ACCORDING TO ZAC

This year was not great for most people. There were big stretches of it I certainly didn't enjoy. But there were some unique opportunities that could have only occurred in the refining fire of struggle. To list them isn't to detract from the suffering, uncertainty, and the things I still yearn for, but not acknowledging them would make me ungrateful and short-sighted. Those are two things I certainly try to avoid. We rule the courts in Mesa. Watch out. I'm grateful that 2020 has presented opportunities for me to try some new hobbies. I've mentioned this multiple times recently, but I read more books than I have in years , and I'm so happy to have been entertained, challenged, and moved by the words other people committed themselves to write. My world is bigger for it. I've also done more things outdoors than I probably would have otherwise. There was no shortage of time to walk and run along canal banks, try new hiking trails, finally nail down some wakeboarding...

My brain is sort of all over the place. The last week has been unlike any other I've ever been through. Thankfully, I'm alive and well (as far I know), although there's global panic over a new virus that no one is particularly prepared for. Grocery stores have food, but lots of shelves are empty. Folks are hoarding toilet paper. We've been told to start practicing "social distancing," or not physically going places or being around more than just a few people at a time if at all possible. I started working from home this week, as did my roommates. I already have cabin fever. This week I saw a post by a rabbi that reminded me that hunkering down in self-protection isn't the whole goal. He suggested that socially distant doesn't mean emotionally distant. For all the times you want to do something you probably shouldn't do, like go out, see someone, or do something, our response should become a phone call made, a kind message sent, or a good deed d...

Traffic crawls Cell Phone Calls Talk radio screams at me through my tinted window I see a little girl, rust red minivan She's got chocolate on her face Got little hands, and she waves at me, yeah she smiles at me. Well hello world How you been? Good to see you my old friend Sometimes I feel, Cold as steel Broken like I'm never gonna heal I see a light, a little hope in a little girl, well hello world Everyday I drive by a little white church, its got these little white crosses like angels in the yard Maybe I should stop on in, say a prayer Maybe talk to God like he is there Oh I know he's there, yeah I know he's there Well hello world How you been? Good to see you my old friend, Sometimes I feel as cold as steel And broken like I'm never gonna heal I see a light, a little grace, little faith unfurl. Well hello world Sometimes I forget what living's for, And I hear my life through my front door, and I'll be there, o...

Arizona thought it would take it's turn at fall. The leaves are changing and falling all over the place. But, the joke is on Arizona, since it's December . Oh well. I like changing leaves as much now as I would have liked them two months ago.   ::