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Good Morning, Hot, hot, hot that’s all I can say about the weather. Everywhere I stop someone says, “It sure has been hot, summertime has finally arrived.” “Yes sir, it is and it has” is my usual response, however sometimes I add, “I don’t like the summer time because of the heat.” Then one day I realized how negative that sounded. It made it seem I was an unhappy person and I would complain if it was too hot or too cold, so I changed my response. Now I say, “Yes sir; it’s great to be alive and have the opportunity to enjoy each day, rain or shine, hot or cold.” It works better, but now everyone avoids me because they think I am a nut. I like being positive and being around positive minded people. A positive person can have a conversation with a negative person and when the positive person lays down a positive vibe, the negative person is usually...

Good Morning, I am amazed at children today, just when we think they aren’t watching or listening to our teaching, they perform an act of kindness, totally out of character, for a stranger, be the most polite and level headed person in a tense situation or pour out some “old” wisdom when we need to hear it and we were not expecting them the be the source from which it came. Once upon a time, our son was just a wee lad and we came to a traffic light in town I knew had a short green light window so I shot across the intersection just as it was changing. Later in the day, we returned from the opposite direction to the same intersection and the light was red. I was slowing to stop when my son said, “Dad just keep going!” I said, “I can’t son, the light is red and we have to stop.” His comment back to me...

From: James Dodwell, Hammers for Hope Good Morning, There is a word in the English vocabulary that I have trouble saying. It is a simple pronunciation, one syllable, the fourteenth and fifteenth letters in the alphabet, respectively. It has been a blessing at times when I was unable to pronounce the word, it has gotten me in some crazy predicaments by not being able to get the word out soon enough and it has caused mixed feelings within when I was finally able to line the letters up just right, apply sound and actually vocalize the word. By now, you have said the ABC’s while counting on your fingers and realized the word is “No”. It’s not a difficult word to say, but knowing when to use it and when not to use it is what gets me in trouble. No, it can’t be done, No, that’s impossible, No, I will not, No, I didn’t, all seem so negative to me. I am...

From James Dodwell, Hammers for Hope Good Morning, I remember just after our son was born I was sitting, holding him in the nursery rocker, I blinked my eyes and he was a toddler. Then I blinked again and he was a teenager, and then blinked once more and we were attending his college graduation. Blink, blink, blink, fiancé, marriage, and then a grandchild, all respectively, all in the blink of an eye or so it seems. I tried several methods to prevent the involuntary eye blink, toothpicks under the eyelids, super gluing my eyelids to my eyebrows, I even considered having them surgically altered but I feared it would make me look too weird and people would stare at my altered appearance and run away. So, instead, I just continue to blink the years away, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day… The irony is when I was younger I couldn’t wait to be older so I could do what...

From James Dodwell, Hammers for Hope Good Morning, There is a white strip of label tape placed just above the radio display of the truck dashboard. Printed on the strip are the words of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I placed it there so I will not fail to see the words each time I enter the cab. The words on the label tape are committed to memory and I notice the strip each time I enter but I don’t actually read them every time; however I am very aware of their meaning and my intentions of the placement. This is the second or third application of the label. Over time the sun’s rays warm the dash along with the interior of the cab which causes the heat sensitive label material to darken and the words fade. When I notice this happening, I will remove the old strip and replace it with a shiny new...

From James Dodwell - Hammers of Hope Good Morning, Recently a friend sent me a list, “Ten things requiring zero talent”. It was timely because we have been discussing some of the issue/opportunities seen in the current workforce hovering around out there. The ten things are: Being on time – this is an important one for me. Being on time shows respect for anyone and everyone you are meeting and it shows you are ready to participate. Work Ethic – sadly there is evidence of this missing in today’s world. Effort. Body Language – Speaks volumes, doesn’t it? Energy. Attitude. Passion – You know that thing you do, when doing it you lose track of time, miss meals, etc… That’s it. Being Coachable or Teachable – So many people already know how today, but they don’t know why and this gets in the way of learning. Doing Extra. Being Prepared. The Boy Scout motto, first thing you learn as a scout and...

From James Dodwell - Hammers of Hope Good Morning, If you never do anything then how will you know when you’re finished? I heard this said several years ago and I ponder its meaning, often. I think about it this way, “If you never do anything, then you are finished.” After all, you need a beginning to have and end, for every up there is a down, for every go there is a stop, for every no there is a might be a yes, and for every for every hate there must be love to circumvent the negative aspect to provide a positive outcome. Another thought is that being finished doesn’t necessarily equate to being complete. There are some things I want to complete but I am finished long before I reach the point of completion. I am either done with it physically or mentally or I just don’t have the skills to bring it home. What then shall I do? The answer:...