The Four Principles of BRYAN
My good friend Bryan Anderson recently from Bethel University where he was a Biology professor.
He is a smart guy from my hometown of Cable, Wisconsin, which has a population of around 280.
Bryan now lives the good life with his family in the Twin Cities, faithful to God, family, and friends.
I repost this blog about once a year, around his birthday on July 28 or 29.. I think... and this year he is about 469 years old in dog years. And he certainly is an old dog.
Bryan was the best man in my wedding, and I have known him since I was 6 or 7 years old. It is a good thing to have such a good friend, but note that while we are good friends, and I love him like a brother, we never HUG. That would be creepy weird.
Anyway, as I mentioned, Bryan is my very good friend, and we often meet for lunch. Over these many years and lunches, he shared his secrets for a happy life with me. I have summarized his principles in what I aptly call...
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF BRYAN.
(1) Cell Phones are from the Devil - Bryan resisted for the first 57 years having his own a cell phone. He only recently purchased one at the insistence of his very wise wife, Laura.
I guess putting a little bell on him was not effective once he wandered outside of earshot.
(2) Email is electronic clutter - Bryan was a college professor until he recently retired, and he hated/avoided email. I’m not sure how that works for him, but he boasts to me about the number of unread emails that have accumulated in his inbox. Bryan's preferred modes of inter-office communication are carrier pigeon and Pony Express. Note: If there were a 5th principle, he would add NO SOCIAL MEDIA.
(3) Thou shalt NOT wear a seat belt. I know, I know.. Being labeled a smart guy comes into serious question. No one knows why Bryan won't wear a seat belt, but when I get to Heaven someday, I will ask God. I believe God will reply with a Holy Smirk.. "That's what happens when ya give 'free will' to a country boy."
And finally..
(4) There are too many signs - Bryan is very, very bothered by our modern world and the overuse of SIGNS.
Signs are everywhere, about everything. Simply put, Bryan believes that common sense should be our guide, rather than signs to inform us of the obvious.
The natural order of selection would eliminate those needing signs for the obvious.
And his disdain for signs was before the addition of roundabouts to roadways in America. Disdain is too mild a word to describe Bryan’s emotions regarding roundabouts. Perhaps visceral loathing, accompanied by some projectile vomiting, is a more accurate description.
Again, I trust Bryan, a man of science; he knows STUFF!
In contrast… I own a cell phone, read email, and wear a seatbelt, but Bryan is on to something regarding our 'sign happy world'. Additionally, I participate in social media, and Bryan is right; I should say no.
Additionally, Bryan reinforces his concerns about signs by quoting Jesus in Matthew 16:4: "A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a SIGN, but none will be given it."
AMEN & AMEN
So, there you have The Four Principles of Bryan (also known as 4PB) for a world that is ironically looking for a sign. I'm not sure the 4PB will have the same impact as ‘The Four Spiritual Laws’ by Bill Bright, but… There are four of them.
May God bless your life with a fully charged smartphone, a manageable email inbox, seat belts in your cars, a life uncluttered by excessive 'signage'... and good friends to be used as blog and cartoon fodder.
Jeff (SIGNing off for now) Larson
