Author: William Douthwaite

Posted in Food

How did I ever live without a digital toaster?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I’m a techie so this box on the curb next to my neighbor’s trash can caught my eye. My toaster is the cheapest one I could find on Amazon. But her’s is extra wide, digital, and smart.

I took a quick look at the user guide online. Twenty pages! The toaster may be smart, but some users may not be. The troubleshooting guide includes this instruction if the toaster won’t turn on: plug it in.

“Toasting tips” warns against putting buttered bread in the toaster. So noted.

There’s no more guess work. No dial to adjust the temperature. Perfect toast every time!

I like the shade option all the way to the right. You can choose to burn your toast if that’s your preference. That must be for the person who enjoys a well-done steak.

A long time ago, my college best friends and I all promised to buy each other toasters when we got married. In theory, we’d all receive at least four toasters as gifts. I think I was the only one who actually did it.

Posted in school

Flashback to high school biology

Posted on by William Douthwaite

The morning after torrential thunderstorms, the big dog and I ran across this froggie who brought back memories of high school biology. Just the night before, he was one of thousands croaking from flooded swales and culverts. But now he’s silent.

I took biology in 9th grade, freshman year of high school. I’m amazed I remember the name of our teacher, Mr. Hecksher. We dissected two creatures that year, a worm and a frog.

The worm was boring. One cut down the length, take note of a few organs, and that was it.

The frog was more exciting. Muscles, tendons, organs, and eyeballs. But not as fresh or colorful as the one laying on my street. You can see every part of this guy. And he wasn’t the only one. Dozens of his relatives hadn’t hopped fast enough to escape passing cars, either. Most of them were mush instead of a science fair project.

The deceased was four inches long. It would take quite a few like him for a frog leg appetizer. But the crows won’t let him go to waste. He’ll be gone before noon.

I don’t remember much about high school biology. I’m sure we prepared slides and looked at them through microscopes. I must have learned the parts of a cell. And we got to dissect a gray, formaldehyde-soaked frog.

Posted in positivity

A nudge

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Daily writing prompt
What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?
View all responses

I want my blog to be positive. I want my blog to highlight the positive things, the blessings, and the things that bring us joy.

It’s easy to rant, complain, kvetch, agonize, moan and groan, and scream at the world. But what if you can you be grateful, amazed, pleasantly surprised, impressed, encouraged, inspired, entertained, and delighted?

I want to bring the latter.

I want my stories to inspire gratefulness. I want you to see things that will made you say, “Wow, thanks!” I hope you’ll read my blog and notice examples of grace right in front of your nose. I want to write about things I notice that will make you smile and even laugh. I would love to delight you with everyday sights that should take your breath away.

I often fail to reach my goal. I fall into the all too common unhappy pattern of gloom and doom, conspiracy theories, apocalyptic predictions, nasty reactions, and ugly reactions to a world gone bad.

I think we can do better than that. I think I can do better than that.

Every morning I am blown away by the sunrise oranges on the horizon. Cloudless blue skies take my breath away as the planets vanish in the sky. I so grateful for a gentle breeze that blows the humidity away. I’m inspired by the tall scrub pines, waving palm branches, singing birds, cotton-ball clouds, screeching hawks, and brave bunnies on the edge of the woods.

So, I hope my blog will whisk you away from the negative to the hopeful, from nightmares to wonderful dreams, from gloom and doom to new possibilities, and from dark to light.

Words can do that. These musings can transform. A story can delight. And a reflection can brighten a day.

I want my blog to be a nudge in that direction.

Posted in Life, senses

Can you smell that smell

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by ali esfandiari on Unsplash

With about 15 minutes to go in our walk this morning, the big dog and I caught a powerful whiff of cannabis wafting into the street. Yes, at 7:00 am.

I know what you’re wondering. I’ve never partaken, but I did go to college, and became very familiar with the smell of weed. I remember the first time the residence advisor met with us in the common are of the dorm. He basically told us that no one would say anything as long as you kept it in your room with the door closed. That was in 1975, when there were few rules and plenty of beer available at the fraternities. (Yes, I had a few.)

Anyway, I never thought of smoking as a first thing in the morning activity. But every morning I pass certain houses whose residents are having a cigarette, a cigar, or a morning hit. It’s like their cup of coffee or energy drink, I suppose. I know tobacco is addictive, cannabis not so much. Caffeine is. I guess it’s what you’re used to.

Now what I really like to catch a whiff of is a brisket that’s been in the smoker all night. That’s a Saturday or Sunday morning treat. Along with someone cooking bacon in an outdoor kitchen. I slow down in front of those homes, enjoying that moment as I contemplate getting a smoker.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I have a job for you

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Jeremiah 1.

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4,5)

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Ask that question of you’ll children and you get answers that range from ballerina to firefighter to doctor. Later on, as high school graduation approaches, you need some career aspirations so you can pock your college classes. By the end of college, you may have changed your major a number of times. But the world changes so quickly that your first job may be one that didn’t even exist when you started school.

Jeremiah was on track to be a priest. It was the family business, so to speak. But God had another career in mind for him, picket out a long time ago. Prophet. God appointed Jeremiah to speak to nations on a collision course with a Babylonian invasion, destruction, and exile.

Does God have a career in mind for everyone? That’s a great question. (Spoiler: I don’t have the answer.) He created each of us with strengths, abilities, and aptitudes that move us toward certain jobs. He knows what jobs will exist in twenty years. But I think he leaves that choice up to you and me.

Jeremiah was a special case at a unique time in Judah’s history. God knew he would need someone like Jeremiah, and put him to work at just the right time.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

He’s got a footstool. Now he wants you.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Isaiah 66.

Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
    and what is the place of my rest?…
But this is the one to whom I will look:
    he who is humble and contrite in spirit
    and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:1,2)

As the book of Isaiah draws to a close, the almighty God reminds us that he’s not so interested in any temples we could build for him. Instead he’s at home with those who who don’t have it all together, who have a boatload of regrets, and take what God has to say seriously.

Sounds simple enough, until I realize I typically do the opposite. I tend to be prideful, get defensive, make excuses, and treat God’s word lightly. Why is it so easy to get so far off track?

For some reason, there’s a desire to impress others, and that includes God. I’m doing a good job, I’m staying out of trouble, and I’ve got my favorite bible verses. Not much humility, contrition, or trembling.

What a great reminder that God is a lot bigger than me and my little world. Compared to the heavens and the earth (meaning everything), I don’t amount to much. But he cares a lot about me anyway, enough to remind me to fear, love, and trust him over and above anything else.

Even myself.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Sometimes all you have to do is wait

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Valentin Wallet on Unsplash

Some “through the Bible” thoughts from Isaiah 64.

From of old no one has heard
    or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
    who acts for those who wait for him.
You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,
    those who remember you in your ways. (Isaiah 64:4,5)

This description of God brings up a good question, “Should I do something or wait for God to take care of it?” After all, he “acts for those who wait for him.”

Most people probably believe that you can’t just sit around and wait for God to take care of a situation. You get to work and do what needs to be done.

And yet on the other hand, in retrospect, God takes care of a lot of things without our help.

My garden is a good example. I had high hopes for lots of home grown veggies. I made raised boxes, filled them with good soil, supplemented the soil with homemade compost, built chicken wire cages to keep the squirrels out, watered, weeded, and staked up the tomatoes. Most of the lettuce died, a got more than enough jalapenos, and found out that cherry tomatoes are the only ones that grow well in my beds.

I didn’t plant much this past spring. (In Florida you plant in February or October, when the weather is a little better.) Lots of weeds grew. But so did a pepper plant. A green bell pepper plant. Which I’ve never planted. It must have been from the compost. I walked out there one day and harvested two pretty nice peppers for my salads. All courtesy of the creator, who made fruit-bearing plants that reproduced themselves.

All I had to do was wait.

I take medicine when I don’t feel well. But for the most part, my immune system takes care of my ailments and I feel better after a few days of rest.

All I have to do is wait.

Earlier this year, I worked hard to rehab our backyard lawn that had been torn up by an energetic Great Dane puppy. Sod, sod plus, filling holes, and taking her for more walks. Then the rains came, and the yard suddenly came to life. The grass grew in nice and thick so that I had to start cutting it every 4 or 5 days.

All I had to do was wait.

God provides in lots of different ways. Parents while we’re growing up, jobs and the ability to do them, friends who help us out, a earth filled with resources, and government. So no matter how hard you work, he ultimately gets the credit. And if you choose to wait, he gets the credit as well.

To God be the glory.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Instead of

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Mariana Medvedeva on Unsplash

Some “through the Bible” thoughts from Isaiah 61.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit (Isaiah 61:1,3).

What do you think of those restaurants whose menus announce, “No substitutions?”

  • “Can I get a side salad instead of the vegetable medley?”
  • “Could you give me a baked potato instead of the smashed garlic potatoes?”
  • “I’m gluten free. Can I get celery instead of the pita chips?”
  • “I’m vegan. Do you have Beyond meat?” (at a steak restaurant, lol)

Burger King was the chain who conditioned us to think we can have it our way. John Wanamaker supposedly said, “The customer is always right.” Plenty of “Karens” have led us to believe we can bully our way around a “no substitution” world.

On the other hand, God is all about “instead of.”

  • Joy instead of gloom.
  • A beautiful outfit instead of a black suit for a funeral.
  • A smile instead of a frown.
  • Life instead of death.

This world offers little. God offers so much. Grace instead of shame. Forgiveness instead of condemnation. Renewal instead of expiration. Fresh instead of stale. Victory instead of defeat. The old has gone; the new has come!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Closer than you think

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Some “through the Bible” thoughts from Isaiah 59.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
    or his ear dull, that it cannot hear (Isaiah 59:1).

The hearing aid business must be doing very well. They take out full page ads in the local paper. I get robo-calls and lots of direct mail from a variety of vendors. I’m in that age group. Everyone my age has some hearing loss. At this point, I’m not aware of my need for assistance.

I am shorter than I used to be. For most of my adult life I was five foot ten inches. Somewhere I lost an inch. Now I’m only 5′ 9″.

So it’s only natural to think that the eternal God, the ancient of days, may have lost a step or two. At the very least, he’s not as quick to respond as we would like.

I love how Isaiah addresses this. “Behold…” in other words, “Look…” God’s reach is as long as it’s ever been. His hearing is just fine. He’s not the problem. You are. Your sin, your failures, your mistakes, your disobedience, and your dishonesty has created distance between you and God. At a distance, objects look smaller than they really are.

So does God.

Like a young child who wanders ahead of the parents, we don’t realize how far we’ve strayed until we need divine assistance. Then all of a sudden we wonder why God seems so far away. Guess what? He never moved. You did. And I did.

It happens at the beach. You’re out in the water having a great time. You look up and realize you’ve drifted far from your beach umbrella and cooler.

It happens at sporting events. You thought you had good seats. But the players seemed so small from where you were sitting.

Younger kids often look through the wrong end of binoculars. Everything looks so small!

How often do you look at God through the wrong end of the binoculars? How small and remote is your view of God?

Only scripture can turn the binoculars around. In the bible God is bigger than the seas, mountains, rivers, creatures, weather, trees, and hailstorms. He overcomes trouble, storms, hunger, fatigue, doubt, and death. Impressive. Much bigger than we think or imagine.

We can’t get close to God. But he comes to us. Jesus comes to make the impossible possible. God with us!