If I Were a Groundhog

by Brenda Black

The roly poly member of the squirrel family will make his grand appearance come Feb. 2. Top-hat clad men of standing will encircle Punxsutawney Phil, in Punxsutawney, PA, awaiting the rodent's prediction. If the groundhog sees his shadow on Feb. 2, winter’s midpoint, he will become afraid and return to his burrow for the next six weeks until winter is over. If the groundhog does not see his shadow on the other hand, spring is said to be near.

That's all find and dandy and gives folks a fun reprieve from the mid-seasonal slump between Christmas getting and Valentine giving. I agree festivities centered on the cuteness of a groundhog seem quaint. They are snuggly in appearance with a broad head, tiny ears and a plump body plopped on short legs that makes waddling their favored gait. But to give this rotund critter such a place of honor is a bit baffling to me. For all that is glorified in a woodchuck is looked down upon in the rest of society.

He gets all kinds of positive attention for his sturdy silhouette while we humans constantly fight the battle of the bulge. I've seen my shadow and sometimes I wonder if someone isn't walking next to me! And no one has patted me on the back or tossed me a cracker for being not-so-slender. One little furry marmot kept in captivity is said to have blossomed to an enormous 37 pounds. That's nearly six times the normal size! Imagine the outcry of a human weighing in at at one thousand!

To his dubious credit, Mr. Groundhog also sleeps a good portion of the year. During the winter, the round, brown burrower drifts into a deep three-month slumber, surviving off its summer fat stores. His heart rate and breathing slow to an unbelievable pace. Once every four or five minutes, the heart will beat and about every six minutes, Chubs will take in a deep breath. Then his body temperature plummets to 40 degrees. I feel guilty if I sleep in an extra hour in a week! And I sure can't imagine being so unavailable for such an extended hiatus. This woodchuck truly knows how to check out.

When he's not donning a tuxedo or propped on top of a sun dial, a groundhog not hibernating fills his days with destruction. Many a farmer has seen the damage around barn foundations where this cuddly little terror has practiced demolition. Enthusiastically he digs his den for dining and sleeping without thought for the human's property. A person, on the other hand, acting so carelessly would face a lawsuit from the angry landowner, not be touted as a rock star every February second.

Wouldn't life be grand if we could just eat and sleep and tear up the turf with our claws and teeth? Some days I think that might not be so bad. But I'm not a large rat. I'm human. And God expects a little bit more from those He created in His image. So this Feb. 2, no matter the shadowy outcome, we need to seize the moment. Six more weeks of winter not wasted or spring around the corner awaiting great things. The bottom line is that whether the weather is fierce or mild, we still need to take one day at a time and live it to the fullest rather than live it like a groundhog.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14)

The More Excellent Way

By Brenda Black

Most of us will never aspire to be nuclear physicists. Only about 6,000 pursued the occupation in 2009 in the United States. Even fewer will paint their face and put on a polka-dot jumper and giant slippers to fill the role of a circus clown. Fewer than 300 of these slap-stick acrobats work in the United States. So which is the more specialized craft and which is more important – the one who splits atoms or the one who makes people laugh? Booker T. Washington may have known the answer before the question was asked when he said, “Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.” Based on that, scientists, clowns, engineers, doctors, dog-walkers, garbage men and custodians are each capable of mastery and worthy of honor in their given field.

Most of us will be employed somewhere between Bill Nye the Science Guy and Whizzo the Clown, but will we carry out our task with excellence? “If a man is called to be a street sweeper,” Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or as Beethoven composed music or as Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'”

I don't know about you, but I am tired of mediocrity. Pride must be taken in whatever task we encounter, whether it is completing a school assignment or securing a multi-million dollar contract. And the collective whole needs to turn this rig around and start setting standards of excellence again in this country.

A friend shared a disheartening statistic this week that symbolizes the ugly contagion of apathy. Only 36% of the teachers at one high school would participate in nominating students so the students could be recognized for good behavior, good attitude and willingness to put forth extra effort at school. Seven turned in their reports late! Oh, the irony! And oh, the pitifully sad statement it makes about what we value, celebrate and perpetuate in ourselves and in others.

Even a clown knows attitude matters. Just ask, David Solove, a Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Baily Circus performer. Reporter Olivia Crosby did, and she discovered what kept Solove out on the road for seven years. “You have to have a great sense of humor and a big heart,” says David. “It’s hard work, but if you love it, it’s great!”

Aha! Hard work isn't the problem. Work ethic is a heart issue and the desire for excellence is a gift from God.

Paul instructed Titus to always do what is good and to have a pure heart in every task and he asked him to share such admonishment with others. “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” (Titus 3:1-8)

Profit isn't the reason we work. Our mission is to glorify God in our work and to operate out of love for our Lord. It is the more excellent way.