SBK, dearest friend, it's a complete delight to see your words here again. Rest assured,though, that irrespective of how frequently you write, you're often in my thoughts and prayers.

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(Dang. I’m so busy these days I don’t even have time to finish typing out SBK’s initials. But if I did I’d tell him how glad I am to see him back).

Encore! Encore!

(Now where’d I put that Joomla-crashing box of exclamation points?)

:)
:0
:|
:)

My family hears me (all too often)strongly affirm to fellow drivers that "Green means Go!"

I liked this column, and Philip F. has affirmed most my current understanding: that humility (amongst other things) is so necessary.
I do believe the internet has taught us to be generally cynical and mean. I know many times my own initial reactions to something great someone's done is to look for the negative. *sigh*

(Again, I could pray Philip F's comment every day).

(PS: Hi all, sorry I don't/can't comment more - you're special to me)

"(how are you coming along, Lee?)"

Ah, Carol, one of those "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" questions; if I say "I'm doing great!" then clearly I'm unaware of the depths of my own
depravity, but if I say "Terribly!" then I must be a spiritual slacker in need of a swift spiritual kick-in-the-pants.

Besides, when Jason wrote "I remember Lee being mean," my first reaction was not to marvel at his perceptiveness, but to feel defensive. That lasted mere seconds, and soon I was thinking that Mr. Taylor doesn't know the half of it, but still.

On the other hand, I've branched out and found that I can get more people than only Gina to tell me I'm being too kind - and they even realize that I'm not giving empty flattery, but sincere admiration.

Like you, I've resigned myself to dying to self each and every day. Thanks for asking. I continue to hold you up in prayer frequently.

You're right, Gina: it's not easy being green, and way too easy to be mean! I think it's a part of each of us from the Fall. I could count on the fingers of one hand and have fingers left over the people I know who are naturally NICE people....and I'm not one of them. I wish I was. This is one of the things I've been working on this year (how are you coming along, Lee?), and failing miserably. On the other hand, I've grown enough to rejoice in my shrinking meanness, knowing by it that I'm not "dead", yet, and that (aside from my cooperation) it is God's business to "kill" me dead! I'm so happy!

Well, for one thing, coffee causes you to think carefully your speech as witness your use of words like "imbibing" and "elucidate".

Jason, I'm enjoying another cup right now. Please elucidate how imbibing my favorite beverage will make me more winsomely winning.

It's not only easy, it's self-gratifying and cowardly. And, most of all, it betrays the lack of grace, humility and gratitude in all of us that the Spirit of God desires to utilize in drawing others to Christ.

You guys are very kind, but believe me, I have my moments!

I see you caught my title reference, Lee. :-)

You need to drink more coffee Ellen.

"Nice one!" I shouted earlier today as a big vehicle made a fast left turn against the red light and through the crosswalk I was entering; the light indicated that I had right of way. My next thought was, "Darn, I guess that wasn't exactly winsome or winning."

Somehow, 184 people dislike that video, Lee. Mean people are all around us.

Actually I can't remember very many times Gina was mean. I remember me being mean, I remember Lee being mean, but I can't remember Gina being mean.

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Kevin, I was going to post this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco

. . . and then add "Oh, wait - **mean**!"

But of course, in view of our beloved editor baring her soul to us in this way, posting that video would be - y'know . . .

Personally, I'm still boggled at trying to imagine Gina acting in any way approaching meanness.

I find myself quite susceptible to road rage, getting behind the wheel and transforming into the Incredible Hulk. Hey, he's also colored . . . ;-)

I, too, know all too acutely the default judgmentalism to which I so readily gravitate, both towards others and myself. Praise to my Savior that HE has done all the work to make acceptable!!, because if in any degree it depended on me to be acceptable, I would be lost, lost, lost.

I can't leave you hanging as the only person here who admits to being guilty, Gina. Throughout the day, I find myself thinking terrible things about others, things that I'm deeply ashamed of when I calm down.

Maybe you don't do this, but I can also be very mean to myself: cussing myself out, calling myself stupid, torturing myself over all the little ways I could have been better to my late mother.

While we work on cutting other folks a little slack, sometimes we need to do the same for ourselves.