Posted in Life

I’m lost

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
Daily writing prompt
What activities do you lose yourself in?
View all responses

Lose myself in? Meaning: I lose track of time, and suddenly an hour (or more) has passed, and I didn’t realize it.

That’s a tough one. I am super aware of time. I have a sense of how many minutes have passed. Or how many seconds are left until the timer goes off. I often wake up just before the alarm goes off.

I think I learned that from running. I paced myself by with the rhythm of my breath. My breathing helped me pace myself. I developed a good sense of quarter, half, and mile pacing by the music running through my head. I’ve never worn headphones to listen to music when I run or walk. Instead, I hear songs from high school band half time shows in my head. Or pieces I’ve learned for auditions and performances. Or a song from the radio I heard yesterday.

So, I guess I can easily lose myself in melodies from the past, in my mind, or those earworms that refuse to go to sleep.

Ok, so I lose myself when I run. But I don’t run that much any more. (My feet hurt too much.)

So what do I lose myself in?

Painting rocks with grandkids. Long walks with the dogs (as long as I turn off my fitness tracker). When I’m watching a really good movie. (When I don’t check my watch to see how much longer).


Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Movies We Watch Again and Again

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Daily writing prompt
What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?
View all responses

At first I thought, “I don’t watch movies that many times.” And then I remembered the ones I watch over and over:

  • “Independence Day” (We’re big Will Smith fans). We watch this every fourth of July. We’ve got the DVD.
  • “Castaway” (We’re big Tom Hanks fans, especially where he celebrates making a “fi-yah!”) We’ve got this DVD, too!
  • “Jungle Cruise” (A grandson always asks to watch this one)
  • “Avengers: Infinity War” (Same grandson likes this, too.)
  • “Avengers: End Game” (Yep, same grandson!)

There are probably a whole bunch of Disney films we’ve watched over and over with grandkids, like “Frozen,” “Frozen 2,” and “Moana.”

I’ve watched a lot of movies after supper and before bedtime when the grandchildren have spent the night at out house. When you are under ten, you go to Marvel and Disney, which is okay by me.

If I were choosing movies, I would watch the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy more than a few times. And I am a big fan of “Eddie and the Cruisers” movies, which I have watched a few times. But maybe not five.

What about “The Sound of Music” or “The Ten Commandments”? The networks put those out there every year, and those are perennial favorites.

Some movies never get old.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Why I Don’t Believe in Superstitions: A Personal Reflection

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Daily writing prompt
Are you superstitious?
View all responses

Friday the thirteenth? Thirteenth floor? Not a problem.

Black cat? Walk under a ladder? Broken mirror? I don’t give it a second thought.

I don’t keep wearing the same socks to keep a win streak going, either.

I’m not superstitious.

However, when someone says, “I hope it doesn’t rain!” I’ll catch myself responding, “Don’t jinx it!” As if the weather was subject to our random comments.

I’m not big on coincidences, either. I’m a logical thinker and like to investigate cause and effect. I have a pretty good handle on numbers and probabilities, too. Plus, my faith reminds me that God is still in control.

Posted in Life

I want to fly like an eagle

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash
Daily writing prompt
Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?
View all responses

When I sat down to write my answer, I immediately thought, “Well, of course, a dog.” I’m a big dog fan. On further reflection, I am more like a bird.

I’m an early bird. I love getting up early. I love walking the dogs as the sun is coming up. And I want to sing just like the birds who are so vocal as the sun begins to touch the dark morning sky. It’s noisy just before dawn, and I love to whistle back to the owls, mourning doves, cardinals, bluebirds, and mockingbirds as best I can. They know I’m not really a bird. But it’s fun to join in their antiphonal call and response.

I also notice things. Birds are always watching. Their heads turn to watch me, notice me, and fly if I get too close. I like to watch. Observe. See who’s around. Notice what’s there and what’s not in the picture. Move from place to place. Watching. Singing. Flying.

And soaring. I don’t relate to just be any bird. Hawks and eagles circle from above and get to see everything below. What a vantage point! I could see so much from up there. I would love to ride the updrafts with them.

I love dogs. And I would be a good dog. But I’m more like a bird. Does that count as an animal?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Eavesdropping on God: you can learn a lot

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Psalm 110.

Do you talk to yourself?

I’ve walked by people who sounded like they were talking to themselves. Then I see their air pods and I realize they were having a conversation on their phone.

Well, I don’t own any air pods. If I sound like I’m talking to myself, I am. And now that I’m thinking about it, I talk to myself a lot.

What do I say? O, things like

  • “I’m not going to do that again.”
  • “Come on, you can do better than that.”
  • “Relax. They aren’t worth it.”
  • “Unbelievable.”
  • “Just shut up and listen.”
  • “I knew they were going to say (or do) that.”
  • “This is going to take forever.”

In Psalm 110, we hear God talking to himself. Yahweh speaks to the Lord (Adonai), “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” (Psalm 110:1) Later he adds, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (v4).

I think it’s fascinating to eavesdrop on the triune God. He talks to himself about some amazing stuff. He talks to himself about authority, victory, sacrifice, and grace. His words are all about who he is and what he does. God is victorious, omnipotent, interceding, and eternal.

Have you ever had to shut someone down by saying, “I wasn’t talking to you”? Sometimes God isn’t talking to you, either. But it’s okay to listen in. I don’t think he minds. Besides, you might just learn something.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I’d try a little bit of everything

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Daily writing prompt
Where would you go on a shopping spree?
View all responses

I’m not much of a shopper. I’m more of a buyer. When I walk into a store, I’m on a mission. I have a list. I get what’s on my list. I check out. And then I go home.

However, I can see myself “spreeing” in a place with a vast assortment of food and drinks. (Is that even a word?) It could be a row of food trucks, vendors booths, or free samples at Costco. That’s where I would spend a lot of time and money.

I can picture myself wandering from barbecue to pizza, asian and creole, and then to baked goods and ice cream. In between, how about a soft pretzel or nachos? Sample craft beers and whiskey. No huge platters or meals. Let’s do small portions of many different tastes.

Posted in Life

No middle name

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Daily writing prompt
What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?
View all responses

I do not have a middle name.

Instead, I have a suffix. I am the third, named after my father and my grandfather. Since

The absence of a middle name causes plenty of consternation among those who like to fill in all the boxes. Some have filled in III as my middle name. I once used Q as a middle initial when I needed three letters for a login. NMI is another popular choice.

Since my dad died, I don’t use III after my name very often. It still shows up on tax forms and passports. But it’s not on my driver’s license. Some like to include it on certificates. They can’t spell or pronounce my last name, but they love the suffix.

I do not meet many who share my lack of a middle name. Many even give their pets middle names. I enjoy that uniqueness. I also love to ask those who like my suffix, “What was my father’s name?” And then, “What was my grandfather’s name?” Some get it. Others are confused. I just chuckle.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Tears in a bottle

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Bobby Donald on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Psalm 56.

David might have written Psalm 56 when he was a prisoner of war. Or he might have been reflecting on his experiences later in life. Either way, I paused when I came across these words:

You have kept count of my tossings;
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book? (Psalm 56:8)

What does it mean to have tears in a bottle? This is actually the only place in scripture where the word bottle is used. My mind wonders, “What is a bottle of tears?”

Here’s what I learned. It expresses remembrance. God knows and cares about me and my tears, as if he kept them in a bottle. He never says, “Get over it.” Instead he says, “I know.” “I get it.” “I understand.”

Most people really don’t care about how I feel. They are concerned about my performance. They care about the bottom line (money). They care about what I can do for them.

God cares about me. He cares about you. He cares about how you feel, about your joys, your grief, your worries, and your dreams. In fact, no one cares about you more than he does.

Your tears are precious to him. He loves to hear you laugh. In response to your worries, he says, “I’ve got this.” When you are so angry you could spit, he reassures you, “Been there. Done that.”

Best promise of all? It’s at the end of the bible: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4). He knows. He cares. He comforts.


Posted in Life

The Truth About 5-Star Reviews: Do They Really Matter?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

When we arrived, our most recent Airbnb host wrote, “A 5-star rating is VERY important to us and goes a long way to helping our family business.” After we checked out, he begged, “Hey Mr. Bill would truly appreciate a 5 star ⭐️ review from you as that helps our family business out tremendously!”

I get it. People read reviews. Five out of five stars? Good product, good seller, good experience. But if you have to beg for a good rating, does it mean anything?

A couple of months ago I bought a new car. I bought other cars from this salesman and always had a good experience. But as we got ready to drive off, he said, “When you get the survey, be sure to give me a ten. I am almost in the top three.”

Reviews don’t mean anything if we simply give excellent feedback every time. I told my last Airbnb host, “I’ve stayed in many five star places. If you want a five star review…” and I listed out my suggestions. I decided I’m not going to give an excellent review unless you merit it.

The real deal? Most products and people don’t really deserve more than three out of five, or a 6 out of 10. Few products are worth the money. Few people go above and beyond. The world is average. Maybe. To be honest, most of the world is below average. Not even three (out of five) stars.

You want a five-star review? Four star? Earn it. Convince me. Persuade me. Don;’t command me. Or beg me. Give me a reason.