GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION....

I have recently retired and have just made a discovering I could have used many years ago. Growing up in a traditional southern family that taught responsiblility and that you should complete a job that you start has been a powerful lesson that I have lived by over the years. It has followed me through my schooling and my ministry all these years. A lesson well ingrained into my grey matter, though not as ingrained as the lesson my wife learned as a child that if it wasn't a little painful then it was a waste of time. In college, seminary and ministry I would plod through some books that seemingly had little to offer, I guess with the idea that if someone took the time to put this in print there must be a nuggett there somewhere. I would find that if there was a nuggett it was very very small in comparison to the pages of fill dirt that I had to sift through to find it, and on occasion I guess the screen was too course as the nuggett must have slipped through because I didn't find it.

Then recently I made a great discovery that has made a marvelous change in my life. I found out that I didn't have to read the book if I didn't want to, that I don't have to turn in a reading report and it is alright. What a freedom I enjoy now and it took me 63 years to figure that out.

Eureka!!!!!!

TECHNOLOGY

I saw a report on TV of the comsumer electronics show last week out west and all the new gadgets that are out. I have to confess I am a gadget guy and have tried to keep up with what is out there. My collection includes a Treo cellphone, MP3 player, Digital camera, HDTV, laptop computer, GPS, G-Shock atomic watch, and I use podcasting and blogging. Trying to keep up with wifi and bluetooth technology and aware of the the two formats fighting for the DVD recording format of choice. This is not in an attempt to brag on keepiing up for a guy in his mid 60's but to make a point.

While I have been trying to keep up, things are changing so rapidly it is difficult for a retired guy with limited income. My Treo phone is a 600 and they now have out the 650, 700, and 800 and now the iPHONE is out. My digital camera is a 7.1 mp and I now see that they have 10 mp coming out and the prices are getting lower. My computer is a year old and I remember reading several years ago that computer memory doubles every 18 mos., and that is probably every 12 mos. now. My GPS is great but it does not have voice commands, and on it goes.

It is tough keeping up even though my wife will break down every once in a while and let me get a new gadget.

I feel so antiquated. Just a comment from my side of the road as the world flies by.