ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN


Recently, as I watch legislative sessions, both nationally and locally I am amazed at how grown adults act and treat one another.  Instead of thinking of our fellow man, all I see is bargaining of what this will do for me.

Earlier in my life, I thought I had ambitions for politics, however after a few years working for County Commissioners and seeing the ugly side of why things actually do and don't get done, I realized there is now way I could serve in such an office.

Too many times I've witnessed that things are done only in a manner of what will get, or not cost votes, instead is in the best interest of the people and long term success of the county.  Power struggles occur where one elected official bow beats everyone else to a point where they just are tired of trying to fight for what is good.

This got me thinking.. Perhaps we would be better off if we adopted rules and dealt with others with the mind of a kindergartner.  The following is a excerpt from "a guide for Global Leadership."

"All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.

These are the things I learned:

- Share everything.
- Play fair.
- Don't hit people.
- Put things back where you found them.
- Clean up your own mess.
- Don't take things that aren't yours.
- Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
- Wash your hands before you eat.
- Flush.
- Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
- Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
- Take a nap every afternoon.
- When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
- Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
- Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
- And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together."

As citizens we need to hold our elected officials in check!!  Take time to educate yourselves on the issues, and how those elected to represent you are voting.  Be willing to be vocal in exposing those who are doing things immorally and against the law..  We will never fix where we are if we do not take the energy to stand up.


[Source: "ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN" by Robert Fulghum. See his web site at http://www.robertfulghum.com/ ]

Take Comfort in the Little Things

With all the troubles in the world, all the hate, sickness, and death that surround us constantly. Seeing friends and family members struggling through hardships and difficult times, I easily at times have lost focus of what is important in life.

It is so easy to get caught up in this "we" society.

There is so much hate in this world.  It seems, where instead of trying to find the good in everyone, we are focused on beating them down.

Today at church we were discussing the Israelite's as they had just been freed from bondage.  God had shown so many miracles and had provided for them along the way.  Yet the minute things got difficult they lost faith, even to the point of thinking how much better they had it under Pharaoh.   

Funny how we all need a reality check now and then.  Reminding ourselves of the little blessings we take for granted daily, especially when so many around us are facing such hardships.

For Christians, today marks the beginning of a Holy Week, reminding us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the Cross.  I am reminded of how easily I fall into the "why me" category and whining about all the things I do not have, instead of focusing on the the gifts the Lord has provided in my life.

My hope for you and for myself is that we take joy in, not only what path God may have us on, but wherever that path may lead and knowing  "He holds the future."