Loose ends are tricky things. Life is full of them. You don’t know what I mean? Think about all of those things in life that take a whole lot of effort, are really appreciated by others, and not often done.
Did I phone all the people who had my family over to dinner in the last week and thank them, or least send an SMS? Did I call that old guy I saw in church last week, and go and have a cup of coffee with him, for no better reason than he would love to chat with me? Did I follow up on any of the things that I noticed just yesterday; the one or two mates who are unwell, my mates that are far away, mates that are suffering through hard times? Did I spend an extra couple of minutes planning how to make my wife feel special?
Well a resounding NO would be the answer to all of those questions. And these are but a few of the loose ends in my life!
I did however spend a massive amount of my time on a consulting project. I also managed to find time for a couple of runs, a judo session, dinners with mates, and a whole lot of football watching.
The loose ends get me though. If I could only follow through on a couple of them every day, I would probably make a massive difference in the lives of those around me. Whether I phone the old guy at church today or next week will probably make little difference to him, so long as I phone him. What will probably happen though, is that the idea will sit around until I feel I have waited too long and then I will abandon it.
Life like most things follows the 80:20 rule, where we can do 80% of it with 20% of our effort. The problem is that the real value lies in the last 20% but it takes just about all of our effort. In business this rule is wonderful as one can exclude the last 20% as being too expensive or too difficult. If we do the same in life, chances are that we will miss out on all of the most fantastic opportunities that life has to offer! Then again, we probably would not know, or even care!
Being a lazy slob is easy. Tying off loose ends with intricate knots is far more difficult, but there is enough evidence that it is massively worthwhile!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
In Addition
I have to add something to my last post.
If you have not read it, read it!
I was thinking through my approach to this grown man crying about his life and my lack of compassion due to my knowing better. In other words, I judged this man as being unworthy of my time, money, and attention. As a good Christian boy, I know that the right approach to this circumstance was one filled with love and compassion. Yet I found it incredibly difficult to follow the same example that was set so long ago.
When rereading this post, I had the realisation that both of us need help from above, perhaps I more than him, even though it seems to be the other way around!!
If you have not read it, read it!
I was thinking through my approach to this grown man crying about his life and my lack of compassion due to my knowing better. In other words, I judged this man as being unworthy of my time, money, and attention. As a good Christian boy, I know that the right approach to this circumstance was one filled with love and compassion. Yet I found it incredibly difficult to follow the same example that was set so long ago.
When rereading this post, I had the realisation that both of us need help from above, perhaps I more than him, even though it seems to be the other way around!!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
A Crying Shame
I carefully stepped out of my car and tried to avoid all of the muddy puddles on the ground. It was difficult as the ground seemed to be alive with water. I managed to stick to a strip of high ground and then I was there. It looked as if a party was on the go. Kids ran around screaming, a women on a chair was having her hair combed by another woman behind her, more woman sat around chatting, and two men seemed to be discussing a nuclear physics problem. One of these men, Paul, was the man I had come to see. I wanted to find out how his new wooden house had stood up to the storm that had just blown through our town.
Not being satisfied with what he had been given; Paul had already built on a new section and converted his long house into an ‘L’ shape. Somehow he had managed to match the front of his alteration with the rest of his home, no small feat for a man without any money. He was as excited as I have ever seen him; his home had withstood the elements. On further inspection, I found that the front door had leaked, soaking the entrance. A little shelter over the entrance would solve that problem and remove the problem from any houses we may build. Paul posed for a couple of pictures inside his house, and his wife came over and simply gave me a long hug. Nothing more needed to be said.
Paul’s friend asked if I would come and look at his house. Understanding his want, I reluctantly followed him. He chose another precarious route through the flood waters, meeting up with four youths along the way. They were none too happy to see him and a few barrages of verbal abuse were flung either way.
His shack was a sad looking affair, a hodge podge of wood nailed together and canted over to one side. He opened the door and invited me in. His two tiny rooms were wet as a result of a roof that had never seen better days. The family’s meagre possessions had been bundled into black bags and stacked on one another. The floor was partially wet sand and he explained that the heavy winds had actually moved his shack off its wooden floor. I was revolted at the thought of anyone having to live their lives in a place this despicable, let alone raise a young family.
His eyes welled up with tears. ‘Mark’, he said, ‘I need a decent place to make a home for Jesus’. He rushed off to his room and returned with a page torn from a children’s bible. A treasured possession, somehow kept clean and dry in all of the squalor, a shining beacon of hope. ‘Help us’, he pleaded. I did not have the heart to tell him it was a picture of Moses.
Sadly the waves of alcohol from last nights party closed up my ears to his pleas. I asked why he continues to drink instead of saving his money to fix his house himself. He promised to do just that. Could I really blame him for enjoying an escape from his terrible reality?
Standing in that hovel, watching a grown man cry, I wondered about my own lack of compassion. I was moved to help yet made no promises. He certainly did not deserve any help as a lazy man lost in a haze of drugs and alcohol, in trouble with the local gangs, full of lies, and without a hope in the world. I could not imagine him ever being able to change his ways on his own. For the first time in my life, I started to understand the depth of the social problems that exist just under the thin veneer of society.
I have no idea what to do. Interestingly enough, some guy a couple of thousand years ago saw the same things, met people who deserved nothing, and yet showered them with his compassion and love anyway!
Not being satisfied with what he had been given; Paul had already built on a new section and converted his long house into an ‘L’ shape. Somehow he had managed to match the front of his alteration with the rest of his home, no small feat for a man without any money. He was as excited as I have ever seen him; his home had withstood the elements. On further inspection, I found that the front door had leaked, soaking the entrance. A little shelter over the entrance would solve that problem and remove the problem from any houses we may build. Paul posed for a couple of pictures inside his house, and his wife came over and simply gave me a long hug. Nothing more needed to be said.
Paul’s friend asked if I would come and look at his house. Understanding his want, I reluctantly followed him. He chose another precarious route through the flood waters, meeting up with four youths along the way. They were none too happy to see him and a few barrages of verbal abuse were flung either way.
His shack was a sad looking affair, a hodge podge of wood nailed together and canted over to one side. He opened the door and invited me in. His two tiny rooms were wet as a result of a roof that had never seen better days. The family’s meagre possessions had been bundled into black bags and stacked on one another. The floor was partially wet sand and he explained that the heavy winds had actually moved his shack off its wooden floor. I was revolted at the thought of anyone having to live their lives in a place this despicable, let alone raise a young family.
His eyes welled up with tears. ‘Mark’, he said, ‘I need a decent place to make a home for Jesus’. He rushed off to his room and returned with a page torn from a children’s bible. A treasured possession, somehow kept clean and dry in all of the squalor, a shining beacon of hope. ‘Help us’, he pleaded. I did not have the heart to tell him it was a picture of Moses.
Sadly the waves of alcohol from last nights party closed up my ears to his pleas. I asked why he continues to drink instead of saving his money to fix his house himself. He promised to do just that. Could I really blame him for enjoying an escape from his terrible reality?
Standing in that hovel, watching a grown man cry, I wondered about my own lack of compassion. I was moved to help yet made no promises. He certainly did not deserve any help as a lazy man lost in a haze of drugs and alcohol, in trouble with the local gangs, full of lies, and without a hope in the world. I could not imagine him ever being able to change his ways on his own. For the first time in my life, I started to understand the depth of the social problems that exist just under the thin veneer of society.
I have no idea what to do. Interestingly enough, some guy a couple of thousand years ago saw the same things, met people who deserved nothing, and yet showered them with his compassion and love anyway!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Way out there...
Every now and then a public holiday rolls around. Some people like them as days of no work, and some people hate them because they are days of no work. As surfers we love public holidays that arrive at the end of major storms together with big swell. In surfer language these events are ‘cool’. Wednesday this week was one such ‘cool’ day.
It was a beautiful morning at 07h00, or at least the little bits that I could see, as it was pretty dark. Getting out of my warm and cosy bed was tough, made more difficult by the ‘stay under the covers’ noises made by a rainstorm lashing our house. The snow on all of the mountains around us could not be seen but was certainly making its presence felt. It was a balmy 6 degrees Celsius, just perfect for mad people to bathe in their insanity!
The sea at our spot was uninspiring. Actually that was not true, it was less inspiring that the thought of exchanging my clothes for a neoprene suit. The head honcho of looney surf expeditions, Lawrie, had practically dived into his gear and was already waiting for the sea to bare her claws. Seeing him catch a terrible wave in amongst a school of dolphins got me moving a little quicker. Getting my head into my new hoodie and vest combination involved some bizarre contortions. Luckily our brilliant surf photographer Steve O was on hand to capture these warped moments of madness!
I am all right now, really!
It was a beautiful morning at 07h00, or at least the little bits that I could see, as it was pretty dark. Getting out of my warm and cosy bed was tough, made more difficult by the ‘stay under the covers’ noises made by a rainstorm lashing our house. The snow on all of the mountains around us could not be seen but was certainly making its presence felt. It was a balmy 6 degrees Celsius, just perfect for mad people to bathe in their insanity!
The sea at our spot was uninspiring. Actually that was not true, it was less inspiring that the thought of exchanging my clothes for a neoprene suit. The head honcho of looney surf expeditions, Lawrie, had practically dived into his gear and was already waiting for the sea to bare her claws. Seeing him catch a terrible wave in amongst a school of dolphins got me moving a little quicker. Getting my head into my new hoodie and vest combination involved some bizarre contortions. Luckily our brilliant surf photographer Steve O was on hand to capture these warped moments of madness!
The sea was cold, but I was almost warm on the inside, deep inside! I surfed terribly but loved it. The dolphins made one more pass through us and left for more interesting waters. When all was said and done, I took a quick bath in a mountain stream.
I am all right now, really!
lost Underground
I stopped off at Canal walk earlier in the week for a bite to eat. I shared a wonderful chicken chop suey with my thoughts as I pondered some business strategy for my own business.
I would like to think that I was still deep in thought as I rushed out of the shopping centre. I should have known that something was wrong when I went past Pick n Pay on my way out. My brain pointed out that it should have been a Checkers. But it wasn’t.
In the parking lot, I headed for my car, and it wasn’t there. I replayed my mental car parking movie and knew it should be there. Ten spaces to the right of the entrance, probably the closest I have ever parked in a shopping centre!
Thinking I had exited at an exit further than where I had parked I walked along the parking to the previous exit. I did not have to go too far to realise that it was not the same at all. I then walked to the next exit and that was just as unfamiliar. I walked back to the place I first exited just to make sure. And sure enough my car was not there.
I then replayed how I had entered the garage. From a traffic light and straight through the garage, I just had to find the traffic light and I would find my car. Being underground was a problem, so I walked all the way back till I could see the road. Then I understood I was far from where I thought I was. I then walked past the first exist, past the second one, past a third one, and there stood my car. I had exited the shopping centre two entrances early.
By now I had been wandering in that concrete bunker for almost thirty minutes, and even my parking ticket had given up and expired!
Man, I cannot believe that I got lost in a shopping centre parking lot! My wife tells me that I just don’t shop enough!
I would like to think that I was still deep in thought as I rushed out of the shopping centre. I should have known that something was wrong when I went past Pick n Pay on my way out. My brain pointed out that it should have been a Checkers. But it wasn’t.
In the parking lot, I headed for my car, and it wasn’t there. I replayed my mental car parking movie and knew it should be there. Ten spaces to the right of the entrance, probably the closest I have ever parked in a shopping centre!
Thinking I had exited at an exit further than where I had parked I walked along the parking to the previous exit. I did not have to go too far to realise that it was not the same at all. I then walked to the next exit and that was just as unfamiliar. I walked back to the place I first exited just to make sure. And sure enough my car was not there.
I then replayed how I had entered the garage. From a traffic light and straight through the garage, I just had to find the traffic light and I would find my car. Being underground was a problem, so I walked all the way back till I could see the road. Then I understood I was far from where I thought I was. I then walked past the first exist, past the second one, past a third one, and there stood my car. I had exited the shopping centre two entrances early.
By now I had been wandering in that concrete bunker for almost thirty minutes, and even my parking ticket had given up and expired!
Man, I cannot believe that I got lost in a shopping centre parking lot! My wife tells me that I just don’t shop enough!
Monday, June 14, 2010
South African in SA
Wow, what an amazing couple of days of being South African in South Africa.
The spirit is absolutely incredible. The soccer world cup is here and I can feel it!
It is wonderful to see how mere South Africans have been able to pull of this feat (albeit only the start of it). And things are looking good!
I am thoroughly enjoying all of the sport on TV. I am for once very happy that my children actually watch TV as the strategies of team sports can be clearly seen on the soccer pitch. And they are welcome to learn them all as early in their sporting lives as possible.
Trying to do some good business over the next couple of weeks is going to prove to be rather challenging, but then again, I would not have it any other way!
The spirit is absolutely incredible. The soccer world cup is here and I can feel it!
It is wonderful to see how mere South Africans have been able to pull of this feat (albeit only the start of it). And things are looking good!
I am thoroughly enjoying all of the sport on TV. I am for once very happy that my children actually watch TV as the strategies of team sports can be clearly seen on the soccer pitch. And they are welcome to learn them all as early in their sporting lives as possible.
Trying to do some good business over the next couple of weeks is going to prove to be rather challenging, but then again, I would not have it any other way!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Lights Off
Lights by Linea, an upmarket lighting shop in Paardon Island, a stones throw away from the sea. The place was packed with people, not an unusual feat for a shop. Certainly unusual for six o clock on a Friday evening, though.
Donna and I, hand in hand, pretended to inspect the various light fittings, whilst blending into the crowd. We happened upon a bar in the middle of this shop, not a temporary affair, but a real pub. Immediately taking advantage of the situation, I ordered drinks for the two of us. We continued to able along until we bumped into a table laden with eats. Jackpot! We were full of silliness, sharing laughter and jokes. Then a most bizarre thing happened, especially considering that this was a light shop. The multitude of lights dimmed into darkness.
Now, the only reason we were in this weird shop eating snacks and drinking free drinks was because the owner happened to be one of Donna’s travel clients. We had been invited to come on over and network. Yes, I know what you are thinking, funny thing to do in a light shop in the dark...
Our confusion did not last long, as a smoke machine exhaled a cloud of dense smoke and a bevy of strategically placed lasers began to beam out patterns of their own design. Dance music rained down on us from massive roof mounted speakers. I kid you not; somehow we had been transported from a strange light shop into a club of our youth.
(Me entering the portal!!)
Donna and I, hand in hand, pretended to inspect the various light fittings, whilst blending into the crowd. We happened upon a bar in the middle of this shop, not a temporary affair, but a real pub. Immediately taking advantage of the situation, I ordered drinks for the two of us. We continued to able along until we bumped into a table laden with eats. Jackpot! We were full of silliness, sharing laughter and jokes. Then a most bizarre thing happened, especially considering that this was a light shop. The multitude of lights dimmed into darkness.
Now, the only reason we were in this weird shop eating snacks and drinking free drinks was because the owner happened to be one of Donna’s travel clients. We had been invited to come on over and network. Yes, I know what you are thinking, funny thing to do in a light shop in the dark...
Our confusion did not last long, as a smoke machine exhaled a cloud of dense smoke and a bevy of strategically placed lasers began to beam out patterns of their own design. Dance music rained down on us from massive roof mounted speakers. I kid you not; somehow we had been transported from a strange light shop into a club of our youth.
We danced, other people danced, and drinks flowed, as the owner mixed the beat himself. It was far out!
(Me entering the portal!!)Then just as suddenly as it had all begun, it ended, in a light shop full of light. Wayne, the owner, had to move on to a 50th birthday party. So there we were, partied out before dinner and the whole evening ahead of us. Weird and wonderful!
We had a lot of fun, in a light shop, in the dark!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Life goes on
What a week.
First our cat almost didn’t even get close to dying. Sadly Donna met the owner of our substituted dead cat and passed on the sad news. She really appreciated the care that Donna had provided and could not thank her enough. Of course Donna did think she was doing all of the good farewell stuff for her own cat. My youngest even stroked the thing to say goodbye!
Then I jumped into Tweety, my great black thundering truck, and made the long drive to the police clearing station. I was a little flabbergasted to see engine and chassis numbers pounded into my beast’s iron belly without me having to fill in a single form. And I cannot tell you how much I have stressed about getting this to happen! I drove home very excited and a little concerned about all of the things that did not work perfectly. Needless to say, the mechanic was provided with another long list of issues to resolve. This is actually a good thing, as we slowly iron out all of her problems.
Today I discovered that all of her electrical problems can be solved with lots more effort on my side. Just what I wanted! I also have been told that it will take a minimum of 4 weeks for my car to be entered on the Traffic Department system before I can even get it registered. My patience with this endless restoration has long shrivelled and died...
In between the car and work, Donna and I have had a serious run of evening functions. Socialising and more socialising. I have to tell you though, I would rather be surfing!
What do I need to wear tomorrow night honey?
First our cat almost didn’t even get close to dying. Sadly Donna met the owner of our substituted dead cat and passed on the sad news. She really appreciated the care that Donna had provided and could not thank her enough. Of course Donna did think she was doing all of the good farewell stuff for her own cat. My youngest even stroked the thing to say goodbye!
Then I jumped into Tweety, my great black thundering truck, and made the long drive to the police clearing station. I was a little flabbergasted to see engine and chassis numbers pounded into my beast’s iron belly without me having to fill in a single form. And I cannot tell you how much I have stressed about getting this to happen! I drove home very excited and a little concerned about all of the things that did not work perfectly. Needless to say, the mechanic was provided with another long list of issues to resolve. This is actually a good thing, as we slowly iron out all of her problems.
Today I discovered that all of her electrical problems can be solved with lots more effort on my side. Just what I wanted! I also have been told that it will take a minimum of 4 weeks for my car to be entered on the Traffic Department system before I can even get it registered. My patience with this endless restoration has long shrivelled and died...
In between the car and work, Donna and I have had a serious run of evening functions. Socialising and more socialising. I have to tell you though, I would rather be surfing!
What do I need to wear tomorrow night honey?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Consternation
What a mess!
Donna drove home yesterday afternoon after collecting Matt from school. As she turned into our street she noticed a cat lying on the side of the road. It had obviously been run over. She then realised that it was one of our cats; mainly because he had some pretty unusual colours and markings.
She picked up the cat and drove the short distance home. Copious amounts of tears were shed her, Matt and her mom. They all headed back to the vet where they made arrangements for the cat to be buried.
You can imagine that everyone was most upset. To make matters worse, they headed from the vet to the airport in order to drop granny off for her trip home to Johannesburg; always a traumatic event. On the way home, Donna picked up Luke from school and broke the sad news to him. He was devastated!
They all arrived home, dumped their stuff, and noticed our cat sitting on the table on our back stoep. Very much alive!
What??????
Through puffy red eyes and tears of joy, the family proceeded to overwhelm the cat with attention. He was not unhappy in the least with his good fortune.
Unfortunately it would seem that one of our neighbours has lost their cat. Knowing the grief my family experienced, I can only but feel sorry for them.
Another incredibly strange day in the life of my family...
Donna drove home yesterday afternoon after collecting Matt from school. As she turned into our street she noticed a cat lying on the side of the road. It had obviously been run over. She then realised that it was one of our cats; mainly because he had some pretty unusual colours and markings.
She picked up the cat and drove the short distance home. Copious amounts of tears were shed her, Matt and her mom. They all headed back to the vet where they made arrangements for the cat to be buried.
You can imagine that everyone was most upset. To make matters worse, they headed from the vet to the airport in order to drop granny off for her trip home to Johannesburg; always a traumatic event. On the way home, Donna picked up Luke from school and broke the sad news to him. He was devastated!
They all arrived home, dumped their stuff, and noticed our cat sitting on the table on our back stoep. Very much alive!
What??????
Through puffy red eyes and tears of joy, the family proceeded to overwhelm the cat with attention. He was not unhappy in the least with his good fortune.
Unfortunately it would seem that one of our neighbours has lost their cat. Knowing the grief my family experienced, I can only but feel sorry for them.
Another incredibly strange day in the life of my family...
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