Harmony Articles
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"Used with permission from Regenesis.net"

A Matter of Attitude
There’s a wise expression that goes, "The customer is always right". This doesn’t mean that the customer is always right because the customer is frequently wrong. It refers to the attitude one should have in dealing with others. If one party dismisses, minimizes, ignores or is unwilling to hear the other out, it creates a wall in the relationship that impedes a successful outcome. That wall must be removed before productive communication can take place.

In homeowner associations, this scenario plays itself out as boards and owners position themselves for confrontation. Interestingly, this "us and them" mentality overlooks the fact that board members are homeowners themselves. Although the Board represents the association and owners represent their own personal interests, the end result equally impacts one and all.

There once was a fellow named Ben
Who confounded his friends now and then
By climbing the stairs
And screaming, "Who cares?"
Again and again and again.    by Michael Palin

Knowing that someone cares is one of the most important components of human relationships. We all struggle with the answers to perplexing questions, many of which have no answer that we can understand in this life. The comfort of a caring and sympathetic ear can go a long way to filling that void.

This concept goes for building harmonious relationships within your HOA. Even though the question may be business related like pets running amuck or someone parking in your space, the fact that the board’s demeanor is one of caring can make the difference whether an issue comes to resolution or remains a thorn in the corporate rear end.

When it comes to contention and confrontation, it is essential to first build a perception of caring. Caring doesn’t mean you agree with the other party. It means you give them respect as a human being and will hear them out. It means proposing a compromise whenever possible rather than invoking "The Law". If this is the platform on which you build your association business and personal relationships, much fruit will follow.

Who cares? YOU should. It’s only a matter of attitude.  BACK

God's Nickel
Back in the days when you could still buy an ice cream cone for a nickel, there was a little boy who lived in a small town with his grandmother. Every Sunday the grandmother took the boy to church and after they would go downtown for a special treat--an ice cream cone. One Sunday grandmother was not feeling well, and she told the boy that he would have to go to church by himself. Before he left she gave him two nickels--one for the offering plate and one for an ice cream after church.

Now it happened that the boy needed to cross an old wooden bridge in order to get to church. As he was crossing the old bridge, he began jumping up and down, as boys will do, making the bridge shake and sway. He heard a small "thunk" and he looked down to see one of the nickels roll into a small crack on the bridge and fall into the river below.

Standing up and dusting off his knees, he said, "Oh well. There goes God's nickel." Jesus spoke about prioritizing money needs: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you" (Matthew 6:33).

From Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice.   BACK

Know Yourself
A real estate ad boasted: "At our community, the design principles of 18th and 19th Century American townships are artfully drawn upon to turn strangers into friends. Endangered by suburban sprawl and "cul-de-sac" subdivisions, the genuine American neighborhood which everyone fondly recalls and longs for, has made a remarkable resurgence here. True sidewalks and narrow streets minimize the effects of traffic and create a serene, peaceful sense of township. Architectural guidelines mandate quality and traditional design standards, assuring remarkable neighborhood character."

The preceding is an example of how Americans have raised advertising to an art form. Yet no homeowner association can bring about eternal bliss no matter how well designed. The apostle Paul wrote, "I've learned to be content in any circumstance". Many expect the exact opposite... for the circumstance to produce contentment.

Successful relationships take work and a homeowner association is no exception. All too many consumers buy into homeowner associations without reading the documents, the rules or talking with the neighbors and buy into a philosophy they are unprepared for. Or, their "no-one-is-going-to-tell-me-what-to-do attitude" won’t fare well. These folks rarely take that attitude into the backwoods where they can freely express it. Instead, it is often manifested with junk cars, aggressive dogs, unkempt property, a steady stream of challenges to the board authority or refusal to pay fees "under protest".

On the other hand, many folks are perfectly content with the benefits that homeowner associations offer. The economies of scale provide many amenities not possible otherwise. And the close proximity of neighbors give many a sense of security, not claustrophobia. The key is to "Know Yourself" and understand the pros and cons before buying. Like marriage, it rarely works trying to change the other party or complain about shortcomings. Buyers that bring happiness with them will help build a successful community.   BACK

Receiving a Gift
A man was sitting in a hospital waiting room. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he sat sobbing with his head in his hands. The others in the waiting room shifted uncomfortably. They were also under emotional stress, with loved ones in the hospital. A small child squirmed loose from her father's arms and wandered around the room.

The child explores the magazines, the ashtray and the water fountain. The twenty people in the room discover that it is easier to focus on this curious child than to deal with the sobbing old man. The toddler stops in front of him. She looks intently into his face.

The waiting room becomes silent. All eyes focus on the man and the young child. Why can't she see that the man needs to be left alone? The child reaches out to the man's face, wiping the tears with her little hands. "All right, all right, all right," she says gently. The man opens his eyes. The shape of his mouth begins to change. He gazes at the little girl, then gently catches her hand between his wrinkled fingers and kisses it.

While it may be more "blessed to give than to receive," blessed is the receiver who can receive graciously. Paraphrased from The Ministry of the Child, by Dennis Benson and Stan Stewart.   BACK

Changing the World
Once upon a time a man set out to change the world. Before long he discovered that the world was far too big for one person to change. So he decided to change his country. Crooked politicians and special interest groups thwarted his efforts, so he decided to change his neighborhood. But his neighbors slammed their doors in his face. So he decided to change his family. Instead of changing, his children rebelled, his wife threatened divorce, and things only got worse. Finally, the man decided to change himself. And when he did that, he changed the world.  Change starts with YOU.   BACK

Shut Up and Fish
Old Pete had a knack for catching fish. Every weekend he left and returned with a boat load. Nobody knew how he did it. Curious, the Fish & Game warden decided to investigate. He followed Old Pete out to the lake, and when he launched his boat at the dock, the warden asked if he could ride along and observe. "Sure," said Old Pete. "Hop in."

When they arrived at an obscure spot of the lake, Pete stopped the boat, reached into a box, pulled out a stick of dynamite, lit it, and tossed it into the water. After the explosion, dead fish soon started rising to the surface. Old Pete took out a net and started scooping them up.

"What do you think you're doing?" said the warden. "You can't do that! I'll put you in jail, buddy! You'll be paying every fine in the book! You'll never fish again!" Old Pete calmly put down his net, picked up a second stick of dynamite, lit it, and tossed it in the warden's lap.

"So are you gonna sit there criticizing me all day," he asked the panicked warden, "or are you gonna fish?"

The warden was quickly transformed from passive observer to, shall we say, enthusiastic participant. It's always easy to criticize other people from a distance, but what will you do when you find yourself in a similar situation? Decisions aren't nearly as neat and clear when you're the one in a tough place.

Edited from Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice.   BACK

Going to the Dogs?
Greyhound racing is a metaphor for life. To keep the dogs running in the right direction, they are trained to chase a mechanical rabbit that zips along the track in front of them. A man in the press box electronically controls the speed of the rabbit, keeping the rabbit just out in front of the dogs. The dogs never catch it.

At a Florida track some years back, a big race was about to begin. The dogs crouched in their cages, the gun went off and the man pushed his lever, starting that rabbit down the first stretch. However, an electrical short in the system caused the rabbit to explode and go up in flames. Poof! All that was left was a bit of black stuff hanging on the end of a wire.

The rabbit gone, the bewildered dogs didn't know what to do. Several simply stopped running and laid down on the track, their tongues hanging out. Two others, still frenzied with the chase, ran into a wall, breaking several ribs. Another dog began chasing his tail, while the rest howled at the people in the stands. Not one dog finished the race.

Like greyhounds, each of us chases our chosen rabbit. We all need some reason for living, for running the race. What is your goal and purpose in life? What if it were taken away? Would you be dazed and confused like the greyhounds? Or would you have a lasting purpose, meaning, and hope. Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called you.  BACK

The Cutting Edge
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" Proverbs 27:17

There is a mental sharpness that comes from being around good people. And a meeting of minds can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine them, and shape them into brilliant insights. This requires discussion partners who can challenge each other and stimulate thought--people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. From the Life Application Study Bible    BACK

Pat Answers
"Pat answers" suggest fool-proof solutions. There aren't any. But there are unifying principles like honesty, integrity and respect that ensure effective policy and rule making. The board can either focus on making rules to deal with problems (exceptions to the rules) or adopting unifying principles from which a code of conduct springs. If policies are formulated to deal with problems, the board is forever chasing new problems. On the other hand, if your policies grow from unifying principles, the exceptions become obvious and new policies become unnecessary.

George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is a parody on government where farm animals overthrew their oppressor, Farmer Brown. The first thing the animals agreed on was a unifying principle: "Two legs bad, four legs good". That principle brought all of them, the horses, cows, mice, cats, dogs, etc. together as a team. It worked extremely well until the pigs decided they wanted to be excepted from the rule and walk upright. They modified the unifying principle with an exception principle: "Two legs bad, except for the pigs". That exception eroded and destroyed the community.

In our own society, the Ten Commandments are under attack because they are perceived by some as narrow and restrictive. In fact, their effectiveness in building healthy happy community is legendary. Like the Ten Commandments, a homeowner  association’s unifying principles must be guarded carefully. Complacency and neglect allow weedy exceptions to take root and grow. Weedy exceptions soon crowd out unity and life becomes a free for all.    BACK

Attitude of Gratitude
The late Mother Teresa told of life lesson she had learned: "One evening we picked up four people from the street. One of them was in the most terrible condition. I told the others with me, "I will take care of the one who looks worst.'" I did all that my love could do. I put her in bed, and she had a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand as she said two words: 'Thank you.' Then she died."

"I asked myself, what would I say if I were in her place? I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself. I would have said, 'I’m hungry, I’m dying, I’m in pain.' But she gave me much more; she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face.

"Gratitude brings a smile and becomes a gift."   How do you view life, and the things that are happening around you? Most of us fail to understand how important this is. Your gratitude is not only a gift to someone else, but a blessing to you.

As we approach Thanksgiving, remember about gratitude bringing a smile and becoming a gift. Make this Thanksgiving season a time of reflection on the blessings you have in life, be they few or many. Article by Rich McLawhorn    BACK

Ax to Grind
This common American phrase means "a private or selfish motive behind a request or action - something that is not obvious at first glance". The phrase is attributed to Benjamin Franklin. The story goes that a man needed an ax sharpened, pretended to young Franklin that he didn’t know how a grindstone worked and asked Ben to show him. Many turns of the handle later Franklin was weary, the ax was beautifully sharp and the man, having gained his objective, jeered at Franklin for having been hoodwinked. Ben learned a lesson in human cruelty that he memorialized in the phrase.

Ax grinding continues today in many community associations. Residents and Board members play out hidden agendas that are self serving and contrary to the interests of the community. A resident may manipulate the landscaper to perform special bush pruning without payment. Someone may join the board with the express intention of getting his unit painted first. Whatever it is, the motive is selfish and undermines trust.

Ax grinding also occurs when people feel that they are not getting what they paid for. When people feel cheated, some will take covert action like this. Are there ways for the Board to improve maintenance, reduce complaints and discourage ax grinders? Proactive maintenance and planning is the key.

One of the strengths of a community association is the economies gained by sharing services and amenities. Pools, clubhouses, green ways, ponds and other expensive amenities become a reality for a community when supporting such things by an individual would not be possible. A concession must be made for this system work: The community’s welfare must be placed above the individual’s. For some individuals, this might be hard to swallow, greed being a natural tendency.

A good leader must be alert to ax grinding and grind it to a halt. If allowed to continue, it will promote antagonism and divisiveness. Realize that there are various motivations for it. It will happen in every community at some time or another. Be vigilant, sensitive and proactive.   BACK

Songs of Life
John Burroughs, the famous naturalist, once wrote; "Bird songs have human significance which I think is the source of delight we take in them. The song of the Bobolink to me expresses hilarity. The sparrows song, faith; Bluebirds, love; Catbirds, pride; the White-Eyed Flycatcher, self-consciousness, the Hermit Thrush, serenity, while there is something military in the Robin’s call."

Evolutionists teach that birds sing for breeding purposes and to protect their territory and food supply. Why then does a caged canary sing continuously with a full repertoire of songs? Have you ever heard the somber sound of Mourning Doves as they call to one another? The Chickadees around the feeder are a happy little troupe. Chattering Bluejays feed shoulder to shoulder with Sparrows and Snowbirds. And Starlings and Red-Winged Blackbirds loudly announce the arrival of spring.

Let the evolutionists credit this to death and survival, but I hear only happy songs of life. Birds sing for mankind. A happy wake-up call in the morning and a soothing message at twilight. Beethoven used the Blackbird for the final motif of his violin concerto. I have no doubt that God takes great delight in the songs and beauty of His creation. "...the time for the singing of the birds has come." Song of Solomon 2:12     By John C. Thibos.   BACK

Family Business
While homeowner associations are clearly business enterprises, some feel they should be run and have the feel of healthy family...a kinder, gentler corporation. But even families have to deal with their internal issues and the outside world in order to survive and prosper.

For example, homeowners that undertake remodeling must deal with bids, contracts, know how to negotiate, deal with problems in contractor performance, etc. Budgeting for short and long-term expenses, managing cash flow and bank accounts, paying taxes, understanding financial statements related to investments and net worth, purchasing insurance, etc., are things that families and homeowner associations alike must deal with. Ditto for managing physical assets like roofing, decks, paint and other things that require repairs and preventive maintenance and periodic replacement.

Healthy families have rules, duties, mutual expectations of courtesy and consideration, and accountability amongst members. These things may be unwritten, but still play a significant role in day-to-day life, just as with homeowner associations. Some families function via consensus and have family meetings, processes common with associations. Further, family members require education and training, just like boards and committee members.

Accomplishing objectives and maintaining harmony requires listening skills, compassion and the powers of logic and persuasion. Dictatorial, selfish and abusive treatment produces the same negative results in both environments. And there are unpleasant extremes in both environments -- Jimmy Cagney in the lead role of the movie "One, Two, Three" ran his family just like he ran his business. His domineering style worked with the business but not the family.

Perhaps the most notable distinctions between homeowner associations and families are assessment collections and the use of professional overseers. Although with the latter, some say that is why God created in-laws. By M. Timothy Swallow, Fairway Crossing HOA    BACK

Bigger Frying Pan
Bill and Ted went fishing one day. Every time Bill caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest. Whenever Ted caught a big fish, he threw it back. Bill watched this go on for some time and finally asked, "Why do you keep throwing back all the big fish you catch?" Ted replied, "I only have a small frying pan."

Sometimes, like Ted, we throw back the "big ones" that God has planned for us. Our faith is too small. Whether it's a problem or a possibility, He will never give you anything bigger than you can handle. By Wayne Rice    BACK

No Barking Zone
When neighbors live in close proximity like in a homeowner association, they are bound to step on each other’s toes from time to time. Loud parties come to mind. And, oh yes, that dog that barks incessantly from morning to night. When the offending dog owner is confronted, the standard response is, "MY dog doesn’t bark." As the saying goes, "If a dog barks in the forest and there is no one there to hear him, is he still a bad dog?" This is one immutable law of nature: ALL dogs bark when their owners are away.

Whether in a single family homeowner association or a common wall community with paper thin walls, barking dogs are a common complaint that come to lie at the board’s or manager’s door. When they do, decisive action is called for. Traditional solutions include bark collars which shock the dog, prong collars to restraint aggression or total removal of the dog from the HOA.

However, new and effective training techniques have been developed that offer humane and lasting solutions to various dog discipline problems. One company that has received rave reviews is Barkbusters, a franchise operation now found in many areas of the country Barkbusters originated in Australia and has developed in-home dog training to solve behavioral issues such as:

Aggression towards people or other animals.

• Barking
• Jumping up on people
• Scratching and whining at the door.
• Teaching a dog to stay on command, come when called and walk on leash without tugging.
• Setting off-limits areas for a dog.
• Reducing separation anxiety.

The training methods used by Barkbusters are pain-free and treat-free. The methods are based on canine communication and pack behavior. They teach proper use of body language and voice tones to get the dog to focus and obey. The training comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Does your HOA have barking problems? Don’t roll-over for half-barked solutions. Sit up and bite into a real solution. Create a No Barking Zone. See www.barkbusters.com Good boy!   BACK

HOA Know How
When you purchase a into a homeowner association (HOA), you automatically become a member and obligate yourself to financially support the operation and obey the rules. That said, few buyers take the time to examine the information to make an informed decision. Here are some of the basic Know Hows:

HOA Fees. As a member of the HOA, you will pay fees to support management and maintenance. High rise condominiums and HOAs with clubhouses, pools and parks typically have higher fees than those with few common elements. If the HOA does not have and fund a reserve study (30 year plan for major repairs and replacements) for common elements like roofing, painting, asphalt, decks and fences, a special assessment will be charged to each owner that can run into many thousands of dollars. Since boards of HOAs that don’t follow a reserve study tend to react rather than plan, these special assessment can happen with little notice and the financial obligation will fall on all owners, including new ones. HOA KNOW HOW: Review and understand the current budget and reserve study. If you are considering buying into a HOA that does not have a reserve study, move on. It’s an accident waiting to happen.

A homeowner association can be your best friend when it prevents your neighbor from painting her house neon pink, but your worst enemy when they fail to properly maintain the common property or impose overly restrictive rules. Make sure you know exactly what you are getting into before you sign the dotted line.  BACK

Proclamation of Thanksgiving
Sarah Josepha Hale, a 74-year-old magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on September 28, 1863, urging him to have the "day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival." She explained, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritative fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution."

Prior to this, each state scheduled its own Thanksgiving holiday at different times, mainly in New England and other Northern states. President Lincoln responded to Mrs. Hale's request immediately, unlike several of his predecessors, who ignored her petitions altogether.

Lincoln set the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise." According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln's secretaries, the following proclamation was written by Secretary of State William Seward and the original was in his handwriting. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops.

A Proclamation: The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord 1863 and of the Independence of the United States the 88th. Abraham Lincoln    BACK

Drop The Banana!
You have probably heard about a rather interesting method used when trying to catch a monkey for the zoo. Trappers take a small cage out into the jungle. Inside the cage they place a bunch of bananas and then they close it, locking the bananas inside. Now a monkey coming along and spotting the bananas will reach through the narrow rungs of the cage and grab a banana. But he can't get it out. And no matter how hard he tries – twisting his hand back and forth – he can't pull his hand through the rungs while hanging on to the banana. And even with the approaching trappers he won't let go of the banana. For the trappers, it's simply a matter of coming up and grabbing the monkey. Now if you were standing there in the jungle, watching all of this happen, and wanted to save the monkey, you might yell in exasperation, "Drop the banana!"

In the same way, we sometimes hang on to our problems and attitudes – attitudes that cloud our perspective, attitudes that alter our actions, attitudes that sidetrack our best intentions – and won't let go of them, even when it would be in our best interest to do so.

Why is that? Why are we continually plagued by long outstanding problems? Why aren't they overcome or at least brought under control?

Could it quite possibly be that that is the way we want it? We can get so comfortable doing what we have always done that we don't want to overcome the inertia of continuing on as we are.

We don't want to drop the banana in our life because we really enjoy just doing what we have always done even if that behavior is not serving us well. There is a saying that "when you're in a hole, stop digging." Sometimes we just have to bring everything to a complete halt. Make an assessment of what is going on and make the appropriate correction. The first step in changing your behavior is to stop doing the destructive action that got you there in the first place. Self-examination is necessary for change. But it can be uncomfortable. Comfort is one of the most demotivating forces on earth. It stops us from growing.

Sometimes we say, "I tried but I just can't do it." When we do, we need to catch ourselves – bells should go off in our head, fireworks should burst in the sky, we should immediately go into red alert—because we're really just kidding ourselves.

In fact, if we face reality, it's more likely, that it's not "we can't," or "we tried," it's that we really don't want to. We might want someone else to change. We might even fervently pray that they do so. But we personally don't really want to change. We like things just they way they are. Trying is easier than doing. Doing takes discipline—consistent discipline. The problem is within. It's not our parents. It's not other people. It's not our circumstances. It's us.

Actually 80% of our problems are of our own making. A successful person always says, "What is it in me that I need to change?" They're open to the fact that they're not perfect. They seek out constructive criticism. A successful person will spend time on the 80% of the problems they can do something about. An unsuccessful person will spend their time worrying about the 20% they really can't do anything about. It is easier to look at the 20% (other people) and suggest where they might change. But this leads only to frustration and stagnation.

A wise old Middle Eastern mystic said this about himself. "I was a revolutionary when I was young and all my prayer to God was: ‘Lord, give me the energy to change the world.’ As I approached middle age and realized that my life was half gone without my changing a single soul, I changed my prayer to: ‘Lord, give me the grace to change all those who come into contact with me. Just my family and friends and I shall be satisfied.’ Now that I am an old man and my days are numbered, I have begun to see how foolish I have been. My one prayer now is: ‘Lord, give me the grace to change myself.’ If I had prayed this right from the start, I would not have wasted my life."

But we don't often want to work on the 80%. It's not fun. There's no apparent glory. It's hard work. There's too much inertia to overcome. They're habits. We've grown accustomed to our problems and so now we justify them. Someone once said, "Adults are just children with better excuses." So instead of working on the problem we do "work arounds" or convince ourselves that, compared to others, we’re not that bad, evoking the principle of relative sin...I'm not so bad if they're worse.

Well, we don't have to be sick to get better. A full and satisfying life is not about getting by, it's about getting better. We must raise the bar on ourselves, set higher and higher standards. We need to develop the habit of doing the things we already know to do and to stop doing the things we know we shouldn't.

So let's consider then, the long outstanding problems that we have, and ask ourselves if it is really that we don't want to make the necessary changes we need to make. What are we hanging on to that we would best be rid of? What private agendas are we hanging on to? How can we get out of our own way so that we can accomplish in our lives that which we desire?

You can't answer these questions without humility. It takes a degree of humility to answer these questions, if the answers are to be productive at all. Otherwise, it's easy to look through the distortions that make us look and feel better and the torturous logic that betrays us.

We can change ourselves and our attitudes and our effect on other people. We can change opinions. We can change direction. Only the discipline and our decision to use it is missing. We have the chance, the capacity and the answers. All of the elements are there. We just have to make the decision.

As we look at the problems in our own lives, we need to think about that monkey in the jungle. If we were to step back and look at ourselves struggling through life – ensnared by our problems – we might just shake our heads and ask, "Why don't I just drop the banana!"

By Michael McKinney www.FoundationsMagazine.com    BACK