THOUGHT I HAD A BAD DAY

Jesus touches us everyday, and some of us never recognize it. Even worshipers, who go to church every week and pray everyday, may not feel the love and mercy God gives us every moment of our lives. It is present, we just don’t recognize it, understand it, or even look for it. A good example is the day I had last week. On a Friday morning nothing seemed to be going right for me. Everything was a problem, or turning into one. The day before, my heating oil ran out and I had no heat in the house for over 15 hours. I had called the oil company and the lady said that she was sorry, and would have someone out the first thing in the morning. It turned to noon, and the house temperature was down in the 30’s. I had to work on the weekend, and there were chores I had to do that day. I was stuck, cold and fuming about the terrible service, and the service I would probably change as soon as I got some heat in the house. I was blaming everyone. The driver for being late, the lady who scheduled my deliveries, and everyone else I could think of, including God. Dear Jesus, where are you? I am told you are always near with your love and your mercy, but I feel nothing. Where is a sign? Why am I having such a rotten day? Do I really deserve this? My whole day changed when the driver finally arrived. He said that he was sorry, and that he had gone to the wrong house at first. He only works part time, and has two other jobs and was not familiar with my neighborhood or area. I told him it was okay, but I was more concerned about the lady who missed my scheduled delivery. This hadn’t happened in 35 years. He told me that the woman’s husband who was my regular truck driver, had died two weeks ago. He was 58 years old and succumbed to cancer. It was possible things had not been going very smooth for her. To make a long story short, I had a nice conversation with the oil driver. He told me about his 3 jobs, one being a school bus driver, and we even talked about a mutual friend who I hadn’t seen for over 10 years. He took extra time checking my furnace, and made sure it was working properly before he left. Once my body had warmed up, I thought about all of the things I had learned that day. Had I not run out of oil, I would never had met this driver, who I may never see again, and to find out all of the things he told me. I realized that a few hours of no heat, was not much of a problem like other people’s problems might be. The day now seems like it was a blessing in some way. Not at all like the day that started out. Bob Camp

IZZO TO COACH PISTONS?

IZZO TO COACH PISTONS?

I know it doesn’t look like it now, but I believe that MSU coach, Tom Izzo will be the new head coach of the Detroit Pistons next year.

In the middle of the college basketball season, the Spartans had a lot of injuries, but still looked like a team with a decent bench and one of the best in the NCAA. It was very stressful for Izzo to juggle the lineups and try to keep the team on a winning track. He looked exhausted, and it was probably one of his hardest coaching years.

I believe owner Tom Gores, of the Detroit Pistons, and who has owned the team since 2011 wants to turn his Pistons around desperately. He feels it has been too long already, and even though the Detroit team has improved quite a bit, it is still below average and losing the fan base weekly. After firing coach, Maurice Cheeks, and using interim John Loyer, the team has not improved much, although both coaches tried to do their best. Gores needs a big name coach, or one who will keep the fans calmed down while they get more players. Izzo is loved all over the state. He will have ample time to develop the Pistons into contender, basically by the draft and trades. He will have more time than any other coach that would get the job. 

Why do I think Izzo would ever leave Michigan State? Well, Tom Gores will spend whatever it takes to get a winner. He will offer Tom Izzo a offer that will be hard to turn down. Izzo will see a fresh start with a new team, and will not have to keep living up to his reputation as a college coach. He has achieved what most coaches only dream of, and with the Spartan’s future not that bright for the coming year, the time to leave is now.

The Spartans won’t have Appling, or Payne next year. Izzo has suggested to Gary Harris to maybe seek the draft (why?), and Dawson could be thinking the same way. The new arrivals from high school are very good, but will not make a big impact on next year. Will the MSU team even make the NCAA tourney next year? And let me tell you, that is really hard to even think about happening.

Izzo is on the last years of his college career, it would be a new refreshed start for him. He has the energy and the drive, and what an achievement it would be to turn the Detroit Piston team around. I say he will take the job.

Bob Camp

CLOWN SHORTAGE

The national unemployment rate for the month of December was 6.7 percent. It is on a downward trend, but it is way too high, and should be much lower. Even with so many people out of work, did you know that there is a national clown shortage? Yes, we are short on the number of clowns in this country, and it could get much worse.

As old clowns die, young people are not replacing them in the business. When is the last time you heard a young person say that they were going to college to become a clown?   Probably never, right? It is just not cool anymore.

Looking towards the future, clowns just might become extinct. That is, except for the politicians, overpaid sports players, and young female singers, who do weird things to get people’s attention!

Have you noticed that when you do funny things around people, they don’t say that you are a funny clown; they just call you an “idiot.” At least, that is what I get!

I hope that clowns don’t fade away. Most people love them, and I do too. As a kid, however, I was afraid of the next-door neighbor clown who always wanted me to come over and check out his many wigs and noses. I never did, because he had no balloons, and was away from home for long periods of time.

As a youngster, I might have become a clown, because I tripped over my feet a lot. I couldn’t take the laughter, and for that reason, I wear a Batman suit. The laughter is gone. 

So if you are looking for a cause to help, I suggest, “Clowns Are Us.”  

Thanks for your support.

Bob Camp