With every passing morning, through every dawning light, Time flits from here to there each day, and withers into night, If it would just stand still again, like golden days of yore, We might enjoy the little things, that make us love life more.
The quiet times with family, the reading of a book, The smell of cookies baking, the singing of a brook, The moments of our precious lives that bind us close together The sounds of peace, the voice of God, the kindness of the weather.
These things sound simple, but they’re not, they simply breathe new life, Reminding us of days gone by, erasing fears and strife, The old things bring new life to us, they simply can’t be shattered, We learn from past mistakes, you see and that’s what really mattered.
The world is going to hell in a handbasket. It can’t get any worse than it is. When is this going to end? Those are the kinds of comments I’m hearing a lot these days. It seems we are on the verge of the end of one problem and the next day another issue arises that tops it. We’re in a constant state of getting worse by the second. Frankly, I’m tired of hearing all the bad stuff that’s going on in our world. I’m sick of the hype on vaccinations and the shaming that accompanies it. I have had enough about our leadership, our media, our immorality, our disgusting behavior, our selfishness and our shortcomings.
It’s time for a shot in the arm. (No pun intended.) We all need a dose of positive thinking and even when things seem like they can’t get worse, they probably will, and we must learn to live with it. We are not going to change the outcome of what spews from a media that can’t be trusted. We can’t fight city hall. We can’t put our heads in the ground like an ostrich, but we can turn to God before He becomes a last resort.
The many men and women who put their lives on the line – the brave individuals who stood up against persecution – those who gave their lives in defense of what they believed to be honorable – who shed blood for an idea – gave up everything in the face of destruction – the uncelebrated heroes of the faith who stood against what appeared to be the worst event in their lives – still received the kingdom of God.
Things are going to get worse. It’s like Murphy’s Law. When we think it can’t get any worse, it does. We have good days and we have bad ones, but we are never going to have perfect days as long as we live on this planet. We do, however, have the promise of eternal life and even if when we’re called to breathe our last, we can be sure that God is with us through it all.
That may seem small consolation to some, but it’s the best news anyone can possess. It’s truth in its purest form. The words of comfort come to us from God, the Creator of heaven and earth – the One who knew you before your conception – the One who sacrificed everything to give you the best – the One who loves you with no conditions or strings. His words are written down in the Bible for our benefit. They give us hope for a future here on earth and in heaven.
When it looks like every new challenge is insurmountable, you can count on His Word to you. Trust in God. Do not run away from Him. He is the only solution to the mess we’ve created for ourselves on this planet. Instead of playing the blame game, ask for forgiveness and pray for your enemies. Their eternal life was also bought and paid for by God. Pray that their minds are opened to His great mercy.
Last night was rerun night on PBS along with their usual campaign to raise funds. We’ve seen this series many times and it never fails to satisfy. Ken Burns always brings us to a different plain when it comes to how we feel about our country. In this series about the National Parks, it reignites those feelings of pride in our country and one of the best ideas it ever had.
As we look at the magnificent photography of these wild and natural places, filled with beauty beyond compare its hard not to be thankful and amazed all at the same time. These places are like the “beginning of creation,” and they need to remain that way. The parks have grown in number and are visited by their owners (the citizens of America) every summer. I remember going through some when our children were younger. Because they are part of us we have an obligation to keeping them safe and free from the infestation of those who would turn them into side shows and tourist traps. Fortunately that hasn’t happened – yet.
I can’t help but wonder how long that will last. Remember, if you will, how the land was eaten up by early American settlers in search of a better place to live, along with the very rich who built up that land with factories, cities, railroads and industry of all sorts. In the process, a whole nation filled with Native Americans was displaced or destroyed. Not to mention those who searched for their fortune in the land itself during the gold and silver rushes of our history. Then the land poured out its oil and a whole different group of investors made yet another fortune.
I also wonder where all these newcomers to our nation will live as we keep making room for more and more immigrants. Mind you, I’m not saying anything about those who legally enter our country. I am descended from immigrants as most every American is. What will our America look like in another hundred years? Will the wild places be devoured by humans? Will our national treasures turn into landfills or slum filled cities? I pray that never happens, but it is something to think about.
When the National Parks came into being, we were in the middle of a civil war. Even in a time of crisis our leaders were looking out for the unbelievable landscapes that remained unscathed by human hands. These places are a heritage that we must maintain as they are today.
As Americans we often look at this word as a means whereby discussions lead to agreement on one thing or another. The word itself was derived from the Latin and basically meant to do business. Unfortunately, the tact involved in negotiation has somewhat slipped into the abyss. Even in our own country, where freedom of speech is allowed, standing up for our own principles and ideas has taken a back seat to following the crowd, or doing what is popular or politically correct. We are asked to tolerate everything and yet our own opinions are very often overlooked and not tolerated at all.
Having a discussion or negotiating involves more that one person. The ultimate negotiation comes when both or all parties come to a satisfactory agreement. Usually this doesn’t happen when one side or the other refuses to budge.
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.”
James 4:1-2
The above Bible verse explores the possibility of disagreements being caused by inner fights within the mind or thoughts of one of the parties. In such cases, negotiation is pointless, because you will never change the mind of someone who is conflicted themselves. When we dive into the realm of politics and discuss these things with others, we can always plan on a fight of some kind. Most often it results in the defeat of one of the people involved. That defeat can lead to anger, revenge or retaliation in some form or another.
When we come together to share ideas – to try to come up with solutions to problems – make the necessary concessions – we need to come with an open mind, not rigidity, relentlessness or immovability, If we can’t do so, we’re shutting the door before we even have a chance to voice our thoughts and opinions.
Many who have this strong, stubborn streak are advocates for being tolerant and kind to everyone, but that doesn’t always manifest in their actions. Jesus wants us to love one another, even when we don’t always agree. Part of kindness is being willing to open yourself to other people’s opinions along with sharing your own without being negative.
We could use a little kindness right now. Our civilization is living on the edge. People are unsure of what lies ahead. They’re insecure, frightened and deeply concerned about the state of affairs in our world and in our homes. Please, if you are going to talk about vaccinations, COVID19, masks or the political climate in our world, stop and think before you speak and do so in a way that you’d want to be treated.
Every day it seems something new hits the headlines. We’re fearful of a variant of COVID. We fear for the safety of our country. We wonder about our political leaders and their competency. We hear of horrific crimes against humanity. Death is at the gate.
Kids will soon be returning to school. Will they be wearing masks? What will they be taught? Are they becoming more and more confused by issues that used to be pretty cut and dried? Some will be graduating and moving on to life changing careers. What does the future hold for them?
It seems that each day brings some bad news that definitely will test our will to go on and create fears in our mind. It does become overwhelming to even those who place their trust in God. We have no control over the wind, the rains, the sun. We can’t count the stars in the heavens. In the face of God’s magnificence, we are very small. We think for some reason that we can change things – that we can find the answers to the world’s problems – that we can interfere in God’s plan for life.
It would be nice to look ahead and see the light at the end of the tunnel. If only we had the proverbial Genie in the magic lamp or a true fortune teller who could give us a glimpse into what lies ahead. But, would that be any better? If we knew what was coming next, it might be very depressing and draw us further into the pit of despair.
Many might say that all the things going on in our world right now are signs of the coming of the end of the world. Well the Bible tells us that no one knows when that will occur. There have been signs since the beginning of the first human beings. Death was one of those signs. We all have that to contend with. We can’t escape death, but we have the promise that because God delivered us from sin, we will inherit eternity in heaven. That’s the truth and a promise you can depend on. We may not know what will happen next, but we do know that our future is in God’s hands and even before we die, He will be there to take care of us.
2 Timothy 3:1-7
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”
Left to right bottom row – Pearl played by Kathy (me), Ruby/Christine, and Opal/June – back row Gail our sound effects person and Todd, the auctioneer and plumbing salesman
For the next three days we will rehearse our next episode of Jewels of deNial. This is the show I’ve been collaborating on with my senior acting and prolific writers. This show is about the theatre I work at, which was once a children’s theatre and now has classes for all ages. The restrooms have created an unforeseen problem. All the toilets are designed for children and with the addition of 55+ actors, we have to replace them. Our group, which spans three decades, has a lot of ideas how to solve the issue. We’re going to have an auction to raise money to raise the toilets.
I’ve been blessed to be part of this project for almost two years. We’ve written a few episodes – recorded three of them and will present “The Auction” this weekend to a live audience. There’s nothing like live theatre. You never know for sure how your work will be received. There’s an energy that flows from stage to audience and back to the stage, which can’t be described. It’s almost magical. I never get tired of the feeling. Undoubtedly I will spend the remaining years of my life involved with theatre in some form or another. It’s really true what they say about it getting into your blood.
During the course of the collaboration, we’ve been sharing from our own life experiences. You know the stories the keep getting bigger with the telling. They become more and more hilarious as they’re repeated and often go further than reality, but isn’t that what creativity allows us to do.
Life in its final chapters can be a series of visits to the doctor – becoming addicted to the TV – with limited physical and mental activity. The lack of exercise for our minds and bodies, soon gives way to death. What fun to be able to live life to the fullest right up until the last breath.
Five years ago, we downsized after 24 years of living in the same house to one half the size. It was a time of purging – release – letting go and giving up. I believe I had about five garage sales that year. Whatever we didn’t sell, we donated to the local thrift stores and finally hired a truck to pick up the things that we couldn’t get rid of any other way.
My husband had crates of stored art work and equipment along with many items he just couldn’t let go of. He has a sentimental heart and loves to hang onto things that have a personal memory. I’m more of an organizer and tend to toss without thinking, even though I found it difficult to give up thirty years of costumes from my children’s theatre.
To get to my point of this post today. Since we moved in our little 1875 farm house, we’ve been to many garage sales – rummage sales – liquidation & downsizing sales and yard sales. No matter what you call it, it comes down to getting rid of things we no longer need to carry as excess baggage. Are you toting an extra load today? I’m not talking about physical things, but more about the emotional heaviness we place on ourselves.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just simply snap our fingers and get rid of it? Our burdens can lead to so many more difficult problems – like depression, anger, anxiety, fear, loss, grief. Compounded all these elements add a lot of weight to the already stifling encumbrance. It’s really much easier than snapping your fingers. Jesus invites us to cast our burdens on Him. He will carry them for us. Sounds like a pretty easy way out. When we create the mess, we often want to fix it ourselves. In other words, we get in the way of His doing what He does best. We need to let Him.
So, we continue to collect old stuff – nostalgic and inspirational things from another time. It’s not like we need any of it. In fact our backyard sometimes looks like an ongoing yard sale. These items give us interesting things to look at while we’re outdoors. They are a collection of art objects in a way and often fodder for a painting or two. Sometimes we need to clean up the clutter though and get rid of some of those things that occupy so much of our time and effort.
Today is Garage Sale Day. The weather is perfect for it. There’s really nothing I’m in great need of, but the pull of a garage sale is always there for me. I usually find something to add to the mess. When it becomes to overwhelming, I ask for help.
In a world that’s filled with instant mashed potatoes, instant rice, instant news, instant results and instant madness its hard to wait. In the famous infomercials where they tell you, “But wait, there’s more,” it’s usually followed by a buy one, get one free offer, or more. We’re assured that they are assured that we will like the product so much that we will be willing to wait for it. So much so, that we will wait for two or more of said product.
I’m not considered a very patient person. As years progress, I find myself not wanting to wait for anything anymore. I don’t have that much time left after all. Oh, I know what you’re thinking. We’re all going to die someday and I’ll probably live another twenty years (heaven help us) or more. I know I could get hit by a car today and maybe go straight to heaven, but I’ve waited for 79 years for that blessing and I’m glad I’m still looking forward to it. When we are forced to wait, the waiting seems almost unbearable. We don’t like timelines, especially when it interferes with the plans we’ve already made and sealed in blood. The interrupted trips, because of the infernal virus, come to mind. Kids can’t wait for summer vacation – going back to school – getting out of school again – waiting for a home cooked meal – waiting for the cookies in the oven – waiting for report cards to come out. We all have an agenda when it comes to waiting.
Lately we’ve been asked to do a lot of waiting. Maybe that’s a good thing. When we have a lot of time to consider the repercussions or blessings that might ensue, it makes the decisions easier to make. When we wait for a test result – a “yes” to a proposal of marriage – an acceptance of an offer on a house – time seems a little more imperative. The answer will often dictate our future.
God wants us to wait for Jesus’ second coming. We have no idea when that will occur. Even Jesus’ human side can’t answer that question. But all the signs around us are pointing to the end of the world as we know it. Why can’t it just be over with so we can experience paradise right now?
Winnie the Pooh was a wise little bear. He once said,
“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.” He also said, “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
There is a reason for all things under the sun. God is the only One who knows what the reason is. Yet in His infinite knowledge He allows us to be refined through the process and gives us the truth that ultimately we all win in the end. We can be assured of that. But wait! Nope, that’s all there is to it.
“When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.” C. S. Lewis
I’ll bet you thought this was going to be a post about us becoming a herd of sheep. It isn’t really, though I probably will write that one someday. Today I’m thinking about the foolish things that were said to us as children and we continued to perpetuate to ours and they to theirs. It’s kind of a right of passage. “Eat your vegetables. Don’t you know that children are starving in China?” When I heard that as a child, I often wondered how my eating my vegetables was going to benefit some starving kid in China. Or how about this one? “Eat your spinach, it will grow hair on your chest.” Why would I even want to grow hair on my chest?
When we’re parents, we often say dumb things. We repeat what we heard as children. We speak without thinking and often leave a negative memory in the mind of those we’re talking to. For example: “Don’t step on a crack, you’ll break your mother’s back.” So now we are laying the blame on our children for his mom’s backaches.
When I was a child, I heard that sitting on cement would give you piles. I couldn’t imagine what that meant. Piles of what? Would I be glued to the cement and it would climb all the way to heaven? Later I discovered that piles was another name for hemorrhoids. Another falsehood came when I was told that cracking my knuckles would later cause arthritis. I’m still wondering about that one.
Currently our words and actions are on display for everyone to judge. So we must be extra careful about how we use them. Instead of worrying about walking on cracks in the pavement, we’re being led to believe that we must walk on eggs and not say anything that could be misinterpreted. However some of those old sayings have some merit. The book of Proverbs is full of them. Thinking before we speak doesn’t always happen when you’re on Twitter or Facebook. We tend to respond in the moment and that’s when we get into trouble.
But is some of our individuality being challenged when we must be like everyone else? Maybe it’s best to just keep quiet and say nothing. Well, like I said, that’s a whole different post which I will someday write. Oh, maybe I just did.
Since another school year is about to begin, I thought it might be a good idea to get organized. First I’ll write a “to do list.” I used to be really good at that until the “to do list” became too overwhelming. So I started making mental notes instead. When you reach your 70s, it’s not a good idea to rely on memory, so I’m thinking about revisiting the list idea. OK, here’s my list:
Get out of bed, put my teeth in and brush the few I have left.
Don’t look in the mirror until you can bear the reflection.
Write devotion for the day.
Get dressed.
Think of all the things I have to do today.
Go back to bed.
Albert Einstein once said, “Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” I guess you could say I’m waiting for my opportunity.
The image I’m showing today has nothing to do with the topic of this post. I just had to chuckle and share it with you, because I sometimes need reminders of the important things in life. Laughter is always beneficial to our well being, unless we’re the ones being laughed at. I have always believed that making a joke about something or laughing at my own stupid mistakes helps me to get over myself. I guess you could call that humbling oneself, but more often it causes more attention to be drawn to myself.
Most of us today have become hermits. Some because of fear – some by necessity – some because of a permanent phobia called COVID19. Lately, this dreadful disease is in the news again. Sometimes change is necessary for our well being, but I think it’s basically good for helping us move on and beyond. Our world is in a constant change of flux – and I’m not talking about acid reflux – although that can be a real problem too. We tend to resist change. Most of us like order. We like the structure of worshiping a certain way. We feel cheated if we don’t see familiarity in the things we do. We are creatures of habit and even though God has changed our hearts – He never changes. We can trust his consistency to lead us through any of the changes that come our way.
We should be used to those alterations by the time we reach our senior years, but often we are so deeply seated in tradition, we refuse to change. We might even ignore the good that will come from change. We defend our right to continue as usual. We get angry and even fight change, because it doesn’t blend with our way of thinking. Sometimes, we simply avoid the situation that’s undergoing change and refuse to be part of it. We might make excuses for not changing or worse yet avoid the situation altogether.
It seems that the older I get, the stronger my stubborn attitudes get. I think I know better. I refuse to try something new, because the old way of doing things always worked for me in the past. I’m even fearful that change is going to effect the way I think about my God, my worship, my pride. There’s that word – “pride.” One of those words that used to have a different meaning, but has now transcended all of my former thinking. Pride used to mean the feeling we get when we can accomplish something that might’ve been inconceivable before.
So, can you teach an old dog new tricks? I think you can. I’m an old dog and I don’t feel I will ever stop learning. We should never become so set in our ways, that we refuse to change. Who knows, it may even be for the better?
Water color paintings at Parley Lake Winery, by Paul Boecher
“Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.“
Every day is a blessing from God. We have another chance – a time to try again – an opportunity to share what we have with others. The simplicity of water color paint has many obstacles to overcome. The artist needs to learn to control the flow of the paint, otherwise the paint will take over. What we exhibit through our talents are like that too. If we try to do things alone, we are more likely to make mistakes. We need the Master Artist to shape, form and mold us. When we put ourselves first, we’re setting ourselves up for failure. With God beside us, we can make a masterpiece.
The simplicity of Yoda’s words should be made into a plaque and hung in a conspicuous place in our homes. Fear has the ability to disable – to cripple – and crush us, if we let it. I’ve gotten hooked on the old television series, “Monk,” in which the protagonist is in this state of existence. His phobias are many. He’s afraid of germs, afraid of heights, afraid of flying, fears anything that’s out of order (OCD,) afraid of not finding his wife’s murderer. His fears are cause for him to see a psychiatrist, as often happens when people experience fear of any kind. When the fears outnumber the positive things in life, it becomes a curse. Even in his state of constant fear, Monk is able to put pieces together to solve an unsolvable crime. He refers to his talent as a blessing, but also a curse.
His case is extreme by most standards, but can you imagine what it would be like to be controlled by your fears? We all have them. I have lots of them. I fear heights, I’m claustrophobic, I am afraid of dying from drowning. I’ve even had visions of drowning as the Titanic went under and so did I. Some might call that premonition of a past life. I think it’s something I’ve dreamed up in the recesses of my creative mind.
At times it seems that our entire nation is being controlled by fear. Right now we’re wondering if the pandemic will ever end. We’re afraid to get vaccinated or we’ve been sold a bill of goods that makes us think the cure will be worse than the cause. We have a government that is ruled by a wealthy, aging group of Senators who seem destined to keep their jobs forever. Doing those jobs is something else again. An aristocracy, not unlike the government that ruled our first colonies from England, has insidiously grown into more of the same. Our leaders can’t be trusted. Our media is beyond our trust. The general population has opted for the easy way out and no longer puts its trust in law enforcement. We fear death, depression, mental illness, anxious moments, fear of failure and so much more, Some are even afraid of living and choose to end it. Who do we trust? For many, the answer is that we can only trust ourselves. For some of us, we’ve learned that trust in God is the only answer.
Our fears can capture us and like Monk, we can be enslaved by them. So what is the solution to this madness? Who do you trust when everything is closing in on you? Where do you go when life seems impossible? Is there any place, person or thing that can relieve your fears or allow you to live with them? I think we might be surprised to know that we aren’t alone in our fears. I would venture to say, everyone has given in to one or another of the fears that plague us. The fact is that not all of us will be disabled by them if we trust in the only One who can be trusted. God is our Shield – our Protection – our Champion – Our Leader – our Shepherd – our Comfort and our promise of life everlasting. He alone can wash away our fears and He did so when He gave up His earthly life and died. But it didn’t end there. He rose and overcame death on the third day after His crucifixion. He returned in a glorified body, with only the remnants of scars left by the nails that held Him and the sword that pierced His side.
So join me today, outside of the dark side. We are no longer slaves to darkness. Jesus has made it possible to see our fears, repent of them and lay them at the foot of the cross. When you flee from those fears, you will be able see the Light and place your trust in the One True God.
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.
