Category / thinking

It’s cold, but not *this* cold

Jack walked into the room this morning and asked for my iPhone so he could check the weather. “Dad,” he said, “it’s minus twelve.” I really wanted to crawl back into bed.

So I go out to start the car and it gives me one of those, “ooohoooohoooohIdooon’tknoooowifIwaaanttooootakeyooooounaywheretooooday” sounds. It eventually started, but wasn’t happy about it. Like I said, it’s really, really cold.
And then I received a link to this video, in which two guys are taking bowling water off an outdoor stove, tossing it into the air, where it instantly turns into snow. Boiling to snow in about two seconds. 
THAT is cold. I’m surprised those guys got out of bed.

A Prayer For My Son

This is one of my favorite things ever written. Gen. Douglas MacArthur wrote this prayer for his son.

A Prayer For My Son

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee — and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, give him, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”

An absolute classic. I get a lot of comments on this, and if you enjoy it, then chances are good you’ll also appreciate this piece, called “Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier.”