Millennials

Millennials. The very mention of that word floods people’s thoughts of irresponsible, spoiled, overly promised kids who are now full grown dysfunctional members of society.

That, of course is the negative stereotype (the video this week depicts exactly what I mean) and I would say it is fairly based on reality. Sad but true. A wise man said we have raised a generation of narcissists.

Narcissists are people who live in their own world. Who are obsessed with themselves and only see things their way. No use arguing with a true narcissist. What is worst than a narcissist? A group of narcissists!  They are loyal to each other and ostracize independent thinkers. Majority thought wins.

Are you a narcissist? Do you have compassion for people and actually do something to help the less fortunate? Do you accept your mistakes, seek forgiveness and do you seek ways to improve? Do you allow others to share their ideas? If you answered NO to any of those, maybe you are a narcissist. Boy, do I need to pray for you!

I had fun talking to some Millennials today. I wouldn’t say they were narcissists. After I introduced them to each other, I watched the magic of Millennial bonding unravel. They compared rings, boyfriends/spouses and Instagrams. At one point they were actually conversing and looking down at their cell phones at the same time. Of course I had to take a photo. I showed it to them. They laughed and went back to checking their phones. I was totally fascinated.

It may be true that they are all who we say they are, but I did not feel any animosity towards them. I just loved them for who they were. They reminded me of my own kids. I may not have grown up as self-absorbed as them but I must have had major character defects just like them. We all have our flaws. They’re trying to find their corner in the sky just like the rest of us. As patient as my parents were to me, I will be patient with them, help them process their ideas into tangible actions … help them become the best person they could ever be. Want to join me?

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  — Romans  12:2

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Mike of New York  for sharing this joke.

Naomi’s Puns

Sent by Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

VIDEO: Funny Exaggeration

Not all Millennials are like this — thank god!

Parting Shot

Thanks to Naomi who sent this joke.

The post Discount Bar appeared first on Traveling Archive.

The Final Conversation

I’m heading for the land of my youth. My Dad came to visit and since he cannot travel alone, I am doing the honors of accompanying him back home. I have to admit, I have some apprehensions.

Dad says this will be his last plane ride. What do you say to someone who will be moving on to the after-life? All of my Dad’s accomplishments and years on this earth will be a miniscule nano second compared to an eternity that awaits him. He says he is ready to “go.” Really? Many say things they do not fully understand just because they’ve heard other people say it before. And often the conversation about death is shelved for another time. But what if there is no other time?

Recently a friend of mine who has a different faith said that “we all really pray to the same god anyway.” I’d like to believe that but I know in my heart that isn’t so. Do you? The Bible is replete with God’s  hatred towards those who prayed to fake gods. Yes, who you worship is important. Sometimes we parrot these PC lines to avoid deep conversations and getting into a debate about religion … and this is acceptable in most social gatherings; but in my Dad’s case, is this where our final discussion should go? Not if I can help it. Not when eternity is at stake. I want to thresh out his thought process and come to a conclusion.

I admit I don’t have all the answers and I need your prayers for humility and wisdom as I engage in the last meaningful conversation I will have with him.

The song of Sara Groves come to mind:

CONVERSATIONS

… And I would like to share with you
What makes me complete.
I don’t claim to have found the truth,
But I know it has found me.

The only thing that isn’t meaningless to me,
Is Jesus Christ and the way he set me free.
And this is all that I have, this is all that I am,
It’s all that I have … and it’s all …

I don’t know how to say this
I don’t know where to start
I just know that I care for you
And I’m speaking from my heart.

CLICK FOR COMPLETE LYRICS

How about you? Do you know in your heart what awaits you in the after life? Do the people you love know?  When eternity is at stake, don’t you think a deep conversation is in order? Wanna talk? I’m open.

TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Ernie of Fresno, CA for sending this joke.

Video of the Week

Jealous Pets
Sent by Naomi of N. Hollywood, CA

Thought Provoking: “Hampster” or “Hamster”?

I don’t watch this show (I only found this by accident). It’s funny but also very sad. Hard to believe there are Millennials who think this way. This seems to be an accurate account of the July 12, 2019 event described by Professor Carol Blymire of Georgetown University.

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this.

The post Leadership Options appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Last week I was a proud grandfather attending my grandson’s graduation. As they were performing on stage, I noticed one boy who was lost in his own world and muttered under his breath. I was irritated because the other kids had worked so hard for this day but that one selfish boy was doing his own thing. I wondered why the teacher didn’t pull him out. In fact, one of the teachers was constantly by his side and embracing him every time he blurted in defiance. I blamed how poorly his parents had prepared him for school. If only they stopped their busy schedule and actually spent time with him instead of spoiling him … maybe he would have participated better.

Did you hear of the story of the poor old man who owned a horse and tied it outside his home? The villagers came and told him he was foolish because he could sell the stallion and get money for food instead of parking it outside inviting someone to steal it. But the old man begged them “Do not judge. You only know part of the situation. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”

The next morning the horse was missing from his stall. The villagers came and told him he was foolish for not heeding their warnings because he was now poorer than ever and had no means of income. The old man told them “Do not judge. We only know part of the situation. You don’t know God’s plan for me. All you see is an empty stable. The horse may still return to me.”

No one knew that the horse had wandered into the wilderness and returned the next day with 7 wild horses.

The villagers asked forgiveness for they were foolish because now they saw the wisdom of the old man … now the old man could train the other horses and sell them for a handsome profit. But even now the old man said they should not judge him — whether good or bad. “Only God knows why He allowed this to happen.”

The old man’s son proceeded to train the wild horses. But while he was riding one of them, he was thrown off the horse and he broke his 2 legs. Here come the villagers who berated the old man for his foolishness. But the old man, true to form, told them again not to judge because only God knew why He allowed this to happen.

The kingdom was at war and every single son in the village was drafted except the old man’s son who could not fight in the war. Distraught that they had lost their sons, the villagers finally learned to stop judging the old man.

As my family prepared to go home, my daughter asked me if I noticed the little boy at the back of the stage. She said the boy was autistic and that his parents insisted that he learn with the normal kids. The young woman who comforted him was a helper who protected him and everyone around him.

My heart sank. Suddenly, my whole perspective of the boy changed. Rather than think how poorly he had done, I admired him and his parents because the child had accomplished so much.

Are you as opinionated as I? When people talk politics, religion … when they talk about other people, are you guilty of prejudging? If you know everything, you don’t need ears … just your mouth. The goal should not be to prove who is right but to help each other discover the truth and DO what is right.

Of course this is just me.

“You judge by appearances. If any of you think you are the only ones who belong to Christ, then think again. We belong to Christ as much as you do.”

— 2 Corinthians 10:7

TGIF people!

Financial Difficulty

Shared by Jeff of Pasadena, CA

Millennial Job Interview
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Millenials are gonna hate me for sharing this. And no, not all Millennials are like this. But some definitely are. Blame it on bad parenting.

WATCH VIDEO

Dwarf Classic Cars
Sent by Tom of Pasadena, CA

If you love cars, you’ll love this video. It’s pretty long but it’s quite a story about someone who really knows his craft.

WATCH VIDEO

How Similar are Cantonese and Madarin?
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

If you’re like me, you know very little about the Chinese language. This video will explain some of the basics.

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA who shared this photo

The post Heavenly Message appeared first on Traveling Archive.

I fell off a ladder last Saturday.

Yup! I volunteered to help with the Easter service stage and, being relatively tall, I said I would help attach the higher pieces to the unreachable spots. A voice inside me warned me not to climb the ladder. But I didn’t listen. When the  wobbling started, an old voice said “get down you old fool!” but another younger voice said “it’s just one more step … you can make it.” Before I knew it, the ladder lost its footing and everything went slow motion. The ledge I was trying to step up to went further away. I realized it was I who was moving further away. There was nothing to hold onto. I remember thinking “this could be it. I could die now. If not, Lord, at least don’t let me hurt too badly.” It was relatively soft on the carpeted wooden panel but it was the sudden landing that sent a jabbing pain that ran up my already fragile back. I had the presence of mind from my Judo class in college to tuck my chin in but I still bumped my head on the cement wall. The A-frame ladder closed and crushed my fingers. It’s been almost a week and some parts of me still hurts. I’m sure I’ll be back to normal by next week.

Denial. That’s a pretty dangerous but common mental exercise boomers have when they face their twilight years. If you’re one of them, take my advice — live with it! Own it!

I hope I’m not too blunt but allow me to point out some famous people. Rather than accept inevitable gravity, it’s amazing how many desperate celebrities spend their millions on horrific plastic surgeries. Goldie Hawn, Nicole Kidman, Michael Jackson, Kenny Rogers, Cameron Diaz, Meg Ryan, Mickey Rourke, Demi Moore — c’mon guys, what were you thinking? Was all the pain and money really worth it? Are you happy to see the stranger in the mirror?

Hair rejuvenation. The hair growth supplements do not affect a majority of bald people. The hair transplants probably do work for a time but when you see several follicles coming out of one spot like rice fields, it’s rather comical.  Think about it. When Donald Trump, Bruce Willis, Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Jason Statham, Ben Afleck, Kevin Spacey, Jude Law, Michael Jordan, Warren Buffet, Steve Jobs, etc. could not “buy” their hair back, do you think that you could?

Fortunately, there are people I admire who learned to age gracefully. I think of Anthony Hopkins, Pope Francis, Billy Graham, Vanessa Redgrave, Meryl Streep, Audrey Hepburn, George Clooney (so far) … at least these guys only look better with age.

Falling down the ladder opened my eyes to the imaginary border separating Never Never Land and Survivor Island. And you know what? It’s not that bad over here. Mother Teresa, Col. Sanders, Mandela — are just a few of the many late-blooming senior heroes. Sure, one day I’ll be bed-ridden and my teeth are all gonna fall off but till that day, I’m gonna create, teach, give and love as much as I possibly can. You should too.

But this is just me.

“You can’t help getting older but you don’t have to get old.”
— George Burns

TGIF people!

All About Age

Shared by Naomi of North Hollywood

I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People get out of the way much faster now.

I didn’t make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row.

I decided to stop calling the bathroom the “John” and renamed it the “Jim”. I feel so much better saying “I went to the Jim this morning.”

Old age always seems to come at a really bad time.

When I was a child I thought “Nap Time” was a punishment. Now, as a grownup, it feels like a small vacation.

The biggest lie I tell myself is.. “I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it.”

I don’t have gray hair …  I have “wisdom highlights!”  I’m just very wise.

If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would’ve put them on my knees.

Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven’t met yet.

Why do I have to press one for English when you’re just going to transfer me to someone I can’t understand anyway?

Of course I talk to myself … sometimes I need expert advice

At my age “Getting lucky” means walking into a room and remembering what I came in there for.

Actually, I’m not complaining because I am a Senager. (Senior teenager) I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. I don’t have to go to school or work. I get an allowance every month. I have my own pad. I don’t have a curfew. I have a driver’s license and my own car. The people I hang around with are not scared of getting pregnant. And I don’t have acne.

Life is great! I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can’t remember their names.

Now, I’m wondering — did I send this to you, or did you send it to me?

TGIF Videos

A Millennial in the Operating Room
Sent by Mel of Washington, D.C.

I can see this happening.

Watch Video

Senior at Target Practice
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Seniors do it differently.

Watch Video

Parting Shot

Thanks to Dom of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this photo

The post All About Age appeared first on Traveling Archive.