Well, here goes. I'm going to address the whole Chick fil A debate and be as brutally honest as I can be. Afterall, that's why I created my blog. Not for everyone to agree with me but to have a way of putting my feelings down and generating a mature conversation. Who knows, in five years I might look back at all of these postings and kick myself for things said or left unsaid. But for now, "It's My Story and I'm Stickin To It."
Let me begin by saying that Chick- fil-A has become one of the only "fast food" restaurants I will go to because once you are over 40, well, McDonalds and Krystal don't always "agree" with you. So, I love Chick-fil-A because their food, especially their chicken salad on whole wheat, is really pretty good. I have always loved how the servers are clean cut, no droopy pants, no hair in their eyes, and clearly speaking, in English, "My Pleasure." Call me "outdated" but all of these things mean a lot to and old Southern gal like me. To be honest, the reasons I keep returning to Chick-fil-A are all because of good food and clean, wholesome service. The fact that they are closed on Sunday is something to be admired but really, a few times that has totally messed our family up. In fact, I have been known to pull into their empty parking lot on a Sunday and shout, "who closes on SUNDAY???!!!" I have been known to check out every Chick-fil-A bathroom between Franklin and Destin, because I've always heard that if the bathrooms are clean, the kitchen is clean. I've been known to send many emails to the Chick-fil-A headquarters bragging about their service and food. (Those of you who know me realize that I'm doing this primarily so they will send me coupons.) Clearly, I am a Chick-fil-A gal and proud of it.
I have gone back and read and re-read the statements made by the CEO of Chick-fil-A re: gay marriage, traditional values, arrogant generation, etc..... I would like to say that I have mixed feelings or that I am torn by the whole debacle. But I am not. It has LONG been a pet peeve of mine that anyone thinks they should tell me how to think. I believe that I am entitled to my own opinions, whether you agree with me or not.
My feeling is that the man is a citizen of the United States where he has freedom of speech. He has the right to say whatever the heck he wants to say. However, like everyone else, including me, he also will suffer consequences for using that right. Whatever "side" you are on when it comes to any issue....... be it political, spiritual, liberal or conservative, you take a risk when you open yourself up and proclaim your beliefs. Who remembers what the Dixie Chicks went through when Natalie Maines spoke up about President Bush? Who remembers what Charlton Heston went through when he spoke up about gun rights? Whether we agree or disagree, these people have the right to speak their opinions. The fact that the Chick-fil-A CEO is being slammed should come as no surprise. Next thing you know, he will get death threats on Twitter and the National Guard will be called out to Chick-Fil-A stores, all disguised in cow suits. I know that the people for and the people against gay marriage see this as a way to "make their point." And I respect that. I respect the fact that everyone has a right to their view. In fact, I have mine......I love going to Chick-fil-A............I love my friends, both gay and not gay...........I love my freedom of speech........in fact, I love the freedom to have this conversation. I love the fact that Dan Cathy, the CEO, has his views on traditional marriage and was obviously willing to take the consequences of stating his views. But no......I won't be protesting Chick-fil-A. In fact, if I ever go back to Boston I will miss not having one there in which to eat.......Oh, and by the way, I never protested the Dixie Chicks, either. Love their music. And it is a WELL KNOWN fact how I feel about "W."
So go eat at Chick-fil-A if you feel like it......heck, crank up some Dixie Chicks on the way there.......Lighten up and look at some bigger issues going on in the world. Be thankful that you can have the choice of sweet or unsweet.......and don't forget you can trade the toy in for soft serve icecream. Enjoy the little things........when someone says "thank you" to you today. simply say, "My Pleasure."
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
"NOT GUILTY"
This past week I have seen images on TV that I will stick with me for a long time. Images of a disturbed young man who calls himself "the joker." Another image of a bronze statue of a football icon being taken down.......that reputation, shattered. Images of innocence lost.......evil prevailing. Yet there was one image that kept nagging at me. I hate to say it, but while my heart was pondering the sadness and despair of the world's events, my brain was starting to become desensitized to the images. For whatever reason my brain wouldn't let go of the brief image I saw one day, amidst all of the sad ones.
When I think of the word "free" all kinds of images come to my mind. Freedom is sometimes a political word. A word to get me all stirred up and patriotic. On the other hand, the word "guilty" puts me on the defense. "It wasn't my fault.....Not going to take the blame for that one.......Not guilty." How would you feel if you were wrongly accused of not just any crime, but murder. Would you rant and rave and declare your innocence to anyone who would listen? Of course you would. We all would. You would want to "clear your name." Afterall, what do we tell our children....."At the end of the day, all you have is your good name." William Dillon was sent to prison when he was 21 years old. Convicted of killing another person. He spent 27 years in prison before being declared NOT GUILTY with the help of the Innocence Project. It's a long long story but basically he was convicted on DNA evidence and it wasn't his DNA. He was an aspiring baseball player when he was convicted at age 21, so when he was freed from prison one of his requests was that he be allowed to sing the National Anthem at a a Major League Baseball game.
The image that keeps nagging at me is what he proudly displayed on his shirt. Two words right across his heart proudly declaring "NOT GUILTY." The man has spent over half of his life behind bars convicted of a crime that he was innocent of. It doesn't go unnoticed that he didn't lose faith in his country......only in the justice system that failed him. So I have been asking myself all week why this short little "blip" that I saw on the news keeps popping up in my mind. It's the "NOT GUILTY" that he so proudly wore across his heart for the world to see and witness. His name is clear, his concious is clear, his reputation is clear, his record is clear. And he wants everyone to know it.
I want to wear that mantra across my heart every day. I want to display it with pride just like William Dillon did when he sang of the "land of the free and the home of the brave." What if we all boldly stated and lived the fact that as Christians "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me FREE from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offereing." Romans 8:1-3
Because my sin was paid for by an innocent man I want a t-shirt like that to wear every single day.
"NOT GUILTY"
When I think of the word "free" all kinds of images come to my mind. Freedom is sometimes a political word. A word to get me all stirred up and patriotic. On the other hand, the word "guilty" puts me on the defense. "It wasn't my fault.....Not going to take the blame for that one.......Not guilty." How would you feel if you were wrongly accused of not just any crime, but murder. Would you rant and rave and declare your innocence to anyone who would listen? Of course you would. We all would. You would want to "clear your name." Afterall, what do we tell our children....."At the end of the day, all you have is your good name." William Dillon was sent to prison when he was 21 years old. Convicted of killing another person. He spent 27 years in prison before being declared NOT GUILTY with the help of the Innocence Project. It's a long long story but basically he was convicted on DNA evidence and it wasn't his DNA. He was an aspiring baseball player when he was convicted at age 21, so when he was freed from prison one of his requests was that he be allowed to sing the National Anthem at a a Major League Baseball game.
The image that keeps nagging at me is what he proudly displayed on his shirt. Two words right across his heart proudly declaring "NOT GUILTY." The man has spent over half of his life behind bars convicted of a crime that he was innocent of. It doesn't go unnoticed that he didn't lose faith in his country......only in the justice system that failed him. So I have been asking myself all week why this short little "blip" that I saw on the news keeps popping up in my mind. It's the "NOT GUILTY" that he so proudly wore across his heart for the world to see and witness. His name is clear, his concious is clear, his reputation is clear, his record is clear. And he wants everyone to know it.
Because my sin was paid for by an innocent man I want a t-shirt like that to wear every single day.
"NOT GUILTY"
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Well, now that I'm 47, almost 48, there are a lot things I am learning. Some through life's lessons, some through dumb mistakes, and a lot through my three sons. I am sure that God has been teaching me lessons throughout my life but it seems like I am just now "getting them." Funny how a little "middle age" will help with that. A huge lesson that I keep learning is how to control my mouth and what I say. Admittedly, a hard lesson I am still learning. But, my dilemma has always been "how do I convey what I am thinking and learning in a straightforward way.....without hurting my witness for Jesus." By nature I am a straight forward, tell it like it is, kind of girl. I love straight forward people. You know where they are coming from and therefore, know how to deal with them. Even more, I love straight forward friends that I can bounce opposing ideas off of and they aren't offended or put off. They love a good friendly discussion, and so do I. No hard feelings.......just good, solid, honest information. Love it. This has been one of my greatest joys as a "middle ager." To sit with a trusted friend and say "I'm not judging you, I just want to understand where you're coming from." I have learned a much deeper level of love, friendship and acceptance through these kinds of good conversations. Thus, my new "blog." I want to be able to have honest, open dialog about issues while, hopefully, maintaining a positive, non-judgemental heart.
You knew I'd get to it, didn't you? I have to talk about two very important men in my life.......my Dad and my Husband. I feel compelled to speak for them because, well, sometimes I feel a little protective and want to speak up for them. This morning I sat down and counted the number of "Small Business" owners between our two immediate families. Eight men and women between our families are small business owners. Now let me preface this by declaring that I am an intelligent person who knows and understands that all adults, whether they are employees or employers, got to where they are with the help of lots of people. Teachers, parents, Sunday School teachers, coaches, mentors, etc....The list goes on and on and on of how we all got to where we are. Let me give you my perspective......... My Dad started his own business when I was about seven years old. Through the years my Mother would not only go work for him, for free I'm sure, but she would act as his advisor, encourager, financial analyst, counselor and general top supporter. My Dad would get up at the crack of dawn to travel to nearby, and not so nearby, places to promote his business. Every so often Dad would see an additional business opportunity and after weighing the "risks" he would invest in another venture. Sometimes those ventures worked, sometimes they didn't. There were a lot of constants but one that was ALWAYS there was....."do I take the risk or not." Now, he had a lot of people who helped him get to this place, but there was one person who laid awake at night and got up at the crack of dawn pondering "is it worth the risk?" His teachers, mentors, coaches, and yes, even his wife, were all part of the equation but he alone could decide whether he was willing to put his name on the line and take the risk.
Thankfully, I was prepared for this when I married a "risk taker." I had seen my Mom and Dad start and build a business together. My Dad had even let me work in his business so I knew how a small business was run. I am familiar with the sleepless nights and the early morning phone calls and the highs and lows of owning your own business. I have the benefit of working alongside my husband for just a few days each month, so I see the stress and everyday ups and downs that he deals with. It makes me love and appreciate what he does for our family and what my Dad did for my mom and my sisters and me. I'm sure this story mirrors lots of your's and I know it mirrors the other members of our family who are small business owners.
This is not a political statement because I know that unless you've experienced starting and running a small business, you could never understand what goes into it. But it is a statement for everyone to realize that America was built on free enterprise and freedom to create and succeed. And yes, even the freedom to fail. I am sick and tired of hearing how the wealthy don't want to "give back." I am sick and tired of a monetary number being put on whether you are middle class or not. I am very worried about tax increases that will put lots and lots of small businesses out of business. There is one thing I know for certain.........the "risk takers" will keep taking risks. It's in their blood. They thrive on making their corner of the world a better place. They thrive on "giving back." They love those who got them to where they are today. They have learned how to fail and get back up. I'm surrounded by these people and I know it to be true.
You knew I'd get to it, didn't you? I have to talk about two very important men in my life.......my Dad and my Husband. I feel compelled to speak for them because, well, sometimes I feel a little protective and want to speak up for them. This morning I sat down and counted the number of "Small Business" owners between our two immediate families. Eight men and women between our families are small business owners. Now let me preface this by declaring that I am an intelligent person who knows and understands that all adults, whether they are employees or employers, got to where they are with the help of lots of people. Teachers, parents, Sunday School teachers, coaches, mentors, etc....The list goes on and on and on of how we all got to where we are. Let me give you my perspective......... My Dad started his own business when I was about seven years old. Through the years my Mother would not only go work for him, for free I'm sure, but she would act as his advisor, encourager, financial analyst, counselor and general top supporter. My Dad would get up at the crack of dawn to travel to nearby, and not so nearby, places to promote his business. Every so often Dad would see an additional business opportunity and after weighing the "risks" he would invest in another venture. Sometimes those ventures worked, sometimes they didn't. There were a lot of constants but one that was ALWAYS there was....."do I take the risk or not." Now, he had a lot of people who helped him get to this place, but there was one person who laid awake at night and got up at the crack of dawn pondering "is it worth the risk?" His teachers, mentors, coaches, and yes, even his wife, were all part of the equation but he alone could decide whether he was willing to put his name on the line and take the risk.
Thankfully, I was prepared for this when I married a "risk taker." I had seen my Mom and Dad start and build a business together. My Dad had even let me work in his business so I knew how a small business was run. I am familiar with the sleepless nights and the early morning phone calls and the highs and lows of owning your own business. I have the benefit of working alongside my husband for just a few days each month, so I see the stress and everyday ups and downs that he deals with. It makes me love and appreciate what he does for our family and what my Dad did for my mom and my sisters and me. I'm sure this story mirrors lots of your's and I know it mirrors the other members of our family who are small business owners.
This is not a political statement because I know that unless you've experienced starting and running a small business, you could never understand what goes into it. But it is a statement for everyone to realize that America was built on free enterprise and freedom to create and succeed. And yes, even the freedom to fail. I am sick and tired of hearing how the wealthy don't want to "give back." I am sick and tired of a monetary number being put on whether you are middle class or not. I am very worried about tax increases that will put lots and lots of small businesses out of business. There is one thing I know for certain.........the "risk takers" will keep taking risks. It's in their blood. They thrive on making their corner of the world a better place. They thrive on "giving back." They love those who got them to where they are today. They have learned how to fail and get back up. I'm surrounded by these people and I know it to be true.
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