Category: Moments of grace

Posted in Moments of grace

Enjoy the sprinkles

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I’ve learned a lot about living in the moment from my grandchildren. For the most part, their lives are all about right now. They have no calendar, no to-do list, no appointments, and no notifications.

A couple of the granddaughters live out this truth before my eyes at the donut shop. Their donut choice is always the same: pink icing with sprinkles. We sit at a table and they get to work.

While I would polish off a donut like that in four or five bites, they start with the sprinkles. They pick up and savor every sprinkle one by one. As you might imagine, this takes at least ten minutes.

Next comes the icing. There are two ways to do this. You can lick the icing off the top of the donut. Or you can put it in your mouth one finger full at a time. Either way, this step isn’t over until the donut has been completely de-iced. This will take another ten minutes.

Now it’s time for the donut itself. The proper way to do this is to take little bites all the way around the top of the donut. A few times around the donut and you’re done. Except for the icing around your mouth, and crumbs on you lap, the table, the chair and the floor.

The process takes at least thirty minutes. For those thirty minutes, though, nothing else matters. Time is immaterial. It’s just you and the donut, alone in the universe.

Will they always be slow, intentional eaters? Will they always savor every morsel? Or will they learn to wolf down a couple of donuts between the drive thru window and the interstate? Who knows.

It’s astounding…time is fleeting…unless you slow down to enjoy the sprinkles.

Posted in Moments of grace

Today might be the day!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Alexas_Fotos on Unsplash

“You never know. Today might be the day my Creator calls me home.”

Well, that’s not the kind of answer I was expecting. I simply asked, “How’s it going today?”

A couple of techs had come to install the sliding screen doors on our garage. I knew them from the first time they came out. About two months ago they were ready to do the install but discovered the manufacturer had made the doors a couple of inches too short. This time, though, everything was fitting perfectly.

Tech number one was hurting. He had just been in a serious car accident and was nursing a sore back. Tech number two did the heavy lifting. Towards the end of the job, I asked number two if his week was going to be busy.

He replied, “I just take it one day at a time. You never know. Today might be the day my Creator calls me home.”

I said, “Yeah, I know what you mean.” But I’ve been thinking about his words and that outlook on life.

One current mantra is “be present.” Be “in the moment.” Get off your phone. Take your eyes off the screen. Don’t be distracted by any number of distractions. When you’re with someone, be there, listening and interacting with them.

I spend a lot of time on my digital calendar. That’s where I plan the future. Even in retirement, life is filled with places to be, people to see, commitments, appointments, holidays, and special occasions. Or I look back to remember what happened, where I went, and things I forgot to do.

But what about today?

You and I really don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. And there’s nothing we can do to change the past. What’s left?

Today.

I’m not saying you need to get a whole lot done today. Although you might. I’m not saying you need to clear your schedule. Although you might. I’m not saying you shouldn’t plan for tomorrow or next month. I’m not saying you should forget all your great memories from the past.

Just make sure you have a “today.”

Who will you talk to today? What will you eat today (yukky or yummy)? What or who will make you laugh today? What will you create today? What kinds of things will you say today? What job or project will you work on today? How long of a nap will you take today? Who will you pray for today? What will you bake today? (Please bake something!)

Someone once said, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Live today as if it may be your last. But also pace yourself as though you’ve got many days to go. Your life is finite. But you are alive today. You may never have this opportunity again. But you will have many more opportunities.

If it’s a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, it will be over soon. If it’s a wonderful day, you’ll remember it fondly. If it’s your last day, you get to go home. Tell Jesus I said, “Hi.” If you wake up here, you get another chance. Give someone a call and say, “Hi.”

Oh, and bake something, too!

Posted in Moments of grace

I say, “Oat.” you say, “Meal.” Oatmeal!

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Guess what I saw this morning? An oatmeal bar!

Yesterday I was out there ranting about the salad bar at Ruby Tuesday in Pensacola, Florida. That was nothing. I got up this morning, wandered down to get some coffee at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Pensacola, and saw this. An oatmeal bar!

That’s right, a steaming pot of freshly prepared oatmeal with nine optional toppings sat right there next to a pitcher of oat milk and a shaker of cinnamon. Wait a minute. Nine toppings? That’s right. Walnuts, craisins, granola, brown sugar, raisins, pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds, chocolate chips, and coconut flakes.

I rubbed my eyes. Yep, this was the real deal.

Free breakfast usually means a disk of sausage-like meat, rubbery scrambled eggs, juice, a waffle, mushy apples and an unripe banana, and cereal with milk. Oatmeal? Cool!

After coffee and a shower, we headed to the lobby and to get a bowl full of early morning oatmeal-goodness.

Now, I am determined to up my oatmeal game. Feel free to stop by for an amazing breakfast.

Posted in Moments of grace

Long live the salad bar!

Posted on by William Douthwaite

As I reached for the handle to open the restaurant door for my wife I saw it. I did a double take. And then I said, “They have a salad bar!”

Do you remember salad bars? We saw one! A vintage sixteen foot, help yourself, all-you-can-eat, as-many-trips-as-you-want Ruby Tuesday salad bar. This was the only real restaurant close to our hotel on the way home from our most recent trip to Dallas. We’re glad we stopped in.

Once Covid shut down everything over three years ago, salad bars disappeared. Were they the reason everyone was getting sick? I don’t know.

Four kinds of greens. All the veggies from cukes to shredded carrots, bell peppers to broccoli, radishes to cherry tomatoes. Chopped up eggs, diced ham, chick peas and edamame. Croutons, seeds, and bacon bits, seven kinds of salad dressing. Amazing.

I’ll bet there’s a whole generation of diners who have never seen a salad bar. Just like a wired phone or a television antenna, they only exist in grandpa’s stories of the good old days.

Every once in a while, someone spots a bird or animal thought to be extinct. I got to be that guy tonight!

Posted in Moments of grace, Travel

A great day at the pumpkin farm

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Today I took a trip to the Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm in Midlothien, Texas. Every weekend in October (and a few Mondays and Fridays) they hold their annual pumpkin festival. It’s pricey but worth it. It’s the real deal.

The festival is a whole lot more than pumpkins. As soon as we arrived, the grandkids jumped on the seesaws, large wooden swings hanging from the trees, and a whole bunch of little bouncy pigs, horses, and cows. Everyone took a turn riding down a huge hillside slide. It was pretty chilly so we stopped at a huge fire pit to warm up.

The petting zoo was next. We held chicks and ducklings, petted the alpaca, watched the pigs gorging on pumpkins, fed calves with huge bottles of milk and goats with ice cream cones full of feed. We spent nearly an hour there.

From there we took a tractor ride through the fields, navigated a corn maze, and bounced on flat orange bounce pads. Once we burnt off some energy, it was time for lunch.

A row of food trucks offered barbecue, Mac and cheese, street tacos, nachos, hot dogs, kettle corn, cider, and pumpkin pie. The brisket was delicious on a roll, in a tortilla, or on mac and cheese.

We weren’t done yet. Each of the kids picked out a pumpkin to take home, perched on old tractors for pictures, and took a ride in little pumpkin cars pulled by another tractor. After one last ride on swings, we headed home.

It was a great morning and part of the afternoon. Since pumpkin farms make all their money in the fall, I’m not surprised that these festivals aren’t cheap. $17 admission, $8 cider, $12 kettle corn, $5 pickle, $12 brisket sandwich, $37 pumpkin pie! Only the Texas state fair costs more.

I had a great time and got great pictures. I’ll bet we’ll be back next year.

Posted in Moments of grace

I slept through another tornado last night

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Shane on Unsplash

My phone lit up about 6:30 this morning. It was a text from my daughter. “Hey, are you and mom okay? I saw that a tornado touched down just a couple streets from you. Hope you all are okay and safe.”

Okay, heard the rain last night. And at one point, I heard sirens off in the distance. I checked some news apps and sure enough, an F2 tornado touched down less than a mile from our house, blowing away fences, damaging roofs, and leaving a ton of debris in its wake.

My wife poked her head in where I was sitting and said, “I just got a text about a tornado in our neighborhood.” We opened the blinds and looked out the front window. Not one tree branch in our yard. Plenty of rain in the swale, though. We both breathed a sign of relief.

This is not the first tornado I’ve slept through. Ten years ago, another touched down about a mile away, damaging many more homes.

I don’t always sleep through the night, but the sounds of rain and wind can be so soothing and relaxing that I’ll miss all the excitement. That is, unless tree branches torn loose by storm winds are hitting my roof. Then I lie awake wondering what in the world is going on out there. I also wonder how much I’m going to have to clean up the next day.

While we know a hurricane is headed our way a week in advance, tornadoes drop in unexpectedly. One minute you’re sound asleep. The next, your roof is gone or there’s a tree in your bedroom. You don’t know when it’s going to hit.

Around lunch time, I took my dog for a walk and we headed in that direction to see what there was to see. The closer we got, the more debris we saw in yards. We saw the remains of fences. And we saw a whole bunch of traffic trying to drive through the affected neighborhood, so we walked back the way we came.

I read somewhere that “sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is crawl into bed, close your eyes, and sleep.” There’s not much I can do about the storm. I guess I’ll just have to trust the one who can.

Posted in Life, Moments of grace

Focus on the good stuff

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Why is it so easy to see the negative?

I just sanded, stained, and sealed a butcher block counter top for an island in our kitchen. Rather than enjoying the finished project, I spent way too much time noticing the little imperfections. Every time I looked at it, I could see spots where the stain was too light. Or a rough spot wasn’t sanded smooth. Or the sealer didn’t quite cover an edge.

I know. Perfection is always just out of reach.

  • When you listen to live music, you hear the mistake rather than the thousands of correct notes.
  • The lawn looks so good, except for that one weed.
  • The stylist has done a wonderful job, except for that one hair you have to trim at home.
  • When you look in the mirror, the only thing you see is that pimple.
  • One misspelled word ruins a wonderfully written essay.
  • Rather than enjoying your detailed car, you only notice the ding in the door.

I always notice the imperfections in the things that I write. Others don’t see it. But I always do. Every time. Why is that?

In a similar vein, it is all too easy to see and point out the goofs in the work of others.

  • A speaker who keeps saying, “Um” or “Uh.’
  • A painter who missed a spot.
  • “That was stupid.”

We live in a world of perfection. Every photo is retouched. Colors are enhanced. Videos are edited. Grammarly scans our paragraphs. Actors repeat scenes 10, 20, or 30 times to get it right. Auto-tune makes vocals sound amazing.

When Covid hit and the church closed its doors, it was so hard to livestream my sermons. Even though I was used to live preaching, the camera in front of me made me aware of every flaw, miscue, and mistake. In those moments there’s not editing, do-overs, or mulligans. You just put it out there. Never perfect. Deeply flawed.

Think about it. A tiny flaw can make a coin or postage stamp valuable. Imperfection is coveted. Why doesn’t every one value our errors?

I had some friends who loved to show off their car. It was a beauty for sure. One day, they came and told me that they had won a car show. But they had only gotten 99 out of 100, because of a speck of dust beneath a speaker cover. Wow. My car has never been half that clean!

I took my car to a car wash place to have it detailed before I went to trade it in for a new car. The detailers did an amazing job. The dealer hardly looked at it at all. Does it run? Does the AC blow cold? Let’s make a deal.

I remember talking to someone whose dementia was robbing them of their memories. The things they remembered included regrets and failures instead of amazing stories about adventure, friendships, and experiences.

I’m glad God reminds us to focus on those things that are pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). Otherwise, we’d spend way too much time focusing on the negative and forget all the good stuff God has given us!

So today, take a few moments and ask yourself, “What made me smile today? What brought me joy? What blessings did I receive?” Focus on the good stuff.

Posted in Grace, Moments of grace

An unexpected blessing: a no-wait week

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Patience may be a virtue, but I appreciate the gift of quick appointments.

  • I brought a book to read while waiting for my wife at her doctor’s office. They called her name and got her in and out in five minutes. I only got to read a couple of pages.
  • I had the first appointment after lunch at my retina doctor. After I gave my name, they called me back as soon as I sat down in the waiting room. Within minutes the staff dilated my eyes, took pictures of my retinas, and the doctor came in to see me. Everything looked good, I had no questions for him, and the receptionist looked surprised when I walked out to make my next appointment. Quick and easy.
  • I brought my computer to sit and write while I waited for an oil change and tire rotation. They finished with my car in less than twenty minutes. I didn’t even have a chance to finish a story.
  • I walked into the barbershop. A few other guys were waiting, but they were waiting for a specific barber. I sat down but heard a voice say, “I can help you.” No wait for me that day!
  • I had to drop off the car to get the windshield replaced. They said it would be a two to three hour job. Before we got back home, I got a text that they were done, in less than an hour. Sweet.
  • For the first time in years the dermatologist had to do a little cutting to remove some skin cancer. Once I was numbed up, he came in, chatted while he made a couple of snips, and was out the door in under two minutes. He got it all. Okay, I did have to wait a little for my turn to get closed up, but I got to go home a lot sooner than a whole waiting room full of people.

I’m on a roll. Most of the time, I expect to wait. Self-checkout lines at the grocery store, security at the airport, dentist’s office, latte with an extra shot, etc. If I prepare myself, I’m patient. No wait? I’m blessed!

Posted in Life, Moments of grace

What’s the deal with birthdays?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

A granddaughter will turn two in a few days. In preparation, my daughter (her aunt) called my son (the dad) to let him know a present was on the way. The birthday gift overheard the conversation, smiled and said, “I wait for present!”

First birthday? You’re oblivious. Mom and dad will have a party, but you won’t understand or remember it. A year later you’ll be up to speed. For the past month or so, everyone’s been reminding you, “It’s almost your birthday!” They’ve been asking, “How old will you be? Grown-ups have helped you master the art of hold up two fingers and proudly saying, “Two.” And somehow you’ve caught on to the reality that there will be presents. You’ve become a little consumer.

Big birthday celebrations every year for every child are common now. Some people spend a whole week observing their birthday. When did birthday celebrations begin?

To my surprise, the birthday celebration is a recent idea in the United States, from the mid-nineteenth century.1 Before that, birthdays were for the rich or the nobility. Everyone knew when George Washington’s birthday was. For everyone else, the day passed unnoticed.

The change came with industrialization. With clocks on the wall and watches in their pockets, people became more aware of time. Trains and streetcars ran on schedules and workers punched in and out of their factory shifts. Sensitive to the passage of time, students were separated by grades. Doctors treated older patients differently. Talk of being on time, ahead of time, and behind the times entered our conversations. Age – and birthdays – became significant.

Cake dates back to the Roman empire. Candles are a German tradition. Birthday gifts grew out of old fashioned western capitalism.

It’s a mixed bag. Little ones can’t wait for their next birthday. Some adults stop celebrating as if ignoring the date will prevent aging. My birthday is clustered with a daughter and two granddaughters in July, so it’s always fun. Giant cake for four? Sweet! Four cakes? Even sweeter.

1https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/11/history-birthday-celebrations/620585/