Briefly

Every year about this time, I start smelling the sweet scent of honeysuckle in the evenings outside — and the smell was strong tonight as Lucy and I walked in our neighborhood. I’m always taken back to the warm spring and summer evenings of my childhood, when my friends and I played outside with reckless abandon in the darkness and safety of the lovely southern neighborhoods which I called home. There’s something magical about being connected to Nature, whether it’s the smell of honeysuckle or the beauty of these wildflowers in my yard. Nature and Nature’s Creator have much to offer us — if we accept the beauty and love which we’re freely offered.

Never forget the dramatic loving effect you can have on the people in your life if you choose to show them. A friend of mine got a message from an ex-co-worker today which said, “I have become sentimental in my old age and watching life happen before our eyes and I would hate to think you never realized the impact you have had on me — personally and professionally. You are truly an amazing person.” As you might imagine, this made my friend feel really great and it made me really proud of her. That note didn’t cost the sender anything in time or effort, but she made another person feel great. Just remember that you have the chance to make someone feel special, too, every single day. Don’t miss that chance. The time will come when it’s too late.

The very existence of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition is ridiculous. It’s not about sports. It’s not about swimwear. It’s thinly veiled sexual titillation for those who prefer not to go to a porn site, I suppose. But if you’re going to publish such a goofy book of soft-core porn, at least embrace the truth of what you’re doing. Don’t include a Muslim model wearing a head-to-toe outfit and act as though you’re being “inclusive,” which Sports Illustrated is doing this year. They never bothered to feature any modestly clad Baptists or Mormons or whatever before. The only reason to do this is to pander to the gospel of inclusion. It’s ridiculous, especially for an edition that exists for nothing other than to sexually arouse men by showing as much skin as possible.