Enklings Studio

Homeless Shelters, Food Banks and Social Services – CityRoof.org

Homeless Shelters, Food Banks and Social Services – CityRoof.org

Interesting website for homeless and hungry! Looks like a pretty cool idea!

simply,

Tim

Agreement allows Dan De Vaul to build sober-living facility at Sunny Acres | Local News | SanLuisObispo.com

Years of debate and code enforcement action over Dan De Vaul’s Sunny Acres property ended Tuesday in a legal settlement that allows the rancher to pursue plans to construct a sober-living facility for the homeless.

The agreement resolves a lawsuit filed by De Vaul against the county in 2009. De Vaul’s 72-acre property off Los Osos Valley Road has been the subject of nuisance abatement and enforcement action since 2001.

Sunny Acres provides care for homeless and addicted people, offering counseling and other services. De Vaul asks them to pay for room and board if they can, and many work on his ranch as payment.

via www.sanluisobispo.com

A follow up on my post from years ago: http://enklings.typepad.com/enklings/2009/02/the-curious-case-of-dan-devaul.html

I love that Mr. De Vaul is so focused on what needs to be done and is getting it done finally! Way to go Dan!

simply,

Tim

Top Ten Things I Learned as a Dad This Year

(well, some I already knew, but was reminded again this year.)

1. Enjoy every moment, you don't know what the future holds.
2. Try to give more than you take, but take humbly what is given.
3. Always be ready to be a Dad, it's a 24/7 lifetime commitment.
4. Even when you're a Grandad, you've still got to clean up throw up....
5. Older Dads help younger Dads (and pre-Dads). We stick together.
6. Being a Dad doesn't mean your invincible, table saws can still beat you...
7. Sometimes you're a Dad to other peoples kids when their real Dad can't be around.
8. Being a Dad is not a job. You're not the babysitter when Mom is gone, you're not the cook when Mom is tired, you're not the chauffeur when Mom is busy; you're just the Dad...always.
9. Being a Dad isn't always convenient, but it is always rewarding.
10. Be a good Dad, it's the highest calling you have in life and will have the most effect after you're gone.

Simply,

Tim

A PONY for my Birthday

Everybody asked for one...did you know you get one? Every year?

Personal
Objective
New
Year

Yep, every year we really should take stock and ride the PONY into the next year. So here are my Personal Objectives for the year to come:

1. Give Back - obvious, but important to write down. So many in my past have given to me without thought of return. So important for me to do the same and think about how every day.

2. Live like I'll make it to triple digits. I doubt it, but hey, it could happen. Perhaps I better start thinking that way and also living that way. Too much I do on a regular basis will bode ill for me at 105!

2a. Get out of the Husky Jeans. If you're over 50, you know what I mean.....

3. Practice Peace - every day, seek peace. Not in a bumper sticker way, but purposefully look for ways to promote peace around me and globally.

4. Love more, worry less. Yeah...spending time worrying instead of loving, what a waste!

So there's my birthday PONY, I get to ride it all year!

simply,

Tim

Not Of This World

So I was walking this morning and saw a sticker on a car with the initials NOTW.  This is a common clothing brand in religious circles and a pretty common philosphy among the 648 million evangelicals worldwide. Not of this world.

When I was growing up in a conservative church, a popular song on Sunday mornings was "This World is Not My Home."  Same idea, same philosophy:

"This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through.
My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore"

I just have to say that this is so misguided and part of the reason we have so many in the world without hope today. Regardless of whether you believe in God, heaven, eternal life, having a philosophy that you don't belong here and are not of of this world can lead down the path of not caring about and for this world. The results are apathy, more hunger in the world, more homelessness, and a focus on the future, not the present. Being a heavenly person with no earthy good.

I've used this image several times, but I believe it to be true in life, business and certainly in world view philosophy:

If the result is apathy, you can take Action: start a food bank, talk about what's wrong with the world, do community projects.  These are all really good and I'm SO glad people are doing them, but it won't change the results. We can put Systems in place, missions projects, non-profits, service days every year.  All good things, but it won't change the eventual result until the beliefs and assumptions are changed.

You are of this world.

All of us are here for a reason. Ghandi got it.  Mother Teresa got it.  Both "Of This World."  Most scriptures of all religions point to taking care of those less fortunate than you. In this world. "The least of these" from the Christian tradition is the focus.  Until we realize that we are of this world and it matters what we do, not just what we believe, the results in the world will be the same.  If the 648 million evangelicals became 648 million activists for THIS world, so much would change, event today, even in the Horn of Africa.

Be Of This World.  Be present.  Take notice of what's wrong and don't wait for "some day" (passive) to come.  Do some "to-day" (active) to make your world a better place.

Simply OTW,

Tim