Spaghetti

 

I think I'm allergic to pasta - really.  Or, maybe it's that I eat so much of it - everytime - that my stomach just can't handle it, and my body's defense system sends messages to my brain to shut down every moving part until the problem is solved (it takes about 8 hrs to recover).  I don't know.  But I love spaghetti and when it's in the  room, I can't stay away from it until it's gone.

Just ask Candy (my sister).  Every Monday night I go to Candy's for spaghetti.  She'll tell you, I'm just a pig when it comes to her spaghetti.  I can't help it - it's that good.  We all eat, then she makes up a special dessert, and we all watch '24' together.  "Jack Bauer" gets the bad guy, blows up a lot of stuff, and saves the world. Life is very good on Monday nights.
  
A few years back I used to be lucky enough to travel to Wash D.C. to have "Tuesday Night Dinner" with my other sister Cindy.  Oh ya - it was good too.  Don't tell anyone, but there were at least 2 occasions where I 'engineered' a business trip to D.C. just to eat there on Tuesday night.  I was crashing the party of an established group of young kids - they always wondered why I was there and when I was going to leave - but it didn't bother me - I was eating large.   (thanks Cindy!).
   
So for now -  allergic or not, I'm going for it - every Monday night - as long as she'll tolerate me (and the rest of us).  It's just that good.  So Candy, please, for the love of spaghetti and the world, don't stop the insanity!
        
 

FOCUS: Insert 25 cents, Turn Knob To Right

I'm distracted easily (that's an understatement).  We all are - right?  I've learned that my best chance of accomplishing anything during the day, is to start out the morning with a pen and paper (usually a Starbucks napkin) and list the things I 'have' to do today, and maybe list a few things I'd like to do.  Then I keep that piece of paper with me, next to the laptop, or on the seat of the car.

Tomorrow, I'll do it again - start over.  It's not monthly or weekly.  It's an everyday thing, and it only takes a minute.  That napkin helps to keep me focused.  By 5 pm I throw it away - and I usually don't get it all done - but I've done more than I would have if I didn't have the napkin..
  
I have other lists:  things I need to do around the house; places I want to go; life goals.  But I only look at these lists now and then.
 
So every morning I have to drop the quarter into the slot (like buying the cup of coffee), and I have to turn the knob to the right (make my list).  Then I can focus.  It's amazing what you can see!  No matter how good you might think you are at structuring your life to accomplish the most in a given day - you're likely not good enough to pull it off - unless you drop the quarter, turn the knob and focus.
   
And let God help with your vision for the day.  This is something I have to work on myself - big time.  In today's "My Utmost for His Highest", Oswald Chambers says "If you select your own spot to be planted, you will prove yourself to be unproductive, empty.  However, if you allow God to plant you, you will 'bear much fruit'" (John 15:8).
  
FOCUS.  and produce a bunch of fruit.