Harmony Articles
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"Used with permission from Regenesis.net"

New books on contentment decorate bookstore windows and keep right on selling. Strange that we need a book to experience what should come naturally. Consider, however, that many have been programmed to compete, achieve, fight and worry up the "ladder of success" (which few can even define). To them, contentment is the unknown "x" in the Equation of Life.

The real fear of those afraid to open the door of contentment is that loss of prestige and laziness will barge in. There is a belief that contentment should be reserved for retirement...after the battle is over. Selfish ambition forces contentment to the back burner.

Shakespeare wrote, "Striving to be better, oft we mar what’s well". While we are free to do as we please, many follow the crowd like puppets manipulated by a dictatorial puppeteer. Biblical wisdom says "...let your character be free...being content with what you have" (Hebrews 13:5)

Contentment isn’t easy. You’ll have to fight the urge to conform. It’s a learning process, often quite painful. Frankly, it isn’t very enjoyable marching out of step. But if you do it long enough, two things will happen: (1) Your strings will be cut, and (2) you’ll be free indeed! You’ll discover that lonely hitchhiker in the passenger seat right beside you...smiling every mile of the way. Excerpts from The Quest for Character by Charles Swindoll     BACK

Making a Positive Impact
Ms. Thompson stood before her 5th grade class on the opening day of school and lied that she would treat them all alike. But there slumped in front of her was Teddy Stoddard. She had observed him the year before and noticed he didn't get along with others, dressed shabbily and needed a bath. Teddy was all around unpleasant. She would soon delight in marking his papers with a broad red "F".

One day, she came across Teddy’s school records and noted with surprise the following entries:
First Grade: "Teddy is a bright, inquisitive child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners. He is a joy to be around."
Second Grade: "Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by all his classmates, but he is troubled because of his mother’s illness and home life."
Third Grade: "Teddy works hard but his mother's death has affected him. His father doesn't show much interest."
Fourth Grade: "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and often falls asleep in class. He is frequently late."

Ms. Thompson’s eyes had been opened! Christmas came and the children brought her presents all adorned in beautiful ribbon and bright paper. All, that is, except Teddy's, which was clumsily wrapped in brown grocery bag paper. As she unwrapped it, she found a rhinestone bracelet with stones missing and a used bottle of perfume. She commented how pretty the bracelet was as she put it on and dabbed perfume on her wrists. Teddy Stoddard stayed behind after class and said, "Ms. Thompson, today you smelled just like my mom used to." After he left, she cried for at least an hour.

That very day, she quit teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic and began teaching children.

She paid particular attention to Teddy. The more she encouraged him, the more he responded. By year’s end, he had become one of the highest achievers in the class.

A year later she found a note under her door from Teddy saying that she was his favorite teacher. Six years later, she got another note stating proudly that he had finished high school third in his class and she was still his favorite teacher. Four years after that, a letter arrived saying that he would graduate college with honors. He again assured Ms. Thompson that she was still his favorite teacher. Another four years passed and yet another letter came. Teddy explained that he had successfully completed medical school. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D. That spring, a letter arrived wherein Ted described the girl he was to marry. He asked Ms. Thompson if she would sit in the pew usually reserved for the mother of the groom. She accepted with honor and on that day, she wore the rhinestone bracelet with the stones missing and smelled the way Teddy remembered his mother smelling.

The impact made on others by our positive actions or lack of them is enormous. Consider this in your journey through life.  BACK

Gift of Encouragement
Two strangers named Jim and Bill found themselves in the intensive care ward of County General Hospital. Both suffered from life threatening circumstances that left them bedridden. While the prospects weren’t good, Jim had a markedly sunny disposition that he regularly shared with Bill.

Both men shared a room, Jim by the window and Bill near the hall door. Everyday, Jim would gaze out the window and relate to Bill the activity he could see. "Heh, Bill", he would say, "There are two kids and their dog playing in the park. One is throwing a frisbee and, boy, can that dog jump and catch!" or "There are some really beautiful flowers that have just been planted at the park entrance. I think they are pansies, or maybe petunias but they are purple, yellow and blue. There’s some bright red flowers mixed in. It’s really beautiful!" or "Just look at that couple sitting on the park bench...they look like newly weds the way they hold hands and look into each others eyes!"

Day after day, Jim would comment and Bill would listen. As the days passed, Bill developed a resentment towards Jim because he had the best place in the room next to the window. Although he never mentioned it, this feeling grew stronger every day.

One night late, Bill was awoken by the sounds of muffled coughing. Jim was obviously choking and reached vainly for the Nurse Call Button. Bill listened as the coughing continued but did nothing. In the morning when the nurse made her rounds, she discovered Jim dead.

Several days passed. Bill thought a respectable time had passed to request a move to Jim’s window spot. The staff complied and Bill was moved into Jim’s old bed. With anticipation, Bill asked the nurse to draw the curtains. When they were opened, Bill stared in disbelief at a solid brick wall...

We are all given more or less life to enjoy or not to enjoy as we choose. One of the true joys of life is the gift of encouragement. How do you rate on the encouragement scale? BACK

Harmonizing the Future
Condos and townhouses and have traditionally been marketed as an affordable living alternative where the association is responsible for landscaping, repairs, insurance, utilities and reserves. The Board deals with issues like architectural changes plus pet, parking and people rules. These controls, when uniformly and consistently applied, create community stability and usually set a higher standard than set by the local municipality.

The Winds of Change are blowing. Changes in technology plus federal and state regulations have challenged many association covenants and the ability to enforce them. For example, federal statutes affect handicap access and the ability to control architectural modifications regarding satellite dishes. Why satellite dishes? When the covenants were created, satellite dishes were huge and ugly. This has changed. They are now small and ugly. Regardless, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits the association from enforcing dish restrictions that prevent reception of satellite signals.

Recent changes in vehicle design and use has redefined what constitutes a passenger vehicle. Is today's four wheel drive sport vehicle yesterday's station wagon? Can commercial vehicles now be considered private passenger vehicles?

How about the prohibition of commercial activities in a unit? Does operating a home business violate the association's covenants? Issues like these are shaping the future of condominium law. Associations must now view restrictive covenants in a different light. The question is not whether the Board can enforce the documents, but rather, whether it should. Has the premise of enforcing restrictive covenants changed?

Both municipalities and community associations both strive to serve residents in a reasonable way. However, there are fundamental differences in their respective goals. Many experts believe that government regulations will little by little undermine association authority. The 90s has seen a growing number of court cases challenging the association’s authority to control its members. These cases include the prohibition of pamphlet distribution, political signage, flag displays, "for sale" signs, as well as failure to provide an violation appeal process.

To meet the future today, the Board must keep informed about new legislation and be pre-pared to challenge un-reasonable government restrictions that impact the community’s right to a higher standard [civil rights considerations excluded]. The U.S. Constitution has survived because of its principles are proven yet adaptable to a changing culture. Association covenants should be shaped in the same way.

Community associations will play a bigger role as a form of home ownership since higher density housing is clearly in the future. The Board needs to stay informed of trends and changes to properly steer the community.   BACK

Harmony Paradigm
We recently read about a new improved community "paradigm" [90's word for "cutting edge model"] A new paradigm is fine, as long as the people that live within it are friendly, interested in each other and mutually supportive, like the "old" paradigm.

The trend, however, seems to be toward more isolationism. Take the Internet for example. While it’s a great way to get information and exchange ideas, most people don't use it much to communicate with neighbors. The Internet, Email and other such communications convey information and emotions on a detached level. Emotions are the key to true understanding. A written word can have many meanings that "the look" or tone of voice reduces to a single meaning. In written form, rarely do communicants build a deep, meaningful relationships.

Until all residents of a community are willing to meet "face to face" to discuss common issues, paradigms or models are just that. Face to face communications take practice. Each community can facilitate regular social functions to coax people out of their homes. Pool, garden, special holiday and block parties are a fun way to break the ice. What special events could your association sponsor and underwrite for the sole purpose of building neighborly relationships? By the way, these kind of activities will go along way to getting volunteers for the board and committees and supporters for the board’s work. It's much harder to criticize someone you actually know.  BACK

Learning from Mistakes
Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

A young homeowner was elected Chairman of the Board of his community association. He had no experience at the job so he inquired of the outgoing Chairman, "I was wondering if you could give me some advice. How can I be successful as Board Chairman?" The reply was simply: "Make right decisions!" The young man had hoped for more than that, so he said, "That's really helpful, and I appreciate it, but can you be more specific? How do I make right decisions?" The reply was simply, "From experience!" The young man said, "Well, that's just my point. I don't have the kind of experience I need. How do I get it?" Came a terse, "Make wrong decisions!"

How does this apply to our lives? Wrong decisions, mistakes--we all make them. Do you learn from your mistakes, and then move on to new challenges? Or do you take mistakes personally, and form a negative attitude toward yourself and life?

"Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently." Those words are from Henry Ford, the famous automobile maker. Most people don't know it today, but Ford saw his plans collapse around him, and he went broke five times before finally succeeding. Ford refused to let failures make him a failure--remember his approach. There is something else to remember. Don't try to carry life's burdens alone. Find people you can trust, and lean on them---even if it is just someone to whom you can talk. There is strength in numbers.

Observation #2: As many people have learned by experience, "There is no failure except in no longer trying."   Adapted from an article by Rich McLawhorn BACK

Fulfillment
Fulfillment has to be one of life’s choicest gifts. A major building block toward authentic happiness. Solomon must have had it in mind when he wrote in Proverbs 13:19 "Desire realized is sweet to the soul..."

Who can measure up to the pleasure of that scene? The longing of the heart, unrevealed and deep, leads to dreams. These dreams float as time passes, refusing to be sunk by the anchors of hindrance and hardship. They grow into possibilities kept alive by hope and determination. Vague possibilities lead to concrete opportunities that stir up the soul with gratifying, satisfying stimulation...which ultimately becomes actual accomplishment, the ace trump of fulfillment. As Longfellow said:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!...
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time

Have you become a victim of routine?...focusing on hurdles rather than the goal? Like Oscar Hammerstein put it: Climb every mountain, search high and low

Follow every by-way, every path you know
Climb every mountain, ford every stream
Follow every rainbow, ‘til you find your dream.
From Chuck Swindoll’s "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life"  BACK

Maintaining a Proper Perspective
Did you know a single cup of coffee contains enough moisture to blanket your entire neighborhood with fog fifty feet thick? It's amazing how such a small amount of water--spread out so thinly--can hinder our vision almost completely. We tend to get upset when fog hinders us, but we forget the sun is still shining overhead, burning it away. Why do we get upset? Because we fail to maintain a proper perspective.

British statesman William Wilberforce once commented, "The objects of the present life fill the human eye with a false magnification because of their immediacy." Problems and concerns often act like fog to obscure our present situation and keep us from seeing things in proper perspective.

Psychologists say that 45% of what we worry about is past and 45% is future. (30% concerns our health alone!) Only one in every ten things we worry about will ever come to pass--and we usually cannot do anything about it anyway.

Sometimes we treat problems and trials as if we were on a television commercial. We rush around thinking we have to solve everything in thirty seconds. When we can't, we panic. We worry whenever we fail to maintain a true perspective of our circumstances.

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself" (Matthew 6:34). "Do not be anxious about anything" (Philippians 4:6).   By Luis Palau  BACK

Busyness
Appointments, activities, assignments...RUN! Demands, decisions, deadlines...RUN! Plans, programs, people...STOP!

Think about your pace...your busyness. How did you get trapped in that squirrel cage? Looking back, could you list anything significant that you accomplished? Do you have feelings of fulfillment? Consider this:

Busyness substitutes shallow frenzy for deep relationships. It feeds the ego but starves the inner being. It cultivates a program but plows under priorities. A wise man said, "Much of our activity in nothing more than a cheap anesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life." That being said, do you want to change?

First, admit it. You are too busy. Openly acknowledge to your family, your friends that what you’ve been doing is wrong and a change has got to come...NOW.

Second, stop it. Refuse every activity that isn’t necessary. If possible, resign from a committee or two. Quit feeling so important.

Third, maintain it. Substitute former busyness with relationship building time...without the TV or other distractions. 
Relationship needn’t cost money, just time and attention.

Fourth, share it. It won’t be long before you glean the benefits of your new found priorities. Tell others. There are lots of activity addicts who’d love to stop running...if they only knew how. From Chuck Swindoll’s Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life  BACK

Taming the Tongue
"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts....no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" James 3:1-7

The damage the tongue can do is like a raging fire. It can divide people and pit them against one another. Idle and hateful words spread destruction quickly. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that tool years to build.

What you say and what you don’t say are both important. Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time but it is also controlling your desire to say what you shouldn’t. Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, exaggerating, complaining, flattering and lying. Before you speak, ask, "Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

Have you ever known anyone who claimed to be wise but who acted foolishly? True wisdom can be measured by the depth of a person’s character. Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness. Careful, engaging speech and wise, loving words are the seeds of peace. From the Life Application Bible  BACK

The Wind Beneath My Wings
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
To never have the sunlight on your face.
You’ve been content to see me shine.
You always walked a step behind.

I was the one with all the glory
While you were the one with all the strain.
Only a face without a name.
I never once heard you complain.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
And everything I’d like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
But you are the wind beneath my wings.
Roger Whittaker

Volunteers are the life blood of a successful community. While the "worker bees" work, other homeowners enjoy the result.   Volunteers sometimes receive recognition that rightly belongs to them but more than often not. Gratitude cannot be expressed too often for these folks that work for no pay to save the association lots of money and effort. More people like them are needed to serve the community. Why not pick up the phone or knock on the door of one of your community’s volunteers and express how much you appreciate the effort?  BACK

Home Office Heaven
One of the advantages of business in the ‘90s is the home office. Home offices put special challenges on a community association because a resident’s business activity may not be conducive to the neighborhood. For example, any home business that generates an inordinate amount of walk-ins, vehicle traffic or noise is not suitable. Day care centers are a good example because the noise and traffic is usually high. Any business that inventories and ships large amounts of products might not fit. The idea of revolving FEDEX trucks in the community will raise eyebrows. Some communities actually restrict garage use to vehicle parking to prevent inventory operations. The enforcement of home office rules in the community is almost always driven by the disruptive nature of the business.

For those businesses that are less intrusive on the neighbors, the home office offers some marvelous benefits. Consider the efficiencies. If your daily commute is one hour (½ hour each way), you have spent more than 240 hours (10 days) each year driving. Based on a 20 mile round trip and the IRS allowable mileage deduction, the commute has cost you more than $1500 a year, not to mention the parking tolls (and tickets?). Consider the time you spend preparing for work, usually one to two hours a day. Yearly that translates into an additional 10-21 days.

Consider your wardrobe expense. Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, was quoted as saying, "One of the advantages of a home office is you can work in your underwear ...sometimes I don’t make it even that far!" The cost of underwear (mine at least) is considerably cheaper than your typical workplace attire. How much do you spend each year to keep up? $500? $5000? Whatever it is, is what you’re wearing to work really what you like to wear, or what you have to wear? Think about it.

Productivity.  Do you ever get to a point at the office that you just can’t focus on the task? (Silly question) Well, the same thing happens at a home office. The difference is the quality of the break time. Rather than sit staring blankly at the computer screen or stopping to have a cup of stale coffee, at home you can prune the azaleas, put in a load of laundry, vacuum the floor or check your mail. The point is, during those productive down times, at home you continue achieving even at break time. Your overall life efficiency has just soared! Moreover, the temporary focus on a nonoffice task actually reenergizes you and makes you ready to attack anew.

Some say that home officing is lonely. It really is simply the adjustment from pandemonium to serenity. The noise, interruptions and unrealistic deadlines at the office create a level of tension that you accept as normal. The office adrenalin rush is addictive. This loneliness is really kind of like the "on the wagon" alcoholic that misses his bartender. So, the home office acts as a "Detox Unit" and there is a period of adjustment before the adrenalin dissipates. What do you really miss at your office? Is it the socializing or is it the pressure? At the home office, you actually have more liberty to socialize. Whether by phone, fax, E-mail or snail mail, you will soon gain a whole new way of connecting.

Bottom line...home offices can truly be a place of release, increase, harmony and heaven.  BACK

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