Herodias

Morning bares its head—red and hot. A head-less body waits in a prison cell for John the Baptist’s disciples. Servants tip-toe, not speaking, with a cluster of grapes, bread, broiled fish—on a platter. 

Arguments erupt from the street below.  I dismiss those attending to my every need with a slight of hand, curl into a ball—my pampered, aging hands quiver and cover my face.

Men filled with too much wine, talk, desire-- overly attentive to a scantily clad young woman, her full hips and slender arms swaying to the harpist’s strings--fill my head until it throbs.
However, with Herod’s hormones running amuck came a promise: to give whatever she asks. 

Salome came to me. For show, I hesitated and whispered what she already knew.

My heart quickened as this daughter of mine paraded in front of everyone to her father. “John the Baptist’s head-- on a platter,” she stated. Confidently. Herod’s face paled; he looked to me. His left eye, bloodshot and glassy, twitching, and the tremor in his left hand beginning.

Where is this feeling of satisfaction I yearned for?  Nausea comes in waves.
The king interrupts my thoughts.

“Herodias? You should get up and be about. Our palace aids, the army officers, and our leading citizens of Galilee expect more revelry. Although…” He stutters….

“Although what?” I snap, stand to battle; the platter clattering to the tiles-- grapes, fish, bread strewn.

The old man, he shuffles away. No more words. Sinking to my knees, I choke on each breath. Although restless, I cannot stand—remembering the man in camel’s hair clothing, living on locust and wild honey, preaching of forgiveness and One to come.
Now, his head on a platter drizzled with dry blood. 

A deed that cannot be undone.

Mark 6: 14-26

Eve

Eve

Ankles, pelvic bones, fingers root to the earth.  Sounds I cannot yet fathom settle on me: “This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”

Dew drops cling; what is inside me quivers. I stretch and shed minerals and minute living things. A creature, wide-eyed, stands before me—like me, but different. Feeling free, reckless even, I wander amidst velvety ferns, ornamental flowers, dancing trees—seeing, touching, smelling. There are other creatures—all sizes, all colors, all wonders—with their own movements and sounds.

Then, another sound, like thunder: You must not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden, nor touch it. Or, you will die.

Die? What is die.... And, then, the sound of hissing-- “You will not surely die… You will be. Like. God.” 

Be like God…? The other-like-me, his hand envelops mine; our limbs brush. His body heat and needing penetrate. Plucking what is forbidden, I taste and offer what is not allowed. His eyes lock on mine; he bites. The other existing things stop, watch, wait—eyes wide, guttural sounds dropping.

What is this you have done?... The rumbling, again; this time, like sorrow. Sweetness dribbles from the other’s lips. I slowly wipe the stickiness from my own with the back of my hand. The other beasts, their tails swishing, their wings flapping, turn, and leave. What was above swells and veils everything. Silence stretches out with on-coming mist. The man, he looks away. My insides sink.

“But, the Serpent, he….” My sounds stumble on each other. Cold scales slither across my toes, loop my ankles. Stuck. I try to rid the stickiness from my fingers, lips, hands, but everything it touches, sticks, stays. Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh stammers, “But, it was the woman…” and turns his back. He walks from me. I follow. Thorns bite my skin; jagged rocks wound my feet. Ahead lays a twisted path. Eternal judgement plays out--with choices. Children of the devil or children of God?

Genesis 2:4-3:24

Have you ever wondered what you would have done had you been Eve?

Our World in Transition

Boring title, I know. But, the point I want to make is BIG.

With the pandemic, George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis, the riots it caused across the world, and the Sahara dust storm reaching the US mainland, we have a lot to consider. Our nation and world are in ongoing transition. What next? What will be the new norm? Will there even be a new norm with this and that coming at us like unpredicted hail stones from a suspect sky....

In a "Mornings With Jesus" devotional written before the pandemic, author Cynthia Ruchti writes, "I might not recognize the external serenity if it weren't for my internal serenity. Despite deadlines, projects waiting for me, family health needs yet unresolved--pockets of uncertainty--peace reigns in my soul because the Word of God is true. Jesus is our peace."

I could write, "Despite the pandemic, despite the riots across the nation, despite political upheavals, despite whatever is going on in my family--peace reigns because the Word of God is true. Yes, Jesus is our peace."

Because I have this thing about words, I'm thinking of transitional expressions. Words like, nevertheless, however, even though, regardless, because since....

Need more? Undoubtedly, indeed, obviously, definitely, without a doubt, furthermore, after all....

Put CHRIST 

behind each one of these transitional words and 

what do you get?

Nevertheless: Christ. However: Christ. Because: Christ. Undoubtedly: Christ. Furthermore: Christ...

The answer to your life! Afterall.... In every circumstance.

Due to Christ, because of Christ, you can be at peace. Always, Christ. In every circumstance, Christ.

Give glory. 

For He is our peace.

 

Ephesians 2:14

Remedies, Etc

A pain reliever, a treatment, a cure, a legal means to redress a wrong, a solution, an answer, a magic formula....

The AARP Bulletin advertises remedies for *not having enough life insurance *stress-reducers: purchase the Safe Step Walk-In Tub *emergencies: get Life Alert *making life easier with the Jitterbug phone *leaves in your gutter: get Leaf Filter gutter protection and *Scammers: God's Pearl of Wisdom diamond pendant to keep his wisdom close to your heart...always

No matter your age and what you read or what you watch or what you see on faceback, we are deluged with remedies for everything in this life. Mental health, physical health, loneliness, aging, protection....

It's endless!

Is something big missing from our lives for us to pay so much attention to all this glitter....

Is it possible we were created to be this way?

God wants us to feel incomplete. Incomplete, that is, without Him. Incomplete, until we reach our real home, the Heavenly Kingdom. Incomplete, until we understand Christ's death so that we might live forgiven. So that we might live in peace, joy, contentment in every situation and know He's got it.

The will of God will never take you 

where the peace of God will not protect you.

Of course, we need to be discerning in meeting our earthly needs, taking care of our selves, our families, our surroundings; however, God's guidance is needed in all things and when we are Spirit-filled, we will see more clearly.

"...your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 

And when Christ who is your real life 

is revealed to the whole world, 

you will share in all His glory." 

Colossians 3:3-4

That is a one of a kind awesome remedy!

I Will Be Different

I'm not the same person I was when I graduated high school, or college, or when I started teaching or when I got married, or after the birth of the first baby, and then the second.... I'm not the same person as I was when I first retired. I hope not to be the same person after the pandemic has passed-- as the world will not be.

When this all started, I made out what I called my "Corona List." Thankfully, most of these tasks are completed. Besides the sorting, organizing, making new, I have made some personal decisions. For example...

1) I'm not going to wear anything that is uncomfortable again...that includes shoes.
2) I'm going to do a better job of being in the moment whether it's with a person or out in nature. X marks the spot.

However, when working with a Shutterfly account in an attempt to make our Family 2019 album, I ran into frustration after frustration. I made the 800 call to ask for help. They assisted; it did not help. They were patient. A half hour later, they suggested I close down the computer and they would get back to me. Typically, this would have annoyed me. Greatly! But, instead, I felt relief.

I put on my jacket and headed outside to view my surroundings: buds popping from swaying tree limbs, children chattering under a crystal blue sky. The birds looked free-er than I had ever seen them. I felt a touch of heaven as wind tossed my hair.

Thank you God for the opportunity to spend time with you.

I thought of Robin Mark's "When it's all been said and done....

Jesus said,

 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. 

No one comes to the

Father except through me." John 14:6

Remembering Mom

Remembering Mom

It's interesting how certain smells, sounds, and sights can quickly take you back home. The smell of bleach, the clunking of pots and pans being removed from the cupboard early in the morning, a tire swing, an ironing board, and a lemon meringue pie only served on Father's Day and a wedding anniversary.

As the years have passed since Mom's death, I have tried to dig up memories of her when I was growing up. Most of them picture her in the kitchen preparing a meal for farmhands, or under an apple tree--her apron full of fruit, or rocking the latest baby brother in her arms after summer dinner time.

Mom working with her own dad before marriage.

When in college, Mom sent letters weekly. Roommates would be astonished at their length, 6-10 pages on both sides, with the routine details of her and Dad's lives. As I write this, it occurs to me where my need to put words on paper comes from.

When the youngest children were out from underfoot, she tackled the grove--picking up dry sticks and fallen limbs to make a pile for burning. The grove had never looked so cared for.

As I look back, older and wiser, I understand that her own work ethic provided one for me along with a sense of perseverance, stamina, and unconditional love for family. It's interesting the things that are passed down from parent to child--things that are not pounded into our heads, things that we just get because we were there, in the presence of someone special.

I miss her even more as time passes.
I'm not sure why. I didn't expect this.
Maybe, it's the understanding that underneath it all, there's something greater going on.
And, we each are a part of this.
Big mystery?

That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ. Colossians 1:26

Metaphysics Considerations

I like words. When listening to a Jordan Peterson podcast, I found it to be interesting and over my head; however, the word metaphysics stuck with me. I had to know more.

I googled several sites and discovered that a simple definition of metaphysics is difficult. Synonyms included abstract, mystical, spiritual, supernatural. One of the largest areas of philosophy, it deals with existence, identity, time, cause and effect, free will, etc.

Stick with me, the best part is coming...

Simply put, being metaphysical means to be beyond the physical. It means to see life from more than a physical reality (through your senses). Its teaching believes that there is a power and a presence in this universe everywhere. It has woven itself into every part of creation. The air we breathe, the people, the conditions.... Creation is woven in each of us, and we are each of expression of this. Our words, thoughts, ideas are forming our universe! The conditions we see are all an effect of this--of us. We use the non-physical energy and are giving it form.

If I think about what is happening in the world currently...  Well, let's just say, there is a LOT to think about when concerning metaphysics. But, it makes sense... How much of a wake-up call do we need, God?

You will show me the path of life; 

in your presence is fullness of joy; 

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11