Happy New Year! It is hard to believe we need to begin writing 2017 when we date things. I remember when we moved from 1999 to 2000 and everyone thought our world would crash around us because technology would fail. Now we think nothing of it as technology simply takes care of everything for us. Ah, technology, where would we be without it? Hmm, I'll let that be a topic someone else can write about. As for me and Open Hands, we stand on the precipice of a fresh start and wait to see what lies ahead.
I can tell you two things that lie ahead for Open Hands. The first will happen in February when our Board of Directors will welcome a new member, Diana Reichel. I have had the pleasure of knowing Diana for a number of years. If you come to our Monday meal program you probably know Diana as a volunteer who fills in for me when I take vacations and also serves along side myself and others on a fairly regular basis (when she isn't in Florida or up at her cabin) as she has a passion for the work and mission of Open Hands. It is always fun to see what new perspectives and ideas come from adding someone new. So welcome to the Board, Diana, we hope you are as excited to join us as we are to welcome you.
The second thing that lies ahead for Open Hands will be some work on our website. As the one who maintains our website, I have spent some time the last couple of days making some small adjustments but in the next month or so I hope to do some more significant things. That means I get to learn how by contacting the supportive peeps at Wix.com who assist me in making www.openhandsmidway.org user friendly and helpful to all who visit our site.
Now I do not typically make any type of new year resolution so let me just say what I am about to write is not a resolution. I hope in this year ahead I can be more diligent in writing my blog more frequently than every other month. I guess we will all know how that unfolds as we move through the year but this is my way of starting and hoping for the best, just sayin'...
Before I go I want to remind you to laugh more. I have been told I have a crazy sense of humor and that is true. Laughter is a gift from God that brightens our good times and lightens the rough ones. A way that brings laughter to me is pondering various things I have heard people say over the years. I like to think of these things literally. I will give you an example. Have you ever heard a parent say to a child, "Do you want a spanking?" Now you know the parent is not really asking the child for an answer but rather they are implying that if the child keeps on doing whatever it is they are doing no doubt they are going to get a spanking. But I like to turn this around and imagine what the child's response to their parent might be. The child may say, "Well ya know, the last time you gave me a spanking I couldn't sit down for a week. So since you are asking, I'm gonna go with a big NO on that if you don't mind." Or the child may say, "Oh my word, would you look at the time! I have to get to bed, I have a huge test at school tomorrow so if you don't mind I'm gonna have to put that spanking off for a day or so. Good night!" Or the child might roll their eyes, laugh and say, "You didn't seriously just ask me if I want a spanking did you? I'm not stupid, of course I don't want a spanking, sheesh." I could go on but you get my point, just sayin'...
As we begin 2017 try to imagine yourself overlooking a vast untouched expanse of creation, a blank sheet of paper or an artist's canvas. These will become something as you progress through 2017 as your story for the year is about to be written. What will yours look like or say?
Happy New Year everyone! Don't forget to laugh, just sayin'...