Each day our world seems to spin a little more out of control. If you are staying home to stay safe or spending a lot of time watching the news and scrolling social media, it gets even more scary. Yes, there are many issues we all need to address and deal with. The most important thing now is for everyone to try to stay healthy, mentally and physically. For our mental health, we sometimes need to turn off the TV, and step away from social media for the day, or maybe even a week.
     After the riots had been going on for several days, it was time for me to hit the road for an unexpected 2,000 mile road trip. During that week, we saw very little news. I must admit, I was very refreshing and renewed my belief that most people are good.
     When life gets to be too crazy, here are 10 Things to Renew Your Faith in Mankind. Some days, it helps to just take a  step back and look at the situation a little differently.

     1. Turn off the news
     2. Take a break from social media
     3. Take a drive and look around your community. Is there violence on every street corner like the we are being led to believe.
     4. Park the car and take a walk through town or a park, practice social distancing, of course. Wear a mask if you want. Are most people being civil to one another?
     5. The next time you walk by someone from a different ethnic group, speak to them, smile or wave. Observe what happens. Was the encounter violent or hateful?
     6. Listen. What sounds do you hear? Is it riots, protests, sirens? Or maybe birds, traffic, and people talking or laughing?
     7. Look and smell for smoke from burning buildings. Do you see burned or broken remains littering your town? If you do, how many blocks do you have to go down before you no longer see the destruction?
     8. Look at the faces and eyes of the people around you. Do you see hate in their eyes, or on their face if they're not wearing a mask? Are peaceful faces the rule or the exception?
     9. Hop back in your car, remember to use the hand sanitizer, and drive around some more. How many things still look like they did five months ago? Do you see peace or turmoil in your neighborhood?
    10. Take time to step outside and enjoy a sunrise or sunset from time to time.
I hope this helps a little to restore your hope in humanity. And remember, wash your hands with soap and water when you get home. (wink)

      If you have ever had the opportunity to stand at the base of a tall waterfall, you know how rejuvenating the experience can be. You can feel the calmness entering your soul as emotions and stresses are released with the water tumbling down the rocks and flowing along the babbling creek bed below.
                                                                                                             -Tom's Creek Falls in western North Carolina

​     1 Corinthians 10:13 talks about God being faithful and will not letting us be tempted beyond what we can bear. It goes on to say when we are tempted, he will also provide a way out so we can endure it. I believe he also provides a way out when life becomes overwhelming and we feel like we’re drowning. We may be drowning in debt, in the darkness of depression, or struggling through disappointments brought about from others or from life not going as expected. God is always there when the spillway opens and the waters rush towards us. We just need to open our eyes and look for the way out, or through it, that he has provided. Many times, it is in unexpected places.
     Today's picture was taken a few hours after the spillway had opened at one of my favorite state parks in Oklahoma last week. The other pictures are of the same area. One before the spillway opened and the other a few hours afterwards. What a difference! Life can come at us fast and hard some days with strong, scary currents trying to pull us under.

     Everyone needs that special partner in crime to travel and have adventures with. Maybe it's a life-long friend, or someone you have only known for a short time. It could be a spouse or other family member. As long as it's someone with a similar sense of adventure, there should be fun and laughs no matter where you go.
     How did you meet your adventure buddy? How long have you know them and what is the craziest adventure you have been on?

I see an outdoor tub for one here. What do you see?

    
     After rounding the corner on a hike, I ran into this sumo wrestler standing strong at the edge of the trail. I can't help but recall the story in 2 Chronicles 20 where Jehoshaphat courageously leads his small, ill-equipped army into battle against the vast army coming against them. Can't you just see his army marching down this trail? God, their sumo wrestler had their back. He was going to fight their battle. All they had to do was show up and march forward. How many times have you know armies to march forward singing praising God as the Lord sets the perfect ambush against their enemy?
     God will fight your battles as well. You just need to show up and trust him.
(This week's glance is a little delayed due to "Tuesday's Technical Troubles." )

            Something tells me if you were to look at a blank calendar five months ago, it would have been very much welcomed. Maybe it would have represented a vacation.  How do you see it today? Like you, I have taken many meetings, trips, business travel, and events I was planning, and planning to attend, off my calendar. Emotions are mixed as we deal with all the cancelations. Things we were looking forward to, and those we celebrated by doing a happy dance as we marked them off.
          Adjustments have been made and many of us are now attending virtual appointments and meetings. Some working from home are surrounded by kids and pets. I can hear the circus music playing now in the background of meetings and homes.
          How are you filling in all those other empty boxes on your calendar? Doing more with your family? Enjoying a hobby, new or old? Are you beginning to like the new normal and looking forward to continuing it in part when the masks come off? Is it a time of redefining or taking a chance on something new? I would love to hear about the things you are doing with this unexpected gift of free time.