As I wrote last month, I’m working diligently to seek the truth. I know it’s in the Bible, but where else might I find it? There are hundreds of sources at our fingertips. For example, platforms, websites, apps, programs, articles, columns, books, and so many authors and pundits spreading their views for all to absorb.

Who do you follow? What do you believe? Who do you trust?

I’ve been told my sources and resources are not necessarily the best. I’m not sure why. I suspect it’s because the sources I use aren’t being relied upon by anyone who might disagree with me.

The worst part of this debate is when two people disagree and I am one of those two, then I am wrong. Or even worse I am a liar. How can you be a liar for believing a source? I may be wrong, nevertheless, I’m not a liar. And I’m also not in a mental state where I need to be deprogrammed or reprogrammed.

The age old adage “There are two sides to every story” is the bottom line here. As Americans, we need to be able to have a discussion and share both sides of a discussion, debate, or disagreement.

I want to know how I am wrong and to understand why what I call facts are considered theory by those who disagree with me.

In a recent interview, Senator Rand Paul shared this when challenged on his views about the 2020 election:

“I won’t be cowed by liberals in the media who say there’s no evidence here and you’re a liar if you talk about election fraud,” he continued. “Let’s have an open debate this is a free country.”

As it relates to me, the words “liberals in the media” could be exchanged with the word “anyone.”

Reading and writing is something I enjoy doing. It involves researching the many sources I mentioned above. I want to know my sources are truthful, factual and reliable. Someone needs to prove to me that people like Thomas Sowell, John Solomon, Dinesh D’Souza and Mark Levin are not good sources of information. I believe they are.

I said I was going to seek the truth in 2021. It will be a challenge. Too many are trying to shutdown the other side of the story. Like Senator Paul said, “Let’s have an open debate this is a free country.”

We need to be civil, respectful and open to hearing one another’s views, regardless of the topic.

Until next time…

My dear friend and mentor Frank was laid to rest a year ago this past weekend. It’s been 12 months we’d all probably like to forget. Frank was born in Pennsylvania and for a time worked in Philadelphia. I can’t help but wonder what he would say about all that has transpired during the last several weeks in his beloved state.

I found this quote from Charles Colton which seems appropriate for our times.

“The greatest friend of truth is is time, her greatest enemy is prejudice and her constant companion is humility.”

I hold this quote as a beacon of hope to my future and the future of this country. Sometimes I feel like the beacon is very faint. But any pica of light provides hope. This quote motivates me to be a seeker of truth. A commodity which appears to be in rare existence. I frequently ask myself these type of questions

• What is the truth?

• “Who is telling the truth?”

• How does anyone know what to believe?

• If I don’t agree with you does that make me automatically wrong?

I’m to the point where I believe half of what I see, a quarter of what I read and even less of what I hear.

I never had to question what Frank told me. He always spoke the truth. Often times it was with a heaping spoonful of grace. Reflecting back on those bygone days lifts my spirits in some respects. Yes, there was a time when you could believe what someone said or wrote.

As I’ve shared before, Frank taught me there are no levels of integrity. You either have it or you don’t. If you lie in 1967 or 1987 but assure people in 2020 you are telling the truth how do they know you really are? Yes, people do change, criminals are rehabilitated and many individuals see the errors of their ways. But I believe, by-in-large, the stripes stay on the zebra.

What do you do…

• When facts don’t seem to matter.

• If you don’t trust sources of information.

• When information shared by the media, medical experts or representatives of the different branches of our government are proven false or misleading.

Where do you go from that point?

Speaking only for myself, I’ve always said “there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.” I plan to keep asking questions. I will continue to challenge information that comes to me. If I trust the information I will verify it. We’ve been fooled too frequently for too long.

Human beings are put into positions of power for their knowledge, communication and leadership skills. That doesn’t mean they deserve their status or leadership role. Rather it means they need to be held to the highest standard of integrity and truth.

We can be disappointed, demoralized or disgusted. Or we can be diligent, determined and driven to hold others to that high standard.

As a seeker of the truth and a citizen of this nation it is my duty to hold people with information, expertise and power accountable for their decisions and their remarks.

We all have that duty. It’s now more apparent than ever. I’m certain Frank would agree.

Until next time…

Have you ever had one of those days when nothing seemed to go right? Sure you have. Everyone has. You miss that all-important first stoplight on your way to work. This of course, makes you uptight and tense. You blame the car in front of you. They were reading their phone and the electronic sensor moved from green to yellow, stranding you behind them. When you get to the parking lot all the good spots are taken and you recall that first stoplight once again. The day proceeds in a negative way and you know why. Or at least you think you do.

Did you stop to think all the negative things you think are happening specifically to you are actually your fault? Or more likely, a figment of your imagination.

A few weeks ago I wrote how I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster. If you’ll recall the point of the blog was once you know you’re not in control things get a great deal easier.

That point has been driven home several time for me recently. I often lay in bed thinking of the things I want to do the next day. Not in anguish, but in anticipation. Regularly those plans are derailed by 9 a.m.

I don’t know if you’ve ever hit a curveball. Many major league players have had their careers abruptly halted because they couldn’t master the art of hitting the curve. It takes patience, understanding your opponent, and faith in your conviction. You must hang in the batter’s box knowing the ball is going to break across the plate at the last second.

Not approaching the curveball in the right way can make the batter look pretty silly. And so it is when things don’t go the way you planned.

I agree with W. Mitchell, “It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it.” It may be cliché, but it’s also true. You make your own future.

I reconnected with a wonderful person recently. It was good to hear how they were surviving the pandemic. We touched upon a variety of topics, including the future state of things. One of the pearls of the conversation was this quote. “Nothing is ever exactly as we imagine it will be.”

That quote is SO true and has stuck with me.

Whether it’s the car you just bought, the career you chose, the person you married or the day you planned for yourself; when events or situations don’t meet our own expectations we need to do a few things.

• Step back and display patience
• Have faith in our convictions
• Understand what changed and why
• Accept it
• Do something positive about it

Reconnecting with my quotable friend was a joy. It was also serendipity. Just like today, with the knock on the front door. It was the landscaper who had promised to level my driveway rock a year ago. Today was the day.

With patience, faith, and a positive outlook, serendipity can be a regular part of your life.

Until next time…

About ten years ago I was in Washington D.C. with colleagues at a policy symposium.  One of the guest speakers was Bob Woodward.  I distinctly remember Mr. Woodward asking our group the following question: “How many of you believe news media is classified as entertainment television?” One person raised their hand.  Me. 

Woodward was wide-eyed. He was expecting to move on to his next question which would emphasize his subject matter of “Investigative Journalism.”  It had been nearly 40 years since Watergate and he was still living off that event.  I’m still not sure how much investigation would have taken place if not for Mark Felt.  But that’s a topic for another time.

As I looked around the room, I could feel all eyes on me, including Bob Woodward.  “Is that what you really think?” He asked.

“Yes,” I replied.  “Television news is a cut above professional wrestling.”

I could tell he was surprised and frankly disappointed.  I also sensed my colleagues were somewhat embarrassed by my candor.

As I reflect on that evening, I smile now, feeling pure vindication. 

The news media has only grown worse in their bias and manipulation of information. It’s about clicks, likes, viewers and sponsor dollars.

I was recently asked who someone should listen to regarding the news.  My reply was I don’t trust anyone, but right now the most honest objective person seems to be Brett Baier. I understand the difference between editorial journalism and news reporting.  Baier and Lester Holt are newsmen.  Tucker Carlson and Rachel Maddow are editorial journalists.  They give you their opinion.  They are entertainment.

Brian Williams was a newsman, but he got caught lying, was terminated and then rehired as something else.  Not sure why anyone would listen to someone who is an admitted liar.  The lines are also blurred for people like Don Lemon who is supposed to be a newsman.

I understand everyone has baggage.  But with all the people chomping at the bit to be on television you would think networks would be more discretionary when employing people like Williams, Lemon, and Ed Henry. If you don’t have credibility and integrity how can anyone trust what you say?

Walter Cronkite was a registered Democrat. But his journalism and reporting was unbiased. He was a trusted source of the news. As a matter of fact, when he criticized Johnson’s handling of the Viet Nam War LBJ knew he was in trouble. By losing Cronkite he had lost a large percentage of the American electorate.

My son has a degree in journalism and considers himself a middle of the road moderate.  He isn’t affiliated with any political party.  He does exhaustive research on policy matters and tries to see all sides of an issue.  My question is, why don’t all news people handle things the same way?

Instead, they team up with politicians to dictate a narrative to serve their own needs, wants and desires. It is dangerous, divisive and detrimental to the future of our country.

I know this isn’t something new.  It’s been happening for years.  Modern technology, the internet and a variety of social media apps have exposed this partnership.  It’s a travesty and an affront to the public.  A huge concern of mine is the people who buy into what they hear and read. How many stop to ask questions or pushback on the information coming into their homes? Not too many, I’m afraid. What they hear or read becomes what they believe.

You don’t have to believe me or buy into what I am saying.  Do your own research. 

I’d strongly recommend reading “Unfreedom of the Press,” by Mark Levin.  It’s a first class analysis of the history of the press and the media and how it has devolved into what we are living with today. 

Keep your eyes and ears open to objective, unbiased, news.  It’s hard to find, but it is out there.

Until next time…

My dear friend just asked me why I hadn’t posted for a while. That prompted me to check. Sure enough two blog posts I wrote a few weeks ago were still in draft mode. Ironically, one was called “Am I losing my mind.” So the answer to that is probably “yes.” The second one was entitled “Metamorphosis.” Coincidentally, that is the stage I feel my life is in as I write.

I’ve always told people to appear like a swan gliding across the lake no matter what is going on in your life. Regardless of the stress, chaos or pressure, just glide. Below the waterline you may be paddling like crazy, but no one should know it. I firmly believe grace under fire reduces the pressure for everyone around you and every situation you encounter.

Advice that is all well and good, but what about when reality hits. The reality of things like these:

You work and your kids aren’t going to school. Who watches them? Do you leave your job to care for them? If you leave your job who pays for your health insurance and your home mortgage?

Your daughter is getting married. Do you delay the ceremony in order to invite more people when the bans are lifted? When will it be safe for Grandma and Grandpa to attend the ceremony?

You’ve lost a loved one and you can’t get closure because there is no visitation.

You work for or own a small business and due to a particular governor’s edict, the small business must shut down.

You’re a vendor for a professional sports franchise. And because no fans are allowed to the game you are out of work.

You’re providing home health care for an elderly person and you have no experience with any facet of that process.

How do you remain calm and carry on?

The simple answer is you practice what you preach. You take one process, one activity, one hurdle and one day at a time. You focus on the task at hand. Once that task is completed you tackle the next task or challenge. You treat every person you encounter with grace, dignity, professionalism and courtesy.

Remember not to let other people, talking heads on TV or Social Media to rent space inside your head. These people seem to enjoy filling our brains with divisive rhetoric and even fabrications of situations and events that tear us down, depress us and in some cases incite us.

Instead, control what you can control. Most importantly, you MUST realize there is a higher power in charge. If you think you are in charge, you’re not. Often times people don’t realize this until time has passed and they are able to look back and realize what happened and why it happened the way it did. It’s at that point the light bulb shines brightly and you realize through God’s grace all things are possible.

I’m speaking from personal experience. I’m living a couple of the scenarios I described above. They have brought me to the apex of the rollercoaster and made me feel like I could easily go over the edge. But I didn’t. I was able to pull myself out of the perceived crisis and face the future, no matter how uncertain it appeared to be.

I surrounded myself with positive thoughts and positive people. People who think I can and I will, not I might or maybe not. People who believe they are not in control, but they are certain who is.

I’m not out of the woods. The crisis will continue for me, for you and for America, but we must stay positive, have faith and treat one another as we would want to be treated. So simple I know, but also so challenging.

Until next time…

While trying to survive the pandemic, so many are missing so much. People aren’t getting to visit loved ones. Others are waiting anxiously at home while their relatives have surgery. Not being allowed to enter the hospital or surgery centers. Many are struggling with proper closure, when a funeral is limited to a certain number of participants.

Summer activities of all kinds have been cancelled. For the first time since 1897 Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming cancelled. I know for a fact that will cripple the economy of Cheyenne as the two week event brought in thousands of people and dollars every day.

What we are all going through in this country cannot be described by words. There really are no words strong enough to describe it. Colossal tragedy doesn’t even come close. I could spend hours sharing all the things we are missing, but what good would that do anybody? No sense wallowing in self-pity. With a hat-tip to John Waite, I thought I’d share a dozen things of what “I aint missin.”

• I don’t miss Major League Baseball
• I won’t miss watching the NBA
• I probably will never watch the NFL again. Granted there are a great many numbskulls in sports and entertainment, but is there a bigger idiot in all of sports than Roger Goodell?
• I don’t miss watching network television programming
• I ain’t missing Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. I’ve tried YouTube and I can live without that too.
• I don’t miss going to the movie theater. Over priced entertainment.
• I sure don’t miss watching T-ball. But I never did like T-ball. If your child can’t hit a ball tossed underhanded to her or him, than have them take up golf.
• I ain’t missing high-fives, handshakes, or hugs. I’ve always been a hat-tip kind of guy.
• I don’t miss the hassles of going through an airport and I certainly don’t miss airport television monitors.
• I ain’t missing standing in long lines of people nose to neck no matter where I may be.
• I don’t miss learning, deciphering, or memorizing acronyms. Just seems like so much BS to me.
• I certainly don’t miss dealing with people who “reply all” on a regular basis.
• I will never miss those who are too stupid to admit they don’t know what they are talking about. Seems to me we have more and more of those people all across America. I’ve always felt knowing what you don’t know and admitting it is the best first step to learning.

Okay, that’s a Baker’s Dozen, but I couldn’t help it. I could have shared two dozen without thinking too hard.

My good friend Rick agrees with me about network television. He took it a step further when he said, “Remember when we would listen to the nightly news? Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley and then Brokaw. Even though we knew they were Democrats we still listened, learned and trusted. Now I don’t care what they report. Presidential polling. Economic figures. Covid-19 Cases. Even what day of the week they say it is. NO CREDIBILITY!”

Rick’s comments ferry me back to bullet 13. The only way to gain credibility is to admit what you don’t know and find someone that is smarter than you are about a topic, task or theory – then learn from them.

Don’t pretend, don’t pontificate and don’t expect people to miss you and your knowledge. Only if you are honest, live with humility, strive to be a servant leader and put others wants and needs above yours will you truly be missed.

Until next time…

I was rummaging through my laptop bag the other day and found a little pull tab with a number 16. The tab had been laminated into a two by three card. For months I wondered where that little memento had disappeared. It brought back some memories and caused me to pause and reflect.

Sixteen by the Numbers

• Sixteen was the number on the back of my baseball uniform.

• Super Bowl winning quarterbacks Joe Montana, Ken Stabler and Len Dawson also wore 16.

• A few songs come to mind with the number 16. Sixteen Candles, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, You’re 16, Your Beautiful, and Your Mine.

• In numerology, 16 represents a person with introspection, intuitiveness, wisdom, independence and values family.

• A person born on the 16th is realistic, happy and talented in education, analytical thinking and the arts.

• The number 16 is also the symbol of determination and growth.

• I also read 16 is symbolic of love and loving.

Having shared those tidbits of trivia, so why does 16 put a twinkle in my eye? It makes me smile because I recall the day I used the pull tab machine and the number 16 was revealed.

The Story of 16

I was waiting at the local IRS office to hand over official tax papers from my late mother-in-law. It was my second trip to the office that day. I had to retrieve some necessary documents, so I raced home to get them and return before the office closed. The round-trip was completed with plenty of time to spare.

My jog from the parking lot to the front door made me slightly out of breath. I was pleased no one else was in the room and immediately made my way to the counter. The attendant behind the counter didn’t raise their head. I waited a few seconds then said, “I’m back!”

Yet still no acknowledgement from the IRS clerk. After a few more seconds the person looked up and said, “You need to take a number.” I looked around the room and reassured myself I was alone. Then I scanned the room for the “take a number” machine. I walked to it, pulled the tab and found my number. Sixteen. Then I waited.

Several minutes passed. Of course it seemed like hours. I was beginning to think the office would close before I was called to the clerk. To my good fortune my patience was rewarded when I heard “sixteen” bellowed from behind the manila Formica counter.

“That’s me!” I mockingly replied. No smile appeared on the face of the IRS employee. This actually lifted my spirits. It was now a challenge I wouldn’t let pass.

“Remember me? I’m the guy who was here about 20 minutes ago. You sent me back home to get additional documentation. I have it right here.”

Without a word, an outstretched hand came my way. I extended the papers and stepped back. After a few glances up, down and through the stack of tax forms the person looked up. “This is what I need.” Those were the only four words of feedback I received.

“Terrific! I replied. “It’s all yours. “Have a fantastic day!” Then I walked out the door.

This story is probably only funny to me, because I lived it. The reputation of the IRS has traditionally been poor. You may recall several years ago, it only got worse, with an employee by the name of Lois Lerner. On that particular afternoon, I was attempting to give this IRS employee a chance to change my notion toward the reputation of the IRS. They failed miserably. I imagine that person would never recall our encounter. Yet, I won’t soon forget it.

I continue to carry the 16 pull tab with me. It reminds me every moment you meet someone is important. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first time or the 99th time. It’s your opportunity to make that person feel good about you, the circumstance, or most importantly, you can make them feel good about themselves. It all depends on how you treat them. Seems so simple, doesn’t it?

Sixteen – it’s about loving your neighbor as yourself.

Until next time…

Have you ever played the game where someone gives you a word and you say the first word(s) that come into your mind? For example: I say “Sky” you say “Blue.” You say “Sky” I say “Cloud.” Same word, but two different thoughts. No one thought is more right than the other. I don’t say my word is better than yours, nor do you think your word is better than mine. We can think differently, but still get along.

I’m afraid this simple game illustrates a huge problem we’re facing today. If you and I disagree in today’s society, one of us must be wrong. That’s just not true. But that is what is happening. When two ideas or thoughts are divergent that just means we are both independent thinkers. One viewpoint or another should not shout down the other viewpoint until the loudest voice wins. But that is what is happening.

• Handling the pandemic was one example of this discord and disconnect. We didn’t need to shut down every state or every city in every state, but we did. Montana was treated just like New York. There were 20 cases in Montana and no deaths. But the state is suffering economically because of this myopic treatment. We could have used more common sense and a focused strategy, but instead the loudest voices won out and everything, everywhere shutdown.
• Then when it was time to open back up, if you were in favor of opening stores, shops and restaurants than you must be someone who wanted people to die. If you wanted to keep things shut down than you wanted to cripple America long-term and destroy small businesses. There was no middle ground. In reality, middle ground and common sense should have prevailed. Unfortunately, it did not.

One more example of how this disconnect is crippling America. The mainstream media should be able to present both sides of a story, but they don’t any more.

Case in point: When Senator Tom Cotton was asked to pen an op-ed in the New York Times he was presenting a viewpoint not usually appearing in the NYT. A day didn’t pass before the NYT was retracting the story due to internal upheaval. Senator Cotton is now asking the NYT to provide data showing him what wasn’t true in his op-ed. Everything he said was true. But that doesn’t seem to matter to the media. The loudest voice won out again.

Here are a few of my own divergent thoughts:

• You don’t have to agree with everything the President says or does and still be a supporter of conservative policies.
• I don’t think face masks are the safest way to protect yourself from Covid-19. However, if a business requests I wear one to enter, than I will gladly do so. I want to support their desire to make a living.
• There are no levels of integrity; you either have it or you don’t. Either stealing a grocery store item or embezzling thousands of dollars indicate you have an integrity problem.
• Speaking of integrity, it’s okay to admit when you make a mistake. People have such a difficult time admitting when they make a mistake. They have no idea what a freeing feeling it is. Politicians could really benefit from learning this lesson. Sadly, instead they all seem to subscribe to the same theory: “Just keep fabricating and eventually people will believe it’s the truth.”
• I am sickened by the manner in which George Floyd died. I am equally sickened by the way David Dorn died. Both deaths were taped. One man spent a percentage of his life in prison. The other man spent a majority of his life protecting citizens as a law enforcement professional. One man is being lauded as a martyr/hero. The other man is a footnote/after thought. We should grieve and mourn equally for both men. But the media narrative doesn’t allow that to happen in America.
• I’ve always admired those who lead by example. Those who walk their talk with action. People who could/can listen to both sides. It seems to me this is a rare commodity in today’s world. When gentlemen like Buck and Frank and David Dorn pass away, I long to find people to take their place.
• I’m so tired of hollow rhetoric, regurgitated catch-phrases and “gotcha” questions. None of these things lead to common sense dialogue and middle ground conversations. All they do is attempt to tear down individuals and forge a greater and greater chasm in society.

We owe it to one another to take action, listen with an open mind, use common sense, tell the truth, search for what we agree about on an issue or problem and find the common ground. Only then will we be able to make progress for everyone.

Until next time…