Idle American: The Greatest Among Us

Often, I believe, writers spend too much time on the “what was” and “what will be” instead of the “what is.”

I admit to such whimpering occasionally, and this time, make no promises to do better, but I’ll try.

Keep in mind, though, that my promises - if golf shots - typically veer off to both the left and right, perhaps no closer to the hole than when teed up. Like golf, life isn’t a straight-down-the-middle fairway.

So, I’m but “semi-promising” on most topics as this column enters its 24 th year. It remains a joyful project with final wording and punctuation of each improved by the sharp eyes of a handful of “pre-readers,” all greatly valued.

In 2026, I hope some observations will be helpful, and I’m pretty sure I won’t pass along any “can’t miss” recipes. I shared one long ago, and it was a disaster. Better ones are found on the label of grocery items. (A couple of ingredients were omitted, two others mistakenly measured and the recommended baking temperature way off.)

In this year’s final piece, however, I want to mention two bloggers who are seriously devoted to writing, and whose topics each time make me want more, knowing that “more” awaits in their next writing cycle.

Both are unashamedly Christians, regularly providing challenges to make the rest of us who claim to be followers of Christ better ones.

One is Clint Hurdle, a former major league baseball player for a decade and in managerial and coaching roles for an additional quarter-century or so. All told, he has been associated with five major league baseball teams.

A great communicator, he writes daily blogs, as well as passing along favorites of others he has perused along the way. He began with a dozen email recipients more than a decade ago, and today he has more than 7,000 followers. It is simple to sign up for his free blog at clinthurdle.com.

Melissa (Mrs. Chad) Edgington isn’t a baseball authority, but in the prose world, is in a league of her own. I much admire her “juggling” of activities/schedules/family matters in Olney, a small northwest Texas town where her husband is a minister.

Married for 26 years, the Edgingtons’ lives have included his leading a rock band in Nashville, then “lawyering” for the Wagstaff Law Firm in Abilene before he became an East Texas music minister, and finally, Senior Pastor of Olney First Baptist Church. (Though still practicing law, it’s much on the back burner.)

A stay-at-home mom and mother of four children, Melissa is a former English teacher “hooked” on writing. Several years ago, she decided to write “something” every day. That “something” has become an inspirational blog called “Your Mom Has a Blog,” and she writes when she has time. Several thousand recipients look forward to her free emails. To sign up, simply click YES at her website, yourmomhasablog.com.

She writes what she feels, sometimes with seasonal topics, but always on target, underscoring whoever first said that “life is what happens to us while we’re making other plans.”

Bottom line, she’s a “serious” Erma Bombeck. If you were in a household where many of the conversations include remembrances of a rock band in Nashville, a courtroom in wherever, pastor (and wife) in a small town church and rearing children - seemingly from here to eternity - you, too, might have plenty of column fodder. (Their children - Adelade, 20, Sawyer, 17 and Emerald, 13 - now have a little sister, Ivy Joy, who has been a part of the

Edgington family since she was 11 weeks old, and officially “theirs” since 2024. She’s now age 4.)

Initially, Melissa “blogged” for her children, saying, “When my face is only a memory, when I want them to be able to ‘read’ me, for my words to come to them in lessons, as gentle whispers from God, as instruction and encouragement.”

She’s a favorite in the Olney Enterprise, and, thanks to blogging, her wonderful words of encouragement and inspiration have no limits.

Dr. Newbury, longtime university president, and his wife live in the Metroplex. Speaking inquiries, 817-447-3872 or newbury@speakerdoc.com.