Luck, Ladders, and Cracked Sidewalks

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine
Daily writing prompt
Are you superstitious?
View all responses

Simply put, no.

I’m not superstitious.

Now, before anyone gets the wrong idea, I should probably clarify something. I don’t go around trying to break mirrors. I’m not walking under ladders just to prove a point. And if there’s a crack in the sidewalk, I’ll probably step over it.

But that’s not superstition. That’s just basic common sense.

First of all, breaking mirrors is expensive. Someone has to clean that mess up, and it’s probably going to be me.

Walking under ladders? That’s just asking for a paint can, hammer, or confused contractor to land on your head. I don’t need supernatural bad luck when gravity is already doing such a good job.

And stepping on cracks? Well, I loved my mother. I wasn’t going to risk anything happening to her over something that dumb.

But do I actually believe bad luck follows those things? Of course not.

I don’t have lucky shirts. I don’t have lucky socks. I definitely don’t have lucky underwear. If any piece of clothing ever determined how my day went, I’d be very concerned about the state of the universe.

Things don’t carry luck. Life just happens.

Sometimes things go well. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes you get the promotion, and sometimes your dog throws up on the carpet five minutes before guests arrive.

That’s just the way life works.

But while I don’t believe in luck, I do believe in something else. I believe prayer helps an awful lot. It doesn’t guarantee that everything will go the way I want. It doesn’t prevent every problem or every bad day.

But it does something better. It reminds me that I’m not facing any of those days alone.

And that’s worth a lot more than a lucky shirt.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

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Quick Thought – Thursday, March 12, 2026: Fertile Hearts

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read

Matthew 13:1-23

As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.
Matthew 13:23

Reflect

Like so many other people, I have always loved and cherished the parables of Jesus Christ. They’re so wonderfully descriptive and illustrative, and no story that we can devise ever comes close to their perfection. Among all of His other qualities, Jesus was a master storyteller.

Today’s scripture is one of the most beloved of His parables. The parable of the sower is an amazing story of how the word of God is spread. But since its first telling, it has been misunderstood. Jesus doesn’t say directly who the sower is, but every indication is that it’s God himself. We aren’t the sower – although He may use us to spread the seed. But ultimately, God is the one who scatters the seed, and He’s very liberal in how he scatters it.

He so desperately wants everyone to come to know Him through His Son that he tosses the seeds among rocks, thorns, weeds – people who are hard-hearted, stiff-necked and unlikely to respond. But such is the character of our God that He still holds out hope that even the unlikely may heed the call of His Spirit and turn toward Him.

Meanwhile, He also throws the seed into fertile ground – those who are more likely to accept the message, as well as into the fertile hearts of those who already know and love Him. And it’s there that His message bears the greatest harvest, multiplying itself 30-, 60- and 100-fold. You and I are part of that harvest, and whenever we heed His word and follow it – especially where it leads us to build His Kingdom here on earth – we can expect the seed of His Word to grow in our lives.

Today, pray that the Lord will continue to plant His word in your life and that your heart will be fertile soil that will allow the seed to grow and multiply. Ask Him to give you the wisdom about how He would have you help build His Kingdom, and that He will help you keep focused outward to a world that desperately needs to know Him.

Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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If I Were an Animal… Probably a Golden Retriever

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Douglas Blaine
Daily writing prompt
Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?
View all responses

When I saw today’s question—Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?—my first thought was that this could get dangerous pretty quickly. Comparing people to animals usually doesn’t end well. Some comparisons sound flattering. Others… not so much.

But if I’m being honest about it, the animal that probably fits me best is a golden retriever.

Golden retrievers are known for being loyal, and that’s something I value deeply. When I care about people—family, friends, students—I’m pretty committed to them. Loyalty matters. Relationships matter. A golden retriever sticks with its people, and I’d like to think I do the same.

They’re also intelligent, but not in a show-off way. Retrievers pay attention. They notice things. Sometimes they’re watching quietly when no one realizes it. That feels familiar to me as a teacher and a writer. A lot of what I do involves observing people, situations, and little details that others might miss.

Of course, retrievers are also famous for being easily distracted. A bird flies by, a ball rolls across the yard, and suddenly their attention goes somewhere else. That sounds about right, too. Some days I can focus on the smallest details for a long time. Other days something shiny comes along and my brain chases it down the street.

Golden retrievers are affectionate animals. They enjoy giving affection and getting it in return. That part fits me as well. I’ve always believed that the best parts of life involve connection with the people around us.

When it comes to food, retrievers are not exactly picky. They’ll eat just about anything that appears in the bowl. That’s fairly accurate in my case, too. I’m not terribly hard to please when it comes to food. On the other hand, like a retriever who enjoys a particularly good treat, I do appreciate the finer things now and then—whether that’s a good meal, a well-written book, or a carefully crafted glass of bourbon.

And finally, retrievers are active without being hyperactive. They’ll run when it’s time to run, but they’re also perfectly content lying around the house with the people they care about. That probably describes my pace of life pretty well.

So if I had to choose an animal comparison, I suppose I’d go with the golden retriever.

Loyal. Observant. Occasionally distracted. Happy to show affection. Not too picky—but appreciative of a good treat when it comes along.

All things considered, there are worse animals to resemble.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

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Quick Thought – Wednesday, March 11, 2025: God Always Has a Plan

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read

Genesis 37:12-36

Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
Genesis 37:28

Reflect

The man had been sitting at the bar, staring at his glass for at least an hour when the trouble-maker arrived. The burly man stepped up to the bar, snatched the drink from in front of the man and downed it in one gulp. The little man just started to cry.

“Come on, man,” the bully said. “I was just joking around. I’ll buy you a new drink if you stop crying.”

“You don’t understand,” the little man said. “This is the worst day of my entire life. It started when I overslept and was late to work. My boss was so mad that he fired me. When I went to drive home, my car had been stolen, and the police said there was nothing they could do. So I got a taxi ride home, and left my wallet, with all of my money and credit cards inside. The cab driver just drove off. And when I went inside, I found a note from my wife that she’d left me for my best friend.

“So I came here to drink and to think about ending my life. And just when I was getting ready to do that, you came in and drank my poison.”

Those are two guys who had bad days, but it’s hard to imagine that their days were even worse than Joseph’s. He was on top of the world when his brothers tossed him in a hole, faked his death and sold him into slavery. From there, his days were destined to get even worse for a while, as he was falsely accused of a crime and thrown into prison. Joseph had every reason to forsake God and turn his back on the Lord.

But God had a plan, and Joseph held on to the hope that God had not forgotten him. Ultimately, God restored Joseph to an even greater position that led to the salvation of Joseph’s entire family.

You will certainly have bad days in your future, and some may leave you beyond hope. But remember that God always has a plan, and will keep His hand on those who stay in His will. (And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28)

Today, pray that the Lord will bless your efforts this day. Also, pray that when things go wrong that He will help you stay close to Him until His ultimate plan is revealed.

Reflection copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 1-4

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Opening Pour

The Round of 64 begins with four blind head-to-head matchups. Eight bottles entered the ring tonight, poured and tasted without labels, preconceptions, or shelf bias. Notes and scores were recorded blind, identities revealed only after decisions were made. Some outcomes were decisive. Others were far closer than expected.

Note: The bottles will initially be labeled with letters, such as QQ and BB in the first matchup. Each bottle was placed into an order, A through LLL, but the identity of the bottle was located on the bottom with a number, 1 through 64. This is the way I maintained a true double-blind integrity so that I could rate the whiskeys honestly without any bias from knowing which bourbons were in each blind. So in this case, bottles QQ and BB were not tasted next to one another, but their honest ratings were placed into the bracket once all 64 whiskeys were rated.

🥃 Matchup 1 — Blind

QQ vs. BB

Blind Tasting Notes

QQ

  • Color: Solid mahogany
  • Nose: Dessert-in-a-glass—rich, sweet caramel, creamy milk chocolate, and a touch of banana
  • Palate: A lot of proof, but it never overwhelms—rich dark chocolate, creamy caramel, light baking spice, and oak
  • Mouthfeel: Viscous, pinning the flavors to the tongue
  • Finish: Long and lingering, with chocolate reigning throughout
  • Score: 91.79

BB

  • Color: Deep amber
  • Nose: Apples, vanilla, oak, and light cinnamon
  • Palate: Spicy cinnamon, creamy caramel, oak, and mild fruit
  • Mouthfeel: Creamy
  • Finish: Spicy, with tart fruit and spice leading
  • Score: 79.75

Reveal & Result

  • QQ: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Barrel Proof Rye (#1)
  • BB: Clyde May’s Single Barrel, Blue Label (#64)

✅ Winner: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Barrel Proof Rye
➡️ Advances to Round 2

Post-Matchup Thoughts
This one wasn’t particularly close. QQ delivered power, balance, and length in a way BB simply couldn’t match. BB was enjoyable and well-structured, but when stacked against a high-proof juggernaut firing on all cylinders, it never truly threatened.

What decided it:

Superior depth, viscosity, and a finish that refused to fade.

🥃 Matchup 2 — Blind

C vs. KKK

Blind Tasting Notes

C

  • Color: Mid-copper
  • Nose: Dusty peanuts, nutmeg, and crème brûlée
  • Palate: Very creamy—caramel and vanilla lead peanut butter and cinnamon
  • Mouthfeel: Creamy
  • Finish: Solid, with buttery caramel out front
  • Score: 80.40

KKK

  • Color: Dark copper
  • Nose: Leathery oak, light vanilla, and cardamom
  • Palate: Brown sugar, toffee, cherries, and cinnamon in good balance
  • Mouthfeel: Creamy
  • Finish: Tart cherries and cinnamon linger
  • Score: 86.37

Reveal & Result

  • C: Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Cask Strength (#32)
  • KKK: Seelbach’s 8-Year Cask Strength (#33)

✅ Winner: Seelbach’s 8-Year Cask Strength
➡️ Advances to Round 2

Post-Matchup Thoughts
This was a quality matchup. C was pleasant, creamy, and classic, but KKK brought more dimension and complexity, especially on the back half. The fruit-and-spice interplay pushed it clearly ahead.

What decided it:

Greater complexity and a more expressive finish.

🥃 Matchup 3 — Blind

YY vs. JJJ

Blind Tasting Notes

YY

  • Color: Mid-copper
  • Nose: Dusty peanuts and oak with savory baking spice
  • Palate: Peanuts, brown sugar, caramel, and oak
  • Mouthfeel: Silky
  • Finish: Decent length, with tart cherry and caramel leading
  • Score: 83.22

JJJ

  • Color: Dark copper
  • Nose: Vanilla, oak, and cardamom
  • Palate: Leather, savory caramel, and cardamom
  • Mouthfeel: Creamy
  • Finish: Oak and caramel linger longest
  • Score: 82.13

Reveal & Result

  • YY: Jack Daniel’s Heritage Toasted Barrel (#16)
  • JJJ: Green River Full Proof (#49)

✅ Winner: Jack Daniel’s Heritage Toasted Barrel
➡️ Advances to Round 2

Post-Matchup Thoughts
This was tight. Very tight. Both pours leaned savory and oak-forward, but YY edged ahead with slightly better balance and a more engaging finish. JJJ made it interesting, but not quite interesting enough.

What decided it:

A smoother mouthfeel and slightly better integration of oak and sweetness.

🥃 Matchup 4 — Blind

HHH vs. PP

Blind Tasting Notes

HHH

  • Color: Solid mahogany
  • Nose: Heavy proof at first, then chocolate, caramel, nutmeg, and oak
  • Palate: Mint-chocolate, creamy vanilla, nutmeg, and oak
  • Mouthfeel: Decadent
  • Finish: Exceptionally long—chocolate and baking spice linger beautifully
  • Score: 89.40

PP

  • Color: Light copper
  • Nose: Mild caramel and vanilla with a hint of cinnamon
  • Palate: Very spicy early, with apricots breaking through and vanilla behind
  • Mouthfeel: Soft, falling short of creamy
  • Finish: Decent, led by apricot and spice
  • Score: 78.23

Reveal & Result

  • dHHH: Far Better Cask Strength (#17)
  • PP: Old Ezra 7-Year Rye (#48)

✅ Winner: Far Better Cask Strength
➡️ Advances to Round 2

Post-Matchup Thoughts
This one tilted hard toward HHH. PP brought an interesting fruit-and-spice profile, but HHH delivered authority—depth, richness, and a finish that simply overwhelmed its opponent.

What decided it:

Sheer intensity paired with balance and a relentless finish.

🔀 Second-Round Matchups Created

  • Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Barrel Proof Rye (#1)
    vs.
    Seelbach’s 8-Year Cask Strength (#33)
  • Jack Daniel’s Heritage Toasted Barrel (#16)
    vs.
    Far Better Cask Strength (#17)

Closing Reflections

The early theme is already emerging: proof doesn’t scare off good balance—but it will expose weakness. A couple of favorites advanced cleanly, a couple survived tight fights, and one or two bottles probably hoped for a softer draw. The bracket is already taking shape, and Round 2 is lining up to be far less forgiving.

Our next post will highlight the next four pairings, so come back on Thursday to see who advances and who gets sent back to the shelf!

Note: This challenge recap is taking the place of the regularly scheduled Tasting Tuesday column. That will return on Tuesday, April 7.

Copyright © 2026  Doug DeBolt.

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A Letter to My 100-year-old Self.

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine
Daily writing prompt
Write a letter to your 100-year-old self.
View all responses

First of all, if you’re reading this at 100 years old, I’d be surprised as hell.

Nobody in my immediate family has even made it to 85. My dad was the longevity champion at 84. Mom died of cancer at 67. Her parents lived to 81 and 84, and my dad’s parents were 63 and 83. So if you’ve somehow hit triple digits, you’ve already broken every family record we have.

Frankly, I’d be thrilled just to be the first one to hit 90. My daughter would probably like that too.

But let’s be clear about something: the only way I’d want to get to 100 is if I’m still in halfway decent shape and my mind still works. If you’re reading this and wondering why someone taped a note to the wall that says “pants first, then shoes,” things may have gone sideways.

Still, if you made it this far, that means you saw things I can’t even imagine yet.

Did Sully grow up well?
Are there great-grandkids running around?
Did Lizzi get the kind of happiness every dad hopes his child finds?

And what about Daryl? I hope the years were kind to both of you. If she’s still around at that point, give her a hug from the younger version of me writing this today. She deserves more hugs than she probably ever got.

Did you finish the books you wanted to write?

That’s one thing I’d really like to know. I hope Tumbleweeds made it into the world. I hope some of the other stories that have been rattling around in my head found their way onto paper too.

And I hope you didn’t stop writing.

Writing has always been one of the ways I make sense of life. If you’re 100 and still putting words together, even if it’s just a paragraph here and there, then you’re doing something right.

One more question.

Did you stay grateful?

Because that’s really the whole point of the journey. Family, faith, stories, laughter, a good glass of bourbon with friends—those are the things that make life rich.

If you still remember that at 100, then you’ve lived well.

But if you’re reading this while complaining about the fit of your diaper, well… congratulations anyway. You made it.

And that’s still pretty impressive.

—Doug, age 59

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

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Quick Thought – Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Grateful for God’s Gifts

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read

Genesis 25:19-34

Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 25:33-34

Reflect

Have you ever seen a child be ungrateful for something special they were given? Imagine a child on Christmas morning who bemoans the presents they’ve opened. Their parents have spent all year working hard to earn money and then spent even more time specially picking out those presents. But when the child opens the gift, they say, “I didn’t want this! Where’s the other toy I asked for?”

Can you imagine the hurt and even anger that those parents might feel?

What Esau did with his birthright was even worse.

Being the firstborn male child in a Jewish family had great importance. It signified purity and strength, and the firstborn son was second to only his parents within the family. Esau held that position within Jacob’s household, and yet it seems that he never truly appreciated the gift he had.

The real test of that came when Esau was exhausted. He had likely been hunting and came to Jacob when he was tired and famished. Jacob posed to him an impossible offer: “I’ll give you some of my stew if you trade me your birthright for it.” Let’s put it into terms we can really grasp: “I’ll give you some of my stew if you trade me your wedding ring/car/life savings for it.” There’s no way any of us would give away even one of our most precious possessions for a bowl of soup, no matter how hungry we were.

And yet Esau traded his precious birthright for that stew. (I really hope that stew was life-changing, considering how high the cost was.) That’s why the Bible tells us that Esau hated or despised his birthright. He placed no value on it and valued his empty stomach to a greater degree.

Today, think about the gifts that the Lord has given you, regardless of whether those are talents or spiritual gifts or actual physical things. Give thanks to the Lord for those things, and ask Him to help you never take them for granted.

Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Capnpen’s Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge — 64 Bottles. One Bracket. No Mercy.

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Every so often, the collection gets big enough—and the curiosity strong enough—that it demands something more than a casual pour and a few scattered tasting notes. This is one of those moments.

Welcome to the Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge: a full-scale, blind, bracketed showdown designed to answer a simple but dangerous question:

If everything is poured equally, tasted blindly, and scored the same way… which bottle actually deserves the top spot on my shelf?

This isn’t about hype.
It’s not about MSRP.
And it’s definitely not about what should win.

It’s about what does.

🧠 The Core Philosophy

A few guiding principles shape this challenge:

  • Blind tasting only – labels lie, palates don’t
  • Equal pours – every bottle gets the same shot
  • Head-to-head matchups – no hiding in a crowded flight
  • Consistent scoring – the same rubric, every time
  • Progressive difficulty – the deeper you go, the tougher it gets

This is bourbon in tournament form.

🧪 The Process (Step by Step)

1. Bottle Selection (The Field of 64)

These are shelf-worthy bottles—not bottom-shelf mixers, not unicorns I’ll never open, but bourbons and ryes I actually enjoy and reach for. Different mash bills, proofs, price points, and distilleries are all represented.

Some are favorites.
Some are sleepers.
Some are here to be exposed.

2. Pre-Poured & Numbered

Each bottle is poured into identical 2-oz sample bottles, labeled only with a number. No visual cues. No bottle shapes. No cork drama.

By the time a glass hits the table, I have no idea what I’m drinking.

3. Seeding & the Bracket

The 64 bottles are randomly seeded into a single-elimination bracket:

  • Round of 64
  • Round of 32
  • Sweet 16
  • Elite Eight
  • Final Four
  • Championship Pour

Win and advance.
Lose and you’re done.

No “but I liked it last week” appeals.

4. Head-to-Head Tastings

Each matchup is tasted side-by-side, but not necessarily in order. After tasting all of them, I place the reviews in the order of their seedings and publish the results. But when I’m tasting, each pour gets the:

  • Same glassware
  • Same pour size
  • Same environment
  • Same mindset

I go back and forth as many times as needed before scoring.

5. The Scoring Rubric

Each bourbon is scored across five categories, all weighted equally:

  • Color / Appearance
  • Nose
  • Palate
  • Mouthfeel & Texture
  • Finish & Complexity

Scores are tight. Differences are often subtle. That’s the point.

There’s also one unofficial factor I won’t deny exists:

Would I instinctively pour this again?

That feeling matters—even if it never gets a number.

📆 The Schedule

This isn’t a sprint. It’s a season.

Planned pace:

  • 2–4 matchups per week
  • Typically one tasting session per night
  • Notes written immediately after each matchup

That gives us roughly:

  • Round of 64: ~2 weeks (March 10-22)
  • Round of 32: ~1 week (March 24-29)
  • Sweet 16: ~1 week (March 31-April 2)
  • Elite Eight → Finals: a deliberate slowdown (April 4-6)

The deeper the bracket goes, the more time each matchup gets. These later rounds deserve patience.

Expect the entire challenge to unfold over one month, start to finish.

📝 How I’ll Share It Here

You’ll see:

  • Individual matchup recaps
  • Occasional surprises (upsets happen)
  • Reflections on proof, age, and balance
  • Commentary on value vs. performance
  • And eventually… a champion

I’ll avoid spoilers when possible, but once a bottle is eliminated, it’s fair game for discussion.

🏆 What This Is Not

  • Not a “Top 10 Bourbons” list
  • Not a price-based ranking
  • Not an attempt to crown the “best bourbon in the world”

This is personal, methodical, and intentionally narrow:

What wins when my shelf fights itself—blindfolded?

🥃 Final Thought (Before the First Pour)

By the end of this challenge, I expect:

  • A few favorites to fall early
  • A few quiet bottles to make deep runs
  • My own assumptions to get wrecked

That’s the fun of it.

The bracket is set.
The samples are poured.
The shelf is about to tell the truth.

Let the games begin.

Note: From now through April 2, the posts for this bracket challenge will replace both Tasting Tuesday and the Bourbon Cheapskate. Those posts will resume starting Tuesday, April 7.

Copyright © 2026  Doug DeBolt.
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Where Would I Go On a Shopping Spree?

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine
Daily writing prompt
Where would you go on a shopping spree?
View all responses

Whenever someone asks, “Where would you go on a shopping spree?” I feel like there are some important details missing.

For example: whose money are we talking about?

If it’s my money, that’s not a shopping spree. That’s just… shopping. Careful shopping. The kind where you stand there holding an item, check the price tag, put it back, pick it up again, check the price tag again, and eventually convince yourself you probably didn’t need it anyway.

But if someone else is paying, then we need to establish some ground rules before we begin. Either a spending limit, a time limit, or both.

Because if you turn me loose with an unlimited credit card and no clock running, things could get out of hand pretty quickly.

Now, people who know me might assume the real danger would be a bookstore. And they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. I can wander through a bookstore for hours. Especially the good ones—the places with old wooden shelves, ladders leaning against the wall, and that wonderful smell of paper and ink that tells you you’re standing in the presence of ideas.

But honestly, a bookstore probably wouldn’t break the bank. No, the real danger would be a liquor store with a great bourbon selection.

You know the kind of place I’m talking about.

The shelves stretch from one end of the wall to the other. Bottles you’ve heard about but never actually seen in person. Store picks with handwritten tags. Limited releases sitting quietly on the shelf like they’re waiting for someone to notice them.

That’s the sort of place where your inner voice starts saying very dangerous things.

“Well, I’ve always wanted to try that one.”

“Better grab it before it disappears.”

“And really, at that price, it would be irresponsible not to buy two.”

You start doing mental math that would make an accountant weep.

“Well, if I buy three bottles at $80 each, that’s basically the same as buying one really expensive bottle.”

And then, of course, there’s the logic that every bourbon enthusiast understands:

“You can’t just buy one. What if you like it?”

Next thing you know, you’re standing at the counter with a shopping cart that looks like you’re preparing for a very sophisticated natural disaster. The clerk is giving you that look that says, “Buddy, are you opening a bar?”

And the truth is, if nobody has stopped you yet, you’re probably not done. Because now you’re thinking about backups. After all, if something is good, it’s wise to have another bottle for later.

And maybe one more after that. Just in case.

So yes, I could absolutely go on a shopping spree.

But if someone is paying the bill, they would be wise to set a few boundaries first. Otherwise they may discover that an English teacher with a fondness for bourbon can wear out an unlimited credit card faster than anyone expects.

And if there happens to be a bookstore next door. Well, that would just be irresponsible planning on their part.

Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

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Quick Thought – Monday, March 9, 2026: On Track With God

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Read

2 Timothy 2:14-19

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

Reflect

A train conductor once boarded a train that was getting ready to leave the station. He approached the first seated passenger and asked for his ticket. Looking at it, he saw that the man was on the wrong train. “But this is the train the ticket agent told me to board,” the man said. The conductor sent the man off to find his correct train, and then checked the next passenger’s ticket. It, too, was for a different train. The same thing happened with the third passenger, and the fourth. At this, the conductor got angry that the ticket agent was sending people to the wrong train.

Storming into the ticket office, the conductor blurted out, “Are you so confused that you’re boarding passengers on the wrong train?” The agent calmly assessed the situation and replied, “They weren’t on the wrong train. You were.”

Most of us are leaders in some area of our life. And as leaders, it’s vital that we stay “on the right track” so that those who follow us can also stay pointed in the right direction. That goes for every area of our life – including our spiritual development. If we’re not “on track” with the Lord, we can expect our workers, students, family members or others follow us in the right direction.

Today, pray that the Lord will help you stay close to Him, and to set a godly example for those He has entrusted to your care.

Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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