Archive for December, 2006

Deaths

December 30, 2006 at 12:43 pm · Filed under Gerald Ford, James Brown, Saddam Hussein, death

You can imagine how much time I have just sitting in my truck, either driving or waiting.  And while I sit, I think, read, do crossword puzzles, or I listen to XM radio with its 200+ channels.  My favorites are CNN, ABC news on the hour, Dan Patrick (sports), even Fox News (to hear “the other side” of news).  Among other favorites are folk, bluegrass, Broadway musicals, comedy (4 of these channels), inspirational music, old-time radio shows, and Willie’s Place (country music from the 50’s and 60’s).  I also listen to Atlanta traffic and weather whenever I am about 30 minutes outside of that forever traffic-clogged city.  (XM has instant traffic and weather reports for 20 of the country’s largest cities.  I often tune into Boston and Dallas to learn what weather Steve Jr. and Mitch are experiencing at the moment.) 

Death filled the airwaves on the news channels the past several days.  The passings of Gerald Ford and James Brown and the impending death of Saddam Hussein filled nearly every minute of every hour from Wednesday on.  I found it interesting that what was said about the deaths of the former president and soul entertainer was virtually interchangeable except for specific details.  I sometimes found myself wondering, now are they talking about Ford or Brown?   For example, reports on both personalities mentioned the contributions each made to their respective fields of endeavors.  Reports on both included information about family and funeral arrangements as well as biographical details.  There were literally hours of analysis from people in the know of the impact each had on their eras.  I found myself mentally drifting in and out of these reports, which created humorous moments until I reestablished who they were talking about at the moment.  Once, I drifted out when the reporters were discussing funeral arrangements for Brown only to drift back in when the report had changed to Ford.  I heard, “…and he will lie in state in the Capitol building.”  I wondered why James Brown would lie in state in the Capitol!  On another occasion, I heard, “…his wife has been locked out of their home by the family’s attorney.”  I was shocked at the thought of Betty Ford, faithful wife of 60 or so years, being locked out of the Ford home until I realized the story was about “the godfather of soul”!

Today the death that occupies the airwaves is that of Hussein, hanged at dawn. 

On the one hand, three men, three separate and vastly different paths through life—mediocre president, a hard-working yet flawed entertainer, and a blind and self-deceived despot.  On the other hand, three men, one fate:  death.  

What’s your take on these men—their lives, their missions, their impact, their fate?  Has any one of them affected your life in a measurable way?  How have their lives impacted the world?  Do you find any redeeming qualities on the worst of them; any tragic flaws in the best of them?  I’d like to hear your thoughts on these men or anything else you’d like to share.  And, thanks for reading.

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Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2006 at 8:22 am · Filed under Christmas, Emogene, Mitch, truth

I awoke early this Christmas morning to wish you the merriest of Christmases.  Three-sixths (1/2) of our family is home.  Lynn, Mitch and I will celebrate with friends today in Memphis; Chrissy, Steve Jr. and Damon, our granddog, will celebrate in their new hometown, Boston.  It’s the first Christmas we haven’t all been together and we miss not having the Steve Jrs with us.

I wish you could all know Emogene, the lady who has commented a few times on this blog.  She is an amazing woman.  She is rearing three precious children alone and all are turning out to be very special people.  She has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for several years, and a few years ago she suffered a near career-ending injury.  While most others would have taken the disability route, Emogene chose to work hard to restore her mobility so she could continue working.  You can read some of her struggles in last week’s blog.  Whenever you see Emogene’s name on this blog, take note; the Spirit is speaking!

I pass through some pretty interesting towns in my travels.  For instance, I was recently through Spring Gully, SC, home of Chubby Checker.  And last week, I passed through Shelby, NC, home of Earl Scruggs (Foggy Mountain Breakdown).  I also pass interesting signs, like the one I saw outside Montgomery, AL.  It was a huge banner with the neatly printed warning, “Go to church or the devil will get you!”  (I’ve discovered that going to church is no immunization against the devil.  Seems like he’s having a feast inside the church.)

The devil continues to chase me.  Last week was a particularly difficult week.  I made two trips to the Carolinas between early Tuesday and right before the Tiger-MTSU basketball game on Saturday…a total of 2,800 miles.  The push to get the freight to its destination encouraged me to cheat in order to make it on time.  I am really hoping this is a factor of urgent Christmas deliveries, and that this frantic pace will slow after the holidays.  I simply won’t continue to give in to the practice of “adjusting” the truth.  In defense of my company, it’s not Schneider who pushes these dangerous deadlines.  It’s the shipper and an over-eager dispatcher.  As I walked out of the Atlanta operating center the other night, I heard a fellow driver say, “It’s great to be a truck driver where we are forced to break all the damn rules.”  I found a bit of comfort in the thought that others struggle with this same issue.  We’ll see what happens…

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For Christmas, son Mitch gave me a Memorex digital voice recorder so that I can capture my thoughts and ideas for this blog as I travel down the road (much safer than trying to write down my thoughts while I drive).  I am thankful for this special gift.  What was your most  special gift this Christmas?

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Crossroads

December 16, 2006 at 3:11 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

It seems our culture presents every opportunity to veer from the path.  And no institution is exempt.  The pressures to conform are nearly overwhelming in politics, business, education, even religion.  As early as fourth grade, students feel the pressure to excel and, sadly, cheating is the direction some young students choose.

I am beginning to feel the pressure to conform to the “everyone does it” syndrome in my new vocation, and it scares and angers me.  Since first pursuing the possibility of becoming a truck driver, I have wondered if one could be a successful driver and not cheat.  I listened closely in school as instructors guided us through filling out the trucking log (a record of a driver’s rountine and hours at the wheel) to hear if they advocated cutting corners and stretching the truth in order to get the freight through on time.  I quizzed experienced drivers on this matter and all assured me that it would be difficult, but remaining honest was an option.   But that’s not what I am discovering in the real trucking world.  To be completely honest—to be in full compliance with state and federal laws—something else often has to suffer.  The only “product” trucking companies have to offer is service—on-time delivery of freight.  Delivering freight on time and safely often means cutting corners and stretching the truth on one’s driving log. 

It’s too soon to know whether I can remain honest and still deliver the goods on time.  The early signs raise doubts.  (Already, I have bent the truth to accomodate productivity.  I am embarrassed and sorry.)  It would so disappoint me to be forced out over integrity issues.

How do you do it?  Have you ever been in a position which forced you to choose integrity at the expense of something you value?  I’d like to know your story.

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Daughter of the King

December 9, 2006 at 8:25 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

She stood there looking out of place, waiting for me when I returned to my truck from getting a bag of McNuggets.  About 5′4″, auburn hair and a shy smile, she seemed new at this.  “Could you use some company?” she asked.  Before I could answer she added, “I sure hope you need some company ’cause I need the money.” 

Truckers call these (mostly) young ladies “lot lizards” because they hang around truck stop parking lots, rest areas or other places where they are sure to find customers for the world’s oldest profession.  I’ve seen them before, but this was the first time I had ever encountered one face-to-face.  And I failed.

All I could say was, “No, I don’t need company, and you don’t need to be doing this.”  At this, she hurried off muttering something like, “But I really need the money.”  I got in the truck and with tears immediately began to pray that God would supply what she needed without her having to sacrifice her body and soul to get it.  I also asked God to forgive me for my brain freeze, knowing I was one immediate way God could have blessed this precious daughter.  How could I have been rendered so immobile on an occasion not nearly as dire as others I have faced during my years as a counselor?  “Counselor.”  I would laugh at that irony if my inability to respond to her wasn’t so sad.   Of course, as it turned out, I came up with a variety of more Godly responses about 40 miles down the road.

What would Jesus have said to her?  What would you have said?  Share your thoughts and later I’ll tell you what I’d do if I could do it over.  Truth is, chances are very good that I’ll have another chance.  And so might you.

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Random thoughts from week 3 on the road

December 3, 2006 at 8:53 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

I’m lonely, but I can’t afford the luxury of having one I love to come along…for he who travels fastest, goes alone.    (Lonesome Fugitive by Merle Haggard)

Lynn took a short trip with me last Sunday afternoon when I delivered 23,000 pounds of facial tissues to Searcy, AR (enough tissues for every Searcyite to blow their nose for a year!).  I was surprised when she said she would go with me since she had said earlier that she would be glad to join me on a trip only after I had several months of experience behind me. It’s amazing what a difference having another person in the truck makes, especially when it’s someone you love.  We had a good time even though Lynn was battling a cold.  Maybe one day she’ll go cross country with me.

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Two great blessings of being on the road are the sunrises and sunsets.  Last week as I motored toward the North Carolina border I was awed by the most beautiful sunrise I had ever seen.  The sun inched over the horizon bringing the brightest array of reds and oranges.  Each moment I thought it could not get any more glorious, the sky would become even brighter until it crescendo-ed into a mixture of colors so intense the clouds appeared purple and green.  Truly, the heavens declare the glory of God!  The display came just when I needed assurance of God’s presence, and the sunrise did the trick. 

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Another unique perspective of truckers is being able to see into passing cars.  I get a clear shot of what drivers are doing, eating, or watching when they zoom by.  For example, you wouldn’t believe how many drivers read while they drive.  I’ve seen people reading books, magazines or newspapers while speeding down the highway at 70 mph.  Many others actually watch a DVD while they drive.  I thought those were against the law, but many cars have players mounted on the dash in clear view of the driver.  And I thought cell phones were a hazard!

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen a driver doing?

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Steve Jr. had a great example of our last blog when he and Chrissy encountered a man in an East Boston restaurant.  You can check it out at www.harvestboston.net

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