November 26, 2017

GOING  AROUND  IN  CIRCLES

Unless you are like a little child you’re not
going to experience the kingdom of God.

At what age does a person stop dancing
to the music and the circles of life?

Watch little kids, they love to spin around

in circles - sometimes with their eyes closed.

Watch little old ladies at wedding celebrations

out there spinning around on the dance floor.

Next time you’re at the amusement park - find a

vantage point and watch people on the Merry Go Round.

The Good News - the God News - the Gospel News

is that God is circles: Father, Son, Holy Spirit and us.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

November 25, 2017

AT  OR  TO  OR  ABOUT

I sense one of the life’s key discoveries

is that we need to talk to another,

listen to another,

rather than to talk about or at another.

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

November 24, 2017

BLACK  FRIDAY

Instead: should we call it, Green Friday?

Instead: should we call it, Plastic Friday?

Instead: should we call it, Door Buster Friday?

Instead: should we call it, On Line Friday?

Instead: should we call it, Buy, Buy Friday?

Instead: should we call it, Sell, Sell Friday?

Instead: should we call it, Sale, Sale Friday?

Instead: should we call it, Christmas Rush Friday?

Instead: should we call it, You Need It Friday?

Instead: should we call it, Father forgive them

for they don’t know what they are doing, Friday? 

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

November 23, 2017

SPECIFIC THANKSGIVINGS

Thanks…. It’s nice to hear a "Thank

you!” when it something very specific.

Like letting another know we know

they were cut off in a conversation

and we noticed it - and we say to

someone about to speak, “Wait,

he didn’t finish his story. I was

wondering what happened next.”

Like "I know you’re a diabetic so

I got you these sugarless chocolate

chip cookies. Enjoy. I hope you

like them - even though they are

not the real thing."

Like here’s the clicker. Any program

you want. Anything.... Well, except....

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

November 22, 2017

CLOSE-UP

To get a clear close-up,

it’s important to slow down,

to pause - to say to another

at a good time,

“Did you think out -

and think about -

what you just said -

or was it just a throwaway comment?”

Scratch that.

Better….

Start with oneself.

Ask, "Why am I tapping my finger

when so and so enters  the room?"

"Why am I hesitating to give her

a compliment or a comment?"

"Why am I nervous with so and so?"

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

November 21, 2017

PFTTTH

[To make the “pfttth” sound, place your upper teeth tightly over your lower lip and blow  breath coming up from your lungs out as a“pfttth” shout.]

When someone gives a dirty look

or makes a shush sound to parents

of kids making baby sounds in church,

return the favor by going “pfttth” at them

[Not too loud, you’re in church.]

When someone makes fun of someone

who is gay or lesbian or LGBT or who

have you, make the “pfttth” sound to them.

Now, if they make further comments,

ask nicely, “Don’t you have family members

who are different than the way you are?”

When someone complains about t-shirts

or jackets or clothes or a hat that has

writings on them, go, “pftth” - especially

if that person add comments like, “It’s dumb

to wear clothes with ads or advertisements.”

Say, “Celebrate the way t-shirts and clothes

get people talking to each other. Oh yeah….”

When people complain about an extra

eulogy at a funeral - especially when its

a 4 year old granddaughter reciting a

poem she wrote with crayons - and she

rhymes “resurrection” - yes “resurrection”

with ‘direction’ - as she says, “Grandma

I’m going to miss you as your take

this brand new direction in your life.”

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017

November 20, 2017

SELF-TEST # 25

There are two types of people:

warning people and welcoming people.

Warning people trigger recoil, hesitation,

stepping back - the inner “Oh no!” echo.

Welcoming people trigger calm, ease, an

inner “Oh yes!” - an ice cream cone in hand.

Obvious question - this is a self test,
"Which is more me?"

© Andy Costello, Reflections  2017
This is Self-Test #25
Can you find the other 24?