Social Icons

Pages

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Deep Inside

I have a rather unique job, one that never existed before I dreamed it up. Actually, it wasn’t a dream that birthed it into existence. It was a nightmare.

It was 11:00pm one night, many years ago, when the phone rang and woke me up. One of the electricians at my company had fallen from a 20’ ladder while trying to service a tall light pole and was in the hospital with a badly fractured arm and a concussion. The man fell, because the pole fell. And the pole fell because it was severely rusted. Why didn’t he notice the rust at the bottom? Because most of the rust was on the inside, growing like a fungus, and the small amount of rust that was on the outside had been painted over.  

You see the problem, right? Well, actually, you can’t see the problem because it’s hidden on the inside. But let me tell you… the problem is a big one! Hundreds of light poles fall over due to rust and corrosion every year, often damaging cars, buildings, and sometimes people. So after a lot of thought, and a lot of help from my father Allen (a retired electrical engineer) researching different technologies, we developed a way to use Ultrasonic Technology to “see inside a steel light pole”. My father passed away, but he would be amazed to find out that my staff and I have inspected over 40,000 light poles over the past 5 years and the job itself has now become a big one!

Why am I telling you this? Because it’s not just Light Poles that have a problem on the inside. So do we!

Sometimes we try to polish our outsides with a spray tan, or a new haircut, or nicer clothes. Perhaps a new fad diet will make our sadness go away. Or maybe braces or whiter teeth will bring me the love of my life and the happiness I seek. Perhaps not. The exterior polished, the interior corroding. The outside altered, the inside faltering. One thing for sure, cosmetic changes are only skin deep. Want to solve your problems whatever they may be. Look inside… look deep inside… at what’s truly in your heart. You change your life by changing your heart!


Our hearts are lamps for ever burning.
                                                      ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow              


 

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

15 Minutes

Last week I wrote about how people can be annoying sometimes, and I’m sure that includes me as well. But after writing that story, I had two completely opposite experiences that are helping shape me into a better person.

On Sunday my wife and I went shopping at our local grocery store. While we were in the produce department, my wife asked me to find some fresh strawberries while she went elsewhere. As I grabbed the first container of strawberries I saw (because of course I’m not much of a “shopper”) a lady stopped me and said you don’t want those strawberries. I just stood there with a blank stare like, “why are you talking to me?” But she went on to explain how these other strawberries are a better deal. Then she went on to explain about how her coupon cutting helps her save money. Then she went on to explain about which days are the best to shop to get the freshest produce. Then she went on about her grandson, and her bad back… and then she just went on and on for like forever. My wife saw what was happening and yelled over to me that she needed my help, and to hurry. So I told the elderly lady that I had to go and yet as I was walking away she just kept talking like I was still there. I felt bad for walking away, but was glad that my wife saved me because that was 15 minutes of my life I will never get back.

On Monday I went golfing at San Clemente Municipal Golf Course. After my round, as I was putting my clubs in my truck, I heard a loud but friendly voice behind me yell something. “Hey, did you have a good round?”. I turned around and saw this huge young man who was smiling at me. His hair was a mess, and his face was sweating, and he was missing a front tooth, but he was beaming like he had just won the US Open. I explained that, yes I did. I noticed his speech was slightly off, which when combined with the missing tooth, made his grinning smile even more engaging. He kept politely asking me questions and genuinely seemed concerned that I had a good time. He kept talking to me, and I kept listening because I was reminded of the lonely old lady in the grocery store. But this young man was different… in more ways than one. He was so upbeat and never stopped smiling. And he was so excited when he explained that he had just shot 41 for nine holes! I smiled and said, “Wow! That’s a great score on this course!” He then proudly told me how he was practicing for the Special Olympics.

We talked for quite a while, and then he put out his hand and said, “My name is Billy.” I replied, “My name is Joe." Billy said, “See ya Joe!”, and then got in his car to leave. I stood there and waved as an older man drove away with Billy, who kept excitedly waving back at me. But before I got in my car, I thought to myself, that was 15 minutes of my life that Billy "gave back" to me. And that is a lesson well learned!


Never mind searching for who you are. Search for the person you aspire to be.
                                                        ~ Robert Brault