life is beautiful Archives - Tony Funderburk

Today is particularly appropriate to share something I wrote 9 years ago about the gift of life. And I’m not sure who needs to read or hear this. But if it’s you, let me know so we can be glad together. Here’s the message… The moment you were conceived, you were given the indescribable gift of life. It’s an indescribable gift because no one can truly describe life. In...

Way, way back in time, Elgielene put some kinetic energy on my wrist. And that’s my poet brain way of saying she bought me a Seiko Kinetic watch. If you’ve never seen one or had one, check ’em out. They’re pretty cool. And getting a little more rare these days. I’ve had mine for 26 years now. Seiko found a way to store kinetic energy in a tiny capacitor. And that&#821...

I’m suffering from depression. Right now. Exactly at the moment I’m typing these words. If you’ve followed my posts or podcast episodes, you might think I’d never be one of those people who deals with depression disorders. But here it is. And I gotta say, it hasn’t helped one bit to open up about this. There are a lot of depression disorders out there. But mine is wei...

Got some health challenges? Or other physical obstacles? How about emotional or relational problems? And let’s not forget your mental well-being. Have you discovered you’re not as young as you used to be? And wouldn’t you like to know why bad things happen to “good” people? Well, I can tell you why. You did it. “Wha?! I did it?!,” you ask incredulously. Or...

They’re everywhere. In almost every household. Certainly in every politician’s office. And in the heads of most every kind of person there is. From young graduates to old tyrants. Big plans. For good. And not so good. And downright evil. Big plans and dreams are fine. If you’d like to achieve and receive awards, scholastic achievements, and trophies, there’s nothing inheren...

It’s unimaginably cool. But you and I actually have the breath of life from God in us. Uh-oh. I’ve already given you the clue that’ll probably make sure you get an A+ on this pop quiz I’ve got for you. I know. Nobody likes a pop quiz. But, no worries. Because I KNOW you’re gonna pass it now. OK, here’s the introduction to and the breath of life pop quiz… I...

I read a post, from a friend in social media (thanks Allen) about famous last words from some famous atheists. And the despair in their words struck me in such a way I wanted to share some of them with you. It’s chilling. But first…why do I say famous last words of foolish jaybirds? Well, back in medieval days, when I was growing up, the term “jaybird” was Southern slang fo...

I spent a lot of my formative years in Texas. So, I still use (and always will use) some of those friendly southern, colloquial expressions in my everyday language. And many of those southern memories are some of my fondest childhood recollections. Like the sounds of croaking bullfrogs. And the chatter of bugs just as dusky coolness sweeps away the heat of the day. Or the chunky sound when mom wou...

Did you ever watch The Waltons? Either when it was a new show or in reruns? Either way, do you remember how the kids would run out the front door and the screen door would smack shut? That’s because those old screen doors were lightweight and had long snakey springs. And I remember both sets of my grandparents had screen doors like that. And I also remember how, when the summer months rolled...

I watched a well-made movie, starring Robert Duvall, the other night. And he’s a very good actor who can keep you engaged. I wish he’d learn how stupid he sounds as he takes God’s name in vain in just about every character he plays. But I’m not sure Mr. Duvall understands how that relationship is key. In the movie Mr. Duvall’s character, Felix Bush, is a hermit who&#8...

Empty the ocean with a spoon? Yeah, that was a thought that rushed into my head one day back in the 1970’s. Because I was thinking about all the people in the world who give up too easily. And, at the same time, I thought about all the people in the world who would never give up. And I wanted to make sure I’d always be in that second group. At the time, I wasn’t as aware of what...

Back when I was about 12 or 13, in the mezzaluna phase of the twentieth century, my Mom forced me to endure unfathomable torture. She drove me to a quiet hillside, out on the backroads of Eastern Kansas. And she turned off the ignition to the ’48 Chevy pickup, opened the driver’s door, stepped outside, and said, “OK, slide over behind the wheel.” (for the sake of accuracy,...

Here’s a little something from nineteen ninety nine in nineteen eighty two. “Cuz they say two thousand zero zero party over, Oops out of time – So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999.” Just in case you forgot, or something, I’m quoting from that famous philosopher, Prince. Or is it the artist formerly known as Prince? Or is it Skipper? Hey, I’m no...

Back in the day (as they say) there was a short expression to describe somebody who could run fast. It went like this, “Man, he can really move it.” Do they still say that? I don’t know. But I probably do once in a while. Because when something works, you keep it. Despite the so-called trends and fads. And sometimes when something doesn’t work in one place, you move it to a...

Life is full of up’s and down’s. But that’s part of what makes it so interesting. Because it’s not the easy stuff that makes you stronger. It’s the tough stuff. And if you’ve lived longer than a couple of decades, you’re at least starting to see what I mean. Right? Tough stuff is available everywhere. I remember way, way back in the 1980’s, I lived i...

It’s been a weird April this year. And I’m in a particularly contemplative way as I think about what the past 7 days included. A second drive to Kansas, in the past couple of months. But not for fun. Because on April 17 a group of family and friends memorialized my Mom. And just two days later was the anniversary of my Dad’s birthday. And he died over 35 years ago. So, yeah. I dr...