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Montage Moments is a page of blog postings about a variety of subjects, thoughts and opinions..

Has Your Pause Button Malfunctioned?

8/26/2014

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Recently, I made a pot of coffee as I do every morning. Since I am a bit of an impatient person and I really wanted that first cup of coffee, I pulled the carafe out and started to fill my cup before it was done brewing.

 Unfortunately, the 'pause' mechanism, or whatever the little 'thingy' is called that allows me to do that, was not functioning properly. I had my cup in one hand, the glass carafe in the other and a stream of coffee running freely everywhere (even though I was shouting, "Stop. Stop.")

I tried putting the carafe back, but by this time, the bottom plate was filled with the brown liquid and that only made it run all over the counter.

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 This was doing nothing to help my morning, especially since I still had not tasted my coffee. It smelled great, as it was running onto the counter and then onto the floor. As always, I was barefoot, so I was doing a little jig trying to keep it from landing on my feet and still trying, unsuccessfully, to get the danged thing to stop making coffee. Yes, I did hit the 'off'' button, but evidently, it takes a while for the brains of the coffee maker to get the message.

So, half a roll of paper towels, wet feet and wet floor and I still didn't have a cup of coffee. I proceeded to make a new pot, waited until it was done brewing (my momma didn't raise no dummies) and, at last, was able to savor the wonderful taste of my first cup of coffee in the morning.....or maybe it was mid-morning by now....all the while muttering about pause mechanisms.

As I read my devotions, I became very aware of God asking me about MY pause mechanism. Was it functioning or was my life 'running all over the place?'  Hmmmm......I have to admit I don't pause too often. Yes, I stop to smell the roses, as the old saying goes, but that isn't an actual pause with a purpose.

I am a list maker and usually make my list of things to accomplish the next day right before I go to bed. When I open my eyes, my first thoughts are usually about the things on that list. I do start each day with bible reading and devotions, but as soon as I'm done, I am off to accomplish something. If I would pause for a few extra minutes; not necessarily praying or reading, but just sitting, thinking about my family, my friends; wouldn't my day be better? Possibly.

What about 'pausing' before making a retort to someone or before commenting on a FB post we don't agree with or before saying something hurtful or words we were supposed to keep confidential?

Years ago, Coke had a commercial tagline. It described the soft drink as 'The Pause That Refreshes."

I believe a pause in our days, our thoughts, our speaking and our rushing about might very well be refreshing; to our minds, our hearts and our souls.

Remember to pause for a few minutes tomorrow as you make your coffee and several more times during the day.









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August 05th, 2014

8/5/2014

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As many of you know, for the past 18 months, I have stayed with a 96-year-old gentleman every Monday for 3 hours to allow his wife, Shirley, a few hours to do what ever she needed to do.

On Saturday, July 26th, Ralph  Burgess left this world to live in his heavenly home. Shirley asked me and 2 others to speak at Ralph's funeral. While thinking about what I wanted to say, I decided to focus on the things I learned from Ralph.

Ralph loved his family and his Lord and although you may not have known him, I believe we could all learn a few things from Ralph and his many years of wisdom.


Below is a copy of my words.



I have known Ralph and Shirley for about 5 years, but for the last 18 months, I stayed with Ralph for 3 hours every Monday so Shirley could run errands, grocery shop or have lunch with friends.

It was during those 3-hour visits I really got to know Ralph. When he wasn’t napping, he was quite the conversationalist. We discussed events from his childhood, the Marine Corps, his working days and many other subjects. Between us, we remembered all the state capitals. One Monday, I made a list of the 12 things I learned from Ralph and I think we can all apply them to our lives.




  1. Independence: Ralph didn’t give up. Even though he couldn’t see well, he continued with his daily routine. It would have been easy to say, “I can’t do it.” But he didn’t.

  2. Eat a variety of foods. No matter what I fixed him for lunch, he ate it. I’m sure there were some things he didn’t care for, but he was a ‘clean-plater.’

  3. Keep your memories alive. Not all of his memories were pleasant ones, but he still remembered the events and feelings and the lessons learned from some of those experiences.

  4. Recall childhood. We should all remember to tell our children, grandchildren some stories from our childhood. What better way to know someone? I loved the stories about riding his pony to school and growing up in So. Dakota. He told me there were only 4 students at the school but then a family with 4 children moved in and the student body doubled overnight.

  5. It’s okay to shed a tear or two about some memories. Ralph would tell the story and perhaps cry a bit but then move on to something else.

  6. Be appreciative. He appreciated the things people did for him. I can’t tell you how many times, he said, “I don’t know what I’d do without Shirley” Sometimes we forget to tell people how much we appreciate them.

  7. He listened to good music. The radio was always on with no commercials or loud noises. Some days, we would discuss the song or the singer. He could name many of them.

  8. Have a few regrets. I don’t think we should dwell on regrets and Ralph didn’t, but occasionally he would mention something he regretted doing or saying. That’s okay; how else do we learn?

  9. Keep your sense of humor. He would be talking about FDR and would ask me what I thought of his presidency. I would give him a hard time telling him FDR died before I was born! He always laughed and would say, “Oh yeah, I forget you’re not as old as me.” I’m pretty sure he did it on purpose but I told him I forgave him because he couldn’t see so well.

  10. Routine: Life seems to function a bit better if we have a routine and stick to it. Ralph ate lunch at 1pm. Even if he slept in and ate breakfast at 11:30 when I arrived, he was ready for lunch at 1.

  11. Take naps. Ralph did take many naps but I think the world would be a better place if we all took a few minutes for a nap each day.

  12. Tuck the blanket around your legs. Ralph had a blue blanket and when he sat down in his recliner, he wasn’t comfortable until he had the blanket tucked in tight around his legs. We may not have a blanket, but if we tuck God’s love around us tightly, no evil or distress can get in.




It was my pleasure to know Ralph and my honor to speak about him today


















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3 Types of Shoppers at the Mall and At Church

8/3/2014

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Last week, I had occasion to visit a  large, local indoor mall. To say it was a wonderful experience would be stretching it a bit, but I was only there for a short time. I used to work at this mall, before the last two additions were built. Stores have come and gone, but the types of shoppers has not changed.

I wrote the first part of this for a college English assignment thirteen years ago and after reading it, I believe it is as relevant today as it was then. I added the church shopping comparison today.



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If you've had the opportunity to visit a shopping mall, you will undoubtedly have observed many differing types of people. There are, of course, the obvious differences of race, gender and age. However, there are 'other', less obvious differences between the people who frequent the mall.

The first group is The Strollers. They have come just to spend some time. They aren't necessarily shopping for anything; they enjoy the atmosphere. They gaze into each store window, even pausing for a time to admire the new merchandise. The Strollers seldom purchase anything; they are window-shopping. They might wander into a store and check the price tags on a few items. The purpose of this is not to determine if they can afford it, but to keep abreast of the latest price changes and styles. You will seldom see a Stroller checking the location information stations, as they really don't care which part of the mall they're in, as long as they are able to walk around freely and occasionally stop for a cup of coffee or a snack.

 You will recognize the Strollers by their slow pace, which is a definite irritant to the next group: Shoppers On A Mission. This group comes to the mall for a specific item or items and will not be deterred until they find it. They are not interested in 'window shopping,' and don't usually care about price comparisons; they know what they want and are in a hurry to get it. They are in a find and conquer mode. They want to spend as little time as possible at the mall, they don't want to run into friends and chat or have a cup of coffee. They definitely do not have any patience for anyone who slows down their pace.

The next group is the Power Shopper. They know what they want; however, they can be easily distracted if they see a better deal or find something more appropriate than their original idea. They CAN and WILL 'shop till they drop.' This is their favorite form of recreation and they cannot imagine a week of abstinence from the mall. Shopping runs in their blood and gives them purpose in life. The Power Shoppers will easily spend an entire day at their favorite past time.

Each of these groups encompasses all ages, races and both genders. They may or may not have young children with them. While it is true having very young children with them may hamper their particular style of shopping; they will still hold true to the descriptions of The Stroller, The Shopper On A Mission or The Power Shopper.

If you haven't visited a mall in a while, I suggest you find some time, go to the mall of your choice, buy a beverage, select a bench and sit back and observe. I guarantee you will spot all three types of shoppers. Just remember, each group has its own agenda and you don't want to get in the way.

I think perhaps the same descriptions can be applied to people looking for a new church home. The Strollers leisurely wander from church to church, just feeling good about being there but never really settling in. The Shoppers On A Mission are intent on finding what they want...the music, the message and the programs need to be exactly what they are looking for. They don't want to help, volunteer, or be a part of anything. Just get there on Sunday and get back home; quickly. The Power Shoppers can and do enjoy being there and want to be involved in everything; occasionally to the neglect of their families or other commitments.

Perhaps we need to be a composite of these groups. What are your thoughts?

 Do you recognize yourself in one of these groups? Shopping at the mall or for a church?

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    Author: Gloria Doty

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