Life’s Truths

Today’s Escape

mikemjensen Life's Truths Tags: , , Leave a comment

untitled (3)Hey Kids,

Movies are an escape well worth the price of a ticket.

On this Sunday afternoon, it seemed to be a good idea to take advantage of such an escape.

We laughed and enjoyed a fun continuation of a story from a previous movie. (A sequel). And the best nugget came in the last words of the movie.

“Time is the best Present”

Or something close to that.

I seem to keep hearing this theme:

Do it. Do it now. Take advantage of now. The past is gone. The future may never be. Live today.

Working on it.

 

 

Day 13

 

Electric Motorcycles

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Motorcycles Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Hey kids,

Are electric motorcycles really the future? I watched a video on a new electric motorcycle that looks like it might be.

The motorcycle, the Lightning LS-218, is a head turner. It owns a land speed record and won the Pikes Peak Hill Climber over all the other gas manufacturers.ls-218-specs-graphic2

There are questions of range on electric vehicles and this bike has not answered them yet. Here in the desert, best case scenario of 150 miles is not a long range. The need to charge and go still needs to be addressed.

Electricity is not free either. Power comes from hydro electric dams (deemed bad for the environment), coal burning electric plants (deemed evil), power lines (unsightly), solar panels (geographically impossible to have enough), wind turbines (death for raptures and unsightly), geothermal (never mentioned anymore), etc. Are emissions out of the tail pipe better than those emitted out of factory stacks out of sight?

But if performances of the electric bikes begins to out shine the gas engines, if their purchase price makes them affordable to the masses, and if the range issues are answered; and I imagine these all will happen, electric powered bikes and cars will happen.

Bring them on. It’s not really the CO2 that I need to have a good ride; it’s life on the road from atop two wheels.

 

Day 11

Take on a New Challenge; Go for a Ride

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Motorcycles Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Hey Kids,

It looks like I’m going to be able to take possession of a new motorcycle. Cool, eh? Take a look at her:

IMG_20150301_135446_030OK, she doesn’t look like much. But it’ll be a fun project.

I’ve never owned a dirt bike. Never worked on one either. In fact, I have never even rode a dirt bike. What a great way to venture into a whole new world!

 

Day 7

A Life’s Difference

mikemjensen Life's Truths Leave a comment

Hey kids,

My high school alma Bountiful High School won its second straight Utah State Basketball Championship tonight. Two straight!

We won one when I was in high school too.

It’s amazing what a big deal in my life it was, way back then; and yet, barely noticeable tonight. In fact, I didn’t even know they won last year.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy about it. I just can’t believe the difference. It’s almost like a whole life got in the way.

In any way, Go Braves!

untitled (4)

 

 

Day 5

Judging Mercy

mikemjensen Life's Truths Leave a comment

Hey kids,

I watched the film adaptation of the Merchant of Venice over the last two evenings. It’s another wonderful tale by William Shakespeare.untitled (3)

“The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he is really very good – in spite of all the people who say he is very good.”
Robert Graves (1895-1985)

In the discussion in the court between Shylock and Antonio, a lengthy exchange transpires between the merits of Judgment and Mercy. It caught my attention and my thoughts.

Judgment is natural. It extracts that which is owed or deserved from the owing party. When we are in position, we gain from those who owe us. It’s expected. It’s defendable. It’s human.

But Mercy is something different; mercy is not considered normal. It allows those who owe us to gain from us. It makes those deserving compensation  to be wronged a second time. Mercy, however, is godly.

Mercy is what God offers. God forgives all debt, wrongs, and shortcomings. No payment is possible and yet payment is made. The guilty is made whole and given a chance to start anew.

The chance to be merciful is offered to us as well. When we extend Mercy  to others, to show love and forgiveness to others; we partake of the rare chance to do that which we also seek. We can act in the manner of our God.

I wonder how many chances I pass daily. The chances to forgive, to smile, and to simply give. Especially to those who have not directly earned it from me. Or have directly not earned it from me. These are my true chances to gain in a meaningful way. I become free of ill will, vanity, and desires of revenge.

I need to forgive more. I know this to be true.

I need to start with myself.

Whether I deserve it or not.

 

Day 4

Tough

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Tough Tags: , Leave a comment

Hey Kids!

It’s Thursday and I know that I set a schedule for posting but I no longer remember what that schedule is. So whether I’m supposed to be doing this for today or for tomorrow, I really don’t remember. Anyway what is scheduled but things that structure our lives? And who wants that??

It’s OK to be tough. I think it needs to be said. Maybe I’m old school. No. I am old school. I like tough. I respect tough. I expect tough. I despise non-tough.

There are a multiple ways to be tough. It isn’t just all muscle bound stuff either. Mental tough. Emotional tough. Head tough. It’s all good and when we get down to it, it’s really the only thing to be and be respected. No one likes weak. We tolerate weak on one aspect, so long as tough is displayed or available on another.

Be the hardest working person in the room. Be the first to working. Be the most dependable. Be the most honest. Be the first to offer help. Offer the most help. Be the most supportive. Be the most caring. If you notice, it IS a competition. Be the most, first, best, etc. And if not the first, best, strongest, fastest- be the most gracious.

Tough is not being passive. Tough is about being you and the best, the real best, that you can be.

Be tough, kids. Find your strength. You will never regret it.

Dad’s Can Do Almost Anything

mikemjensen Life's Truths, Quote Tags: , , Leave a comment

super-dad-shirtHey Kids!

I know that dreams are just dreams, but I know that they are also windows into your true thoughts and feelings. And sometimes a truth that you need to hear. I had such a dream last night, right as the morning dawned. I sprang out of bed so I wouldn’t forget it. Nor lose the feeling I had at the moment.

Parent Alienation is a real thing. It’s hurtful, hateful and permanently damaging. Are there times children are better off by being kept from their mom and/or dad? Sure. There are exceptions to any rule. But under normal circumstances, no. Mom’s can’t be dad’s and dad’s can’t be mom’s. Each can compensate for the other but not entirely. Same-sex marriages? I have no comment because I don’t know. I’m not, and have not been, in one. But I’m sure there’s other dimensions that are different from traditional marriages with kids. Not really the area of expertise for me.

But a Parent denying the love, support, and involvement of another parent is inexcusable. Completely. And it can be done in more than one way. Sometimes obviously. Sometimes subtly.

A parent can be near helpless. When visitations are denied. Calls aren’t returned. Messages ignored. Doors not opened. Holidays forsaken. Entire family relations severed. Thank you’s withheld. Courts uninterested. And all contact becomes restricted, controlled and rare through the custodial parent. The answers are few.

The boy in the dream asked, “What can you do?”. The father, who at long last is allowed to answer, responded. “I’m a dad, I can do almost anything.”

In that thought I have hope. I believe that. I truly do. All roads may not be open. But all are not closed.

Be a dad. Do almost anything.

I can do that. I’m a dad.

*Drops mic. Leaves stage.*

A Humble Summation

mikemjensen History, Life's Truths, Porter Rockwell Leave a comment

a18c2b14be267d88057121afa27d1e09Located very near to the gravesite of Porter Rockwell, I found this head stone. It has since deterorated even more than this photo.

Despite having lived through the incredible time of Nauvoo, crossing the plains, establishing the Salt Lake Valley, serving as a Bishop, the simple summary of his life was inscribed as follows:

Sacred to the Memory of Bishop John Mills Wooley

Born November 20, 1822 in

Chester County, Pennsylvania

Baptised Nauvoo Oct 7, 1840

Ordained Bishop of the Ninth Ward October 1856

Departed this life August 18, 1864

Died by a blow from rocks by a sliding log in Cottonwood Kanyon

 I find the forgotten history sad. I find the deterioration of the headstones tragic. And I find the fact that all this will be my fate harrowing.

I know I mean very little to the world. I hope I mean something enough to someone that when my head stone begins to fall apart, someone cares.

Old Dog?

mikemjensen Life's Truths Tags: , , Leave a comment

I believed this morning that I had lost my wallet and my phone; that they were stolen actually. I went through the round of emotions of shock, anger and the dread. Who had them? What did I lose? I mean everything I lost. Visa card. Debit card. Even my brand new library card. Cash. Zoo and Park passes. My Subway and Café Rio meal cards.

With the information in the phone, with all the photos and info, I now had to worry about Identity Theft. I called the bank and the phone company cancelling cards and suspending service. I began to realize how much I hadn’t done to be prepared for something like this. I realized how many things I could’ve done, should’ve done, and could’ve and should’ve not done. But it was too late now. Live and learn.

And then the miracle. The phone and wallet were found. I had my things back and my information was never in unsafe hands. A trip to the bank for new cards and all was back to how it should be.

Now it’s time to see how much I really learned.

Making Good Time

mikemjensen Life's Truths Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Ano-novoMaking good time has always been an obsession with me and my family. It’s an odd expression and goal. It really doesn’t make any sense, yet I still find myself trying to accomplish it with every drive.

Making good time of course is to arrive sooner than expected. However, if one did the math, one would also know exactly when one was expected. The magic is to always arrive sooner anyway. And the trick is to simply lower expectations and then speed.

I almost always still equate travel time to 60MPH. The accepted safe speed from back in the 55 MPH days, may they burn in hell. Anyone who thinks 55 MPH was a good speed limit, go drive from Salt Lake to Reno, as I have done so many times. And then drive back again. With a carload of kids. In the summer time. In the 1970’s.

Anyway, I figure a mile a minute. From there, I make good time or I make bad time. Regardless of the 75 MPH zones now. With gas stops and potty breaks, a good time can still be maintained if the trip is long enough. If my trip is less than 1 minute/mile. I am a happy man. I it exceeds it, I will do better the next time, no matter what it takes.

Does it matter? To me, it’s all that matters when on the road.