Aldous Huxley and a Healing Story

Although written in the 1940's, this short novel lay hidden in a trunk for decades until discovered in 1997, by Sharon Stone, the American actress. JACOB'S HANDS gives us a story of transcendence, love, greed, and redemption set against the backdrop of California in the 1920's in 141 pages.

I'm not sure how I escaped reading Aldous Huxley when taking literature classes in high school and college, but curiosity caught hold in our local library when in the "H" section, and I chose JACOB'S HANDS, co-written with playwrite/novelist, Christopher Isherwood.

Jacob, protagonist, has the ability to heal, although this capability does not always work on everyone nor does it always work immediately. When a wealthy, young man with a debilitating condition asks Jacob to heal him, Jacob asks, "Do you want to be cured?"

Interesting question. Jacob's answer is even more captivating.

"There are folks that don't," Jacob tells the young man. "....They think they want to get well, but they don't inside. You can feel them holding on to their sickness. They know it and they've gotten used to it, and they don't know what they'll do without it. That scares them." pg 69

The young man decides that yes, he wants a new life, he wants to be healed. Jacob starts by telling him to "let go". Jacob keeps repeating, "Let go. I don't want you to hang on to yourself."

I cannot but help to make an analogy between our sinful souls and Jesus' saving grace. "Let go and let God" has become a popular phrase. Do we really want to be free of sin, or have we gotten used to it, comfortable with it, and don't know what we would do without it. It would change us.... Scary?

This novelette is really quite simple, almost child-like.
The same is true of each of us.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist, or a member of Mensa.You simply need to believe that Someone has more power than you or I will ever have and this is all you need to get through life.

Dream
Believe
Let go and let God.... and sometimes the best miracles happen in our hearts and minds.

I Did It For You

In a very few days, we celebrate Christmas.
Ever wonder WHY Jesus was born?
Why did he come to a lowly manger on this earthly planet....

I discovered a site, UGG.org/The Good News, which gives seven reasons why Jesus was born--

1) Jesus had to be born because of mankind's sin.
2) Jesus had to be born because God wanted to reveal His own character to humanity.
3) Jesus had to be born to remove the sins of humankind through a perfect sacrifice.
4) Jesus had to be born for mankind to have a Mediator.
5) Jesus had to be born to provide the promised Seed of Abraham.
6) Jesus had to be born for God to make His Spirit available to all humankind.
7) Jesus had to be born for God to redeem mankind.

Each of the above is supported by scripture passages.
If you dwell on each one, you understand the significance of God's gift in the birth of His Son.

In spite of the immeasurable magnitude of each of these, we need only remember, in His words:

I did it for you. 

A Visit With Ramona

I left a note for my husband, asleep on the couch, and drove to Apple Valley. It wasn't a long drive--a mere four blocks down the street. I'm not sure where the "Apple Valley" came from as it's not a valley and there are no apple trees nearby. It is an assistive living complex and the place I may call home in another 10-20 years. I needed to go. I had not seen Ramona for weeks.

She sat in an upholstered chair near the entrance where she could watch others come and go. A friend, dressed in a vivid pink sweatshirt, her feet a foot off the floor due to her small stature, sat nearby.

Ramona offered coffee, a cookie, and a rocking chair. I sat and we chatted, smiled, chatted, and giggled like school girls. Although there is an age difference, I consider her a very precious friend. If it weren't for Ramona, I would not be posting this blog. You see, fifteen years ago, I joined a group called Alpha Writers--a group Ramona had initiated many years before. At that time, she emphatically told me, it is okay to say, "I am a writer."

During Alpha Writer's meetings, Ramona critiqued my poems. She is still the best person I know to assess, evaluate, and appreciate the nuances of what I write. I value her highly for this reason. I treasure her for many other reasons. She seeks to be purposeful. Relationships and communicating with others are important to her. She sees positive qualities in each of us. She makes Apple Valley a better place just because she is a part of their community.

It's interesting to me that our names often tell something about us. Ramona means mighty, wise, protector. In spite of her five foot height, she fits her name's meaning. She made my day!

Give me a faithful heart, a likeness to thee, that each departing day, I henceforth may see.... some work of  love begun, some deed of kindness done, some wand'rer sought and won, something for thee.      Sylvanus D. Phelps

Thank you, Ramona.

Need A Break?

A little time to think, to write, to take a walk, to look out a window at the clouds... a time to clear my head. It's what I needed.

I had just finished a big project that took weeks of planning. After the event, I thought I would sleep like a baby. It didn't happen. My system was too wired.

However, good sleep did come the following night, and I awoke on a Monday morning with what I thought would be a day of feeling "free." Nothing hanging over my head that I had to take care of.

Wrong.

When fixing breakfast, I encountered cranberry juice on various shelves of the refrigerator. The bottle had been slipped into the refrigerator on its side and slowly leaked to every layer leaving a sticky goo. Had I not been so busy, I probably would have noticed this days before.

The laundry pile needed attention.
When did I last dust the house?
Neglected paperwork lay in a pile on the kitchen counter along with pots and pans needing to be put away.

My phone squeaked with an email needing my attention.

Free day?

I once told a friend that I just wanted to feel "free." Puzzled, she asked, "What would that take?"
I couldn't answer her but I have come to realize that it has to start in my head and my heart.

Simon and Garfunkle sang "Feeling Groovy" in the 60's...  Slow down, you move too fast. You got to make the morning last. Just kicking down the cobblestones, looking for fun and feelin' groovy. Ba da da da... I got no deed to do, no promises to keep...

No deed to do? No promises to keep? Sound good at first, but upon reflection, seems rather purposeless. Maybe, even boring....

In my bedroom, I have a Bible verse posted. It reads, Now the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the LORD who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

I like the  idea that I'm being transformed whether I'm feeling groovy or up to my ears in responsibilities. It seems we need to find a balance in all of this stuff called "life."

I think I'll take a slow walk, take in the clouds, and deal with my laundry tomorrow. Life is good.

Black Friday and Solitude

A lack of  contact with people is solitude.

If you were a Black-Friday shopper, you may be over-due for a little solitude.

However, one doesn't need Black Friday to be inundated with noise and activities. Entering a sports bar one evening, we heard conversations, music, and at least fifteen different television sets with various games and sitcoms.

In our homes, we have television--some of us, 24/7-- where actors or talk-show participants interrupt each other. Movies provide action-packed shoot-outs, accidents, etc. with complementary NOISE.

Phones blurp or sing to let us know of calls and messages; computers do likewise. Depending on your work place--noises vary from ear-plug demanding sounds to constant chatter where cubicle offices are lined up for long stretches. Games? Concerts? Does anyone think all this noise is over-done?

When is the last time you heard the gurgle of a brook, the rush of the wind through the trees? Can you hear the tick-tock of your clock? If it were quiet enough, could you hear the snow fall?

Solitude
Saturated with quiet
And comfortable in my skin
I'm down to earth
Above the clouds
And somewhere in between
I'm content.

Be still and know....    

Yes, the shopping will get done, the decorating will be good enough. Drop what you're doing and rest a bit. You may catch a snowflake or two or feel the sunshine on your face.              

Happy Giving Thanks

The first Thanksgivings were harvest festivals where families and friends gathered to enjoy the fruits of their labors. We can imagine the women and children bustling in the kitchen and pantry areas for days to prepare a feast of pies,various sweets and breads, garden vegetables, and meats.

The thought of getting together, eating together, and giving thanks together before winter weather must have exited the children for weeks before the actual event.

Today, kitchen technology has made life easier. We don't have to spend days preparing our family feast. We can even order take-out with all the trimmings from Hy-Vee. Traditional foods are still anticipated along with time off from work, visiting with family and friends, and early holiday sales. 

While listening to Christian radio,

an announcer encouraged listeners to call in

and share what they were thankful for.

Unanimous answers were--family, friends, work, community, church, and God.

Although these are typically our most-praised blessings, I'm asking you to "think outside the box." In another words, give thanks for family, friends, work, community, your church, and especially praise God and, then, do a little creative thinking.

What else are you thankful for?

 

My list: 

*New friends who came into my life for various reasons.

*The energy level of 8 grandchildren: they play hide-and-seek, checkers, cards, and understand the beauty of family although they could not tell you why.  

*A tree planted last spring that surpassed expectations in growth and beauty.

*A vulnerable friend who trusts me enough to ask for prayers.

*The wind. There's something about the wind. It scuttles the clouds, changes the weather, sweeps the clutter and tainted leaves down the street. One cannot see it and yet it is there. It keeps me company in my sleepless hours, gives me reason to open the curtains in the early morning. What's it up to today? I ask.

 

I've found that most of the time, it is the little things in life that bring us joy.

Seek it. Be thankful for it.

 

Happy Giving Thanks.
 

 

Letters From God

I find letters from God dropped in the street,
and everyone is signed by God's name,
and I leave them where they are,
for I know that others will punctually come
forever and ever.
       Walt Whitman



Discovering Whitman's poem, I was reminded of an Alpha Writer's assignment: Use the first line from an already-published poem and change the rest to be yours. So, here goes....

I find letters from God dropped at my feet,

The first dandelions of spring

A maple leaf perfectly formed

A gathering of snow flakes

Each signed with yours truly, respectfully yours, or love you forever....

And the notation RSVP.
      

      

How often do we not RSVP when admiring God's incredible creation?
Whitman tells us that "others" will punctually come--forever and ever--so God gives us lots of opportunities to respond.

There are things about him that people can not see. . .

But since the beginning of the world

those things have been made easy to understand

by what God has made.

Romans 1:20

It is November. A frosting on the earth is a promise of heavenly flakes to come. We prepare to be thankful for the harvest; we prepare to soon celebrate a birth that changed the world.

With new beginnings

God calls us

continually

to respond to his love

because He first loved us.

 

Taken care of that RSVP to God yet?

It's never too late....

but why wait?

 



70 Years Ago... And, Now.

_{October 30, 1947, Iowa}

_{In the early morning hours, a thirteen month old bundle snuggles between Mommy and Daddy in a 1940 Plymouth. With a suitcase tossed in the backseat, they start the ten mile trip with a feeling of expectancy. A whimper escapes from the little one, and Mommy pulls him as close as possible--a baby sister still hibernating in her enormous tummy.}

_{After a quick drop off of their toddler at Auntie's apartment—with promises of treats and a toy train--they check in at the hospital.}

_{"Go. Get something to eat," she encourages her husband. "This always takes time." She lies uncomfortably in a hospital bed beside the elevator; there are no rooms available. He hesitates, knowing he is not a part of this process, and then leaves, feeling all of a sudden isolated, lonely, and yet filled with anticipation.}

_{A chubby baby girl with a headful of dark, curly hair arrives before my dad returns. . . . I have no recollection of all of this, of course. My first memory involves sitting with big brother on a linoleum floor, a wooden toy box between us.}

_{Of course, tons of memories were to follow—some sad, some bad, some happy, some so-so, some not worth remembering. I think about memories more than I used to. With age, I’ve become more reflective. With age, I have more time to think, consider, wonder, and perceive things differently. With age comes wisdom, it has been said. At least, the opportunities are available to do so.}

_{As a child growing up with numerous brothers, chickens running amuck in the farmyard, pens of cows and pigs, and surrounded by fields of hay, beans, and corn, I never dreamed of flying above the clouds or venturing across an ocean. Little did I know about life to come. . . .}

_{October 30, 2017, California}

_{A man of professional football build approaches us with a believable story.  He has lost his billfold and needs gas money to get home. He is moderately dressed, clean, has had a recent haircut, nice shoes. We wonder. My husband ultimately digs in his pocket and billfold for cash.}

_{A weathered man, complexion nature-formed, sits beside me, ocean front with yachts and fishing boats galore behind us. His car was towed; the cost of getting it back was prohibitive. He lives with a friend on his houseboat-- JESUS SAVES printed on a large banner on the side.}

_{A young lad--a mere 23, with no home, no car, no job, no family-- does have a seat at the bus stop on Rosecranz Street and someone to talk to (us), but no place to go. We offer advice: get your GED, go to a church, go to a court house, ask for help from social services. We offer a banana and a granola bar.}

_{"No thanks; you keep it," he says.}

_{"It's yours, I say," and place it beside him on the bench. "What's your name?" I ask.}

_{"Sam," he replies. He extends his hand. We wish him luck, and tell him we will pray that something good happens. I think of prostitution, drugs, and all the ugly things that could pull him under.}

_{On a busy city bus, ladies with outdated hats, Bibles in hand, proper facades, discerning smiles watch us. A man with jerky arm, leg, and head movements framed by a confining wheel chair wheels onto the bus and stations himself across from us. He tries a smile; it is crooked.}

_{A girl dressed in good-will clothing and a perpetual smile boards with a sweet lime plant almost her size. A man with short shorts, a striped fall sweater, and a backpack follows along with others; some with hoodies hiding faces and others searching faces as they seek an empty seat.}

_{It's a glimmer of life we don't see while living in small town, rural America.}

_{That night while waiting for the coziness of sleep that does not come easily anymore, I think about turning 70 and what it is supposed to mean for me... Considering childhood memories, struggles with relationships, caring for a family, my job, adjusting to retirement, and aging parents-- exactly what does it mean to celebrate another year of life?  With age comes wisdom? How about, with age comes vulnerability? With age, comes a variety of perceptions. With age, comes new questions and difficult-to-find answers.}

 Erich From wrote, "The whole of life of the individual is nothing but the process of giving birth to himself; indeed we should be fully born when we die."

... hopefully I'm on my way to being "fully born."

 

Birthday Thoughts

Life is a bit of a paradox. When little, we look forward to birthdays with double digits, like 10. And, then, being a teenager; and, next, 16--the age you obtain your driver's license. The magical age of 18 arrives soon enough, and in a skip and a hop, you're 21 and you own the world. Or, at least you feel you do....

In your later 20's, the body starts to go downhill.... Many of us no longer look forward to on-going birthdays. Have you ever heard anyone say, I can't wait to turn 35 ... or 50.... or ____

With age comes wisdom, someone said. The opportunities are certainly there. But, we grow frail; we can not be as independent as we once were; we realize we have limitations; and ultimately, we lose a little dignity along the way.

The good news is that Jesus transformed all this with his death and resurrection and promised the same for us in that our living and dying bodies will be changed into glorious bodies. Now, that's a day to look forward to.

My aunt passed a couple of weeks ago at 106. Although her rib cage was grating her pelvic bones therefore diminishing her stature, she was an angel to me. I can only imagine how she looks now in heaven.

Philippians 3:21 reads, Jesus will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.

Whenever your birthday is

whatever age you're turning

CELEBRATE--

You have so much to look forward to...

Pray Without Ceasing? Impossible?

According to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, more than half of Americans say they pray every day. Even among those who do not consider themselves religiously affiliated, 20% pray daily.

I have a feeling that our prayer requests are linked to our stress monitors. Stress goes up; prayer time takes a hike. Natural disasters, political upheavals, family and relationship struggles, financial crisis, terminal illness. And, yes, all the seemingly small things in our lives which seem big on a day to day basis, like, "please let me sleep through the night, just once," and "Janie studied so hard for this test; it would be nice if she'd get an A, Lord, or at least a B+"... or, "I really, really, really want this job. Can you help me out here, Lord?"

Muslims pray because they are commanded to do so; Buddhists don't pray; Hindus pray and offer gifts to one of their many gods. Christians connect with God through prayers as a child would connect with parents--because of our relationship with him in Jesus Christ.* {allabout prayer.org}

A pastor shared about a little boy's misunderstanding of the Lord's prayer. "Our Father who art in heaven," he began, "I know you know my name." {Morning With Jesus, Sept/Oct 2017}

How sweet is that! As a matter of fact, He does know your name.... He knew you before you were born; He knows the numbers of hairs on your head; He loves you with an eternal longing. Why wouldn't anyone of us want to spend time with God through prayer?

The Bible verse Pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, used to bother me; in that, "This is impossible, God." Seriously, I'd have to join a prayer convent.... Until, I began to think of this verse differently: praying without ceasing is an attitude one takes. Reflect the fruits of the spirit-- joy, peace, thankfulness, contentment. Give praise, sing, smile, care for, nurture. Prayers mean more than asking. It involves giving praise, feeling joy, and living a life that reflects the fact that you believe in an Almighty Creator, Ancient of Days, the great I AM.

In the beginning, God--and when the everlasting occurs: GOD.
Reason for prayer, don't you think?

The Early Bird Gotten By the Worm

The early bird gets the worm is a phrase to express the thought that initiative and industry has its rewards. This understandably applies to scholarships, jobs, the best seat on the bus, first picks at the buffet line, and to find everything you need on sale on a particular day.

I'm an early riser so I see the benefit of grabbing an opportunity or taking charge before others do. However, the phrase the early bird gotten by the worm interests me.

Is it possible that "early birds" are enablers? (They just want to get the job done and get it right... so others who could have been or should have been responsible aren't... causing others to become lazy or dependent on them. Ugh!)

If you're always the "early bird" in a buffet line or grabbing a seat on the bus, others see you as selfish. Did you step on someone else's toes to become the "early bird" that got the promotion in your office? Did you really need those "early bird" specials on sale?

I appreciate initiative, industriousness; it's what makes the world spin. However, looking at this entire topic from a Biblical perspective, I don't think Jesus was interested in being an "early bird." He seemed to reflect a serenity and contentedness that came from the "fruits of the Spirit"--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These don't sound like "early bird" attributes.... Unless, that is, you're first in line to volunteer at your local food bank. ;-) ... or sign up to sing in your newly formed church choir.

Matthew 19:30 reads, But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Philippians 2:3 reads, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

 

And, Colossians 3:12 reads, Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

 

It seems that finding a balance in how a person deals with situations-- using discernment, reflecting the love that Christ gives us, and praying for guidance in all things-- might be the key.

 

 

 

 

 

Divide Your Life Into Quarters and What Do You Get?

Some of us have "bucket lists." Some of us simply take it day by day, grabbing joy whenever we can. Some do both.

My father lived to be 99; my mother died at 85. If I average this, I could live to be 90+. Dividing my lifetime into quarters.... my timeline would look like this:



0-23 --The world was full of wonder. I learned to walk, talk... I went to college, I got my first real job, I fell in love, I got married.











24-46 -- I had four children, worked on and off outside the home, went back to school, moved four times, tried to survive financially, emotionally, physically, and, yes, spiritually.









47-69 -- Four children graduated college and became fully employed. Grandchildren arrived. Retirement opened new chapters of life: part-time jobs, travel, illness issues, time with parents who ultimately passed, new friends. 

70- ? --



My life has been very full. Knowing this, I should be awed by the on-going possibilities God holds for me. If one ever thinks, "Is this it? Is this all I have to look forward to--the same old, same old?" Then, perhaps one needs to change things or consider another way of thinking about one's life. We have to "keep walking" no matter what.

Why not keep walking in God's space? After all, that is all there really is.
Everything is HIS space. He is our lifeline. We are on His timeline.

Heavenly Father, life can be both wonderful and frustrating, disappointing, hard. Things are not always the way they ought to be. May we remember that we were created for a reason. We would not be here if it were not so. Giving you the glory, always. Amen

Hurts, Injuries, and Scabs--Why Do We Pick At Them?

As a child, I picked at my scabs. An infected mosquito bite, a scraped knee from falling off my bike, a wound of any kind gave me cause to consider it and pick at it. But each time I did so, the wound bled out some more, and the scab returned so I could pick at it again. If the picking became frequent and intense, it caused unnecessary bleeding, bigger sores, and scars.

I'm not sure if I picked at my scabs out of boredom, curiosity, or simply because during the healing process, they itched. Whatever the reason, I have stopped picking my skin scabs. However, there are other "wounds" I may have a tendency as an adult to pick at.

I don't need to be specific here. We're all human. Not validated for work completed? A sarcastic, hurting remark from a relative? Ignored by someone? One's own feelings of insecurity, inadequateness... The list gets long. These are places we "pick at" emotionally and mentally. We hate to leave them alone because they itch once in a while and remind us they are there. Sometimes, it feels good just to scratch and scratch until we bleed-- dwell on it, ponder it, have a pity party over the surmised "hurt".  

Whether you're picking your skin scabs or your emotional hurts, it can become so frequent and intense that it causes worse bleeding, sores, and scars. Scars don't go away; we don't like them; we sometimes try to hide them.

Segue here... Stop picking at your scabs and healing sores. God has given you a body that will heal your injuries if you let it be. Also, stop picking at those emotional wounds. God has given you a soul that will heal if you let go and let God do His work. All a part of His Creation.... Seems simple, doesn't it.

A Warm Blanket

1 Kings 1:1... When King David was old and well-advanced in years, he could not keep warm.....

Sometimes it is hard to believe that God is a personal God; after all, he is the Creator and Master of stars and seas, mountains and microscopic life, and humankind with all its idiosyncrasies.  So...I should really not ask him to take away my headache however annoying it may be. He surely has something greater to be concerned about, like world hunger, children being sold into slavery, and innocent blood being shed for evil purposes than the fact that I have a minor misunderstanding with my child. Aren't these BIG things what I should be praying about?

God cares about these big issues and He wants our prayers concerning them; however, the Bible gives us example after example that God cares about each of us on a personal level, too. The very hairs on our head our numbered (Luke 12:7).

Compared to Him and His glory, our whole lives are made up of “little things.” Psalm 139:17–18 says, How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them, Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand....

When in Rochester recently and waiting for a loved one's chemo infusion to be completed, I felt a wave of exhaustion. It had been an early morning, and I needed to be alert to drive home. I went to the waiting room. There was not an empty chair. I walked the hall and found a bench settled by a window in the elevator area. I lay down using my purse for a pillow, studied the clouds, and simply said to myself, "I need to rest"--too tired to care what others thought. Someone soon approached me and asked, "Do you need a blanket?"

I thanked her and said, "yes." She brought me a warm blanket, covered me, and left.

It was a God-like thing.
Although just a "little thing."
I didn't know her; and, yet, I will remember her.
She was an answer to an unspoken prayer.

Something Better Than Magic

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1
Magic? Of course not!
And if we read on, we learn that God gathered the water in one place and the land in another. Further, we read that God separated night from day, and marked seasons into days and years. Later, there were living creatures, and, then, God created man in his own image.
Magic?
Coincidence?
I think not.

Our grandsons visited recently. We fished, we swam, they rode a 4-wheeler through the woods, we stayed overnight in a cabin, and more.
One day, we hiked and they discovered a single leaf dancing in the breeze while attached to a spider web. The spider strand was not visible.
Magic?
Although it appeared to be so....
It was simply a part of an awesome creation that we take for granted each day.
They gathered a variety of woodland flowers and gave them to me--delighting in the discovery and color and variety. I put them in my pocket, and


we called them "pocket flowers."
Maybe, we need to see the world through the eyes of our children. And, then, give praise to an Almighty Loving God who created everything from the great expanse above to the seas with their mystery, to a dancing leaf, to a miniature wild flower, to the sweet children we are blessed to have in our lives.

Talk about awesome....

Walk Right In; Sit Right Down

I'm a child of the 60's, so when I read this morning devotions about Enoch who was a "faithful friend of God, in constant touch with God, in consistent fellowship with God, and walked with God"... I thought of a song from long ago by The Rooftop Singers ....

Walk Right In

Walk right in, sit right down
Daddy, let your mind roll on
Walk right in, sit right down
Daddy, let your mind roll on
Everybody's talkin' 'bout a new way of walkin'
Do you want to lose your mind?
Walk right in, sit right down
Daddy, let your mind roll on....

              Songwriters: GUS CANNON, HOSEA WOODS

 

Although when this song came out "the new way of walkin'" may have been an inference to drugs, rock and roll... why not think of a new way of walking with Jesus:

Let go and let God,

talk to Him,

listen to Him,

be your most genuine self with Him.

Talk about cool!
Proverbs 8:17 reads "I love those who love me and those who seek me find me."
What a better way to get to know someone--by walking with them, talking to them, honoring them, loving them, just being yourself....

When Enoch's life ended after 365 years, "He disappeared because God took him." It was as if Enoch was so close to God in his earthly walk that God just continued their walk right into heaven.
What a way to go....
What a way to BE now: close to Your Creator.
He's waiting to hear from you....

Perfectionists Always Lose

Perfectionism, in psychology, is characterized by a person's striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT DOESN'T EXIST..... In fact, sometimes our "perfectionism" expectations actually become silly. For example, from history:

1512 - After four years Michelangelo completes painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a work of unprecedented brilliance. However, the artist is frustrated with his completed work as he regrets forgoing his original design: a series of canines sitting around a table and playing a game of cards.

1776 - Thomas Jefferson pens The Declaration of Independence, one of the most important manuscripts in human history. Jefferson grew frustrated at his inability to make the treatise rhyme....

1903 - Orville and Wilbur Wright build the world's first successful airplane and pilot it a distance of 120 feet at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. ....Wilbur notes that "I could get out and run faster than this."

Concerning my own projects and expectations, whether it be refinishing furniture, trying a new quiche recipe, painting a room, I see all the flaws.... but with time realize that the flaws also give the project a character of its own. I've become easier on myself, too. Without my various personal flaws, I would be purposeless. Seriously..... It is these very flaws that have given me a better understanding of others; these very flaws have brought me to my knees and to a closer relationship with My Maker.

Is it possible that the desire to do something great or simply to get something done is keeping us from doing something good or just getting the job done? Maybe, it doesn't have to be perfect. Maybe, imperfect has its benefits....





We each have different gifts, purposes. No matter how ordinary you think your project is or you are, with God's hand on you, it will turn out okay and sometimes may turn out to be extraordinary.

God alone is perfect and his perfection is manifested in Jesus Christ. To receive Christ into our life is to receive his perfection so that God accepts us as righteous because of Christ. Then this righteous needs to be worked out in our lives so that we actually take on the character of Christ. This is a process of being perfected by God’s power as we trust in the Lord Jesus and train ourselves to grow in godliness....Being perfected in the character of Christ is different than what is ordinarily meant by perfectionism.  (from "Soul Searching" article on Perfectionism)

Call Me Eve Everyday

Most of us know the Bible story about Eve eating the forbidden fruit after God specifically told her not to. But the serpent got involved, and Eve really wanted to "know" herself (in other words, "be wise"). So, she made a decision NOT TO TRUST what God told her to do and take a bite. The rest is history. *see Genesis 3:17 below

Talk about the statement, "It takes a woman to get things done...." Well, Eve, oops, what can I say....here we are eons later suffering, not trusting, suffering, not trusting....
(Another topic for another time.)

Recently, I have another perception of this beginning-of-time story in that I am "Eve" most every day of my life...  How so? Due to my own human nature, I want to know why. Isn't this why Eve took that first bite? Satan told her, "Your eyes will be opened, you will be like God." Eve desired wisdom. She wanted to know things. When God issued this decree about not eating from the fruit of this tree it was because He wanted her to TRUST Him.

Everyday when I do not TRUST that my situations are in God's hands, and when I think I will understand and be better-off  IF I JUST KNOW WHY, I am an "Eve."

As a child and, yes, as an adult, I would think, "Come on Eve, God commanded you to do this, such a simple request. Who doesn't listen to God?" ....

...and here, I am just like Eve.




Forgive me, LORD.
And, that's why God sent His Son, Jesus; He knew I couldn't achieve this on my own.
Thanks be to God.



... from Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" ²The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" ⁴"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. ⁵"For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." ⁶When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ⁷Then the eyes of both of them were opened,

Giving It Away and Keeping It, Too

What can you think of that you can give away and, yet, keep it, too?

It's that time of the year when the garden is starting to produce. Yes, we have zucchini in abundance! Hubby picks it. We ask, "What are we going to do with this?" One can only make so much zucchini bread and, as of yet, I have not found anything taste-worthy to make out of this beautiful vegetable.  So I give away as much as others will take. Which leaves me with nothing until we return to the garden to see an abundance again.

I give household items and used-clothing to Good Will or Shop On State (a local shopping site). I liked these items when I bought them, but it's time for them to move on. I no longer have them in my possession; hopefully, someone else can get some use out of them.

When I'm ambitious, I make home-made cookies for my cookie-bear husband. He eats several at a time until the plate only has crumbs. I make and give. He receives. They're gone until I'm feeling generous with my time, again.

I purchase Christmas and birthday gifts for loved ones. Once thoughtfully chosen, carefully wrapped, and presented, they are no longer mine. I have given them away.

So what can I give away and keep, too?

My love for you.

God's love for me.

Doing Laundry in Heaven?

I'm going from fireworks (last week's blog) to doing laundry. The only segue I have is to know that while I'm doing this laundry or any other mundane chore that arises, the heavenly places are also busy. After all, Genesis 1:1 reads, God created the heavens and the earth. Should the heavens be any less busy than the earth?

I was not thinking of "heavenly places" while I hung out cloth diapers on a summer day on the farm where I grew up--the second oldest, the only girl with five brothers. I was probably thinking about riding my bike down the lane and back, setting up my space in our tree house, or sneaking berries from the garden.

This morning, some 55+ years later, as I pull warm clothing from the dryer, I am thinking of my mother and how we did laundry. It was a process that took up an entire day and, yes, usually done on a Monday.

A large "dirty-clothes-bag" hung from our bathroom closet to the damp basement below. My brothers used it as a punching bag when full.

I looked forward to unzipping the bag and letting a mountain of dirty clothes tumble to the basement floor. I also took pride in sorting according to color and textures while the ringer-washer filled with hot water and suds....

The diapers were often soaked in a bleach solution before being run through the hot cycle of the washing machine. On a hot summer day, by the time I finished hanging the last diaper, the first diaper was dry and ready to be returned to the house so the clothes line could be used for the darker chore clothes.

There was a certain amount of satisfaction in these menial chores: clothes drying in a gentle wind with sunlight gleaming. A stack of fresh towels still smelling of sunshine and country air.  ... Life was certainly less complicated.

Sometimes, I want to go back--maybe just for an hour or two, here and there, so that I can better remember....

I have no idea what heaven will be like; however, I don't believe there will be clothes lines or clothes dryers. Perhaps, fresh berries in multi-colors, a treehouse just for me, a long bike ride down a shaded lane? --and more than we can ever imagine!

Thoughts on Fireworks, Aliens and What's Going On Up There

We have just celebrated the 4th of July, and it is likely that most of us have seen a firecracker or two lighting up the sky. What a wonder this is. I don't know if you're a believer in UFOs, aliens, and whatever else is out there; however, I feel that something BIG is happening in the "heavenlies" -- something bigger than the most fantastic of fireworks.

John 15:19 reads, If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; as it is you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.... Jesus was speaking to his disciples, but are we not, too, his disciples?

In another verse from John18:36, we read, Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.

In the Lord's prayer, we express, Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.....  (think about this one)

Where exactly are these heavenly places, His Kingdom, and what is happening there? There's a lot we don't know or understand. I believe, however, that things are happening in heavenly places and have been happening since the beginning of this thing we call time.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts.... Luke 2:13

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands... Revelation 5:11

Our Creator God, the Ancient of Days, the I Am Who I Am would not be content twiddling his thumbs....Talk about fireworks! Just imagine....

       

  

  

Floaters and Staying Afloat

As I have grown older, I have discovered some things I would never have discovered had I not embraced the aging process. I use the word "embraced" broadly.

For instance, while eating breakfast outside one morning and watching the sky,  I noticed a bird flying at an extraordinarily high altitude. ... And, then, I realized it was a "floater" instead of a bird. If you're not following me, you're too young to read this.



Step 1

Step 2

I understand that an almost 70 year old grandmother on a pair of skis behind a speed boat is not necessarily inspiring.

...I will get a confused look from my grandchildren if I use the words, "smorgasbord" or "crème rinse." The word "thong" when used in reference to the shoes I used to wear throws my children into a panic.


Recently, a grandson asked if I had had surgery on my elbow. Someday, he'll understand what the aging process does to one's skin.

Last week, I had an MRI for a spot on my kidney.* If I was 30 years old, I would be WORRIED. At my age, I'm thinking it is just another errant spot, and I'm not losing any sleep over it. Afterall, I have them all over my skin. Why wouldn't they be inside me, too?
 

In Anne Lamott's "Hallelujah ANYWAY," she writes, "Mother Nature is the main problem. She runs on the principal that we all just get killed." (Gotta love her humor!)... Sometimes, it causes me to wince; sometimes it causes me to giggle; sometimes, I stare at the clouds and believe there is something big going on out there that I will be a part of someday.

Good things happen. Praise God! Bad things happen. Get down on your knees. I have discovered that the not-so-good things, the things that take me to my knees, the things that I've wondered about are also the "things" that are a part of my destiny. God works it all out somehow.

Hang in there.
Keep afloat.
Pray without ceasing...

*The spot on my kidney was a harmless cyst.

Forever Friends: A Lesson From Piglet and Pooh

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”


Do you have a forever friend?
Piglet and Poo more than likely consider each others forever-friends.... What is a forever friend....

“When we honestly ask ourselves

which person in our lives means the most to us,
we often find that it is those who,
instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures,
have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds
with a warm and tender hand.
The friend who can be silent with us
 in a moment of despair or confusion,
who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement,
who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing
and face with us the reality of our powerlessness,
that is a friend who cares.”   Nouwen

 

Plus, a forever friend lasts a lifetime.

There is someone else who wants to be your forever friend....
JESUS...a forever friend...with an eye on eternity.

 

Repeating Nouwen's words from "Out of Solitude"... it is those who...have chosen to share our pain and touch our wounds.... The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement.... and face with us the reality of our powerlessness... that is a friend who cares."  That is Jesus.

No longer do I call you servants,for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends,

for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

Let's give thanks today for our earthly forever friends and for a Loving God who will never forsake us.