As I See It - Introduction

It is 4:00 a.m. as I write this with my two thumbs that sometimes move so quickly they belie my age of 75. I tell you that because this is my introduction to a blog that my precious granddaughter Emily

gave me as a Christmas gift. Oddly enough my early waking hour this morning is because my head was spinning with what I am about to write, but the first thing I did was open up my morning Upper Room Devotional, and its title was “A Good Night’s Sleep”. Not sure if this is providential or a warning. Whichever it is, here I go.

Before going much further let me apologize for the possible length of this particular writing, but it’s important to me that you understand my reason and purpose for this writing adventure on which I am about to embark. I promise in the future I will do my best to simply share in a manner that will (hopefully) not wear down your attention span.

Most of you know that in 2019 I made a commitment at the urging and encouragement of my precious wife Susie to share quotes written by various people quotes that I had written in my Bible over a period of 20+ years. That sharing unexpectedly turned into storytelling and sharing of various life experiences. I had many equally unexpected responses and urgings from friends and family to do more. I responded to their encouragement by continuing to write, most of the time having no idea what I was about to share as I sat down. There have been lots of lessons for me during that time, often times lessons that I realized I was pulling out of myself, lessons and thoughts I didn’t even know were in there because I had never simply taken the time to actually express them.

As I stumble through my own learning curve as a blogger it’s important to me that any readers understand a few things about me and my reasons for doing this.

First know that I come to this with no writing training whatsoever, no initials behind my name that would presuppose that I am any kind of authority on anything. I simply have developed a passion for expressing myself and my response to other peoples words of wisdom that I find in various readings and conversations. Basically I am learning a life lesson that I was blessed to learn from Susie. Her example taught me to pay attention to life, people, and the world around me. I am ever so slowly learning to “Be Still”(Psalm 46:10). This does not come easy for me, but I find when I do it my awareness of so much more around me starts opening up in ways I never imagined.

I have titled my blog appropriately “As I See It (for what it’s worth)”. That is all this is, simply how I see or respond to some event, some thought, or some relationship around me. I say “for what it’s worth” very intentionally. I proclaim no wisdom, no thought better than anybody else’s thought. I simply read something, think something, it starts stirring in my head and heart, and I have this desire to share it - "for what it’s worth", which may have no value at all to anyone. I’m fine with that. But if it touches one person in some positive way, then it is all worthwhile.

I am totally open to being vulnerable, being critiqued, corrected, re-directed, and being deleted. I welcome responses from anyone at any time. All I ask is that you understand these are simply my thoughts - that’s it.

We currently live in technology age where true communication is sadly becoming lost in short , impersonal, sometimes even abusive argumentative comments, and now even reduced from words to symbols, some well-intended, some not so well intended.

I personally enjoy getting to know, listen to, and try to understand those around me - to sit one-on-one and find out who each of us really is. Connection is not about who we “think” someone else is, it’s about “experiencing” who someone else is.

I used to be a wallflower (or maybe weed) full of short bursts of opinions and judgements about others, only to find out later in life that I didn’t have any idea who that person was, and possibly totally missed out on a potentially wonderful friendship. I have deep regrets about those thoughts, times, and missed friendships.

I don’t want to be grouped, categorized, put into a personality box, and I don’t want to put anyone else there either. There is enough of that going around right now, and I personally see no value in it. I am me, an individual. You are you, another individual. I have been blessed to befriend many people over my last several years who the world would try to make me see as “not like me” in some meaningless way. We may have connected by way of any possible life situation. Then we would end up in a one-on-one conversation. Our “differences" would begin to melt away, and unique learning and friendships would start to develop. This to me is humanity, and it is a beautiful and fascinating experience.

So, who am I, what is my hope here. I’m really just an un-credentialed average guy. I love my family, warts and all (self-included). I love conversation and making real friends with both “like-minded” and "not so like-minded” people. I love the Lord. I know He loves me, but also know I am called to surrender to the challenges He puts in front of me. Yes, I am a Christian, and as such I openly acknowledge I am a sinner. But I am also aware that heaven is filled with forgiven sinners (which doesn’t give me a license to continue in my sinning), it helps me to do my best not to. I feel I am called to live what I say I believe. I try to embrace words of wisdom from others, apply them to my own life, speak with respect and without anger and unnecessary language, treat others with the grace they deserve as part of God’s creation, and share my thoughts about them “for what it’s worth”.

Welcome to “As I See It (for what it’s worth)”. I am humbled by your reading of any of my thoughts, and welcome any input you wish to share, including critiques.

May God’s peace be with you all,

David Butler