A MAN OF SORROWS

Posted on March 21, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3

Why did God allow this to happen?  How can a loving God cause so much pain to those He loves?  Why do we have to go through this?  Where is God?  These questions pepper our lives with feelings of abandonment, fear, depression and much more. Every day we’re confronted with evil.  There are wars, rumors of wars, destruction, hatred, inhumanity and it seems never to end.  It’s impossible at times, to believe that God is even listening to us.

Our Savior, Jesus, went through every physical, emotional and spiritual trial that we experience.  Yet He never sinned, because He was true God as well as true man.  Think about that.  Our God could’ve simply wiped out the devil at the start, but because of His love for us, He took on flesh and blood and suffered right along with us.  Not only that, His suffering took away every sin from our blackened souls.

The word empathy is derived from the Ancient Greek word empatheia, meaning “physical affection or passion.  The dictionary definition refers to empathy as being able to relate to another’s dilemma, because you have also experienced the same difficulties. From the day of His conception, Jesus knew the human experience first-hand.  He suffered poverty – watched His friends and family struggle through it – endured growing pains, bumps and bruises as a boy.  He knew what it was to be hungry and poor.  He felt the pangs of Satan’s temptation, and yet He never succumbed to its lure by sinning.  He was homeless, hungry, downcast, but never without the presence of His heavenly Father.

It was all part of the plan mapped out by God, in the Garden of Eden.  It was a masterful plan, designed with the greatest love and compassion for those He created in His own image.  He took our place.  He came into the world in a flurry of controversy.  He was cruelly beaten and suffered a horrific death, so we wouldn’t have to.  He paid the ultimate price for our salvation. This is one of the most wonderful mysteries of the Bible.  God loves us beyond measure.  He doesn’t want us to suffer, be anxious, go through Cancer or die.  He wants us to have a perfect life and He’s accomplished that through His Son, Jesus.

We rejected Him.  We were responsible for His death.  We caused His blood to pour out.  We continue to do so when we forget that He has perfect empathy for us, because He lived life and suffered death.  Now we are assured of eternal life.  Just as He overcame death, we will also. The perfect life is waiting for us beyond the grave.

Posted in death, Lent, Salvation, sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

WHAT PRICE FOR ART?

Posted on March 20, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I didn’t post yesterday, because we ventured out to church in the morning and then spent the rest of the day on a date together. Usually I post some of Paul’s art on Sundays along with some poetry of mine. So today I plan to talk about the arts and give you two samplings of Paul’s art, to indicate the endless winter we seem to be experiencing here in Minnesota.

My husband spent the majority of his career in the advertising business, but in order to prepare for that he had to take many art history classes along with his regular studies. When he turned 50, the tables turned on advertising and he had to reimagine himself. The loss of his business led him into fine art and he’s been doing that ever since. It’s hard to put a price tag on art. When you consider all the years of study, work and experience one must first go through to become an artist, the pay should be comparable to that of a brain surgeon, but today art isn’t valued in the same way. Today you can buy a copy of anyone’s art for a fraction of its worth. Computer imaging and Photo Shop have given way to a whole new set of rules.

During WWII there was an effort to retrieve all the stolen art the Germans had hidden away. Most of the pieces of art were from the old masters. Much of it was never recovered, but the efforts of this group of soldiers, allowed for many of them to be found and returned to their original owners or put on display in museums for many people to enjoy. This didn’t come at a cost, however. The lives lost far outweighed the value of those paintings and sculptures.

Things should never trump human life. The works would not have survived had they not succeeded in their efforts – but again, lives were of less value than things of this world.

As the wife of an artist, I know the time that goes into creating art. It’s a daily struggle. Even when the body is breaking down, there’s a passion in this medium that drives the artist. As a writer and performer, I can understand that, because I still feel the need to contribute to God’s work through my own art form.

The truth, however, is that what we do here on this planet has no real relevance. When we die, those things will not go with us. They will not be necessary for what happens beyond the grave. They will be part of what we leave behind. Our worldly treasure cannot buy our salvation or eternal life. The perfect life of Jesus, His death and resurrection is the masterpiece that God created to bring that about. He alone is the only fortune worth preserving. It is our greatest heritage.

Posted in art by Paul T. Boecher, death, Inspiration, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

WHAT IS MY VALUE?

Posted on March 18, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

According to US Government statistics, the average monetary value of a human life is ten million dollars. If you factor in inflation, you can kick that up another million or two. How do “they” come up with this number? It is an average, but still, how can we even begin to put a dollar sign on human beings? What about the child that lives only a few days after birth? What about the elderly, who live to be over a hundred and require constant care? The fact is, there isn’t a number that really can be placed on our value, but God happens to think we’re worth everything to Him.

We often underestimate our own personal worth.  If we’re able to breathe and move, we have value.  If we wake up each day with a sense of purpose; if we take time to listen; if we lift others up with words of encouragement, we have a reason to be here. Sometimes our own value gets set aside so we can spend more time on family.  We may even become overwhelmed by the everyday mundaneness of life.  We feel unwanted, unimportant, un-noticed and way under-valued.  The kids’ needs come first, the house is a mess, there are dishes in the sink, we haven’t even looked in a mirror.  We put so much energy into everyone else, we forget about our own needs. We have obligations with our job, our church our communities.  We don’t have the time in every day to get it all done.

It’s enough to make you raise your hands in despair – or at least think you are the only one in the whole entire world that feels this way.  Let me fill you in on a little secret.  Every person who has ever walked on the face of the earth has at some time or another dealt with a lack of self-worth. 

There are a couple ways of handling this malady. You can beat yourself up for your failures – little and big.  Soon the little failures become gigantic in your mind and overtake you.  You can go on antidepressants to help you cope.  You can join some kind of group of people like you who are facing the same problems. You can turn to a substitute like drugs or alcohol to numb you into believing you don’t have to prove yourself. You can become a drain on society and your fellow taxpayers. You can give up.  None of those ways is productive.  They may be temporary fixes, but they don’t eliminate the problem.

So, instead of turning to those “things” it’s so much easier to turn to the One who created you. His love for you is incomprehensible.  You will find none other like it. His care for you is beyond your understanding.  His willingness to sacrifice His own Son for your forgiveness and eternal life, is inconceivable. The value He places on us is beyond our wildest imagination.

We are important.  We are not meaningless individuals who are just coping every day.  There is so much more to us than that.   WE ARE GOD’S TREASURED CREATION.  He loves us just the way we are – imperfect, unclean, unworthy, but still loved and forgiven.  He no longer sees our sin.  It has been washed away. In place of that darkest wall, He sees Jesus, who changes everything. He doesn’t want us to wallow in self-pity, so He encourages us to carry on in all circumstances.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV 

Posted in forgiveness, Jesus, Lent, Salvation, SELF ESTEEM | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

MY IRISH EYES ARE FAILING

Posted on March 17, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I will be undergoing cataract surgery in the next few weeks. My eyes probably are about all that I can claim as Irish. The image attached to this post is not me, but those eyes are so nice and clear and beautiful, I just had to include it in this post. My hearing is also going, but hearing aids will have to wait until I win the lottery. The fact that I can’t hear, might explain why I thought the eye doctor said he was going to remove the Cadillacs from my eyes. Not really true, but it makes for more laughs in one of our next “Jewels of deNial” scripts.

Today we focus on the Irish and their patron saint, Patrick, who not only brought Christianity to the pagan country of Ireland, but he also supposedly got rid of all the snakes in town. I’m not quite sure if the snake part is true, but it makes for interesting reading. Sort of like the Pied Piper ridding the town of all the rats by playing his flute and leading them into a lake where they all drowned. But, I digress again.

A stereotype is defined as an over-simplified or standardized conception of a culture, profession or group.  How often do we categorize people?  For example, everyone knows that cops and donuts go together – right?  The Italian people are all members of the Mafia.  Rednecks have only one tooth and park their used furniture outside next to their pickups.

I happen to be composed of five different nationalities.  I’m Irish, English, German, French and Swedish.  I should therefore be a green beer swilling drunk- with a stiff upper lip – without a sense of humor, stubborn and serious all the time – a rude and arrogant romantic who loves freedom – and a blond socialist who shops at Ikea.

Well, I certainly hope that doesn’t describe me.  It’s funny how we put people into pigeon-holes before we ever get a chance to know them.  I think if were honest with ourselves, we have to admit Christians are also placed into their own special category.  Many people think that if you’re a Christian, your life is perfect – that you have no problems and if you do, it’s because you’ve done something to displease God.   They think you’re a goody two shoes – you’re too conservative – you don’t have any fun.  They think you worry too much about sin – that you are all show and no action and that you believe in fairy tales.

Many of those attitudes are formed because it’s easy to put people of one race, one nationality, one ethnic group, one religion into one category.  We aren’t all the same.  Every human being was created to be unique. God tells us not to judge others.  That job is up to Him.

Dear Lord, help me to keep an open mind in all my experiences today.  Keep me from making judgments about people, their intentions, their thoughts, their motives, without really knowing what’s in their hearts.  You alone are our judge.  Don’t ever let me forget that. Amen!

Posted in America, God, judgment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

WHEN IRISH EYES ARE LAUGHING

Posted on March 17, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

This is a rerun from last year, but the jokes are timeless.

Since I’m about a fifth Irish, I decided to post a few good Irish jokes for this special day.

  • ‘I was going to give him a nasty look, but he already had one.
  • O’Gara was arrested and sent for trial for armed bank robbery.
    After due deliberation, the jury foreman stood up and announced, ‘Not guilty.’
    ‘That’s grand,’ shouted O’Gara, ‘Does that mean I get to keep the money?
  • ‘Hello, Mary, how’s your new false teeth?’ asked Bridget. ‘I’m leaving them out till I get used to them!’ said Mary.
  • An American lawyer inquired, ‘Paddy, why is it that whenever you ask an Irishman a question, he answers with another question?’
    ‘Who told you that?’ asked Paddy.
  • An Irish lass, a customer: ‘Could I be trying on that dress in the window?’
    Shopkeeper: ‘I’d prefer that you use the dressing room.’
  •  Mrs. Feeney shouted from the kitchen, ‘Is that you I hear spittin’ in the vase on the mantel piece?’
    ‘No,’ said himself, ‘but I’m gettin’ closer all the time.’

‘O’Halloran,’ asked the pharmacist, ‘did that mudpack I gave you improve your wife’s appearance?’
‘It did surely,’ replied O’Halloran, ‘but it keeps fallin’ off.’

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

Posted in holidays, Humor | Tagged | 9 Comments

ANOTHER WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY!

Posted on March 16, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The sun sprinkles a handful of fairy dust upon clinging icicles. Each one hangs on for dear life hoping that tomorrow the thermometer allows them to dwindle a bit, but in reality each day only adds to their girth. That solar disk will return to full strength and eliminate them altogether. Until that day we accept our circumstances knowing that every season will present itself at just the right time

Icy winds push glistening remnants of the last snowfall across roads and fields. Long spires of stalactites cling to the eaves. The mercury in the thermometer longs to move to the opposite end. Time passes slowly as the skeletal branches of trees have given up the memory of the tender touch of rain and the warm sun only to replace it with thoughts of shriveling up and dying. Thus, it is in the winter of life and yet for those who have not yet given up the battle against the elements, the war wages on. Soon it will be replaced with green pastures, fields of gold and perfect temperatures. What shall we complain about then?

Sparkling facets of frost are scraped from our windshields so we can get a clear view of the road, but do we take time to really inspect the beauty of that frost? The tiny patterns etched into ice by the finger of God Himself are just one example of His majestic power. Each snowflake has its own pattern and becomes a kaleidoscope of intricacy. We hurry through life without often noticing the many gifts given to us through nature. The sun casts a wintry glow upon frozen lakes, the sound of crunching snow crackles beneath our feet. The chill in the air enlivens every nerve in our bodies. All the senses are aroused.

Trying to find the beauty in an endless winter is like looking at your reflection in a mirror and hoping to recapture your youth.. It seems that new life will never surface again. Everything is cold and dead. The green existence of spring seems eternally wrapped in a blanket of white. Somehow we hang on to the hope of a new day when the sun moves closer and embraces those withered limbs and forces life to bud forth again. Spring – will we ever see you again.

When winter’s final grip releases her icy hold on us, it’s such a relief. Our spirits soar, our coats come off, mittens are hidden in the recesses of the closet not to be donned for at least a few months. We breathe in fresh air instead of the stale, musty, dusty stuff that has permeated every inch of our homes. Curtains open, sunlight bathes each room with warmth and comfort. Windows may be cracked an inch or two simply to wash away the smells of the past duration. Memories of blooming gardens seep into our minds. Interesting remnants of the long season pop up everywhere – the snake of a hose that never got rolled up in time for the first snow; the remains of withered weeds and overgrowth of un-mowed grass; the Adirondack chairs which had become another level for snow to build upon. Ah, spring! It sends the senses into hyperventilation and a serious asthma attack.

Posted in aging, inspiration., Winter | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

RABBIT HOLES

Posted on March 15, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

In 2020, we were in the beginning throes of a worldwide pandemic. Things have changed since then. We’re more attuned to the necessary alterations to our lifestyles. We still wear masks in certain situations. We’re leery of government yet have become more reliant on them. We’ve separated ourselves because of the necessity of isolation, but we’ve also cut ourselves off from interaction and communication as they once were. Slowly, things are returning to the old normal, but we’ve created some very unusual rabbit holes for ourselves in the meantime.

SOME EXAMPLES: We communicate by text – often only a few words or emojis to express how we feel. We’re lacking face to face contact and are unable to read body language. We opt for online church services, because we’ve found it safer to stay at home, yet we long for fellowship with other believers. We assume the worst when we don’t hear from each other. We fall further and further into an abyss, with very little hope and a great deal of depression. Mental illness is at an all-time high and suicide rates are on the climb. We are suspicious, angry, frustrated, lonely and even frightened at times. The saddest part about all this, is that our younger generation has been relegated to the world of technology and have adopted it as their new normal, when there is a whole world of other things beyond the screen.

In Lewis Carroll’s story of “Alice in Wonderland,” we see an example of how the minds of the young can be easily transformed by the most unusual circumstances. My own personal opinion on the story, is that it is a tale of what it’s like to be an adolescent going through all the changes of puberty, but that’s a whole different post. Carrol had some insight into this dilemma of change. Here are a few quotes from the story.

‘When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.’

“If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.”

“My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.”

“I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night. Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is ‘Who in the world am I?’ Ah, that’s the great puzzle!”

Sometimes we need to be shaken to the core, before we see our need for God. The wonderful thing about that, is that He’s always there to catch us if we fall – to encourage us to go on – to push us and shape us into a new person – to help us work up to our potential – to provide a way for us to overcome death and find eternal life – because He loves us so much. That is the truth we can ALL depend on, even when things around us are collapsing.

Posted in aging, pandemic, technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

WHO AM I?

Posted on March 14, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I love musical theatre. One of my favorites is “Les Misérables,” by Victor Hugo. Hugo lived in a time of great turmoil. The French Revolution was in its early development. People were living in poverty while their rulers partied the night away. Hugo’s father was a general in Napolean’s army making it necessary for the family to move often. He witnessed the ravages of war – the politics of it – the drain on society – and the effect it had on the common man. In the 1830s Hugo started to write his major study on social misery and injustice. It wasn’t until 18 years later that his novel reached completion.

The Song, “Who Am I,” came later and centers around a man who has been wrongfully accused, serves a sentence in prison, escapes from his bondage, loses his identity, finds a redeemer, makes a new life and uses it to serve others.  This lovely story isn’t just about revolution, it’s about forgiveness and redemption.  Sounds kind of like the struggles of all our lives, doesn’t it?

I’ve often wondered about my purpose in this life. Who am I? I’ve lived a fairly average life. I’ve experienced things that most folks endure. I married my high school sweetheart. We raised three children. We struggled financially many times. We have three exceptional grandchildren. We experienced wealth for a few years too, but there isn’t much difference. I’m a writer, a poet, a sometimes artist, performer, theatre instructor and fairly healthy. I like to consider myself an encourager, but often find I’m the one who needs encouragement. I was raised as a Christian in a Lutheran church, I never really understood what a relationship with God meant until was older. Sin was often the topic of the sermons I heard as a child, with very little hope for salvation.

So far, my life sounds pretty boring, but that’s a good thing. Since I’m getting close to the end of it, I wonder if there is more I should do before my last breath. Jean Val Jean, the hero of “Les Misérables,” was serving a prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his hungry family. He escaped and made a new life for himself. It was a life devoted to helping others through their adversities. Always, in the back of his mind, he struggled with being found by the officer who pursued him all his life.

We may suffer with some past sins, which come back to haunt us from time to time. We wonder how we can ever be forgiven from those trespasses. For those who trust in God’s plan for their life, we can be assured that our salvation has been paid for in full. Instead of seeing our sins, God, the Father sees only His Son and the cost He paid for our redemption.

Who am I?  I am a redeemed child of the One and only God.  I am guaranteed a place in heaven.  I am a witness to his love for me through His Holy Word.  The world will be an evil place until Christ returns, but we have a new life waiting to begin every day,

WHO ARE YOU?

Posted in Lent, redemption, Salvation, sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

ARE YOU A SAINT OR SINNER? YES!

Posted on March 13, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

There seems to be an interest in getting a bird’s eye view of other people making foolish mistakes or trying to be something they can’t possibly be. We see it in the weekly reality shows on television – movies- in the entertainment industry – in the news and just about everywhere we go. Somehow it makes some folks feel better about themselves when others fail. If we are to believe that what we see on the tube is reality, it’s easy to understand why we’re in such a mess right now. None of us is in a position to judge others. Only God can determine what is right and wrong. However, we have a legal system in our country that is currently upside down. The laws are often made to protect the offender, rather than the subject of the offense.

Everyone of us is a sinner.  It’s part of our DNA and was passed down from  Adam and Eve.  When they disobeyed God, humanity’s relationship with Him was severed.  He no longer would physically walk with His disobedient children.  There now was a separation that put man and God at opposition.  Still God loves His children and doesn’t want to lose them, so He provided a way for their redemption –  His own blood.

Everyone has a secret we don’t want the world to know.  We fall short of God’s expectations, but He invites us back into His arms when we realize our sins, repent of them and strive to change with His help.

The church has been referred to by some as an elite country club full of hypocrites.  I like to think of it as a hospital for sinners – a cafeteria where the food of life is served – a place to come and get a fresh start. Our hope is built on God’s generous, undeserved forgiveness.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV

Posted in America, forgiveness, sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

IT’S DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

Posted on March 12, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I’m at the age where TIME is running out. I’ve gone through 160 TIME changes in my lifetime. I’ve gotten used to falling back and springing forward. I now have a lot of TIME on my hands, but no TIME to spare. I’m still trying to figure out how to change the TIME on the clock in my car, so I just leave it that way because Daylight Savings TIME is short anyway. Besides, my Check Engine light has been on for three years and it’s still running. Much like me, however, my car is old and both of us are living on borrowed TIME.

When I went to bed last night it was 10 PM, but it was really 11 PM so I was living on the wild side for a while. I woke this morning at 9 AM, but lost an hour and it was really 10 AM. My computer must’ve sprung forward twice, because it’s two hours ahead. It’s TIME for a TIME out. I’m so confused, but that’s nothing new either. Every day is a challenge. It’s also a blessing to be alive and gives me more TIME to share God’s amazing grace with others. There will come a TIME when TIME won’t matter. It will be a TIME when I will no longer shed tears so much of the TIME. There will be no more suffering, no wars, no fear – just TIME in eternity with God.

“The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”  —C.S. Lewis

Posted in aging, daylight savings time, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

GOD’S MASTERPIECE

Posted on March 12, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART BY PAUL BOECHER – POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER

Wallowing in the quietness of God’s beautiful creation,

Breathing in the scent of flowers and freshly mowed grass,

Observing wispy cloud formations, trying to make something of them,

Lost in the peace of the stillness.  Like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole,

Surrounded by the unknown, but enjoying the ride,

Every second an adventure – each thought full yet empty,

A noisy plane soars through its flight path, a pesky mosquito seeks an opening,

The sounds of a lawn mower, a power saw and occasional passing car –

With bass pounding, penetrates the moment, bringing you back,

Back to reality.  The stillness has been shattered, but only temporarily.,

In Gods original Creation, a masterpiece was made from nothing.

No sky, to seas, no divisions of land and water, nothing, yet everything,

When He placed his finger in the mix.

When He perfectly guided the process.

When He brought perfection out of chaos.

God, the Creator, the Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

Always was and always will be.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, creation, God, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

SURE SIGNS OF SPRING

Posted on March 11, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Winter simply wants to hang on this year. We’re blessed to have help shoveling our way out. It’s not a pretty sight seeing to octogenarians outside in below zero weather, trying to push snow around. In my part of the country, record snowfall and subzero temperatures are the fare for the day – the soup du jour – the endless number of snowflakes continuing somewhere into May. I love the beauty of snow. I love the glistening, diamonds that pop up on top of the freshly fallen white stuff. I enjoy watching flakes dance onto branches and snuggle into dry foliage, but enough is enough, already!

I was so excited last Tuesday, when a few of our local feral cats showed up. I know, most folks look for a furry groundhog to predict the future weather, but I watch the cats instead. I thought this was a sure sign that winter had finally come to an end. These hardy little critters had survived another jump from solstice to equinox. They took advantage of the February sun, to bask upon our Adirondack chairs,. We have renamed them – the CATarondack chairs. In fact we’ve concocted an entire story around those cats – CAT scans, CATamaran chairs, CATapults, etc. But I digress. My heart leapt for joy as I saw them. It was like viewing a glimmer of hope. Most people look for the first blooms of narcissus or tulips. I watch for winterized cats to appear.

Keeping our creative minds as active as possible is a huge necessity when you get old, even though there is very little funny stuff going on during this time of life. We almost have to create our own funny. Nothing wrong with that, I guess. So, I’ll keep my eyes open for those stray felines – get out my seed CATalogue – review the CATegories – check my peripheral vision for critters on the CATwalk – hope I don’t become CATatonic or that no one steals my CATalytic converter, especially because I now have CATaracts to worry aboutl.

Posted in aging, Humor, snow, Winter | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

SPRING, I KNOW YOU’RE OUT THERE . . .

Posted on March 11, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY FROM KATHY BOECHER

The snow is slowly melting now, soon green will take its place,

Long nights of winter darkness pass, soon sun will kiss our face,

Warm caress of springtime sunshine, drops of rain shall fall,

Dreams of golden days of summer, will surround us all,

Today becomes tomorrow, tomorrow slips right by,

Soon comes the end of living life, and like all things we die,

But Christ gives us the sweet promise to meet us at that bend,

To be with us forever, where life will never end.

Posted in aging, Art & poetry by Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

FRIENDS BY FAITH, NOT SIGHT

Posted on March 10, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I’d driven that same road several times during the week. Funny how you get in the habit of going somewhere and never really stopping to notice the things around you. There was one thing I did manage to see almost every day. There was a rather ragged man, with hair tossed about, riding a broken down, rickety old bike. He was accompanied by a strong, healthy looking Golden Retriever. The dog was leashed to the bike and the two seemed like old friends as they traveled the path into town. The weather never seemed an obstacle to either of them. Even on snowy days, I recall seeing the two of them, cutting through the white flakes on a quest of sorts.

In the summer months, there was a particular park bench where they stopped to rest. The man would unwrap his lunch and share it with his companion. The dog waited patiently for his portion.  His mouth began to salivate.  It was as if he could taste that sandwich before he even got some in his mouth. They were like two peas in a pod – always together – friends forever. There were days when the man walked the dog unleashed.  The pup would never go far from his master, except when the man threw a stick out ahead of him and his pal scurried to retrieve it and return it to his master’s side.  The scruffy looking fellow would pat him on the head and throw the stick again.

One day, I decided to park my car and get a closer look. There was no way of my knowing that the man was blind.  as I watched them interact, I soon figured it out.

The dog had shared his own eyes with those of his master. He’d carefully lead him where he needed to go, and the man would reward him with love and compassion. The man relied on the dog for guidance.  The dog trusted his master for love and friendship. All he asked was a little sustenance once in a while.

If I had let that whole story go unnoticed, I would’ve missed out on the treasure within.  We all need someone to rely on.  These two depended on each other and had a strong bond. We can depend on someone to help us when things are going bad, or we need a friend or confidante.  We have a straight line of communication to that One.  He invites us to be His own, because He loves us with an unconditional love.  Dogs seem to possess that same kind of love.  They’re forgiving, faithful, forget past mistakes, love us and bring us joy.  God loves us even more.  He never wanted man to be unhappy, anxious, lonely or desperate.

“Certain periods in history suddenly lift humanity to an observation point where a clear light falls upon a world previously dark. ”  Anne Sullivan

Posted in aging, Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

OH TO BE A BEATNIK AGAIN . . .

Posted on March 9, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s – when you were either a square, cool, a greaser or a beatnik. I’m sure every generation has their own labels, but to be a beatnik in the 50’s might’ve been akin to a pothead today. I never actually fit into that lifestyle, so I guess you could call me a square. Today, I’m an old lady of 80 and still kicking, so I’m blessed to be called “alive.” This thing which I love to do has begun to consume me.  As time swiftly flies beyond me – as my days grow shorter – as the need to make money is constantly on the brain – I come to the conclusion that I’m simply chasing the wind.  Still, I feel it’s something I must do.

I began writing stories when I was seven.  It was one of those things that came from loving to read.  The desire to weave intricate, beautiful words together and stitch them into my own stories carved out a lifelong passion. My dreams of being a writer included a French beret, lots of espresso, a dark, smokey coffee shop where kids would hang out and read their poetry. When I became an “adult,” reality hit home.  There were bills to pay, a family to raise, responsibilities.  The crunch of life got in the way of those moments of quiet contemplation.  No more the beatnik in black. Now a wife, a mother, the spitting image of my parents.  It was time to face reality and grow up.

Now I’m in my golden years.  Who ever thought of that term anyway?  There’s really nothing golden about them unless you’re independently wealthy or you’ve won the lottery.  Somehow the golden years have turned into tarnished brass.  We still have to make a living to survive.  Before we die, we must figure out a way to live. The starving artist comes to mind. It took Margaret Mitchell 10 years to complete “Gone With the Wind.”  It was the only book she ever wrote.  She received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937 and she died at the age of 49. Imagine what she might have accomplished had she lived to be my age. She wrote about what she knew and drew upon her own life in the South to tell this ageless story of perseverance and determination. I have tried to write the great American novel but have been told by some that I should really take some writing classes first. Oh well, maybe I should’ve become a beatnik.

Posted in aging, anxiety, fear, goals, Humor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

WHAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR MY LIFE?

Posted on March 8, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Surrendering to God’s will is not easy. We can think of a thousand different reasons why we should follow our own heart, think it through and make our own decisions. Do we underestimate God so much, that we think we’re smarter than He or that we have brains given to us by Him which will calculate the path we should walk? God indeed is beyond our human intelligence. His plans were set in motion before we ever came to be. Like a great composer, He wrote all the beautiful chords, made harmony out of chaos, filled the music with energy, inspiration and love. He even knew that man would fall away from Him, before Adam and Eve ever disobeyed Him. He could hear all the dissonance of wrong notes through many emotional ups and downs. He created those to sharpen our focus and help us concentrate on the song.

So, what exactly is God’s will and how do we follow it? When we take our situations directly to Him in prayer, we have some insight into what He has planned for us. When we study His Word, the Bible, we see how He has inspired many examples of humanity into those pages. If our prayers don’t get answered immediately, God may be putting a plan into action to make it possible. If the response from Him is a definite “NO,” it will soon become apparent to us that it wasn’t the right choice for us in the first place. We may have to wait. We may not understand why. We most definitely aren’t responsible for the outcome, but we will have peace with God’s choice for us.

Let the Creator of the Universe fill you in on His plan for you. Let Him show you how you can be a part of the work that needs to be done here on earth. Allow His power to make all things possible, to lead you with His right hand, into the life He has already composed for you.

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LEARNING TO TRUST

Posted on March 7, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.”  Psalm 9:10

Many of you know my husband is an artist.  He went to school at the Chicago Art Institute so that he could pursue a career in this his chosen profession.  He could have followed in his father’s footsteps and become a funeral director, but his passion for art was prompted by a desire to share his art with others. His parents didn’t discourage him.

If we find that we’re called to doing something outside of the box, or not expected of us, it can lead to great success, possible failure, starting over or giving up. It doesn’t make sense to the logical mind that our weaknesses can be used as an opportunity.  Those feelings of weakness hold no value . . . or do they?  We like the idea of success.  Failure isn’t an option in our world, but we do fail.   If we were all the best at everything, there wouldn’t be any motivation to take the next step, would there?  Goals are great, but too often we set them beyond our reach, making them destined to bomb.  Were in fact setting ourselves up for failure. We really need someone we can rely on to help us with tough decisions. Where do we go? Who do we trust?

My husband’s career didn’t take off right away.  He worked as an apprentice, did things that seemed mundane and lacking creativity, but work he did.  Eventually the hard work paid off and he opened his own business.  It grew and thrived.  At the age of 50, however, our world came crashing down because of the economy.   The doors had to be shut and we were left with nothing – no income, no savings – just the few pieces of change in our pockets when we left bankruptcy court.  Our home went into foreclosure and the only jobs which would suit our experience, we were over-qualified for. This could’ve been a time of great depression for us – and it was.

At our lowest point, Paul took up his chisels and began creating magnificent pieces of sculpture.  Those sculptures found homes in places of business and luxurious cabins and homes.  My 13 years volunteering as drama director at our children’s high school led me to a business of my own.  When it seems that all is lost, God always opens the doors to new opportunities for those who place their trust in Him. When you’re going through great difficulty, it’s hard to see any good in it.  It’s tough to understand there are lessons to be learned, but when you look back at these temporary setbacks, you’ll be able to see God ‘s hand in all of it.  He had a plan that was better than yours.  He never left you.  In fact there were times when he carried you.

He uses even our tough times to strengthen us when we trust that He knows what’s best.  Out of difficulty, we found hope.  We realized that success doesn’t come from what we do, but from the Creator of all things.  Trust requires submission.  Letting go and letting God do His work is a necessary component.  Trust also requires us to not give up, but to continue searching, look for opportunities and work at jobs or career paths that you never thought you would.  Trust enables us to surrender everything to the King of Creation.

I call that real success!

Posted in aging, America, Faith, trust | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

MISSING MY DOG

Posted on March 6, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

David Kitz had a charming story about his dog, “Champ,” this morning. It brought to mind all the many dogs we’ve had as pets over the years. Four years ago we said goodbye to our twelve year old Llewellin Setter, Gage. He was a different kind of dog. His breed alone wasn’t well known even to our vet. He soon became a puppy school dropout because of his obstinate behavior. He was a challenge in so many ways. His exuberance and ADHD (A darned hyper dog) syndrome, caused a torn rotator cuff for my husband, lots of accidents to clean up after and sometimes a total frustration. He was the first dog we ever had that took so long to get used to us. I know we’re a different breed at my house, but we’ve always managed to relate well to dogs. It took Gage almost seven years to like us.

We didn’t stop loving him, however. Even the day we returned from Easter Sunday church to discover that he’d eaten a whole bag of jellybeans including the bag. The remnants of this escapade wound up on our carpeting in technicolor. He was notorious for grabbing food from the kitchen counter before it had been cooked. Things like cookie dough, thawing chicken breasts, a pound of hamburger and other assorted goodies. Most dogs like doggie biscuits or treats, but Gage preferred a roll of paper towels or some toilet paper. We figured he must have a fiber deficiency.

He was a frisky dog too. Always on the move and ready for action. When we moved from what was our home of 24 years, he seemed to enjoy his new digs, even though he didn’t hesitate to pick a fight with one of the neighborhood feral cats. No damage was done, but an insatiable desire for cat fur was instilled into his brain. He slowed down quite a bit in our new surroundings. Maybe it was because he was then nine years old and naturally was aging along with us.

It’s amazing how much our pets become an integral part of our lives. They nuzzle their way in as puppies and chart new territory with you, always at your side or sitting by your feet or on your lap – often sleeping in bed beside you or walking you to the bathroom and staying there until you’re done. When they come to the end of their lives, we find it difficult to say goodbye almost as much as sending off a member of the family. Unlike family members, they have something that humans don’t possess. It’s called unconditional love – a love that isn’t always deserved – a love that lasts until the end of their lives.

We’ve not had a new dog since Gage and probably won’t now that we’re winding down the later years of our own lives, but if you ever have the opportunity to share your life with a dog, I would highly recommend it. I know there will be many, many dogs waiting for us at the gates to heaven when we arrive.

Posted in aging, ENDURING LOVE, humor, Pets | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

PEACEFUL LIVING

Posted on March 5, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Away from the maddening crowds,

Deep in the heart of natural things,

Lifted to heights unknown,

Separated for a time from the chaos,

The destruction,

The anger,

The hatred and blood.

There must be a place to hide,

There must be a sanctuary large enough for all,

Enough to fit every troubled soul,

The Lord, God of Israel,

Father of the Living Messiah,

Creator of heaven and earth,

That is where true solace lies,

Where the lion lays down with the lamb,

Where living waters flow,

Where pain is nonexistent,

Where life is free from anxiety,

In His bosom, we find comfort, peace, hope.

SANCTUARY!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD

Posted on March 4, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

My dad would’ve been 102 today, but he went to heaven at the very early age of 61. I think about him often now, especially as I near the late years of my own existence. Dad was one of four children. His father left the family when dad was just a young boy, leaving him with the responsibility of helping to raise his siblings. As a father, he was stern, but never laid a hand on me. His form of punishment was silence and disappointment. However, he was a good dad. I didn’t realize it at the time, but he was facing many of his own insecurities as I was growing up. Happy birthday in heaven, Dad!

I have a memory of him that turned into an article about parenting. Here it is:

The kitchen door holds stains from little fingerprints, though children no longer dwell there.  You can see lines on that same door, where we stood to be measured each year.  The room always had the smell of something good cooking, along with the cigarette smoke that curled above my dad’s head. I remember him sitting on a coral-colored, chrome chair, behind the newspaper, as he ate his breakfast.  He was often hidden behind that paper.  Maybe he did so to shut the world out for a while.  Maybe he simply needed some alone time.  Maybe he was sincerely interested in world events, but to me that paper was a shield. It was a way for him to close himself off from me and the rest of my family.

Do we do the same thing with our children? Do we shield ourselves from reality by hiding behind a computer screen or glued to a cell phone.  I heard a story recently of a teacher who assigned her class to write an essay on what they would most like to be.  When she read them, she found one that stood out more than the others.  The child said he wished he was a cell phone, so his parents would pay as much attention to him as they did with their devices.  She discovered that the essay was written by her son.

How much have we become slaves to technology? It’s really not much different than my father’s newspaper was for him. Those precious moments that we spend in another world, often becomes our reality.  We get so wrapped up in it that we exclude the important things in life.  I am totally guilty of this.  I have many people to reach out to through social media.  I often become so involved in their lives and their problems that I forget to nurture my own family.

Dear, God, as technology becomes a way of life for us, help me and all my friends and family realize what’s truly important in life.  To walk with You, to read and study Your Word, to relate to others in a positive way and to share Your Good News where and when I can.  Amen!

Posted in memories, technology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments