back, first time he ever came."


SILENT SCREAMS IN INDIA

(Source: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/08/asia/india-women-rape-intl/index.html)

Are women safe in India? Why is there a need for them to be protected? What is the government doing or what should they do? This story has so many layers that I feel uncomfortable trying to speak to it in a few sentences. I would never want to marginalize the plight of the women in this region. This article offers more than one view on the discussion that I urge you to read thoroughly. Honestly, I heard some things that I had not even thought about. It was a fresh perspective, albeit, disturbing but I want to spark the discussion with all of our readers. 

Whether you are a woman or not, whether you have never experienced this kind of pain and fear or not, even if your experience base on all things global only goes as far as your local newspaper or news channel, I caution to read this particular piece with care and consideration. Don't speed through it. Don't give it a passing glance. Read it and listen. Hear what the people are saying and what they are not saying. Very profound. This is about rape. This is about fear. This is also about privilege. And this is also about ignorance. Thanks for reading and commenting on this very tragic issue.

SUMMA CUM LOUD

(Source: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/07/us/university-of-florida-black-graduates-rushed-off-stage-trnd/index.html)

Sigh. I feel as though we are re-circling the same wagon with stuff like this. But it highlights where we are as a nation, more so than where we proclaim ourselves to be. By now, you likely have already heard the story. Some of you may have already declared that you have heard enough. Some of you may think you have heard too much. Hmm. Imagine how some people may feel. Just for a moment. 

Two babies in the same crib crying loudly. Both of them are hungry. A parent brings some food for one, which immediately stops crying but not for the other, who cries even louder. Tell me the optics on that scenario. How about two families in a burning fire with twelve men rushing over to help. One family has five members, three of which are children. The other family has two grown adults. All twelve men rush over to help the two adults but no one helps the family of five which all perish in the fire. Sound about right? 

How does a story like the above make you feel? What would you like to see happen if you could have your way? What was wrong? What was done properly? What's your experience with this issue if any? How would honestly you feel if your son or daughter was on the receiving end of this incident? Why does that response change because it is not your son or daughter? Think it out. Share it with us. That's the first step in dealing with this harsh reality.

This is the first of many installments of "The World From Your Window". Can't wait to hear your thoughts and comments. Thank you again for subscribing.

(Note to our new subscribers: You will only get an email for a new blog post. Other than that, I won't be flooding your inbox with stuff. Promise.)