You know the drill. I’ll post, link at Kate’s place (fiveminutefriday.com/) and scan through the incredible work of my fellow writers. And, as I always say, you should try it as well — both writing and contributing or at least visiting the sites of this talented crew.
I’ve also been sharing other takes on the value of the exercise, taken from snippets found in Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat as an added inducement to join in. Here’s Jen’s take.
“Through FMF, I not only found a community online, but I found the courage to seek one out in real life too. And, through both, my life has changed radically for the better!”
So, let’s get into this week’s word, appropriately GOAL. The timer is set, so let’s GO …
I have just one goal — to get through this life relatively unscathed so I can get Home.
Yes, it’s pretty lofty, but it has been my main goal since my pre-teen years. Have I always been true to fulfilling that goal? Umm, not always, but as the years have ticked by I recognize that initial goal — that vow I made way back when I was about 12 — takes on more import.
For the most part, I have skated through this life relatively unscathed. I’ve been blessed with very few adversities. So it’s been easy to focus on my ultimate goal.
To get through this life, to go on this journey, I’ve had to set goals — human goals — along the way. When I was 12, my goal was to be the next Roy Campanella or Yogi Berra. A broken finger ended that aspiration pretty quickly.
While going to school my goal was to be the next electrical engineering superstar. When I couldn’t get a simple kit TV to ever work … STOP
… I quickly reconsidered my goal.
When I got married, my goal was to be the best husband I could be. Over the years I think I was fairly successful in achieving that goal, although I will be the first to admit there were far to many shortcomings on my part.
When my first born came into the world, my goal was to be the best father I could possibly be — fair yet firm, lead by example, coach and teach, always support. With each of the next four children, I reaffirmed that goal. As the grandkids and great-grandkids started showing up, I renewed that vow. My role — my goal — has been to lead them in the direction for ultimate peace. History will judge whether I was successful or not.
When I started working, my goal was to learn and hone my craft, which led me and the family to five states. Each time I vowed to present life in a fair and balanced way through words and stories written. Again, history will be the ultimate judge.
In this stage of life, I look at my ultimate goal with fresh eyes, using my bully pulpit on this blog, social media and my books to show ways I have used to get through this journey called life … one soul at a time.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: The greatest treasure is not seen with the eyes but felt with the heart.
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Ends 6/18
You will be hearing that word many times over the next few weeks. But remember it always. You will gain something … more than just a diploma, more than just recognition for putting up with four years of high school.
Say What?
While some of the core information from Heaven is incorporated in My Name Is Sam, the new venture expands the characters and extends the story beyond the novella. It is written in the first person, more like a memoir — a fictional memoir. I tried to incorporate that feel from the start. In fact, the introduction reads like a letter directly from Sam
Most of us miss out on life’s big prizes. The Pulitzer. The Nobel. Oscars. Tonys. Emmys. But we’re all eligible for life’s small pleasures: A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A crackling fire. A great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold beer.
When I ask that question, I recognize not everyone gathered in this room was alive in 1979! As for me, I was completing my junior year of college. Keeping with the theme of the anniversary, I know some of you were preparing to move into the new building with anticipation and perhaps a bit of sadness. That’s because moving forward meant letting go of what was, so you could embrace the new opportunity.
Our reading from John 14 ends with this promise: You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you. That word “abide” is an important one. It’s a bit old-fashioned. It’s not a word I normally use, but it seems appropriate here. As we move from the past through the present and into the future, there might be continuity over time, but there will also be change as we move forward into a future that is still open. Nevertheless, we go forward in the presence and the power of the Spirit of Truth.
Prayers are asked for baby Tate Lee Paul.
We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in 
The incident opened my mind to the exotic pitches out there — through advertising and social media and even news stories. There was a Netflix pitch where a guy goes into a store to buy a suit. Price $12,500. There was a news story where a Robert E. Lee statue removed from a Dallas park sold for $1.4 million after a bidding war. Elton John concert tickets start at $349. Tom Cruise’s Telluride, CO, estate remains on the market for a mere $59 million.
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The Light 