I want to give a shout out to the loving folks who choose to adopt children. I have a nephew and his wife, who adopted two kids from Russia about six years ago, and I have a niece and her husband, who are awaiting the call to go to a North African country to adopt two children. We as a family are all excited to meet the two new boys who will be joining the Homer and Glenda Smith clan. And, I want to thank God for the loving hearts of all people who reach out to children in need of a family.

Till next time,

Grump

Those of us who write or speak are somehow always looking for, or at least aware of applicable analogies. It’s not like I start my day with the intent of finding something profound or meaningful, it just seems that often an analogy will just come to mind. That is what happened yesterday as I was staining my backyard fence.

A few years back I set out to build my backyard fence. The old one was well past being in good shape, and it was my intent to build a bigger, better fence. The job ended up being done in typical Kent Smith fashion, which is to say haphazardly.   The job was also completed while I was in Honduras by Josh and a new guy who had been introduced into our lives named Chad Johnston. As it turns out the new guy is pretty handy to have around. He is good at repairing and building things. He has bought three houses and sold two houses using me as his Realtor. And he happens to be the dad of one Ranger “Roodog” Johnston, one of the coolest grandsons a guy could ever have. There was one other young man who helped build the fence, Ryan Gentry. Had he not shown up that first Sunday afternoon to take over my side of the hole digging machine I think I might be pushing up weeds right about now because that auger was more than I could handle. In fact that job was so strenuous that both Josh and Ryan, young flat bellies coming in at around two hundred pounds of muscle apiece looked like little whipped pups by the time that twentieth hole was dug.

“KENT!”

“What?”

“Get back to the point of today’s post.”

“Oh…what is the poin…oh, yes, today’s point.”  

Ok, once the fence was built I stained it a nice medium brown, and in an effort to keep it looking nice, and to protect it I have restrained it every two years. Yesterday as I was staining the fence I was thinking about how much stain the job was taking and I recalled that I have always used more stain than the man at Northside Fence estimated it would take. In fact, I use a lot more than he says it should take. As I thought about how much it was taking I took notice of wood and its reaction to the stain. It was almost as if the wood were alive as it drank in the liquid stain. I made a swipe with the brush and stopped to observe the stain soak into the dry wood giving it a new fresh look. I could go back over the same spot and watch the same thing happen again. The liquid would simply disappear as if the wood could not get enough refreshment, and the analogy came to mind.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

Psalm 42:1

The dead, dry wood was drinking in the liquid that would help sustain it and give it a longer life. Look at that, dead and dry yet soaking in life extending moisture. Friends you and I are not dead, yet we are dead to the world.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature^[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5

The life giving liquid that we should thirst for sustains us, and gives us strength to live a life opposed to the world. We need to soak in the life of the Word. Proverbs 2:1-11 says:

My son, if you accept my words
       and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom
       and applying your heart to understanding,

and if you call out for insight
       and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver
       and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD
       and find the knowledge of God.

For the LORD gives wisdom,
       and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He holds victory in store for the upright,
       he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

for he guards the course of the just
       and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Then you will understand what is right and just
       and fair—every good path.

For wisdom will enter your heart,
       and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Discretion will protect you,
       and understanding will guard you.

Till next time,

Grump

His name was Jack. He was a flight instructor. More to the point, he was qualified to determine whether or not a student pilot was given their private pilot’s license. Jack was the man who determined that I had the skill necessary to receive my pilot’s license.

A private pilot must demonstrate their ability to fly an airplane by using only the instruments in the aircraft, even if the pilot is not seeking an instrument rating. During flight training a student is “put under the hood” as part of instruction. The hood is simply a visor that is worn by the student that blocks out all vision except the instrument panel of the plane. You can’t see out the windshield, and you can’t see out the side windows. When under the hood there are two ways to fly the plane; one, by using the instruments, or two, by the seat of your pants.

Many times in a person’s life they are called on to make decisions. Sometimes they are small and insignificant decisions, while other times they may mean life and death. In the case of flying a plane, they fall into the life and death category. Often times the wrong decision is made because the pilot lacks confidence in their instruments, and instead rely on what they feel is right. While under the hood a student is told time and time again to trust the instruments, to have faith in the instruments. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see. In the case of a pilot under the hood faith is to be certain that what he sees is life, yet there is an almost overwhelming need to place his faith in what he feels rather than what he sees. I know you’ve witnessed this or maybe even been guilty of it yourself, at least I have. “Well, I know what the Bible says, but I just feel like God would want me to be happy.” Or. “Yes, I know what the Bible says about…, but this is the 21^st Century.

When under the hood the student is asked to take their hands off of the yoke and their feet off of the peddles, and they are told to lower their head so that they cannot see the instruments. After they have complied the instructor will take control of the aircraft and do a series of maneuvers in an effort to disorient the student, leaving the plane in some unusual attitude. The instructor will then ask the student to take control of the plane once again and return the plane to straight and level flight. Remember, there are two ways to attempt to return the plane to straight and level flight. One, the right way, is to look at the instruments, determine the proper adjustment necessary and then make that adjustment. Two, the wrong way, is to look at the instruments, disregard them and allow the seat of your pants to guide you in returning the plane to straight and level flight. The right way, trust and faith, works every time. The wrong way, “I just feel this is right” can lead to death.

A few months after my check ride with Jack. A check ride that included my being placed under the hood to test my ability to use the instruments to return the plane to straight and level flight. Jack was killed in a plane crash. He and a passenger were trying to make it to the airport in a driving snow storm. It was determined that Jack simply flew the twin engine aircraft into ground. The cause of the crash, pilot error, it seems that Jack had allowed the seat of his pants to convince him that the instruments had failed, and that what they were telling him could not be right.  

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5,6

Till next time,

Grump

I was just out doing a little yard work this morning and noticed a couple of Southwest Airlines 737s fly over on their way to Love Field. Seeing those familiar aircraft reminded me of my flying lesson days and one incident in particular. I had started learning to fly when I lived in Blackfoot, Idaho but I had not finished before I moved back home, so I continued my flying instruction in Brownfield, Texas. Pete, my flight instructor in Brownfield sent me on a cross country flight originating in Brownfield and heading South to Odessa for a few touch and goes, and then North to Lubbock where I would get in a landing in a Terminal Control Area. The Lubbock air space was a little busier then than it is now because the Reese Air Force Base was still in operation, and on many days they also used Lubbock International as a landing facility.  

Now, one of the things that was drilled into my head as I was learning to fly was the landing pattern. The landing pattern is more for use at uncontrolled landing strips than it is at Airports where there is a control tower. The pattern is in place to provide a standard way of landing for each plane landing at an airport. That way the air traffic in that given area knows where to look for other planes in the pattern. Well, as I approached Lubbock I contacted the control tower, identified myself as Piper, zero one foxtrot, and ask for permission to do a touch and go landing. The air traffic controller gave me instructions and asked me to report when I got to a certain place.

Here I was in student mode, doing everything by the book, but I was about to learn that the book is a guideline not a set in stone document that would result in the death penalty if not followed to the letter. In fact, I was about to learn that following the letter of the law could very well mean death. Once I arrived at the point the controller had directed me too I called in again for further instructions.  He told me that I was cleared to land on runway such and such and I proceeded to do just that, but my understanding of being cleared to land and his understanding of cleared to land were two different things. I was set in the make the pattern mode while he was set in the touch the wheels to the ground, shoot the gas to it and clear the runway mode. After a few moments the controller came back on the radio and asked me to shorten my pattern a little bit. Here is my best recollection of our conversation after that request.

“Zero one fox, could you shorten your pattern a little?”

“This is zero one fox, yes sir.” A few seconds later.

“Zero one fox; I need you to shorten your pattern a little more please.”

“This is zero one fox, yes sir.” A few seconds later.

“PIPER, ZERO ONE FOXTROT WOULD YOU PLEASE LAND THAT PLANE IMMEDIATELY THERE’S A 737 ON YOUR TAIL!”

As you might imagine I shortened my pattern to his desired length which was no pattern at all, and I landed zero one foxtrot, poured the gas to it, and took off out there like my tail was on fire. It was one of those notices that even a child can understand. I knew he meant for me to pay attention to what he was saying when he used my full name.

Friends, guidelines and instructions are in place for the general good of everyone. However, there are times when a given situation calls for a deviation from the guidelines. That doesn’t mean you can go off flying by the seat of your pants whenever you feel like it. It means that sometimes the guidelines need to be suspended for the greater good in a given situation. Tomorrow I’ll tell you where flying by the seat of your pants will get you.

Till next time,

Grump

Well, I’m back. It’s been a few weeks since my last post because of a malfunction on my web site. The malfunction was mainly my fault but now I’m back up and ready to start posting on a somewhat regular basis again. I’m not exactly sure what direction to take with my blog because I find myself in a period of transition. My original intent for the blog was to gain a following and use that following to help me get speaking engagements. It turns out that the blog has not had any success in that area, but it has had a great success in helping others. I am very happy to know that some of the things I write about are read by individuals who are touched by what I have written. I have received many thank you’s for helping someone re-center their lives, or overcome some set back in their life. I am so thankful I have been able to do that and I pray that I can touch at least one person with each entry I make in this blog.

On a more important personal level the transition I find myself in is humbling. As most of you know I am a Realtor and I enjoy being a Realtor. The thing is twenty percent of the Realtor’s in the world make eighty percent of the money, and I am not one of those twenty percent people so I have had to find other ways to help make ends meet, and I have been blessed with some very good part time opportunities.  The problem with the part time gigs is that most people in need of a Realtor want a “full time” Realtor so when they see me working at the ball park or helping out at the Restaurant they don’t consider me a “real” Realtor. In that way the part time jobs are a curse to the full time job.

To me the most rewarding dream job is speaking. A few years back I felt I was being lead by God to use the gift of speaking, teaching and preaching that He had given me. I wrote Everyday Christianity with that pursuit in mind, and I began working to that end with a passion that has amazed my son. In his thirty plus years he has never seen me work so hard to make something happen, and he has been a great encouragement to me. The amazing thing about his help is that he knows every time I speak he is going to be a part of the presentation. I know it is uncomfortable for him, but he believes in me and my message so he is willing to help me every way he can. Josh is a very private man, he doesn’t want the spot light directed toward him, yet he allowed me to put he and his son Major on the cover of Everyday Christianity.

 My speaking “career” if that is what you want to call it has not taken the path I had dreamed of. I had visions of making a living speaking and selling my book, but I guess God has a different vision. I do speak on occasion and I do sell a book from time to time but so far I haven’t seen the “great” success I was dreaming of. Instead I have seen a more behind the scenes success, a smaller yet very wonderful success in the lives I have touched. Just two weeks ago I received a note from a man thanking me for sharing my struggles against depression on You Tube. He is not the first and I pray he won’t be the last to be helped by my honest discussion on depression. So, my grand pursuit has been humbling, because it hasn’t had the kind of success I had dreamed of, but it is very successful in one on one terms.

And finally, I must write about my learning to be humble. I don’t think I ever consciously thought about the people who served me every day in restaurants and at sporting events. I don’t recall ever thinking the guy cleaning the table I had just vacated was inferior to me, but I must admit once I found myself bussing tables and refilling drinks I questioned how I could have fallen to such depths. I had been a successful business man for twenty years. I had always been independent, never really relying on punching the clock to make a living, and suddenly I found myself wiping tables and picking up someone else’s trash. I will confess it was and is an humbling experience. I have had to learn to thank God for the experience, because it has helped me to understand that service to others is everyday Christianity.

So, here I stand at the cross roads. What do I do now? Do I continue being a Realtor? Do I continue actively seeking speaking engagements? Do I continue spending hours each day pursuing a dream that seems to have no reality? Do I finally decide to make one of those part time jobs a full time job at the expense of being a Realtor, or more importantly being a full time (in terms of making a living) speaker, and teacher? I am praying for the answer.

 Just last week a man arrived at the pool patio at the ballpark and began greeting the guest who were already there. As he made his way around the crowd I reached in the cooler, grabbed a beer and popped the top. Once he had greeted the last of the folks standing between us I stretched my hand toward him offering him the cold beer. He took it and asked, “How did you know I wanted a beer?”

 I said, “Because I heard a lady comment that he looked like he was headed straight to the beer.”

“Wow, you’re a pretty observant man.” He replied.

Sometimes it’s easy to know what to do, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes the door is wide open, and sometimes there’s just a hint of light coming through the slightly opened door. “Lord, please open the door wide. I am an observant man, but sometimes I don’t know what to look for.”

Till next time,

Grump

I’ve been to a bunch of Texas Rangers baseball games. Paula and I started traveling to DFW years ago just to get away from home for the weekend. Paula is not s sports nut by any stretch of the imagination, but she does enjoy going to a game every now and then. There was one extended weekend when we flew into town from Lubbock, watched Texas Tech play OK State on Saturday, the Cowboys play somebody on Sunday, and the Rangers play a game on Monday. Now that is a lot of ball and we had a lot of fun.

When I think back on all the professional sporting events Paula and I have attended it really brings a smile to my face. Most of the time we would drive to DFW from West Texas, but there were a couple of times when we flew into town, and rented a car for the weekend. Those drives were special times of bonding for us. We usually left DC with a full tank of gas and would make it all the way to Snyder before stopping to use the outhouse. It was in Snyder that the conversation began to flow. (No pun intended) After we had made our way through most of the town, and came close to the last Town & Country before getting on the four lane I’d speak the first words of trip. “You need to stop?”

“Yes.”

“K.”

Once the stop was over it was back in the car with her water in hand and my ice filled coke in the drink holder. We’d hit the road again and the conversation would continue….in Weatherford. “You need to stop?”

“Yes.”

“K.”

Wow those were the days!

I think Paula’s favorite trip was the time we flew into town and stayed at the Hyatt in Dallas. The hotel is right next to Reunion Arena, or at least it was before the arena was destroyed. On this occasion the LA Lakers were in town to play the Mavericks, and it just happened to be the farewell tour for Jabar. The Lakers stayed at the Hyatt too and Paula swooned every time Coach Pat Riley walk by. We didn’t get to see them play but we did see them several times that weekend. As for me, I can say that every time we came to DFW for a weekend away was my favorite trip. That’s one of the bad things about living in DFW now; we don’t get to make our weekend getaway trips to here anymore.

Anyway, today I will be attending my first ever opening day game, and it is going to be a lot of fun. Today I will be sharing opening day with my boyz, Josh, Major, and Chad. Ranger is a little too young to come with us, but “If the Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise” there will be an opening day game again next year, and he can join us then.

Let me tell ya something friends. I am a blessed man. I have a grandson who thinks I might be able to walk on water, a son who knows better but loves me anyway, and a son-in-law that lied to me the first time I ever asked him a question, who was made special by God just for my daughter, and we are going to enjoy this day together at the Ballpark. YES!!!   Please excuse me while I go all West Texas on you. It jus doun git no better’n nat!

Till next time,

Grump