The Hidden Strength of Hinges

Sometimes life forces us to pause. I’m writing this while flat on my back, recovering from another flare-up that reminds me of the hardware holding me together — titanium rods and screws installed by my extraordinary neurosurgeon, Dr. Henry Elsner. Without his skill, my spine — the ultimate hinge — wouldn’t have the strength to bear the weight of my frame or my life’s journey.

As I lay there on a heating pad, sunlight drifted across a simple six-panel Douglas fir door. It’s been part of this home for nearly seventy years, quietly doing its job. But what caught my attention wasn’t the door itself — it was the hinges. Two small brass pieces, no larger than a man’s hand, faithfully carrying the hundred-pound door with ease.

There’s a lesson in that.

Hidden Strength Holds Us Together
Hinges never call attention to themselves, yet everything depends on them. The same is true in life. The quiet, steady forces of faith, family, and friendship often carry more weight than we realize. My titanium hinges are a daily reminder that strength doesn’t always roar — sometimes, it simply endures.

Alignment Creates Grace 
A door only swings freely when its hinges are properly aligned. So it is with us. When our hearts, values, and actions line up, we move through life with balance and grace. Misalignment brings friction — an invitation to pause and let God restore our center.

Small Things Move Big Things 
A hinge is a fraction of the door’s size, yet it makes everything work beautifully. Likewise, life often turns on small, faithful acts — a kind word, a note of encouragement, a prayer whispered at the right time. Great moments are often born from humble hinges.

As I looked at that old door, I realized both it and my spine share a sacred design — each built to hinge, to bend, to bear, and to keep moving forward. Whether forged by craftsmanship or by God’s grace, both exist to connect what was closed to what can open again.

“Great doors of opportunity often swing on small hinges.” — Anonymous

And sometimes, those hinges are made of titanium.

“Measuring Success: A Lesson in Perspective"

Recently, my wife Cynthia and I celebrated a new home with dear friends. Their success has afforded them life’s many comforts—beautiful cars, exclusive club memberships, and second homes that break the monotony of everyday routines. As I admired the fruits of their hard work, I felt a familiar tug inside: Am I doing enough with my own talents?

That same evening, while the U.S. Ryder Cup team was being trounced on television, my phone rang. It was James, a long-time friend who once lived in a homeless shelter. He called not with needs, but with joy: a praise report. A friend he had been praying for—someone who is a double amputee—had just landed a job.

At that moment, the grandeur around me and the simplicity of his news collided, and my perspective shifted.

Three Reflections on Perspective

1. Comparison Can Distort Reality
   It’s human nature to measure ourselves against others, but it’s a dangerous game. Success is not always found in possessions or status—it’s often revealed in contentment, faith, and resilience.

2. True Wealth Lies in Gratitude
   James’s joy over his friend’s new job reminded me that gratitude transforms even the smallest victories into treasures. Sometimes the simplest praises carry more weight than the grandest celebrations.

3. Perspective Is a Gift
   Over 50 years, I’ve shared tables with billionaires and the homeless alike. These encounters remind me that success wears many faces. Perspective is the bridge that keeps us grounded, grateful, and aware of what truly matters.

That evening, two worlds collided for me: the elegance of luxury and the humility of survival. Both offered a lesson, but only one left me lingering in reflection. Success isn’t a single definition—it’s the lens we choose to see life through.

Motivation in the Most Unexpected Place

This morning, I pulled into the car wash—one of those automated ones where, with the push of a button, you pick your package of suds and wax. A friendly attendant waved me forward, guided my tires onto the conveyor, and in an instant, I was carried into a world of swirling brushes, colorful foam, and sprays of water.

For two minutes, I sat back and did nothing. The machine took over, whisking away the dirt and grime with an efficiency I couldn’t match in an hour with my bucket and sponge. As I rolled out into the sunlight, roof gleaming and tires shining, I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought: Who would’ve thunk you could get motivation riding through a car wash?

It got me thinking about how often we insist on doing things the hard way—when, in fact, there are services and systems designed to free our time, conserve our energy, and deliver results better than what we could achieve on our own.

Three Lessons from the Car Wash

Don’t Confuse Effort with Value
Just because something takes longer doesn’t mean it’s better. We sometimes equate hours of work with worth, when the real value comes from outcomes. A car wash proves you can achieve more with less time if you let the right tools and other people help.

Your Time is Worth Protecting
An hour spent scrubbing, stretching, and sweating over a task is an hour you could spend creating, connecting, or simply enjoying life. Services exist to give us back that gift of time—time we should use intentionally.

Excellence Comes from Specialization
Machines are designed to reach what we can’t—the roof of an SUV, the deep polish of the wheels. In life, leaning on people or systems with expertise often produces a finish we couldn’t reach alone. Delegating isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom.

As I drove away in my shining car, I realized the greater gift wasn’t just the sparkle on my SUV—it was the reminder that life offers us ways to simplify and excel if we’re open to them. The key is knowing when to roll up our sleeves and when to let the conveyor belt carry us through.

So the next time you’re caught up in the grind, ask yourself: Is there a smarter way to do this? You might just find that, like a car wash, the answer leaves you with more than a clean finish—it leaves you with fresh perspective.

When Change Knocks, Will You Open the Door?

Not long ago, while working out at my new fitness center, I ran into a familiar face from my old gym. His appearance told the story of someone who had faced tough challenges, yet I always made it a point to greet him with kindness. When I saw him again in this new setting, I asked how he was enjoying it. He told me he’d been banned from the previous gym because of how he dressed.

Wanting to encourage him, I bought him some new shoes and apparel. Days later, I was disappointed to see him not wearing them. His reason? He simply didn’t like change.

At first, I thought, Really? You haven’t even opened the gift? But then it struck me—he wasn’t ungrateful. He was simply comfortable with where he was, even if others thought he could do better.

Three Points on Change

1. Change Is Uncomfortable, Even When It’s Good
   Most of us resist change because it disrupts our comfort. New shoes, new routines, or even new opportunities require us to step into the unknown.

2. Change Requires Courage, Not Just Opportunity
   Encouragement is important, but at the end of the day, we must decide to take the first step ourselves. I learned this firsthand when I resisted switching from watercolor to acrylics—until courage finally outweighed fear.

3. Change Unlocks Growth We Can’t Yet See
   On the other side of discomfort is discovery. My journey into acrylics opened doors to larger canvases, richer colors, and new creative freedom. My only regret is that I didn’t take the step sooner.

The lesson isn’t about shoes or paint—it’s about the courage to take a step in a new direction. Sometimes encouragement comes as a gift from others, sometimes as a whisper inside ourselves. The question is, when change knocks, will we open the door?

Awareness: Why I Still Begin Every Painting by Sitting Still

I’m reminded of a Norman Rockwell cover I’ve always loved. It shows an artist, head cocked and scratching, sitting before a blank canvas. Papers scatter the floor, brushes rest in a coffee can, and the tension of “what comes next” hangs in the air.

That simple image is a reminder that awareness is the first step in both art and life. It’s the pause before the brush touches canvas, the moment when possibilities open. Rockwell captured it with humor and truth, but to me, it’s also a lesson: beginnings matter.

Three Takeaways about Awareness:

• Pause before you begin. A quiet moment often brings the clarity we need.

• Notice the small details. They’re what give depth and texture to life, just as they do to art.

• Let beginnings matter. The first steps we take often determine the richness of the journey.

I came across a thought recently that struck me deeply: Successful people know what matters, and they don’t waste time worrying about what doesn’t matter. In painting, that means being fully present for the first stroke. In life, it means cherishing what truly counts.

As I celebrate nearly fifty years of painting, I’ve found that the richest moments aren’t always the grand unveilings, but the still, quiet beginnings. Perhaps the same is true for all of us.