Road Trip

I was excited when Pastor Jim told me that I was going on vacation with Him and Sister Pat. He told me that the first day of vacation would be a “road trip” and that we would travel about 550 miles. Most the day would be spent riding in the SUV; and Sister Pat insisted that I ride in the back seat.


Things didn’t go as expected. Pastor Jim remembered that he had not put the license plate on the trailer after we had driven 30 miles in an extremely nasty storm. The frown on Sister Pat’s face expressed the deep disgust in Pastor’s Jim’s voice as they reluctantly turned around to head home for the license plate that had been stored in Pastor Jim’s “important stuff” draw since February. It was evident that my two hosts were not very happy about the delay; but to my surprise, both took it in stride and refused to let the error and delay encroach on their vacation spirits.

That day, after reaching our base camp and setting everything up, I approached Pastor Jim about the events earlier that day.

“Bear” he said, “I could have spit nails this morning when I remembered I hadn’t put this year’s tags on the camping trailer. (I knew that the phase “spit nails” was an expression Pastor Jim uses meaning he was really, really, really upset!) “But then I said to myself, what good is it going to do to get all upset? Being upset wasn’t going to change anything and I’ll just get everyone else upset.”

I didn’t say a word because I have seen Pastor Jim “spit nails”; and when Pastor Jim “spits nails”, everyone within two counties knew he was not happy.

Probably the look on my face caused Pastor Jim to explain. “I made a choice, Bear. Right then and there I made a good choice – a right choice. I chose to be happy and not to let that mistake or any other keep me from enjoying “our” vacation.

“So you can choose to be happy?” I asked.

“Yes Bear, you can choose to be happy or you can let the problems and mistakes that happen in life make you miserable. I don’t always make the “happy choice” but wouldn’t life and the world be much better if we all did?”

I thought on that for a moment and agreed with Pastor Jim – and that is the Bear Truth.

Post Falls and Poor Pastor Jim

Pastor Jim went to Post Falls, Idaho, without me! He said he was going to take me but he might have to pay for an extra seat for me on the airplane (He is still mumbling about what cheapskates the airlines are now and how all that he got to eat was a bag of peanuts!).

Still, I would have liked to have went. They, Mr. Musgrave and Pastor Jim, went to help build a church building for a new church that started there. I guess it was an exciting time; but when Pastor Jim returned eight days later, he didn't look all that excited. He looked pooped. For over a week, he complained about “every muscle in this body” aching. I asked him why he went if he knew the work was hard?

“Bear,” replied Pastor Jim, “there can be great joy – inter-joy, when you are working very hard for the Lord.” Pastor Jim paused for a moment and continued, “The people that make up this new church and their missionary-pastor found encouragement and hope when their Brother and Sisters in Christ are will to work hard for the Lord. The Bible teaches that '...whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” (Col 3:23)

After our talk, Pastor Jim said he wasn't going to complain anymore because he had worked for the Lord and should be happy. God had given him a healthy body and a the chance to do a good work – and that is the Bear Truth.

Bear Sees Red and Meets Attitude

Delbert, also known by his friends as Red, had a visit from Bear the other day. Red has suffered a stroke. After a four week stay in the hospital, Red has spent the last three weeks in Rehab. Bear was happy to see that his friend was making great progress despite this major set back in his life. A few minutes with Red and you would understand why. Delbert has a great attitude.

When it comes to life, attitude can either be a great obstacle or a super energy. A bad attitude will insure defeat; and a good attitude can help you climb mountains. And the wonderful thing about attitude is that it’s infectious – you can catch it. Be around someone with a bad attitude and there is a good chance you’ll leave with a bad attitude. Bear left the Rehab Unit with a positive attitude. If Bear should visit you, would he leave with a good or bad attitude?

Attitude Witticisms

“The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem”

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” - Winston Churchill

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude” - Zig Ziglar

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” - Herm Albright

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.” - Charles R. Swindoll