J. Davy Crockett III

Everybody loves a fish story. Somehow, such stories often grow with the telling, stretching the truth and straining all credulity. Listeners respond with laughter and knowing nods as they express their doubts about the fisherman’s tale.

The season is here. In the northern hemisphere, the days are getting shorter and the evenings cooler. The fall semester of school has begun, and that means something very important has also begun. In case you haven't guessed, it's football season!

For much of the United States, football is a passion. Lives are planned around the big games with all the rituals, like wearing school colors, carrying symbols of the team mascots, and of course, “tailgating” with food and friends. It all comes together to make football “Saturday’s religion” for many.

There is a daily deluge of news stories about gun violence and the deaths of young people involved in gang activity, or another ambush of a police officer, or a protest that becomes a riot, often with loss of life and property damage. Big metropolises like Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Houston and even smaller cities like Little Rock, Arkansas seem unable to curb the shootings that end up leaving pools of blood on their streets. Small towns are not spared as the drug culture and resulting crime leave no part of the country untouched by these deadly pursuits.

It seems that when opportunity knocks, many don’t recognize it, because it is disguised as work. Some think that opportunity is actually “luck.” Yet, this “luck” seems to follow those who work hard, fulfilling their obligations and commitments. With the workplace in transition because of modern methods, new technology, and changing markets, many fail to keep up with the changing times in their field and are left behind, missing opportunities. Change is relentless, and a willingness to adapt and constantly learn and train is required.