Signs of Maturity

June 19, 2026

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Wyne of Mandaluyong, Philippines

Original Artwork by Raoul Pascual

Raoul’s 2 cents

Caricatures of Life

If you don’t want to ponder, move on to the Jokes below.

It is caricature week for me at my church during our Annual Summer Adventure Week where I am stationed at the Parent’s Lounge.I don’t know why but when I’m drawing people’s faces, I am transformed into their Father Confessor. They open up their lives to me. Couples share how they met and what they do.

I met a librarian who told me they have historical books not open to the public — 1st editions and drafts of famous books. (Remind me to steal those books later.) His wife studied in Washington DC and dreamed of writing national policies but children came, and she decided to be a stay-at-home Mom. There was an electrical engineer from Cuba who pointed upwards and said he designs the lamp posts in the city. His wife who is from the Dominican Republic got so excited when we talked about poverty around the world and said that in Cuba, they are so hard up that mothers wash and reuse disposable diapers. Ken is a classically-trained guitarist who carries a guitar pick wherever he goes in case he has an opportunity to perform. Nehemiah comes from an African village who suffered a whole year waiting to be reunited with family while he finishes his studies at Biola. Eleazer showed me a video of his dangerous work: hauling crude oil from the oil rigs around the city.

Moms and grandmoms posed with their little ones. And for the kids who could converse, I encouraged them with tips about life choices in an AI world. A teenager dreamed of being a professional basketball player but he didn’t grow tall so he shifted to soccer. In case he doesn’t make it professionally he wants to be a pilot. A strict grandma bribed her kids to get good grades and fined them if they didn’t. Today her kids are successful but she thinks she overdid her discipline because when she warned them of the dangers of an early marriage she didn’t expect they’d still be unmarried today. A radiant smile of a lady with two young kids hid her hardships as a single Mom. A Dad had his adopted twin kids jumping all over him yet the joy of having children never left him. Aren’t these diverse stories of so many people amazing? Many have told me that the caricatures I have done for them years ago still hang in their walls reminding them of what they were going through when we talked.

FUTURISTIC ARTWORK
Because of these encounters, I’m imagining I’m Tom Cruise in the movie “Minority Report” where I move colors around in this floating touch screen monitor — each smile, each story is like a splash of paint in this huge canvass of civilization. I’m waiting for the technology to allow me to create this multi-dimensional tapestry where touching each unique pigment tells a story that branches out to the stages of different lives complete with the music, movies and books they grew up with. Looking sideways, my digital sculpture will open up their ancestry. And the really cool thing is discovering how all the different races are connect to the original 8 people who survived the great flood. At the end of the journey, my artwork will narrow it all down to Adam and Eve. At the base of this his ginormous art piece will be the giant hand of God — He’s got the whole world in his hands! — get it?

Indeed, we are all related, each of our lives intentionally and lovingly placed — (with our own unique circumstances) by a Creator. We are free to make our own choices — good and bad. Some of us born rich, some poor, some loved, others maltreated, some equipped with ten fingers and toes, others blind or handicapped. Have you ever wondered why God created so much beauty, diversity and even suffering? I’ve stopped questioning and suggesting a better approach to any of His decisions. I believe in a God of love, whose ways go beyond our understanding. I’m sorry if you are going through tough times, but won’t you stop comparing and look upwards? (I know it’s more easily said than done). Accept that life wasn’t meant to be fair but to be a challenge leading back to our Creator.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Quotes of the week

“We were married for better or worse. I couldn’t have done better, and she couldn’t have done worse.” — Henry Youngman

“Marry a man your own age; as your beauty fades, so will his eyesight.” — Phyllis Diller

“No, please, don’t eat me. I have a wife and kids. Eat them!” — Homer Simpson

“Nothing better than spending an entire morning staring into my baby daughter’s eyes, whispering, ‘I can’t do this’.” — Ryan Reynolds

“I hate when new parents ask who the baby looks like. It was born 15 minutes ago, it looks like a potato.” — Kevin Hart

“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.” — Samuel 1: 27

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” — Ephesians 4:2

“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” — Luke 18: 15

Memes of the Week

Thanks to James of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Barbara of Pasadena. CA

Thanks to Brett of Alhambra, CA

Thanks to Joel of Alhambra, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Norm of Encino, CA

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these:
I hope I got you to smile.

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