Some things are worth repeating. You're not one of them.

This is one of those good news/bad news situations.

It may say St. Patrick's Day on your calendar but it says Murphy's Law Day on mine.
When I set up the 9:30 appointment to fix the kitchen faucet I asked what brand it was so I could show up with the proper repair kit. I now know Lowe's does not carry parts for American Standard faucets. On to Ace Hardware which does, but they carry seven different kits. So getting it before going to the rental house was a good plan that didn't work.
I went to the house, took out the faucet cartridge and headed back to Ace only to learn that the right kit is #8. On to the plumbing supply store. Turns out this faucet is so old that even they don't carry the kit. Back to Lowe's to buy a basic kitchen faucet and back to the house to install it. Unfortunately, that American Standard had been in there so long that it took a hack saw to get it out.
What should have been a 15 minute job took two and a half hours, much of it going from one store to the next. Oh well. I guess I should expect that on an Irish holiday.

The stock market rose for the fifth time in six sessions and housing starts are up.
I'm telling you, we'll look back and say the turn-around happened in the first quarter of '09.
(I normally charge big bucks for this kind of advice but you're preferred customers so you get it free.

You may remember my post about Fred, the guy from Everett WA I played nine holes with last Friday. We exchanged phone numbers so we could play together again this week. I called a bit ago and his wife answered the phone. "He's been looking forward to your call."
Here's a 76-year old man who apparently doesn't have a network of friends and has been hoping that a relative kid will call him to play golf again. Fred's a quiet, simple guy who chain smokes skinny little dark cigarettes and worked in construction all his life. It seems kind of sad that my phone call means that much to him, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to befriend him.
We're playing nine holes again Thursday afternoon.

"It's not a recession, it's a pre-boom."

I had some time to think as I was driving from one place to the next looking for the right faucet kit. I don't know what got me going this direction, but let me see if I can express it in writing and then you see if you agree or disagree.

There are two kinds of people: those who would if they could but can't, and those who could if they tried but won't.
I have all kinds of sympathy and compassion for the former. Whether their inability comes from physical or mental limitations, or circumstances entirely beyond their control, they deserve our earnest help. As an individual, as a church, as a govt., it is our responsibility and should be our joy. I have a special place in my heart for children in this category.

When it comes to people who could but won't I am almost completely unsympathetic. The only exception is those who think they can't because they've been told that repeatedly. They need, and should get some coaching. Think of the kid who grew up in a home where he was constantly belittled, told she was a failure, would never amount to anything. It's a lot of fun to watch them blossom with just a little guidance and encouragement. I've seen that happen a few times and it's very gratifying.

The others, those who could if they would, need a swift kick in the rear end and nothing else. I have no tolerance for their whining, complaining and endless requests for assistance. IMHO we've wasted too much energy enabling these professional drones in the classroom and in the marketplace. (You can guess why I mention the classroom.) We have only ourselves to blame when we weary of constantly propping them up one way or another.

That sounds cold and heartless. I prefer to think of it as tough love, better for all concerned.

The trick, at least for me, is being very careful to remember the difference between these two categories of people. Some days I get cynical and begin to look at everyone who isn't as a "could but won't." (Except for little kids; impossible to see them that way.) I want to always be sensitive and compassionate to the "would but can't" people and have an open heart and hand for them, reserving my refusal to enable for those who genuinely could but won't.

eh?