Growin' Up Gregory

We have all had very different experiences in life.  These seem to have been magnified over the past 4-6 weeks with everything going on in the world.  The threat of COVID and the impact of the CARES act has hit each of us very differently.  I just want to share some of my thoughts from my point of view.  Your may certainly be different if you've seen it from a different angle.  This is merely from my vantage point. COVID-19 Fear Factor One of my biggest concerns with the Coronavirus and COVID-19 is the way people have let themselves, and their whole lives, be taken over and consumed by fear.  Based on yesterday's SC DHEC statistics, there have been 38,833 tests administered with 4,246 positive results.  That is a 10.9% positive test return.  Now, I do not know the typical percentage of positive test for season flu, strep throat, and other 'regular' viruses, but a near 90% negative return rate seems illogical.  If this data is available...

What do you lose more than anything else?  For most of us, it's probably car keys, the remote control for the TV, or possibly our phones - they've have an app for that now.  Heck, I've even threatened to cancel our TV services and make a rule that only adults could touch the remote controls we've lost ours so bad before (yeah, I get a little angry at times).  And while all of us have most likely either lost something, or been lost ourselves, most of these objects have ultimately been found...or replaced.  And the same is true for us - we don't have to stay lost. Jesus tells a story of lostness in Luke 15:11-24.  Many have probably heard the story of the Prodigal Son before.  If not, give it a quick read. Going Astray In the story, the younger son did like many of us have done in our younger years - he had it all (life) figured out.  He knew that if he could have his share of the inheritance now that he could go live lavishly and do as he pleased....

There's an old saying that you're either in a storm, going into a storm, or coming out of a storm.  Depending on which phase you're in changes your perspective of things.  Our Sunday school lessons over the past few weeks have focused on suffering and attempting to understand it from a godly perspective. One of the most difficult moments of my life made no sense at the time.  However, as time has passed, my perspective has changed and I can better understand how God really was at work in a challenging time. Sunday, June 5, 2011 started out like many other Sundays before it.  However, it's a day that would change our family forever.  That morning, I got up and went to church like I did most Sundays.  Near the start of preaching, I was asked to go check on Mama (my grandma) since she was supposed to pick a friend up for church and hadn't shown up and didn't answer her phone.  Old people are slow and if you didn't let the phone ring 15 times, she may ...

Reading the instructions - it's not what most men are known for.  It's also not what I expected to take over my prayers this week.  Our opening question for this week's Sunday school lesson is, "When have you really needed clear instructions?"  Over the past 6 days, my answer has gone from needing the specifics I need from my wife when caring for our children her way (she's the way better parent of us by the way) to truly asking God for specifics about upcoming opportunities in my life. Look, prayer works.  Forgive me for not earlier sharing this observation - "When I pray, things just go smoother."  Try it.  Maybe things actually work themselves out better.  Or maybe I just have a greater sense of peace because I'm more in line with God.  Either way, I'll take it.  Back to my original point. Like the writer of the lesson, I am not the most 'handy' or 'craftsman' inclined guy in the room.  If you laid a pile of wood, metal...

I don't know if anyone else has ever had a car where your tires weren't properly aligned.  But if you have, you probably noticed that the car had a tendency to veer off course without constant attention to the steering wheel to make necessary adjustments.  You also likely noticed that even if you forced the car to take the path you had chosen, the misalignment of those tires caused extra, and often uneven, wear and tear on your vehicle's tires.  I'll be honest, I didn't notice that part until after it happened when the problem got expensive and time consuming in having to buy new tires and pull away from other duties to stop and have them replaced. But how often in our lives, do we spends weeks, months, or even years living in our will instead of God's?  We decide where we want to go to college.  We decide who we want to marry.  We decide what career path we want to take.  We decide what house to buy.  We make these major decisions without ...

Have you ever noticed that some of the best things in life feel a little silly the first time we try them? This has hit me in several ways. Some of my funny firsts include: Iced Coffee: The 1st time I ever tasted it, Britt gave me a sip of hers, and it was really, really good. But one day when I hit a pothole and the ice in my cup shook, Thomas asked what that sound was - and I literally began laughing at myself when I had to say that it was the ice in my coffee. I still drink it pretty much daily and tell myself that I'm getting extra-hydrated from the ice! Yoga: The 1st time I did it, I was embarrassed for myself, my yoga mat, and everybody else in the room (no, I did not wear yoga pants). But I do consistently tell people about the health benefits of yoga and stretch regularly. Selfies: As you can see from the pic, I'm still not good at them. And I don't like taking pictures of myself for the main fact that they destroy the misconception I have in my mind of wha...

As a young child - well, really as an older kid, a teenager, a young adult, a middle-aged adult, or even a senior citizen - there are a few things like the joy of feeling that tug on the line when you're reeling in a good fish. Any time we're at the lake (or any other body of water) my son and nephews always say that they want to fish. But based on my observations, they truly aren't very interested in fishing - what they really want to do is reel fish in, that's it. But you see, there's a lot more to fishing than merely catching fish. Before you ever wet a hook, someone has to purchase the right equipment - rods, reels, hooks, bait, etc. and then do the part that no child seems to comprehend and probably the reason some grownups require adult beverages while fishing - setting up the rods and reels with the necessary equipment. Once you've got a hook tied on, now things get messy - bait! If you're using live bait, the mud and dirt from worms, cricket juice, f...

Bigger What would make you consider yourself successful? Is it a bigger house, newer car, nicer clothes, higher income? Several problems arise when we consider these units the measure of success. Each of these contain those deadly letters "ER" for comparison. Whose house do you want yours bigger than? Whose car are you trying to outdo? Who are you trying to out-dress or out-earn? I'm not saying don't pursue bigger and better. I'm just saying that these items and pursuits come with a cost. Ask the people who have these things what it costs them to attain them? How many of their child's school functions did they miss? How much was their marriage strained from working overtime? How much interest did they pay borrowing money? Eventually, many of us learn that it's the quality of life that matters, not the quantity of stuff in it. The vacation homes, the boat, the cars, the money - it all means much less if we don't have people we care...

This year will mark the first time that the students on the Jr. Board of Directors the bank sponsors in our local high school are half my age. Yes, half. I said it, and it hurts. I'm getting old, which beats the alternative so I'll do my best to embrace it. That being said, I want to share some advice, tips, and insights I've gained over the years with Gen Y, Gen Z, iGen, and others coming along. People matter more than devices. New phones, computers, and other gadgets will continue to be released and evolve at the speed of light. Value your friends, your family, your mentors, and the people in your community because machines can only contribute so much to your life. TI > AI (true intelligence is greater than artificial intelligence). Be mindful of what you put on social media. The comments, posts, and pictures you share may not be as private as you think. Employers, colleges, and even peers may hold your past against you. Don't let your 17 year old self cost yo...

I'm not a person who is huge on being away from home for long, even on vacation. But coming home after a week at the beach has given me some perspective.  As a child, an overnight stay at a grandparent's house can be a mini-vacation and requires only a pair of PJs and clean underwear. As a childless adult, a weekend getaway requires a change or two of clothes, a cooler, and a little cash. As a parent with multiple kids, a vacation requires doing 4 loads of laundry BEFORE you leave, 5+ color coordinating outfits, 4 sleep sets, diapers, pack & play, strollers, vitamins, and a lot of cash. It's no wonder it takes a week to truly enjoy vacation. The first day is often so tiring from the drive/travel and packing. The last night and that final day are also filled with thoughts of packing and then more travel home. So you truly only get those few days in the middle to vacate everything else and refresh. If your job allows, take a week off sometime. Refresh, re...