One of the great phrases of the south is “Bless your heart!” Remember Tennessee Ernie Ford; he was always “blessing your little pea-pickin‘ heart.” Many southern-culture-challenged folks don’t quite know what to make of the term. Maybe, some of you youngn’s don’t quite know what to make of it either. So, it might be a good exercise for us to expand its meaning for all of us. For example, it can be an expression of affection: “Bwess its widdle heaaart.” Although this pronunciation has limited usage, it’s appropriate when speaking to babies and grown dogs. “Bless your heart!” spoken directly to another adult is exuberant shorthand for “Thank you, you’re so […]
From Resume to Obituary
At some point in our lives, we begin developing our résumés, those documented lists of accomplishments and accolades that we deemed noteworthy. Usually the purpose of these documents is to impress a prospective employer or the board of directors looking someone to take a higher place in the company. The résumé is the opportune way you promote yourself to others. Somewhere else along life’s way, the necessity of résumés, along with life insurance, diminishes. How many of us needed a résumé in order to retire? Maybe that would be a good idea: utilizing our résumés to prove to some AARP […]
You Are Here
Airports, hospitals and other assorted large buildings usually have a floorplan map conveniently placed at the entrance. And on that map of gates and rooms, there is that red dot at one end of an arrow; at the other end are the words “You are here”. In a confusing world, it is comforting to know where you are every now and then. Those of us who mark the days passed with a big X-mark have the same experience. Behind today’s date is a string of days crossed off — finished. The current day stares at you and proclaims “You Are […]
Slippery Slope of Sloth
Many of us begin our day with a cup of coffee – thanks be to God and the hands that picked those beans and all the middle folk who got it to the house and the brewing machine. That’s the best cup of all. My second all-time favorite is the 23rd cup that shows up at the end of a psalm by the same name and number. The perpetual problem with this cup of biblical proportions is that it is always spilling and overflowing. The other issue is that the cup owners must put up with all the goodness and mercy that follow them all the days of their lives. And to beat all, […]