The opaque murkiness of an impenetrable sky surrounds you. Your mind swirls with empty thoughts. You feel alone, lost, unapproachable, frightened. There is nothing but an enclosing haze that makes your mind swim.
A somberness encumbers you – shrouds you, yet causes you to shout out for just a glimmer of light. Your heart pounds within your chest – beating like the sound of a dusty old grandfather clock. Your ears listen attentively to each and every sound with anticipation, fear, helplessness.
Your eyes plead for just a tiny glimpse of light and then it happens. A small star in the distant sky slowly moves towards you. The light that shines from it, bounces to other heavenly bodies and they too come to life. This one bit of light now encompasses the entire sky and it’s as if someone turned on the switch.
Your eyes open wide. You breathe it all in. You feel safe. Every sense is enlivened by the glory of it. You are released from the mantle of uncertainty. The pall has been lifted. God is in the heavens and He has drawn you closer to Him.fear
Going to church has always been a part of my week. It’s a time to refresh from the burdens of the past week and to look forward to the next one with hope and regeneration. Te church we attend is small in comparison to our last one, but the love of God fills its walls, just like our old one did.
We greet each other each Sunday with concern about health issues. We hear about treatments being done, loss of loved ones, hurting hearts, but we also see smiling faces of reassurance and thoughts of hope for an end to suffering some day. We pray for our family and friends. We pray for our government. We depend on God to direct our path.
Little children with inquiring, hungry minds sit at the altar to hear God’s message to them. We share the Sacrament of the Lord’s supper. We sing hymns of praise and thanksgiving and hear God’s Word preached in truth and purity.
The joy of attending church each Sunday comes from so many things. It can be the comforting words from the pulpit or the compassion for a friend in need. It can be a firm handshake or hug from someone you haven’t seen for a while. It can be a time of reflection, repentance and forgiveness. Most of all, it’s time well spent, with the King of Creation.
God’s home is open to all who seek sanctuary in His loving arms. Try it. You’ll like it!
Having two very creative minds living under one roof isn’t always a good thing. We also have way too much time on our hands, because we’re “retired” I do all my writing on the dining room table which looks out through four tall windows to view almost the entire neighborhood. We spend a lot of time talking at that same table and often are witness to some strange goings on. Because we have such vivid imaginations, we tend to create some very interesting stories throughout the day as we look out those windows. Think of the movie, “Rear Window.” Maybe I’ll write my own version of that story and call it “Side Windows.”
Since I’m not cleaning my house like I did when I was in my sixties, windows tend to cloud up, even without a dog adding his two cents worth. I try to clean them at least twice a year, but that doesn’t always do the trick. Windows can be kind of like our eyes. They need to be cared for from time to time.
Helen Keller had quite a story. Born without her ability to see along with beaing deaf were challenges she overcame because of her strong will and a very determined teacher. She once said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” I believe that being blessed with sight is often overlooked or taken for granted, just like any of our senses, but sight and vision are really two different things. We see with our eyes, but our vision includes more than the act of looking. It causes us to search our own minds and add our own thinking or imagination to the mix.
Our vision can be clouded by outside influences. Those influences can darken our minds and turn us into naysayers, skeptics, conspiracy theorists and more.When we forget to clean up the mess from within, it becomes even more so. Thankfully we have a Savior that has perfect sight and He should really be our only source of vision..
As we age, we need to constantly make adjustments to the way we used to do things. For example: the stairs in the house. Our last house had a second level, which required climbing stairs up and down. We were young when we bought that house, so steps were easy. With the passage of time, it became more and more difficult to bend those overworked knees. So we made an effort to take our time, look down at our feet to make sure they were affixed to the step and plan on a longer trip than before. When juggling art supplies, laundry, sheets and pillow cases and crates of costumes were part of our daily routine, steps were just a way to get from one place to another. By the time we were ready to downsize, we determined that we would buy a house without steps. We also decided that we wanted to be away from the city in a rural setting, with a nice, natural environment yet easy access to the places we frequented. Not too much to ask for.
After looking at hundreds of houses, we thought we’d never find the ideal one The last house we viewed was perfect It was a house built in 1875, recently restored, quaint and adorable. It’s reminiscent of the farm homes that used to pepper the landscape during those long years ago. Only problem is, it’s a two story home. There are steps. There’s no basement, except for a cistern which is accessible via a narrow series of stairs. We were willing to make adjustments, because we loved everything else it had to offer. It was close to our church, our family, our places of business and it was convenient. Did I mention the steps? Paul continues to inhabit the upstairs. He sleeps in the bedroom up there. He also has one of his studios in that space. He has made adjustments, especially when he must carry loads of paintings and supplies used for teaching or painting up and down. He considers this his Stair Master. He has also conceived of a brilliant plan to alert me when he is coming down the stairs. It’s easier for him to come down backwards, so he “beeps” when he’s on his way down. That way I don’t bump into him as I pass the staircase.
I can make it up the stairs, but I doxn’t venture up too often, because I have to crawl rather than walk. It’s interesting how many ways a person can go up and down.
There are other adjustments for the aging body. I’ve mentioned this before, but we have several little sitting areas we’ve designed so that you can rest for a while if you’re doing some outside chores, like mowing the lawn or gardening. Paul even conceived of a new form of croquet. He sets the hoops strategically so that they are near one of the sitting areas. That way you can sit and rest before proceeding to the next one.
We may be getting older, but we still have the capacity to think things through. Making adjustments is just a means of using common sense and years of experimentation. I thank God for that ability as we journey through these special years of growing old together.
As indicated in the above cartoons, you can see the word “resistance,” means more than just one thing. There’s the kind of resistance we have to change, that pulls at us and causes us to become squeamish. There’s the resistance exercises people do in order to strengthen a certain part of the body. There is a political resistance which has created some real problems over the course of history. It has also been used for good. The scientific aspect of resistance is something I know nothing about, so I’ll leave that to the likes of my friend Mark at hatrack4.
When we resist change, we’re often tied tightly to the past and tradition. There’s nothing wrong with traditions, because they often identify who we are and where we come from. When we put those traditions at the forefront of our thinking, however, we become very resistant to change. I’m thinking about the Reformation here. Martin Luther certainly didn’t realize that his 95 theses would change the church the way it did. He had no way of knowing that more and more denominations would spring forth. Martin clung to the liturgy of the Catholic Church. He followed many of the hymns and traditions of that church as well. He had spent most of his young adult life as a monk in the Roman Catholic faith. Over time, the church evolved into something quite different.
Tradition is still observed in our churches and some feel a need for the structure of a church that follows the service to perfection. Many feel it would be a travesty if any of that changed. In my opinion, there are many ways to gather with fellow Christians and share our beliefs. Our core beliefs should not change and God’s Word is the source for His truth, but if there is another way which stills holds true to the beliefs we share, we shouldn’t discount a new way of worship.
When we think about political correctness and the idea of taking Mr. Potato Head off the market, because he’s sexsist – or removing the word ‘black’ from our speech, because it’s racist – or refusing to acknowledge our past, because of the horrific acts which occured – or erasing the Holocaust, because it brings up the issue of antisemitism – it all seems a little silly to me. If we aren’t using common sense and pure kindness we will continue to live in a society bent on hatred.
Being resistant can also mean that you are physically able to fight off various diseases because of a superior immune system. It can also mean that you may be afraid or unsure about something that causes you to step back. If we are forced into action by our government, is that a democracy?
One of the definitions of resistance refers to an underground organization of a conquered or nearly conquered country engaging in sabotage and secret operations against occupation forces and collaborators. There’s been talk about the forming such a movement in the United States. This sounds like an archaic expression to be used in modern times. It usually had to do with foreign oppression, wars, enemies. Are we at war with ourselves in this country?
I wonder where this is leading us. Resistance is usually represented as one force pulling against another. Since the last election there has been a growing division within our population. The most vocal and stubborn are those who can’t seem to let it go and relish in any piece of news that will suit their purpose. We could easily become a house divided.
I believe it all starts with love. As Jesus often said, we should love one another as we love ourselves. The Golden Rule has gone by the wayside like a lot of our Judaeo/Christian values. Somehow love will overcome hatred, but if we remain angry all the time, how can we possibly stop hating? The following quotes are very telling.
“For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Terrorism is a psychological warfare. Terrorists try to manipulate us and change our behavior by creating fear, uncertainty, and division in society.” Patrick J. Kennedy
“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” John F. Kennedy “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Ronald Reagan
“I’m back to now being an activist citizen and part of the resistance,” Hillary Clinton’
“I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:11
Turnng our hearts back to God is one way we can begin to unite. With so many different philosphies, religions, theology and doctrine, it’s hard to come together because each of us feels we are right. By trusting always in the ways of the Lord, we are taking the first step towards reuniting our United States. He alone can heal our land.
Solomon gained much wisdom during his reign as king of Israel, but he often found life meaningless in the scheme of things. He had it all – tried it all – felt enjoyment and pleasure from all of it, but still came up empty. Is life meaningless?
I had an aunt that was convinced that living here on earth was as if existing in hell – that this is as bad as it gets and there’s only the hope of heaven. That hope kept kept her hanging on to life through a terminal illness, a broken marriage and many other problems. Life to her was meaningless.
Looking at the world today, it would be easy to claim that we have run amok – that the future holds only more trials and pain – that life isn’t worth living – that everything is meaningless.
The word “meaningless” means having no importance or value. Is this the case for us? Do you ever get to a point when you wonder why you’re here – what is your value, what’s your purpose, what is God’s plan for you? When we get into those times of doubt and defeat, we can either turn to Him for answers or simply give up.
Our very existence is determined by Him. He’s the One who joins two into one to create new life. He watches over that life from the womb to the tomb. He has a master plan which covers every minute and second of our existence. Because He’s God, we can be sure His plan is much better than ours will ever be. Life is not an accident or a mistake. It’s a precious gift from the Creator of all things.
So is life meaningless? I don’t think so. As long as I have life within me, God has something exciting waiting for me at just the right moment – in His timing – according to His purpose.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
Yesterday, Paul and I celebrated our 57th anniversary. Add to that the eight years we knew each other prior to our wedding day and you have a lifetime of memories. We decided to take a drive because the autumn colors are at their peak in some parts of our state. We weren’t disappointed. Color isn’t an appropriate word for the magnificent art work of God’s hand. Bright red and burgendy filled the spaces between towering pines and poplar and birch trees looked like they were filled with gold coins. The sky was dotted with clouds, but the beautiful cerulian blue penetrated the great expanse. Our road trip led us to the north west where the brilliance of autumn amazed the eyes.
Being married for such a long time is quite an accomplishment, I guess, but I must say the time has flown by and I am so fortunate to be married to a man who truly loves the Lord and wants everyone else to know that feeling as well. To say it was smooth sailing all the way, would be an outright lie. Any relationship worth its salt comes with ups and downs. We were gifted with three children. We built a couple businesses and saw them succeed and fail. We experienced all that parenting had to offer and then some. We learned to rekindle our relationship when retirement came. We weathered bankruptcy, foreclosure, cancer and other illnesses. We endured fourteen presidents, several terrorist attacks (foreign and internal), watched patriotism rise and fall and rise again. We’ve seen a nation go through changes that make us wonder if we’re living in the same country we started out in.
Through all of our tough times, we were welded together by a common faith, which has helped us to get through all of it and made us better because of it. Having God as our center has truly cemented our reltionship.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
My husband grew up in a home that also housed the family business – a funeral home. There were the usual jokes throughout his childhood about people dying to get in there. There were an abundance of stories that would make for hilarious reading. I know it isn’t really very respectful to find laughter in grief, but sometimes humor is the only way to deal with something like that
The family residence was upstairs and the huge basement was used for fun activities for the children. They had a full length archery range – room for a toy train set – a science and biology lab and even a place for specimens such as snakes and frogs living in the window well. There was also a family room in the basement for people to sit and smoke – something folks did a lot of before they found out how bad it was for them.
One day my husband (then about ten) had fed his pet frogs and snakes and left the window well door open. As guests were gathering in the family room for a quick smoke before the review of their loved one, a few snakes had escaped and slithered their way into their presence. The room erupted in shock, fear and panic. That was the end of the science lab.
Whenever we went on a date, we used the company car and would have to call every half hour in case it was needed.
Thankfully my husband never followed in his father’s footsteps. It must have been very difficult to face death on a daily basis, but his family held on to the hope of heaven and the price that was paid for salvation so they were able to deal with the sadness knowing that life really didn’t end at death.
How do we know what lies ahead for us? The Bible is full of references to death, but one that gives me the most confidence is when Jesus spoke these words to the condemned man that was crucified alongside Him. “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43. Jesus knew this man’s heart at that very moment and promised that his faith would set him free from the pangs of hell.
It seems so simple doesn’t it? That’s because it is!
When we give something of ourselves to benefit others, God tells us to do it with a grateful heart. If there is any malice in the doing or giving, we aren’t doing it His way. His love is perfect and we are flawed, but we can still use His example in our daily walk. We can strive to be more and more like Him but we can never really love like He does. Our old sinful nature always gets in the way of the pure love we try to mirror, but which often turns sour.
There can be personality clashes, differences in how to do things, high expectations and low results, and so much more. These are merely tools the devil uses to turn us away from that pure love of God to the tainted and perverted love he offers. Satan has a way of making us feel bruised, used and abused. How come God allows the devil so much power over us? Once we are God’s children, aren’t we supposed to be free of those temptations?
Unfortunately the devil finds great delight in working on those who love the Lord. He wants all of us to share in his misery. We have the protection of God, however and can depend on His grace. His mercy endures forever. Even in our darkest moments, God is with us and is our strength and refuge through all the perils we face each day.
James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Dear, Holy, God help me keep things in perspective as I start this day. You have control over everything in my life and without you in it, I am nothing. Help me to be reminded of your love for me. Help me in turn to love others with a small measure of that love. My gratitude is nothing in comparison to your mercy and forgiveness, but I can’t help but thank you for showing it to me each day. Amen!
Do you ever feel like you’re living in a bubble – a vacuum – and encased shelter that was designed to keep all the evil from ever getting to you? Over the past couple years, we’ve been forced into our own private bubbles. The trouble with living in such a state is that we can still look outside and see all the ugliness of the world around us. Another problem with bubble dwelling is that the bubble is very fragile and can easily be broken. Leaving us even more vulnerable than before.
Jesus told His followers to separate themselves from the darkness of this world and walk into the light – to use Him as a guiding beacon. The imagery of His everlasting light is comforting, for through it we will never walk in darkness again. Jesus guides us through the muck of life and protects us from what the world has to throw at us.
Bubbles can be beautiful. Children are usually fascinated by the way they float easily through the air, capturing the light from around them, but they soon see that a bubble doesn’t last. It dissolves into nothingness as quickly as it was created.
We can shield ourselves from a virus by wearing a mask or being vaccinated. We can stay free from a disease by isolating ourselves. Something as insidious as sin is like a bacteria that filters through any kind of barrier. So living in a bubble isn’t really the answer. We still have to live in this world and observe the corruption – see the inhumanity – suffer the pangs of bureaucracy – watching as humanity is swallowed up by immorality and hatred. Or we can call on our God – the One and only force that can protect us from the source of evil. He is our fortress. His walls will never fall down. He will defend the faithful through this life and the next.
From our first breath until our last, we will live as an inhabitant of the world. We can give in to it or pray that God will instill the confidence not to become a part of it.
Romans 12:2 “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.”
Will Rogers started his career in the great outdoors. He was part of several western shows designed to lure people to the unsettled country. He went on to do vaudeville and stage performance along with some film acting in the early years of cinema. He was best known for his off the cuff comments about things, “down home” or having to do with politics. Like Mark Twain, his comments shed some light on how the average Joe felt about their leaders.
Today isn’t much different. Most late night comedians find great material from the headlines of the day. Complete routines are designed to poke fun or at least get a laugh. Lately we’ve seen a parade of leaders in Washington that keep the coffers full to the brim with comedy. However, there’s nothing funny about what’s been going on in our country, even though it may seem that nothing has changed in the past hundred years or more.
The news media takes delight in any misstep or gaffe that occurs on the political scene. There is no lack of entertaining material on the evening news. Have we in fact become like the early settlers of our nation as they joked about the English king who controlled their colonies? It really isn’t much different as it was then. Instead of comedy routines, however, they dumped barrels of tea into the river and burned their leaders in effigy. They did get attention though.
Where am I going with all this? I guess I just wanted to say that time doesn’t really change us. We often make the same mistakes we and our forefathers did. We can’t erase those blunders from the pages of our history books, or we’ll never learn from them. Today we have instant news and can tell what’s going on all over the world with just the tap on our computer. Our minds are filling up at rapid speed with negative news, fear mongering, hatred and anger. It’s up to us to make a choice. Are we going to let those negative thoughts control us or are we going to do something about it? What can we do? I wish there was a clear answer to that. I do believe that sometimes ignorance is bliss, but we need to be aware of what’s happening to our country.
I also know that I have no control over what goes on in Washington, Minneapolis, South Korea or Australia. There are times when I have no control what goes on in my own home, but I do have a source for how to deal with it. Turn it over to God. Alone, we cannot fight the destruction of a system of government. It takes more than one person to accomplish that. It takes One God, to intervene for us, and that’s no joke.
The crisp mountain air fills sumptuous valleys with a haunting haze, Just enough to mute the colors ever so slightly, Beyond the fog, lies a green pasture where the rest of the day will be spent, Taking in nourishment, basking in the sun, delighting in God’s bountiful garden, Savoring the beauty, Enjoying the warmth, Indulging in some quiet time, Before the night again envelopes the space where danger hides in every corner, Where fears may over take, Where time stands still, And God steps in again, Comforting, Protecting, Embracing, Ever watchful. Rest in His loving arms.
“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” Morticia Addams
I live in a small town in Minnesota. It was one of the first towns settled here, because it was located on The Mississippi and the Rum Rivers and supported an ever booming lumber industry. Over the years, my town of Anoka, MN has earned a rather dismal reputation. We are the Halloween Capitol of the world. We are also a city of transient people. We happen to live in the center of town amongst some of those early homes that were originally settled here. Our home was built in 1875. It was destroyed by a tornado in 1949 and restored at that time. Some of the original structure remains. There are ghosts supposedly stirring among many buildings in our community, but our house has shown no evidence of the super natural. Over the five years that we’ve lived here, we’ve seen many, many changes. Neighbors come and go. I often wonder about the people that inhabited our home over the years and how their “normal” changed over almost a hundred and fifty years.
Certainly we’ve been exposed to a great number of inventions that made life a lot easier. Manual labor has been replaced by machines and physically we aren’t as active as our predecessors. They ate from the bounty of their fields, gardens and livestock. We shop at fancy super markets and have a world full of extraordinary foods at our fingertips. Life didn’t last as long in those days. I guess people just wore out after time. Today we age well into the seventies and beyond, because of medical advances.
The biggest changes I’ve seen in my seventy nine years have to do with moral issues and things having to do with family relationships. In my neighborhood alone, there is evidence of drug addiction, alcoholism, homelessness, divided families and loneliness. In years gone by, we knew our neighbors and were able to reach out to them in some way. Today, we have built barricades, added fences, security cameras and alarms systems for our protection. We often live in fear of the next crime occurring in our backyard.
Yesterday, a police chase led to a serious accident and the pursuit of an armed individual. This was at around one o’clock in the afternoon. There were many emergency vehicles and obvious injury involved. This happened less than a block from our home. This weekend there were more than eleven shootings in Minneapolis. Time isn’t the only thing that changes people. In just the last 20 years, we experienced a terrorist attacked on our nation – saw political leaders rise and fall and be crucified by a press that seemed to be bent on innuendo rather than fact. We saw changes in what was “proper” or “politically correct.” Bullies were denounced by bullies. A cancel culture decided it was better to rid ourselves of our history. An anything goes attitude sprang out of an enabled population and then came COVID19.
I wish I knew what the answers were to all our current problems. I do know that we’ve turned our back on God and tried to solve things on our own. I can only pray that God will intervene and hear the prayers of His people. He has chosen us to be His people. All we have to do is say “yes” and follow Him. Too easy maybe for some. Yet I haven’t seen a better option yet.
The mermaid in the photos was sculpted during the year 2001 by my husband Paul Boecher. It is mounted on a bar at the Newsroom Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. The bar is shaped like an old pirate ship and the mermaid is to indicate the masthead. (Disclaimer) I did not pose for this piece of art, but it is pretty cool. There’s an interesting story that goes along with the day it was delivered and installed.
Paul had worked diligently over a number of months in his warehouse studio. The statue is entirely hand carved and painted. The delivery was to be made only a week after the horrible tragedy of 9/11/2001. This was a very trying time in our country, with dedicated police officers on patrol looking for anything unusual. You can imagine how cautious everyone was. Even the most innocent item could create a stir. Paul wrapped the mermaid in a quilt to protect her, placed her in the back of his pick up truck and covered the entire space with a tarp. He then proceeded downtown to make his delivery.
Suddenly police sirens were going off and red lights blazed behind him. Being the good citizen that he is, he pulled over. An officer asked him to roll down his window which he did. He then asked Paul what he had in the back of his truck. Paul honestly replied, “It’s a mermaid.” Of course the policeman was not about to take any wise cracks so he ordered Paul out of his truck and asked for the keys to the topper. to which he complied. The officer put him up against the truck and began to frisk him as he tossed the keys to the other officer who would then open the back and uncover the evidence.
The first officer called out, “What’s he got in there?”
The second officer replied, “It’s a mermaid. Then all three observed that it was indeed a mermaid as Paul explained that he was making a delivery. He also thanked the officers for their hypervigilance and continued to park and make his delivery.
It was a comical event that we continue to talk about to this day, but it also has a good message. The officers were doing their jobs. They weren’t at all abusive. Paul didn’t argue with them and was completely cooperative. The mermaid was just icing on the cake.
For several years, my husband would don his frontier clothes, make his way to a rendezvous of several other re-enactors from the 1800s and give a historical lesson to school aged children about life on the prairie in that time period. He’s often said he’s actually an 1800s kind of a guy.
Way back in those days, there were no cameras. There was no way to physically document the beauty and vastness of the wide open spaces. Artists would often travel along with explorers like Lewis and Clark. They, like all plein air painters, had to deal with the elements, extreme temperatures, days of strenuous travel and much more. Their goal was to paint the wilderness the way it was – natural and wild. This would stir people back east to travel west and settle that part of the country. Paul would always try to involve his audience by having them imagine a world without smart phones, the internet or Instagram. Most of the time it was impossible for them to fathom a world like that.
The simplicity of living in those times. with men like John Muir, Seth Eastman, Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran would have suited my husband just fine. His survival skills would allow for it. His love of the outdoors would satisfy that passion. His desire for adventure would fill every day and he might even grow tired of it after a while. The hard work of setting up his tent and having to endure a full day of classes wore on him. He certainly would’ve survived the arrows of the natives or hunger better than the tiring work of keeping the attention of grade school children. He still talks about doing it again some day and probably will, but in a less strenuous venue.
Those times are being lost to history books, which will eventually will hold little interest to young minds. We have turned to simply looking to the future and forgetting the past, but there is so much we can learn from our forefathers. Some of the most imaginative, creative, intelligent minds flourished during those early years. The re-enactors are even going the way of the old history books and many are dying off. Who will continue to tell their stories? Guess well have to leave that to the authors.
“The future inhabitants of this region, wherever they may place their houses, may be sure that they have been anticipated. An afternoon sufficed to lay out the land into orchard, wood-lot, and pasture, and to decide what fine oak or pine should be left to stand before the door, and whence each blasted tree could be seen to the best advantage.”
In the movie, “City Slickers,” Jack Palance played a crusty old cowboy with a world full of wisdom. His words to Billy Crystal were intended to get the city dude to think about what’s really important in life. “One thing . . .” he said, but he never finished. What was that “one thing,” that would change his attitude for the future. What’s the “one thing” that has the power to do that in our lives?
When we’re children, our minds seem to focus on the small things. We learn quickly to use our imagination to create something out of nothing. Everything is new to us and we explore life with the challenge of discovery. As we grow older, we lose some of that ingenuity. We learn that some things can hurt us – some things lead to getting ourselves into trouble – some things can change the way we do things in the future.
I think it’s important for us to think about some of the little things in our lives that bring enjoyment to us – like looking at the clouds and trying to paint pictures out of them; or examine a leaf and see all the intricacies within it; or find pleasure in the smile of another person; take a leap of faith; do something silly just for the fun of it.
As time takes its toll on us, we get so wrapped up in the details of living, that we forget to look at the whole picture. God created the world for our enjoyment. He also created each of our senses so that we could soak in every part of that environment. When we reach our golden years, some of those memories are rekindled, because our lives have diminished to a snail’s pace and we have more time to look at them again. The circle of life I guess.
Our world is full of enough tragedy, hate, ugliness and bad stuff. Maybe it’s time to become childlike again. We need to look at life with new eyes and savor every minute of it. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Our existence on this earth is limited. We have just so much time to accomplish our goals, but while we’re working towards them, let’s not forget to enjoy the little things that God gives us along the way.
I am fortunate enough to live in a state that demonstrates exactly what all four seasons are all about. Our winters are long, but filled with glistening snow, ice and cold air. The sound of snow plows fills the air with an orchestra of music. We struggle to walk on ice – we slip and fall whether or not we are young or old – we wear more clothes to keep warm and we take our lives into our own hands when we get into a car to go to the store. How different that season must have been for those who lived when there were no plows or cars or evenly heated homes. We hunker down into our winters, sip hot chocolate, read a lot more and observe the glory of God through our windows.
In spring, we’re greeted with new life all around. Tiny blades of new grass, seeds sprouting into fresh growth, life resurging and spreading, changing the landscape in just a few weeks. The trickle of ice falling off the roof – the streams and rivers crackling as the frozen surface opens and breathes again. The senses come to life at this time too, because there’s so much to take in.
In summer, we reach the peak of the growing season. Tomatoes ripen on the vine and luscious fruit is ready for picking. Corn is almost ready for harvesting. A canoe or kayak floats down the river and a sail opens up to catch the wind and carry its passengers across a lake. Flip flops replace fleece filled boots. Less clothing is required, but when you’re old, you still cover up those sagging arms and wrinkly legs.
Autumn is the best of all, in my opinion. The air is fresh and crisp, I will soon be rid of my allergies and can finally get outside and do some necessary gardening jobs. The colors are amazing. The animals are more active and provide entertainment through our dining room window as well as sitting outside. The sunburned leaves are falling everywhere, but they create a beautiful carpet to cover and protect the lawns and gardens from the coming winter months. Pumpkins are carved or made into pies. Apples create a wonderful aroma as they are now ripe and ready for picking.
Life is like the seasons and each has its own beauty and purpose. Look for it. It’s not far from sight. It’s right outside your own front door,
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:10-11
PHOTO TAKEN ON THE BORDER OF MINNESOTA & WISCONSIN YESTERDAY
Yesterday was the perfect day for a drive. The skies were filled with clouds and even though it looked like rain, God held off for a while so we could enjoy the beauty of His amazing art work. The air is turning cooler in my neck of the woods. Little splashes of color have started showing up on neighborhood trees. There’s something wonderful about the change of seasons, that simply must be enjoyed without words. The things we observe in nature can give us a clue to how much God loves this planet and all He has created.
With every turn of the highway, we were greeted with another beautiful landscape, Newly mown hay bales lined the now barren fields and a patchwork of gold, green, amber, rust and red was displayed for our pleasure. When you don’t have a lot of money to spend on fancy trips, cruises or adventures, you make the most of what’s available right under your nose. So we usually take one road trip a week. One reason is to get me out of the house, which sometimes feels like a prison when you have no destination.
However, with no destination, the adventure becomes even more exciting. As we drove through the hills and valleys we were greeted by beautiful barns, silos, fields of standing corn and a plethora of wildlife and birds. We stopped at a root beer stand and split a bison burger. We’ve often done this to save money, but also because our appetites aren’t as needy as they used to be. We still have the luxury of dining out, but now it’s at a different venue and just as tasty.
The enjoyments we treasure on this earth are but a glimpse of what awaits us. While we’re here, we owe it to ourselves to be cognizant of God’s gifts to us and hold them in high esteem.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
I’m a big fan of Maxine. She tells it like it is and I often do too. I’m much more courageous when I don’t have to confront anyone face to face. The written word is my battleground and I spurt out things that are better left unsaid.
As we grow older, we often feel entitled to speak our mind. We feel we’ve earned the right, simply by living this long. We feel a certain honor has been bestowed on us, because we’re old. In ancient times, men lived well into their centuries rather than years. Poor old Methuselah had to endure 969 years. Can you imagine hanging around for that long?
Of course the world was still in its early stages of existence, and the population was not yet at its maximum. As Methuselah’s grandson, Noah, pushed ahead, following God’s direction to build a huge ark, the people were in a terrible state. They ‘d fallen away from their creator and couldn’t be convinced that He was going to destroy all humanity except for Noah’s family.
Methuselah kicked the bucket before that happened, but imagine the degeneration he witnessed in those 969 years. I wrote a play about the Noah story several years ago, and the kids who were to play the part of those perishing in the flood asked me if this was a true story. I told them that it was and they really didn’t want that part at all.
Facing death is frightening. Facing extermination is even worse. God promised never to destroy the world in that way again, but there has to be a limit to what He will stand for.
I started this post, in hopes of imparting some humor today. The fact is, there is no humor in what’s going on in our world. If we don’t wise up pretty soon, we could be facing extinction. That’s no laughing matter, but I won’t leave it at that. There is still hope for a dying civilization. His name is Jesus.
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
Life is a patchwork of moments — laughter, solitude, everyday joys, and quiet aches. Through scribbled stories, I explore travels both far and inward, from sunrise over unfamiliar streets to the comfort of home. This is life as I see it, captured in ink and memory. Stick around; let's wander together.
God's amazing grace removes walls and replaces those barriers with Jesus, freedom from sin's consequences, freedom to forgive, and freedom to love unconditionally.
atimetoshare.me 
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