Lot’s of people pick out a Word of Focus for the New Year. My friend Jackie, encouraged me to do this over the past multiple years. For 2026 however, I decided on a phrase instead. My phrase is:

“Work Together.”

The idea stems from my first experience of 2026 with my wife. We had to work together. When I reflect on last year and many years ago, that is how we got to where we are today. We worked together. Often though, communication can be arduous.

Miscommunication is the top of the list challenge.

My wife and I, also have another New Years tradition that started 25 years ago. Paint, organize, clean or clean out, throw out, or any productive project that improves, is totally a project for New Years Eve Day or New Years Day. Last year, I built a wall in my kitchen on preparation of removal of another wall and kitchen remodel. This year, I cleaned out my nightstand and ended up building a book shelf for all my books that have been crammed in my night stand for the past 10 years. In my night stand, is a treasure of important resources and sentimental papers that have been given to me, or written by me or others. I came across this awesome script that depicts hilarious MISCOMMUNICATION, that was given to me over 20 years ago.

There was this guy named Ed, in my 12 Step program. Ed, loved to do this Bit over and over again. It went on for years. It would come out randomly as he encountered a person as he entered a room. Or, as you walked up to him to say hello after the meeting, he would blurt out this Bit. The Bit is totally a miscommunication. That’s the funny. However, Ed had another goal. He just wanted you to work together with him to FINISH THE BIT! That was the communication – affirmation. Today I am going to finish the Bit, just for Ed.

Here is Ed:

Ed: “I drove by your house the other day.”

Phil: “I saw you. Why didn’t you stop in?”

Ed: “I didn’t know where you lived. Why didn’t you wave?”

Phil: “I didn’t know it was you.”

End Bit

Jesus had Bits too. It wasn’t silly Bits, but it was serious humor using metaphors that would make people laugh due to how ridiculous and absurd his parable presented.

Here is Jesus:

Mathew 7: 3-5 NIV

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

I hope you can find a Bit of Fun on this FUN FRIDAY! and the weekend!