IN N OUT

A couple of days ago a picture came across my Facebook news feed. This picture depicted fluffy looking pink goo that could be strawberry soft serve ice cream, colored lard, or whipped topping of some kind. The caption said that the pink goo was in fact the primary ingredient in McDonalds chicken products such as chicken nuggets and patties. It further stated that all the parts of the chicken including bones get ground up to make this pink product. I did no research to investigate whether or not this picture is real or just something to gross people out and keep them from eating at McDonalds.
I don't eat fast food very often and when I do I usually frequent Subway. Last night, however, I needed an easy dinner and I drove by an In N Out. I have always enjoyed In N Out in the past and it had been a while since I ate at one so I stopped. While I waited for my cheeseburger and fries I watched the goings on in the kitchen. There were no counters or structures of any kind blocking my view of everything going on in the kitchen. I watched one employee take a real potato. He put it into this machine, pulled a lever and made french fries. On the other side of the kitchen some ladies were putting together hamburgers and I saw a block of real cheese. It is possible that it was pre sliced as I was a little bit distant from it, but you could tell that it was cheese like you or I would buy at the grocery store, not the kind with each individual slice wrapped in plastic. I also noticed how happy the employees seemed. I heard snatches of conversation, laughter and a general jovialness. It felt like a friendly kitchen, one that I would like to walk into and volunteer to cut the tomatoes.
I don't know if my In N Out experience yesterday is standard to all In N Out's, but I enjoyed myself. It felt like a fast food place that could easily double as your friend's kitchen. I'd like to thank all those employees who were working there yesterday for a pleasant experience and thanks to all of you out there who are in service related jobs who come to work with a smile and a cheerful attitude. I notice and appreciate it and it makes my day a little bit better.

What Happens After Death?

There are few questions that have a definite answer, but no one knows definitely what it is. What happens after death? This mystery fascinates us. We talk about it, write about it, argue about and still there is no real answer. People believe many different things about death and what follows death. Reincarnation of our spirit as another living creature is one such belief. This belief can be found in many cultures across the world. Some people believe in becoming one with the universe the spirit or soul joins the cosmos that connects all things. Many people believe in an after life. The details vary on religious beliefs and individual perspective, but it usually involves an accounting with the God of the universe and going to heaven or hell. Still others believe that we get one shot at life. When the body dies the soul and spirit dies as well and it is the end of that individuals existence. These are some of the main views of what happens after you die. The interesting thing about all of these beliefs is that everyone believes they are right, but know one can really describe what it means or looks like unless of course there is nothing after death and then there is nothing left to describe.
In my store we carry a variety of inspirational books ranging from self help to interesting quotes to inspiring stories. One of our best selling inspirational books is "Heaven is For Real." It is the story of a boy who says he went to heaven while the doctors operated on his body. He knew details about circumstances that he had not witnessed and gave descriptions of some of the things he saw while in heaven. People love buying this book, it gives them a glimpse into a world that is shrouded in mystery.
I too wonder what will actually happen after death. On a semantics level I believe that we are eternal beings and that the soul lives on after the body dies. I believe that we will either spend eternity in the presence of God which most people term heaven or we will spend eternity in the total absence of God which would be hell. What exactly heaven and hell look like, I have no real idea only speculation.
My favorite view up to this point is C. S. Lewis's description in the last book of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle. As the title suggests there is an epic battle and then there is what comes after. He describes a place with no pain only joy. A place where everything tastes better and is more beautiful than anything seen to this date. It is a place of wonder. He describes it as a journey. The characters walk and then run further in. Following the summons to journey deeper into this fabulous land. The farther they journey the more beautiful it becomes, the more real it is. The characters find that instead of seeing the end of the world they were all the time living in a shadow land, a mere imitation of the real thing. I love the last couple chapters of that book and the contrast of the dirty, messy, fearsome work of battle with peace, serenity, and adventure of waking up in the real world at last.
What happens after death? None of us can say for sure. I found this quote that pretty much sums it up for me.

"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because dawn has come."-Rabindranath Tagore

This year a motto, next year a coat of arms

I don't do New Years resolutions, mostly because I am conscious of my own lack of discipline even in doing things I like doing. How am I going to gain the resolve to accomplish things I don't want to do, when I can't seem to even do the things I want to do? However, as the year begins, I think it is natural and good to think about our lives and what we want to accomplish, what we want to learn, and who we want to become. I know some people who make goals to make their resolutions more tangible. One of my sisters picks a Bible verse that she feels fits where she is in her life and the areas she wants to grow in. This verse becomes her focus for the year. I have heard of other people who pick a word. They meditate on this word through out the year and gain new insight into their lives. I have thought about picking a verse, but never have. I kind of like the word idea because one word can stick with you and jump out at you even when you are not thinking about it. I decided to take a different path.
I am going to have a motto for 2012. The closest I have come to having a motto before this was my senior year in high school. I determined to live that year without regrets. I learned the value of making a choice and accepting what came with it. I know you are all on the edge of your seats just wondering what earth shattering motto I have chosen. Drum roll please! My 2012 motto is: Cast Off Fear. I have spent most of my life afraid of so many things. Most decisions I have made in the past have been influenced by my fears. The last couple of days I have been contemplating a choice I need to make. As I have sorted through the puzzle pieces trying to figure out what the picture actually looks like, foggy pieces kept getting tangled in. They looked like they fit and sometime I can force them to fit, but they make the picture a lot less clear. I realized that those pieces represented several fears in my life. I can't make a choice until the obscuring pieces have been removed. After that the puzzle starts to take shape and I begin to understand more clearly what the picture will look like. By removing fear I can make decisions that are true to myself.
It is a little bit frightening to contemplate the freedom that comes living outside the bondage of fear. Like a creature held captive for so long, when released, he is excited, but soon realizes that the world can be dangerous. He longs to return to his cage, but if he has the courage to continue, he will discover marvelous adventures, incomparable beauties, and yes even horrible dangers. The thing that finally coaxes the creature from his cage is the love of his master. Because perfect love drives out fear. Where there is unconditional positive regard and acceptance, fear cannot grow and the frightening new world becomes a playground to enjoy.

Note: I had several coat of arms to choose from that had my last name on them. I chose the English version over the Irish because I believe my branch of Riggs' was English.

Good bye Old Man 2011

In a couple of hours it will be time to party, exulting in the passing of another year and welcoming the new one with gusto. But for now it is time to be introspective. 2011 is waving goodbye and we play the memories as we watch it depart. The highlights bring smiles to our faces as we remember our vacations, a special birthday, the birth of a new relationship. We revel in the feelings of joy, prosperity, comfort and love. The poignant times glare back at us, taunting us to do better next time around. Sad, angry and frustrating times make their stamp on our memories. We might ask ourselves, "Did I learn anything from this mess?" Why? I miss him. I made some bad choices. These, however, are points in time where we made big changes or chose to take a new path.
The good and the bad, sometimes in balance and sometimes heavily weighted to one side or the other. Our joys and happy memories provide fertilizer to our dreams, daring us to hope for better more fulfilling things in the coming year. The difficult times clip our wings so we don't fly too close to the sun and see our fantasies melt like wax.
2012 is waiting for us just around the corner. We stand at a cross roads. As much as we look back on the pas we also look forward. There is a fresh year, one full of promise. It is unwritten. Anything can happen. Long held prayers and dreams just might be answered. Most things we wish for won't happen, but many unlooked for blessings will surprise us. the worst tragedy we can think of likely won't take place, but we will still be blindsided by unexpected loss, difficult situations, things we were sure would never happen to us. The good, the band and the countless things in between, 2012 will brings some of it all.
I wish for all of you that your blessings be many and your tragedies few. I hope that you will grow and shed the 2011 version of yourself and revel in your new skin. I hope you make lasting friendships and that the lonely times be sparse. I dare you to take a chance, learn something new, do somethings crazy. Be bold! This is a new year with endless potential is is unwritten. What will you contribute to the story that is 2012?