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    • Feb. 17, 2020, Lisa
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      • Nov 25, 2019, Yearbook
      • Nov. 18, 2019, Lemonade
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      • Oct. 21, 2019, Real
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      • Sept. 16, 2019, Done
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    • 2018 >
      • Dec. 31, 2018, Happy New Year
      • Dec. 24 , 2018, Christmas
      • Dec. 17 , 2018, Line
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      • Nov 26 , 2018, 80
      • Nov 19 , 2018, NPR
      • Nov 12 , 2018, Beards
      • Nov 5 , 2018, Coffee
      • Oct. 29, 2018, Paper Towels
      • Oct. 22, 2018, Camp
      • Oct. 15, 2018, Evolution
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      • Sept. 24, 2018, Fence
      • Sept. 17, 2018, Birthday
      • Sept. 10 , 2018, Chicken
      • Sept. 3 , 2018, Invisible
      • Aug 27 , 2018, Third Place
      • Aug 20 , 2018, Name Tags
      • Aug 13 , 2018, Distance
      • Aug 6 , 2018, Allergies
      • July 30, 2018, Unexpected Words
      • July 23, 2018, 440
      • July 16, 2018, Dreams
      • July 9, 2018, Advice
      • July 2, 2018, Hands
      • June 25, 2018, Learning Curve
      • June 18, 2018, YMCA
      • June 11, 2018, Trash
      • June 4, 2018, Booth
      • May 28, 2018, Baby Lawyer
      • May 21, 2018, Big Date
      • May 14, 2018, Monopoly
      • May 7, 2018, Spelling
      • April 30, 2018, Mickey Mouse Club
      • April 23, 2018, Favorites
      • April 16, 2018, Perfect
      • April 9, 2018, Quantum Thoughts
      • April 2, 2018, Surprised
      • March 26, 2018, Choices
      • March 19, 2018, Problems
      • March 12, 2018, Murphy's Law
      • March 5, 2018, Skunks
      • Feb. 26, 2018, Wind Chill
      • Feb. 19, 2018, Crackers
      • Feb. 12, 2018, Fear
      • Feb. 5, 2018, Winter
      • Jan. 29, 2018, Work
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      • Dec. 25, 2017, Gift
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      • Oct. 16, 2017, Cross
      • Oct. 9, 2017, Pain
      • Oct. 2, 2017, Daisy
      • Sept. 25, 2017, Yellow Light
      • Sept. 18, 2017, Soccer
      • Sept. 11, 2017, The Tool Kit
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      • Aug 28, 2017, Nails
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      • Aug 14, 2017, Stars
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      • July 24, 2017, Tooth Paste
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      • Jan 30, 2017, Friday
      • Jan 23, 2017, Wrestling Rattlesnakes
      • Jan 17, 2017, Dog Wisdom
      • Jan 10, 2017, Shock Theater
      • Jan 3, 2017, The Butterfly and the Bee
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      • Sept 13, 2016, Mrs. Summers Won't Like That
      • Sept 20, 2016, A Teacher's Tale
      • Oct 4, 2016, Top 60%
      • Oct 11, 2016, Life in a Small Town
      • Oct 26, 2016, I Don't Play Golf
      • Nov 2, 2016, The Piano Player
      • Nov 28, 2016, Whataburger Jesus
      • Dec 5, 2016, Maraschino Cherries
      • Dec 12, 2016, The Box
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      • Dec 26, 2016, Invisble People
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From The Storyteller
"We desire your feedback."
shoemaker.society@gmail.com

Hello All: This month's smile is personal, and I hope each of you can relate also. So grab on to your rope and smile. Blessings. Doug

Rope
Unlike many, Joe considered OSHA to be his friend. Businesses sought him out because OSHA requires safety lifelines on pipes and towers hundreds of feet in the air, and Joe was one of the few who did that kind of work. His job required him to know both what OSHA required and how to properly install it. His only safety gear during those initial installations - a harness tethered to a beam.
 
Yes, wearing the harness was required, but the thing Joe felt kept him safe was simply being naturally surefooted, and a two-foot length of rope. Joe held that rope in one hand every time he stepped out on one of those “pipes” hundreds of feet in the air. He said that holding that rope gave him confidence that his surefootedness would be there to help him finish the job safely.

Joe’s explanation started me thinking about what I'm now calling my “confidence ropes”. My first thoughts quickly focused on two possible “confidence ropes”. The first, from my younger years, was rooted in physical “abilities”. The second grew as I aged and achieved some recognizable “status” in the communities in which I lived, first as a lawyer, and then as an ordained United Methodist minister.

Naturally writing this story got me thinking more deeply about what it means to be surefooted, and what my real “confidence rope” is.  I realized it was not rooted in my “abilities” nor my “status”. My "confidence rope", the one I've been holding on to all my life, is knowing I am loved for who I truly am, mess-ups and all.

I can smile without being able to explain how I know I’m loved, or who is doing this loving. While I “think” I know the answers to those questions, I confess the complete answers really are above my pay grade. So for now I simply smile because - knowing is enough.

Moral: Knowing and thinking are different.




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  • 2023 Stories
    • February 2023, Rope
    • January 2023, Messages
  • 2022 Stories
    • December 2022, Smile
    • November 2022, Invisible People2
    • October 2022, Superpower
    • September 2022, Music
    • August 2022, Go-To
    • July 2022, Shoes
    • June 2022, Vacation
    • May 2022, The Painting
    • March 2022, Milkman
    • February 2022, Life
    • January 2022, Tuition
  • 2021 Stories
    • December 2021, The Gift
    • November 2021, Obstacle
    • October 25, 2021, Joe
    • October 18, 2021, Reality
    • October 11, 2021, Dumb
    • October 4, 2021, Teachers
    • September 27, 2021, Book
    • September 20, 2021, Joy
    • September 13, 2021, Dreams
    • September 6, 2021, Clouds
    • August 30, 2021, Soil
    • August 23, 2021, Doing
    • August 16, 2021, Get It
    • August 9, 2021, Frogs
    • August 2, 2021, Photos
    • July 26, 2021, Password
    • July 19, 2021, Possibilities
    • July 12, 2021, Shopping
    • July 5, 2021, Sweat
    • June 28, 2021, Stakes
    • June 21, 2021, Tatoo
    • June 14, 2021, Dove
    • June 7, 2021, Nudges
    • May 31, 2021, Summer
    • May 24, 2021, Lunch
    • May 17, 2021, Legs
    • May 10, 2021, Skills
    • May 3, 2021, Change
    • April 26, 2021, Wish
    • April 19, 2021, Dog
    • April 12, 2021, Handle
    • April 5, 2021, Thinking
    • March 29, 2021, Alternative
    • March 22, 2021, Doors
    • March 15, 2021, Depends
    • March 8, 2021, Planning
    • March 1, 2021, Bird
    • Feb. 22, 2021, Believe
    • Feb. 15, 2021, Traditions
    • Feb. 8, 2021, Shopping
    • Feb. 1, 2021, NailFile
    • Jan. 25, 2021, Acorn
    • Jan. 18, 2021, Family
    • Jan. 11, 2021, Tuition
    • Jan. 4, 2021, Wisdom
  • 2020 Stories
    • Dec. 28 2020, Stamps
    • Dec. 21 2020, Babysitting
    • Dec. 14, 2020, True
    • Dec. 7, 2020, Music
    • Nov. 30, 2020, Pluggers
    • Nov. 23, 2020, Cherry
    • Nov. 16, 2020, Magic
    • Nov. 9, 2020, Seasons
    • Nov. 2, 2020, Food
    • Oct. 26, 2020, Nickel
    • Oct. 19, 2020, Bloom
    • Oct. 12, 2020, Surprise
    • Oct.5, 2020, Valley
    • Sept. 28, 2020, Perfect
    • Sept. 21, 2020, Kissing
    • Sept. 14, 2020, Q-tip
    • Sept. 8, 2020, Fish
    • Aug 31, 2020, Chores
    • Aug 24, 2020, Dust
    • Aug 17, 2020, Trees
    • Aug 10, 2020, Yearbook
    • Aug 3, 2020, Wood
    • July 27, 2020, Phones
    • July 20, 2020, Dinosaurs
    • July 13, 2020, Salt
    • July 6, 2020, Desire
    • June 29, 2020, Puzzle
    • June 22, 2020, Chocolate
    • June 15, 2020, Never
    • June 8, 2020, Gift
    • June 1, 2020, Ideas
    • May 25, 2020, Sleepless
    • May 18, 2020, Clueless
    • May 11, 2020, Everything
    • May 4, 2020, T-shirt
    • April 27, 2020, Better
    • April 20, 2020, Extension
    • April 13, 2020, Flags
    • April 6, 2020, Stairs
    • Mar. 30, 2020, Spring
    • Mar. 23, 2020, Cowboy
    • Mar. 16, 2020, Moving
    • Mar. 9, 2020, Serious
    • Mar. 2, 2020, Rim
    • Feb. 24, 2020, Starting
    • Feb. 17, 2020, Lisa
    • Feb. 10, 2020, Ideas
    • Feb. 3, 2020, Cats
    • Jan. 27, 2020, Fire
    • Jan. 20, 2020, Waiting
    • Jan. 13, 2020, Stuff
    • Jan. 6, 2020, Music
  • Home
  • Mission
  • Archived Stories
    • 2019 >
      • Dec. 30, 2019, Older
      • Dec. 23, 2019, Pencil
      • Dec. 16, 2019, Laundry
      • Dec. 9, 2019, Train
      • Dec. 2, 2019, Wood
      • Nov 25, 2019, Yearbook
      • Nov. 18, 2019, Lemonade
      • Nov. 11, 2019, Sunrise
      • Nov. 4, 2019, Bread
      • Oct. 28, 2019, Fool
      • Oct. 21, 2019, Real
      • Oct. 14, 2019, Improving
      • Oct. 7, 2019, Purse
      • Sept. 30, 2019, Attic
      • Sept. 23, 2019, Heaven
      • Sept. 16, 2019, Done
      • Sept. 9, 2019, Innovation
      • Sept. 2, 2019, Knowing
      • Aug. 26, 2019, Dance
      • Aug. 19, 2019, Work
      • Aug. 12, 2019, Hugs
      • Aug. 5, 2019, Vacation
      • July 29, 2019, Morning
      • July 22, 2019, Battery
      • July 15, 2019, Appointment
      • July 8, 2019, Decide
      • July 1, 2019, Dream
      • June 22, 2019, Music
      • June 17, 2019, Nudges
      • June 10, 2019, Folks
      • June 3, 2019, Spring
      • May 27, 2019, Sundial
      • May 20, 2019, Food
      • May 13, 2019, Why?
      • May 6, 2019, Train
      • April 29, 2019, Think
      • April 22, 2019, Hip
      • April 15, 2019, UFO
      • April 8, 2019, Cats
      • April 1, 2019, Band Aide
      • Mar. 25, 2019, Kissing
      • Mar. 18, 2019, Talented
      • Mar. 11, 2019, Rules
      • Mar. 4, 2019, Clay
      • Feb. 25, 2019, Odd
      • Feb. 18, 2019, Just Saying
      • Feb. 11, 2019, Choir
      • Feb. 4, 2019, Sweet Tea
      • Jan. 28, 2019, Waiting
      • Jan. 21, 2019, Golf Shoes
      • Jan. 14, 2019, New
      • Jan. 7, 2019, Twenty six Years
    • 2018 >
      • Dec. 31, 2018, Happy New Year
      • Dec. 24 , 2018, Christmas
      • Dec. 17 , 2018, Line
      • Dec. 10 , 2018, Geek
      • Dec. 3 , 2018, Rocks
      • Nov 26 , 2018, 80
      • Nov 19 , 2018, NPR
      • Nov 12 , 2018, Beards
      • Nov 5 , 2018, Coffee
      • Oct. 29, 2018, Paper Towels
      • Oct. 22, 2018, Camp
      • Oct. 15, 2018, Evolution
      • Oct. 8, 2018, Hummmm
      • Oct. 1, 2018, Fence
      • Sept. 24, 2018, Fence
      • Sept. 17, 2018, Birthday
      • Sept. 10 , 2018, Chicken
      • Sept. 3 , 2018, Invisible
      • Aug 27 , 2018, Third Place
      • Aug 20 , 2018, Name Tags
      • Aug 13 , 2018, Distance
      • Aug 6 , 2018, Allergies
      • July 30, 2018, Unexpected Words
      • July 23, 2018, 440
      • July 16, 2018, Dreams
      • July 9, 2018, Advice
      • July 2, 2018, Hands
      • June 25, 2018, Learning Curve
      • June 18, 2018, YMCA
      • June 11, 2018, Trash
      • June 4, 2018, Booth
      • May 28, 2018, Baby Lawyer
      • May 21, 2018, Big Date
      • May 14, 2018, Monopoly
      • May 7, 2018, Spelling
      • April 30, 2018, Mickey Mouse Club
      • April 23, 2018, Favorites
      • April 16, 2018, Perfect
      • April 9, 2018, Quantum Thoughts
      • April 2, 2018, Surprised
      • March 26, 2018, Choices
      • March 19, 2018, Problems
      • March 12, 2018, Murphy's Law
      • March 5, 2018, Skunks
      • Feb. 26, 2018, Wind Chill
      • Feb. 19, 2018, Crackers
      • Feb. 12, 2018, Fear
      • Feb. 5, 2018, Winter
      • Jan. 29, 2018, Work
      • Jan. 22, 2018, Highway 24
      • Jan. 15, 2018, Chair
      • Jan. 8, 2018, Grace
      • Jan. 1, 2018, House
    • 2017 >
      • Dec. 25, 2017, Gift
      • Dec. 18, 2017, Envelopes
      • Dec. 11, 2017, Wisdom
      • Dec. 4, 2017, Coffee
      • Nov. 27, 2017, Value
      • Nov. 20, 2017, Camp
      • Nov. 13, 2017, Legos
      • Nov. 6, 2017, Amazon
      • Oct. 30, 2017, Adult
      • Oct. 23, 2017, Footsteps
      • Oct. 16, 2017, Cross
      • Oct. 9, 2017, Pain
      • Oct. 2, 2017, Daisy
      • Sept. 25, 2017, Yellow Light
      • Sept. 18, 2017, Soccer
      • Sept. 11, 2017, The Tool Kit
      • Sept. 4, 2017, Red's
      • Aug 28, 2017, Nails
      • Aug 21, 2017, Tornado
      • Aug 14, 2017, Stars
      • Aug 7, 2017, Dog Feathers
      • July 31, 2017, Clocks
      • July 24, 2017, Tooth Paste
      • July 17, 2017, Honey
      • July 10, 2017, Bookmarks
      • July 3, 2017, Tools
      • June 26, 2017, One Handed
      • June 19, 2017, Curve Ball
      • June 12, 2017, Puzzles
      • June 5, 2017, Guest
      • May 29, 2017, The Umbrella
      • May 22, 2017, World Record
      • May 15, 2017, Firefly
      • May 1, 2017, Green Eyes
      • April 24, 2017, Gel Pens
      • April 17, 2017, Six
      • April 10, 2017, Missed Call
      • April 3, 2017 Hoses
      • March 27, 2017, Hope
      • Mar 20, 2017, Smiles
      • Mar 13, 2017, Onion
      • Mar 6, 2017, Creative Problem Solving
      • Feb 27, 2017, The Shopping Cart
      • Feb 20, 2017, The Tree
      • Feb 13, 2017, My Mistake
      • Feb 6, 2017, The Compliment
      • Jan 30, 2017, Friday
      • Jan 23, 2017, Wrestling Rattlesnakes
      • Jan 17, 2017, Dog Wisdom
      • Jan 10, 2017, Shock Theater
      • Jan 3, 2017, The Butterfly and the Bee
    • 2016 >
      • Sept 13, 2016, Mrs. Summers Won't Like That
      • Sept 20, 2016, A Teacher's Tale
      • Oct 4, 2016, Top 60%
      • Oct 11, 2016, Life in a Small Town
      • Oct 26, 2016, I Don't Play Golf
      • Nov 2, 2016, The Piano Player
      • Nov 28, 2016, Whataburger Jesus
      • Dec 5, 2016, Maraschino Cherries
      • Dec 12, 2016, The Box
      • Dec 19, 2016, Moving to Texas
      • Dec 26, 2016, Invisble People
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