Can you imagine a time when a bank would commission a work like this on its front doors?  The National Bank of Portland did. Progress Through Direction. God Bless them.

Four ways to block a spiritual path and age quickly:

– Complain about the price of gas.

– Complain about the weather.

– Evoke the good old days.

– Complain about young people today, and the way things are.

When I was a reporter, I followed the Rev. Billy Graham around on one of his crusades. I came to love the man and admire him. One day we were sitting and talking and he offered me some advice. Never, he said, complain about the price of gas or the weather. You can’t do anything about either one and neither is usually what you want it to be. And don’t miss the good old days, he said. They usually weren’t so good.

If you complain about these things you will be angry and struggle and frustration will follow you like a cloud. Wonderful advice and mostly, I have taken it.

It has spared me much anger and frustration. I would add to that another endemic disease – squawking about young people today. They don’t have attention spans, aren’t as polite, don’t know Math and English, are spoiled. Life seems lighter and better to me if I avoid whining about these things and accept them. Standing in Pioneer Square last night and watching this great young band make beautiful and joyous music, I thought about young people.

I happen to think young people today are vastly superior to kids in my day in many immeasurable ways. They are just different. So life goes on. Gas prices to up. It rains, snows and is hot. Everything is a choice. Where do you want your mind to go?

I want mine to go elsewhere, to things I can do something about. Vision. Progress Through Direction.