Winning Words 3/21/11
“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.” (Doug Larsom) Doug was born in Wisconsin and now is a writer in Green Bay. He should know something about winter weather and the slush that goes with it. However, his words aren’t about winter, spring or weather. He’s saying that when you’re feeling optimistic, you tend to forget about the bad stuff. ;-) Jack

FROM JK IN MICHIGAN: Actually today (Monday morning) is rather tough... I think I need to shake out the 'slush' out of my shoe(s) and engage with optimism. I remember one of the ways to dry out wet clothing in the summer was to wear it and let the atmosphere dry it out as you go. I am realizing that we have a tendency to want comfort before we act. Obviously, this is not always possible. )) FROM JACK: March is like that. One moment there's slush in your shoe...and the next, the sun breaks through the clouds. I've found that those who have an optimistic outlook have more sunny days than slushy ones. I remember hearing of someone who had a cat named, "Happy." The more he tried to get the cat to come, the more the cat would go off and do its own thing. Finally he gave up trying to convince the cat to come. Then, before he knew it, "Happy" was there in his lap.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: I'm doing a book reading study by internet. The book is by Henri Nouwen "Here and Now". Actually, he talks about the Dalai Lama being free of hatred or bitterness toward the Chinese who ravaged his land and murdered his people. He, in his meditation, allowed all the suffering of his people and their oppressors to enter into the depth of his heart, and there to be transformed into compassion. Nouwen writes "Isn't that, too, the way of Jesus?" All day long, I've been praying off and on "Lord, help the suffering of.... enter into the depth of my heart and be transformed into compassion." There's some people, some situations I feel really badly about now but I figure I can at least ask God to help me let their suffering enter deep into my heart and maybe what will come out will actually be some useful act to help them out. It's kind
of a useful prayer and makes me feel like I am at least doing something about things I actually feel sort of hopeless about. Like a homeless felon getting a job and so forth. Just thought I'd share this reading--it kind of goes with your WW. FROM JACK: Some people whistle while they work. Do you whistle while you read?

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: Spring is daffodils and rain and crispy weather here in Ashburn, VA, where I came for the baptism of a granddaughter yesterday. But the weatherman says there is a chance of snow on Wednesday, but by then I will be back in sunny Florida. By the way, have you read Unbroken yet? It is hard to read but hard to put down. FROM JACK: You and your "boring" Florida weather. I just listened to our forecast. Coming up in the days ahead....sleet, freezing rain and a possible accumulation of wet snow. Last night we had lightening, thunder and rain. I feel like whistling.

FROM BLAZING OAKS: WELCOME SWEET SPRINGTIME! It is easier to feel optimistic when flowers are
blooming, robins are singing, and sun is shining, but of course we hope our Christian outlook permits a "spring-like" attitude whenever...even with slush in our shoes! It sure helps us to "cope" when we endure winter blasts in our lives! Your winning words are a breath of Spring, as well! :-) FROM JACK: The birds are back at our feeder, but no sign of flowers, altho the calendar says that it's springtime.

FROM MOLINER CF: The road to happiness is paved with the golden bricks of optimism. Follow the yellow brick road. FROM JACK: Don't believe that man behind the curtain when he says that the bricks of optimism are made of fool's gold.