Being an uncle Rocks!

Here's my new little nephew, Colton Rock Ranes. I'm not sure what to say about him other than he "Rocks." I had no idea how special it could be having a little guy in the family. Yesterday I got to spend some time with him, man he's cute!

Although I must still say that one of the best parts of being an uncle is when Colton fills his diaper, pants, and much more all at the same time....I just hand him right back to his mom and dad. And, just like that, he's manically clean again.

I have to say, it's pretty cool watching my brother become a dad. I'm quite certain he's going to ROCK at it!

10 years later…

Yesterday my friend Jon Anderson graduated from the Police Academy. Jon married my middle school/high school friend Abrea (Landshut). Growing up as kids Abrea was known as the “spunky” one that’d tell you exactly what she was thinking, especially when some sort of injustice was committed. How fitting she’s now married to a police officer.

So several of Jon’s friends drove up to his graduation ceremony. It wasn’t until this picture was taken that something hit me. I was suddenly flooded with years of childhood memories of each of us together. First cars, first loves, and the rollercoaster of life that followed those simple times. I had no idea back then that we’d still be together now, ten plus years later. Especially since after high school Jon and Abrea moved to Hawaii, Joy moved to California, and Christy moved to Alaska. It really is amazing how quickly time flies.

Now many years later, with new careers, new babies, and everyone married (except me), I’m so glad each of us made the effort to stay close.

Who’ll still be in your life ten years from now?

God's promise even in correction

Proverbs 13:18 stuck out to me today in my devotions. It says, "Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored."

Recently I've been on a personal journey of allowing God to once again look into the “closets” of my life and do a little cleaning. I must admit that some of what He’s found has been a little embarrassing. I've caught myself saying more than once "that's very old...I don’t really use it anymore,” only to hear Him ask, "then why are you keeping it?" Although His voice has been kind, his correction has been clear.

Proverbs 13:8 so wonderfully describes God’s promise to bring honor to our lives, not in spite of our imperfections, but because of our imperfections. I suppose it’s really a matter of perspective.

Do we really know each other?

Lately I’ve been pondering this question. It seems to me that in a world where so much of our decisions are based on impression, “gut feelings,” and for some a general popularity vote, I find myself wondering do we really know each other?

In science a hypothesis is an “educated guess based on observed fact.” In life every day we categorize people and place them in specific boxes that define our perspective of them, who can do what, who’s smart, who’s not, who will be there for us, who will not be there for us, and so on. With this in mind, I’m struck by the word hypothesis. Being that an educated guess even if based on strong observations, is simply that…a guess.

Could it be that daily we are dismissing and endorsing each other based simply on a good guess? When it comes to getting know others, perhaps we to frequently stop at hypothesis and forget to take the time to sincerely investigate?