My 500 Words

I maintain a love hate relationship with collaborative projects. Whether a school assignment, a planning committee or a task at work the prospect of working together instills either excitement or dread, and sometimes both. When good fortune strikes, each member of the team brings a necessary and complementary skill to the job at hand. Unless you work at Google, or some other mythical institution, better odds suggest that only a few members will fully engage to ensure a quality project on the back end. Sad experience suggests that as long as there are sufficient people who really want to do well, those select few will form a core that makes certain each task is finalized, even if they have to do it themselves. At the end of the day it becomes the team who receives the credit. Congratulations are received all around, regardless of the proportionality of the effort. At work this can really be irksome and economically unfair. When I was in school the mere suggestion of a group project...

When I earned allowance from chores around the house I knew exactly how I was going to spend it. I would tithe ten percent to my church, I would put the same amount in an education/mission fund and the rest I would spend at the corner market. Back in the day my budget categories were far more limited and my interests less diverse. Since my income was also far more limited and less diverse this arrangement worked out well. I really only wanted to buy two things at the store --Bottle Cap candy and Shasta sodas. Actually, I preferred Sprite and A & W Root Beer, but with the money I had in my pocket I generally settled for the less expensive Shasta.  Both of those treats tasted just a little bit better when I knew it came from my very own money. Mind you, I don't think I ever turned down candy, even from strangers, but the flavors lasted a little bit longer and the experience more rewarding than even a stuffed Halloween night pillow case. I seldom made these purchases using exa...

When a coworker asked my thoughts on home ownership my mind immediately jumped to a law school lecture offered by an opinionated and confident New Yorker professor. That particular morning he showed up about ten minutes late; class was cancelled if the professor arrived more than 15 minutes late. He began by acknowledging that he did not understand the need of every single person he met out West to own a home. Even though he was late because the he just closed on his own home, he didn't think it was a good idea. We discussed three primary reasons that people use to explain their decision to purchase a home: They don't want to throw good money away on rent when they could buy.  With interest rates low, it is cheaper to buy a home than pay rent.  Home ownership provides a great investment.  My professor then went on to explain how these claims frequently turn out to be more dream than reality. Rent just seems like throwing money away. What do you have to show for...

While visiting my eldest brother he told the story about the rocking chair upon which he was sitting. This chair had been purchased by my grandparents back in the 1920s. When they bought it the chair was used. So this particular chair carried with it a century worth of history and memories. A quick reflection of the things that have changed since the 1920s offers a sense of history. As my brother talked about this chair he mentioned that he found it in the basement of my grandparents' home after my grandfather had passed away. It was unused and sat gathering dust with other accumulated stuff that was no longer being used. He recognized the opportunity to salvage a rich piece of history and to continue a physical connection to family legacy. After asking for and obtaining my grandmother's permission, he took the chair. Upon further inspection he was able to determine that it was a very nice chair but it would benefit from some repair and restorative work. The rocking chair w...

Some people know the name of their child long before the birth. Other people will wait and see what the baby looks like before they choose a name. My wife and I usually talked about a few names that we liked but we never really finalized the name until after their births.  We know one couple who waited about a month before they gave an official name to their child. They did have extenuating circumstances because the really wanted to name their child the same name as their cat, but it broke their heart to have to change the cat's name. For reasons that are not completely known to me, I have never taken up the practice of naming personal property like cars, bikes or athletic equipment. This seems quite unusual as I compare my experience to those of others. Even my dainty wife had a full-size pick up truck that she drove when we got married. She called it Stomper. I had a hatchback Honda and I called it "the Honda." When we got a minivan, my wife called it "Stripey....

A colleague and I would sometimes leave the office to catch the opening day of sci-fi and action movies like Spiderman. We were usually the only people in the theater who wore ties and appeared older than 18. Given that there were no other adults or anyone old enough to be a teacher, I highly doubt that these screenings were an organized field trip for a film course. No, these shows appealed to teenagers who preferred watching the latest blockbuster in the middle of the day rather than stay in school. But, obviously, I was in no position to judge them. My colleague and I had both moved on to different jobs when the second installment of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, came to theaters. We decided to attend an opening day showing and calculated that a 1:30 or 2 pm show would serve our needs and get us done with the three-hour movie in time to get back to our family responsibilities. Because of traffic difficulties we both arrived to the theater about five minutes after the lis...

I can name four types of marbles: cat eyes, clearies, colored and steelies. Perhaps I could name more if I hadn't completely failed as a father. When I mentioned these types of marbles to my son and asked if he knew of any other classes of marbles he told me that he hadn't even heard of those marbles before; he just assumed that marbles were marbles. When I exclaimed that I had clearly failed as a parent, he laughed. I have tried to introduce non-electronic games into my children's lives. We didn't even have a game console until we purchased a RockBand Beatles Wii five or six years ago. They did come across games on the computer but we had avoided the gaming craze and I had thought that my kids had a good handle on basic childhood activities. Apparently, I still have work to do. Marbles provide a perfect childhood diversion. The variety of games allows you to play with one, two, three or even a dozen friends. The biggest concern was whether you had a sock that was ...

There is a sound that will cause the hairs your neck to immediately stand on end. It is the unexpected cry of a police siren from behind. Instantaneously you slow down and start looking around to figure out what you've done wrong. In nanoseconds you retrace your actions, stops, lane changes, speed, blinkers; all of this before checking our rear view mirror and pulling over. I had been playing baseball for only a year or two when I was selected to my first All-Star team. I was very excited to be chosen to represent our area in the late summer tournament. I was initially worried because I didn't know how I was going to get to the practices and games. Our local league was close enough that if I didn't have a ride, I could easily ride my bicycle to the ball field. That was not going to be the case for this tournament. I was going to work and train with different coaches and the field was ten or fifteen miles away. My mother really didn't see how she would be able to de...

When I listen to Spanish I hear beauty. The rhythmic cadence produces a masterpiece of sound, a richly colored palette forming an auditory dance. The very syntax seems to signal that words extend beyond the functional to embrace the emotional and capture the essence of unspeakable meaning. A language like none other. A language where meaning is first expressed but lingers for richer understanding. I am familiar with two classic commentaries about Spanish. One explains that German is the language for communicating with pets and animals. English is the language of business. French is the language of love. Spanish is the language of God. The other claims that Spanish is the only language where you conjugate verbs the same way whether you are praying to God, adoring your lover, or commanding your dog. This language clearly possesses a tremendous versatility. Spanish has become a preferred language for my mediation and contemplation. More often than not, if I am without words to expres...

I had timed my approach to the intersection with near perfection. The light had changed to green and I  needed to merge into the previously stopped traffic as they began their acceleration. I needed to move to the left to allow right-hand turners the chance to pass me on the right. I was passing the stopped cars and was looking for an opening, a natural gap caused when stopped traffic begins to move once the light changes. I was traveling six or seven miles per hour below the speed limit but faster than the now moving traffic. I glanced back and noticed a nice gap. The driver and I made eye contact and he provided the clear nod that I could move over. Appreciative of the kind gesture I decided to pick up my pace and accelerate to the posted speed limit, matching   the traffic in front of me. I lifted myself from my saddle and put everything I had into the down pedal. A sudden snap and then a constant rattle. I didn't even have to look down; I knew what had happened. My b...

For many years I used a four to six ratio to better understand the Ten Commandments. The first four explain the relationship that we should pursue to maintain and develop a spiritual relationship with our Heavenly Father. The remaining six describe basic tenets to facilitate positive interactions among our fellow men. This tool continues to serve me well but further reflection reveals an 8:2 ratio. Four times as many commandments contain injunctions prohibiting negative behavior while only two mandate affirmative action. This ratio compels additional contemplation as I consider the ratio of personal bad behavior that may require prohibition versus positive action that promises beneficial consequence. I offer the following, not as substitution, but as material for meditation. Instead of, "Thou shalt have no other God before me," consider: I will seek God and His influence in all things. If I cannot find Godliness I will pursue a different thing or activity. Instead of ...

Almost two months had passed since I sat for the bar exam. I had made plans to open my own practice and already had research projects to complete while I waited for the results. I had not entered into a lease agreement as I considered it more wise to make certain that I would be licensed to practice law before committing myself to any long-term financial obligations. Lacking a private office space I used the research library at the university to perform my labors. It was a late Friday afternoon and I had filled three separate legal pads from some very intensive research. There I sat surrounded by a fortress of law reporters, digests, reviews and treatises. It had been a productive day and I was feeling pretty good about myself. Suddenly my moot court partner walked by and asked me if I had passed the bar. Slowly I realized the bar had released the results. That reality forced every other thought from my mind. I checked the clock and it was seven minutes to five. Quickly I hurri...

My three children and I attended a wonderful showing of an IMAX film set in Madagascar and portraying the wonderful, but endangered, world of lemurs. As members of our local planetarium, our family regularly attends these movies that educate and entertain. My wife had a commitment at the symphony at the same time so this evening I got to spend some one on three time with my children who are still at home. Today marks a milestone moment for my eldest son. At sixteen he displayed his first truly instinctual teenage act. During the show we heard the calls of several Indri lemurs. Their cries resemble some type of a haunting cross between an owls hoot and the meow of house cat. These animals call to one another and create a cacophonous and melodious chorus as families blend their voices in a deep forest discussion on topics that only lemurs can understand. We learned much about the challenges that humans and animals face on the island of Madagascar because of the limited resources f...

Wholly depraved tragedies cause one to wish that they go unreported. Our community has recently learned that over the course of a decade one woman gave birth to seven children. She has apparently admitted to killing six of the babies and said that the seventh was still born. The current home owners made the discovery while cleaning out a garage. Every aspect of the story causes my heart and brain to seemingly stop and race at the same time. Each attempt to place this horror into perspective fails as I flutter between hyperactive evaluation and stoic contemplation. I am unaware of any personal connection to this situation but my interest exceeds mere morbid curiosity. This event compels a penetrating and powerful review of humanity and just what it means to be human. It seems that the initial reaction causes us to seek an understanding as to why these things happen. We search for explanations to frame the inexplicable. We find comfort in labels of mental illness, psychotic breaks, p...

I envied my brother Jeff for several years. When we were in high school, our favorite band, Styx, came to town. Of course we stood in line to get the tickets and they were pretty good, either row 13 or 14. Not as good as a front row seat but it was close enough to really see the band band and feel like you were part of the show. The problem wasn’t where we were sitting, it was what happened after the show. My brother ran into some friends from school and somehow they had been given backstage passes for after the show. They had one extra and my brother got it. I got home late from the show but he came home much later with tales of meeting these childhood heroes. Almost a decade later I got my own chance when my wife set me up on a date with her childhood friend. Cathy and Lori had been friends as young girls and years later ended up as co-workers at the Salt Lake Tribune. One evening my wife surprised me by telling me she had arranged for me to go with Lori to the Styx concert as Lo...

I wasn't born allergic to pollen. Spring signaled a renewed relationship with the outdoors. A windy day was perfect for flying a kite. I could lie on grass and watch the clouds go by as the kite swooped and dipped and swayed. My brothers and I could have a catch or if we go enough neighbors together we could play a game of ball. When  my mom could corner me I'd even go out and help weed in the garden, mow the lawn or do some simple pruning of the fruit trees. And of course there was nothing like sleeping out under the stars and in the open air. Back then I didn't sneeze. I didn't go through a box of Kleenex each night. I didn't have to scratch my eyes. And I certainly experienced no trouble getting a good night sleep even while sleeping right on the ground underneath the stars. I enjoyed those years with a blissful ignorance that only uninhibited breathing brings. During the early 90s my reactions to the springtime grasses and pollen steadily grew until it beca...

Every so often I am reminded of the futility in trying to create order to the chaos that represents my everyday life. Today, I heard things on a train that provided me insight into a parallel world, one that coexists with my own but runs on a completely different track. These two guys in their mid-20s are chatting about how long they have been in the city and how their approaches to survival have changed. One guy explains how he was born into a gang. He didn't have to get jumped in because he was born into it; his mom raised his whole family as part of the gang. As we stopped at a train station he points out a bicycle storage compartment that is painted red, white and blue. He then explains that the government gave some gangs the color red and other gangs the color blue. But the government kept white for itself. That's why, "when you go into the city, you'll never see white graffiti, and if you do you better watch out 'cuz stuff is crazy there. White graffiti ain...

In the fall of 1978 I awoke in the pre-dawn hours gently bitten by an early morning chill that was cold enough to chill but hadn't crossed over into freezing. My backyard sleeping bag was great at home, but here in the mountains the bundle proved too thin and worn. It was early and I heard no sounds but the deep breathing and snores of other campers. For several minutes I tried drift back to sleep hoping for the warmth of the sun to heat my goose-bumped, but not yet shivering body. Sleep eluded my every attempt when I remembered the heat by the fire the evening before.  I would happily exchange an hour of sleep for the relief from a fire's warmth. I found my shoes and a long-sleeved shirt and exited the tent. I felt disoriented as I saw no fire to greet me. Brushing the fog from my mind I visualized where the fire ring sat within the campground and slowly made my way toward it using the diffused half-moon light. As my eyes adjusted, shadows became shapes and I carefully made ...

Consumer lending has evolved into an assembly line where borrowers collect, or provide access to, a selection of paperwork that demonstrates their ability to repay a loan. Lenders review that information according to a standard set of risks. If you qualify, you get the loan; if not, too bad so sad. When bankers approve loans, the parties sign the form contracts forgoing any meaningful negotiation as the rates are set based on formulas that evaluate credit risk, amount and length of loan, and current interest rates. If the borrower doesn't like the terms, the banker offers no room for negotiation to find agreeable terms. You either qualify or you don't. When negotiation and personal interaction left the lending space the nature of borrowing and lending changed, and not much for the better. When you negotiate an agreement with people you know there are three really good reasons to reduce the plan to writing. First, it helps everyone remember what was said and makes sure that a...

Although I earn enough to meet my family's needs, I feel the constant weight from the burden of debt. Fortunately, I am only indebted to one entity based on the mortgage of my home. My circumstances have allowed me to meet those payments each and every month in a way that typically hides the underlying stress. Day in and day out the worries lie camouflaged in dark recesses of my mind because the continual flow of income exceeds the expenses of our home budget. Once in a while the strain jumps out from its hiding place when circumstances show that employment income is more like a small stream than a rushing river; it can go dry. The Salt Lake Tribune continues to make cuts in personnel in response to demands by its owners. They have not shared with me the current state of the newspaper's income and expenses. It is thus impossible for me to know whether these cuts are necessary to preserve something or if they represent a means to enhance profit. What I do know is that if my w...

My daughter wanted some applesauce to eat with the Spanish tortilla that I'd prepared for dinner. It was somewhat an afterthought and when she grabbed the jar from the fridge she had to tip it upside down to try to persuade the remaining sauce out of the jar. She also retrieved a full jar from the basement pantry because she knew there wasn't going to be enough for everyone. As we began our meal, I looked over at the counter where my daughter's dish slowly filled as the remnants slowly dripped from the bottom of the container. This situation confused me because more than two years ago I watched video of MIT researchers who invented a product called LiquiGlide. They applied this substance, that adheres to the inside of a jar, and demonstrated how every last drop just slides out of the bottle. Their video confirmed that there would no longer be a need to try and scrape out the bottom of catsup and other containers, like applesauce. Having solved that problem they provided ...

I have observed a complete breakdown in the manner that people board and exit trains, buses and elevators. The basic rule requires that those boarding step aside and wait for those exiting before they attempt to enter. Simultaneous entry and exit causes chaos and the breakdown of our social fabric. Everything flows better when people follow this simple and established norm. Those who are in a hurry to enter should not worry. Most people will press the door open button while others will literally risk life and limb to keep the door open. I have seen people on elevators stick out their own arms and legs in order to keep the doors from closing. Some elevator doors have sensors that automatically reopen the door when the beam is crossed by any object, including an arm or a leg. Other elevator doors  some level of tension before they stop closing and you need to force the door apart to allow the person waiting to get on. I had the good fortune of working in two buildings that had a...

I love to laugh. I laugh at jokes, stories, situations and myself. I do my best to not laugh at others. When other people do or experience things that I find humorous I try to refrain from laughing until I have seen evidence that they share the humor. Laughing, like yawning, is very contagious; it is difficult to not laugh when others are laughing around you. Recently I have heard various news reports and stories about the role of humor in our lives. Scientists and researchers have worked on experiments that they have designed to determine whether humor is an evolutionary trait that is fundamental to our species. One researcher found that almost 98% of people thought that they were more funny than the average person. I have never been a complete whiz with the bell curve, but I think those numbers are statistically impossible. Very few people are willing to admit that they lack a basic sense of humor. Other scientists have demonstrated that what makes something funny is the ext...

My church relies upon a lay ministry. I feel honored to bless and enrich the lives of others as I strive to fulfill responsibilities that correspond to my stewardship. When I am true and faithful to me beliefs and covenants I serve others using a priesthood power that has been conferred upon me. In those moments, I savor the communion between heaven and earth as I serve another member of this great human family. The result of every act of true service has, for me, been an increased capacity for love and a better understanding of the promises offered by a compassionate God. That understanding is like looking through a window, exposing a view that that shows that through my own compassion and service I bestow upon others the blessings that they seek from God. I have learned through experience that if I am humble and willing, God will provide me with the opportunities to extend that service. While spending time at the hospital, I offered some of these blessings to strangers and to my ...

As tax season approaches many people discuss whether they owe more or whether they are getting money back. Some celebrate a refund while others scorn because a refund reflects a tax-free loan to the government without any additional benefit. Others celebrate the refund as a no-interest but effective way to save for a larger purchase. These diverse opinions remind me of a profound biblical lesson that provides me with ever clearer understanding as I  review, contemplate and mediate its meaning. The story and teaching are found in the 12th chapter of the Gospel according to Mark. "And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said un...

Two marvels continue to spark my imagination even though I understand their basic scientific underpinnings and explanations: flight and stars. While scientists and engineers still refine their knowledge surrounding air travel, the basic equations and laws of physics have dispelled any mystery surrounding flight. Observation has dispelled  the mystery of the stars has dissipated to the point where cosmologists are left studying the smallest fraction of a second following the origin of the universe. The massive telescopes and arrays look far into the past and scientists can determine by light, heat and other radiation values, the nature and age of distant stars and galaxies. While there is much we can still learn the mystery is gone. Gone are the days when we worshipped birds because of their ability to escape the forces that keep man grounded to the earth. As for the stars, horoscopes linger as the remaining remnants of mystery when the world was defined and ruled by mythology. Ne...

Recently my preteen daughter warned me that a television program would be too scary. Normal parents would also conclude that their child wouldn't be viewing it either. Well, I'm not normal; I trusted my daughter and left the room. I cannot tolerate modern media that use danger and fear to entertain and I know why. I was 18 and still in high school when I attended a friend's movie-a-thon. Sometime after midnight The Shining appeared on the screen. At this point, half of the guests were asleep; not me. I bravely watched the movie. My school coursework was rigorous, including A.P. English. My terrific instructor had taught the concept of the willing suspension of disbelief - when authors require that a reader accept as true something that might not be true in our reality. While watching The Shining, I came to the conclusion that I had internalized that lesson all too well. Sometime after one my brain was no longer able to differentiate what was on the screen and what was r...

When I arrived in Madrid I lived with three guys in a sparse but comfortable apartment. One of the conditions was to eat together as friends so that everyone didn't have to cook every day. Breakfasts and the evening snack were on your own but we followed the Spanish custom of eating a large meal during the afternoon siesta. The first two weeks in that apartment my roommates spoiled me and took extra turns cooking when it would have been my turn. This wasn't entirely a selfless act. Because I didn't even understand the word "hola" when spoken by a Spaniard, I am sure they were worried about what I might purchase at the market. Until they were confident that I could shop for the food that I needed to make something non-toxic, they were willing to lend a hand and prepare an enjoyable meal. Those first days I watched and learned, responding to their kindness by washing dishes most days. They didn't let me get too comfortable and regularly reminded me that I woul...