When we wake up tomorrow, it's supposedly all new, even though around the world it will be an all new year in about one hour. We have to wait a little longer. The time when all things magically change, when we make ourselves promises that we probably won't keep; at least not all at once. Placing pressure on ourselves to push a little closer toward that perfection we've been elusively hunting.
I'm a person who loves Mondays. Sunday is rest-up time and Monday means a chance for a clean slate. I've always tolerated Christmas because of the craziness that surrounds it, and welcomed the New Year as a giant clean slate. As a kid, I'd grab the January 1st newspaper and stare at the date as if I'd passed through some time portal into the future. One day one year, the next a whole new one! Yesterday was last year! It was a fascinating concept for me.
Now, though, I view each new day as a clean slate, a chance to start over; to try to get it right. Time seems to shorten when you get older. Each opportunity for change needs to be grabbed onto, because in reality, time is like an ocean that undulates....waves in, waves out...with no respect for anyone saying, "HEY! Stop just a minute here....I'm on to something!" No, it just keeps moving and changing every moment, just as we need to do, every single day, taking our clean slates as we're handed them. Being grateful for the chance to start over, change, to forgive...to be forgiven.
Even so, maybe tomorrow I'll just take a few moments to stare at the date on the newspaper.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
break time for repenting....
Whoa. I just went to the store. I'm working tonight on an art job. Apparently, everyone else had the same idea at the store. Buy healthy stuff. I keep trying to figure out why everything that I stuffed into my face this last weekend was the stuff I'm not supposed to eat. Wheat, dairy, tomato, and corn. Speaking of gluttony, did I miss anything? >burp<
Anyway, for lunch I had fresh spinach, raspberries with a slosh of soy milk, and a little piece of salmon. I feel much better, mentally and physically. Now why is that so hard for me to do?
Anyway, for lunch I had fresh spinach, raspberries with a slosh of soy milk, and a little piece of salmon. I feel much better, mentally and physically. Now why is that so hard for me to do?
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Gluttony
A friend and I were discussing the war...we agree that it's time for our people to start coming home, but for different reasons.
All the soldiers I've talked to say that the Iraqi's (most of them) appreciate what we've done, but we may leave now, please. I agree that it's time to figure out a way to protect ourselves. We've been under attack since the 70's by terrorists. We have peaceful muslims, yes...but mosques are springing up everywhere here. What better way to attack than from within?
She says the war is about a president who cares about mideast oil, not American concerns.
So, what's new?Are those 2 concepts mutually exclusive? Almost everything we do and buy has something to do with oil. What are we willing to give up? We saw the result of gas and oil prices after Katrina. Imagine another 50% of our supply gone. What is a nation that is full of consuming, selfish, lazy people going to do? Give up the cars? The big houses? The plastics? These ARE American concerns, and the American people are just as much to blame as anyone else.
Spent last night at a home (actually a house, not a home) that is 8,000 sq ft. of rooms that are seldom used by the 3 people that occupy it. All 3 (that I counted) gas fireplaces were lit. Lights up all over the house and the neighborhood. The finest of everything. Nothing just "good enough"...had to be the best. Who needs that much room? They remodeled and added more on because the media room wasn't "big" enough. Just how BIG is "big enough?" Just how much is enough? It is indeed a war about American concerns. Selfish concerns.
All the soldiers I've talked to say that the Iraqi's (most of them) appreciate what we've done, but we may leave now, please. I agree that it's time to figure out a way to protect ourselves. We've been under attack since the 70's by terrorists. We have peaceful muslims, yes...but mosques are springing up everywhere here. What better way to attack than from within?
She says the war is about a president who cares about mideast oil, not American concerns.
So, what's new?Are those 2 concepts mutually exclusive? Almost everything we do and buy has something to do with oil. What are we willing to give up? We saw the result of gas and oil prices after Katrina. Imagine another 50% of our supply gone. What is a nation that is full of consuming, selfish, lazy people going to do? Give up the cars? The big houses? The plastics? These ARE American concerns, and the American people are just as much to blame as anyone else.
Spent last night at a home (actually a house, not a home) that is 8,000 sq ft. of rooms that are seldom used by the 3 people that occupy it. All 3 (that I counted) gas fireplaces were lit. Lights up all over the house and the neighborhood. The finest of everything. Nothing just "good enough"...had to be the best. Who needs that much room? They remodeled and added more on because the media room wasn't "big" enough. Just how BIG is "big enough?" Just how much is enough? It is indeed a war about American concerns. Selfish concerns.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Cracks me up....
I think I've heard "Merry Christmas" more this year than ever before, since it's so reviled to say anything associated with Christ now. Jesus told us there'd be days like this.
Patchouli tells me some lady had a hissy fit over a marquee saying "Merry Christmas; remember the reason for the season." She said she didn't need that "stuff" being shoved down her throat. Well, we don't need crappy, tacky movies and TV shows shoved down our throats, but we live through it, and so far, I haven't sued anyone over their right to free speech. What do the Hollywood powers-that-be say? Don't look at it. So, Lady...don't look at it. Besides, Jesus is the reason for this season. I assume that woman will get her happy butt to work on Christmas day instead of taking the day off like the people that celebrate the reason for the season. I'm not offended by menorahs...Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish brothers and sisters! So get over it. And have a Merry Christmas!
Patchouli tells me some lady had a hissy fit over a marquee saying "Merry Christmas; remember the reason for the season." She said she didn't need that "stuff" being shoved down her throat. Well, we don't need crappy, tacky movies and TV shows shoved down our throats, but we live through it, and so far, I haven't sued anyone over their right to free speech. What do the Hollywood powers-that-be say? Don't look at it. So, Lady...don't look at it. Besides, Jesus is the reason for this season. I assume that woman will get her happy butt to work on Christmas day instead of taking the day off like the people that celebrate the reason for the season. I'm not offended by menorahs...Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish brothers and sisters! So get over it. And have a Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 19, 2005
Prayers....
Please pray for my friend, Jackie, in the hospital with life-threatening conditions.
Please pray for all who are suffering right now...in a season of what is supposed to be joy, there are always those who have lost something, someone, and are in deep pain.
Remember the promise of Jesus; that He died and indeed rose again. There is much hope, even in suffering.
Please pray for all who are suffering right now...in a season of what is supposed to be joy, there are always those who have lost something, someone, and are in deep pain.
Remember the promise of Jesus; that He died and indeed rose again. There is much hope, even in suffering.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
female masculinists
I like that word in that I don't like it. Masculinists. It's a take off, of course on the F word: Feminist.
I am not a feminist. I am not a masulinist. I'm a humanist if anything. Men and women are supposed to work together. It's a team. Not a division, but it seems to become that, especially in the biblical realm.
In my quest for biblical truth, that women and men are supposed to unite equally in His Kingdom, to battle the enemy shoulder to shoulder, I seem to have realized one of women's greatest foes: other women.
I was ordained an elder many years ago. I got the most support in my eldership from other men, not women. Women look askance at me if they find out I was ordained an elder. The men of the church I was in were my biggest supporters; they were the ones that called me to minister to me as I was ministering to others. Elder, pastor, deacon. It's all the same thing: servant to others. Period. None of the high falootin' stuff. I think men have no trouble with it because they view it as someone who knows they have stuff to do for God. Women view it as a woman in authority and by golly, they already allow enough people to have authority over them as it is. That's really their problem. It's an honor for me to serve my Father, and an ordination is a public announcement that I am held to a certain standard. I take that very seriously, and to disrespect that call on my life is to disrespect Him.
Some women that I know look at me funny when I say that I don't do my husband's laundry. If I were to say that to a man, he'd probably laugh. Women, though, often look at me like I'm a bad wife. I find that interesting. My husband is better at his laundry than I am. He does his because he likes it a certain way. I cook because I am the better cook. He does the long-term finances because he is better at it. I do the short-term finances because I am better at it. It just seems ironic that women who supposedly believe that we are all to use our gifts and talents according to God's assignments would judge another person based on their cultural perception of who that person is supposed to be. We have a long journey ahead of us.
I am not a feminist. I am not a masulinist. I'm a humanist if anything. Men and women are supposed to work together. It's a team. Not a division, but it seems to become that, especially in the biblical realm.
In my quest for biblical truth, that women and men are supposed to unite equally in His Kingdom, to battle the enemy shoulder to shoulder, I seem to have realized one of women's greatest foes: other women.
I was ordained an elder many years ago. I got the most support in my eldership from other men, not women. Women look askance at me if they find out I was ordained an elder. The men of the church I was in were my biggest supporters; they were the ones that called me to minister to me as I was ministering to others. Elder, pastor, deacon. It's all the same thing: servant to others. Period. None of the high falootin' stuff. I think men have no trouble with it because they view it as someone who knows they have stuff to do for God. Women view it as a woman in authority and by golly, they already allow enough people to have authority over them as it is. That's really their problem. It's an honor for me to serve my Father, and an ordination is a public announcement that I am held to a certain standard. I take that very seriously, and to disrespect that call on my life is to disrespect Him.
Some women that I know look at me funny when I say that I don't do my husband's laundry. If I were to say that to a man, he'd probably laugh. Women, though, often look at me like I'm a bad wife. I find that interesting. My husband is better at his laundry than I am. He does his because he likes it a certain way. I cook because I am the better cook. He does the long-term finances because he is better at it. I do the short-term finances because I am better at it. It just seems ironic that women who supposedly believe that we are all to use our gifts and talents according to God's assignments would judge another person based on their cultural perception of who that person is supposed to be. We have a long journey ahead of us.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Gimme...
There's an abundance of feeling entitled all around. Where does this come from? Folks think they are owed a job, happiness, immediate recognition, STUFF without effort, responsibility or even honor. I'm seeing this in a lot of younger people today. They think they should just get what they need without working. A lot of them are just working part time....and not going to college. All the good stuff requires dues to be paid. It's as simple as that. Oh, sure, you might get a windfall, win the lottery, someone dies and leaves you a ton of money. But in the whole of things, you're responsible for your own good stuff happening.
I'm an artist and writer by trade. I went through college, worked for and paid for it myself. Graduated with a BA with honors in Visual Art and minored in English. I've always worked. I've worked since I was 11, babysitting, drawing portraits for people. For some reason, people think that my success as an artist just happened, and what a lucky girl I am. Well, yeah, I am a lucky girl. But what I've done and how far I've come is by my own effort. It didn't happen overnight. The first time I made $150 a month painting sweatshirts...well, I thought I was the bomb. Getting a check for doing something you like to do rocks. But that was 15 years ago. We've struggled, I've worked, homeschooled, dealt with a chronic illness, and a supportive but oft absent husband, raised one incredible kid and have another work in process. My family comes first; always has, and when God came into my life, then He came first.
Now I get to charge a pretty price for what I do. But it's still work, hard work, and requires time and effort. No movie of the week stuff here where someone makes a special cookie and suddenly all they do is drink lattes and go to Aruba. I had one guy watching me paint a mural; he was decked out in a suit. After a minute he said, "I want to be you." I handed him the brush and said, "Fine. Pay my orthodontist." Guess he didn't know that I work as hard as he does. I was just willing to make the sacrifices and effort to do something that I love. Nothing good comes without effort. What would be the point?
I'm an artist and writer by trade. I went through college, worked for and paid for it myself. Graduated with a BA with honors in Visual Art and minored in English. I've always worked. I've worked since I was 11, babysitting, drawing portraits for people. For some reason, people think that my success as an artist just happened, and what a lucky girl I am. Well, yeah, I am a lucky girl. But what I've done and how far I've come is by my own effort. It didn't happen overnight. The first time I made $150 a month painting sweatshirts...well, I thought I was the bomb. Getting a check for doing something you like to do rocks. But that was 15 years ago. We've struggled, I've worked, homeschooled, dealt with a chronic illness, and a supportive but oft absent husband, raised one incredible kid and have another work in process. My family comes first; always has, and when God came into my life, then He came first.
Now I get to charge a pretty price for what I do. But it's still work, hard work, and requires time and effort. No movie of the week stuff here where someone makes a special cookie and suddenly all they do is drink lattes and go to Aruba. I had one guy watching me paint a mural; he was decked out in a suit. After a minute he said, "I want to be you." I handed him the brush and said, "Fine. Pay my orthodontist." Guess he didn't know that I work as hard as he does. I was just willing to make the sacrifices and effort to do something that I love. Nothing good comes without effort. What would be the point?
Saturday, December 10, 2005
My list of sevens...
MY 31 cents worth in honor of my friend Patchouli at
http://patchouliponderings.blogspot.com/
Seven things I want to do before I die:
1. Get well stay well
2. Stay at a comfortable weight
3. Learn to play the violin
4. Sell paintings that I painted just because, not because I was commissioned to do
5. Swim with the dolphins
6. Look into an elephant's eyes, touch its face, and tell them I understand
7. See my kids happy with kids
And Seven Things That I Cannot Do...
1. Cheat
2. Tolerate dishonesty, disrespect, sneakiness, meanness, or bullying.
3. Be bored
4. Be constrained
5. Fix a car (but I want to learn!)
6. Go to churches that have no accountability
7. Jump out of an airplane
Seven Things that attract me to my very small circle of intimates:
1. Great minds
2. Integrity
3. Love for our Jesus
4. Honesty
5. Warped humor
6. Acceptance and tolerance of the different opinions and beliefs of each other
7. Love of music and art
Seven things I say most often:
1. I love you
2. What part of "no" didn't you get?
3. Grant! GET UP!
4. You're the silliest dog!
5. Can I use the computer, please?
6. How are you?
7. Oh, crap.
Seven Books that I love in no particular order:
1. Philip Yancey's Rumors
2. Gone With the Wind
3. The Source by Dr. Ann Nyland
4. To Kill a Mockingbird
5. The Dream Book
6. Prescription for Nutritional Healing
7. The Bible translated accurately
Seven Movies I Watch Over and Over:
1. Pride and Prejudice (the BBC one)
2. Persuasion
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. The Hot Chick (diverse, and crass, eh? Sorry, it JUST cracks me up!)
5. Under the Tuscan Sun (>sigh<> love the house, love the REALTOR!)
6. Emma
7. The Quiet Man
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Deceptively pretty....
Winter here in the south....nothing like up north where I grew up. We'd have laughed at this day up there. The main problem is that there is a deceptive thing here that forms called "black ice." Everything can look okay on the surface; sunny, pretty, warm...but underneath it all is coldness and danger. I just saw a truck jacknife on TV on what looked like a pretty safe stretch of road; and the cab burst into flames. But not before throwing a passenger about a 100 feet.
This is a metaphor for our faith. On the surface everything looks okay; sunny, pretty, warm~~but underneath it all can be coldness and danger. We walk the walk and talk the talk, but end up slipping and sliding around, skidding into each other and bursting into...flames. Try as we might to study, prepare, learn and arm ourselves to travel safely, we will crash at times until we wait for the real sonlight to melt away that black ice and realize that only waiting upon Him will make our travel safe and right.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Amazing Grace...
My yellow lab, Gracie, and I took our very long Saturday walk this morning...we set Saturday and Sunday aside to stop...reflect...
she is imperfect; a kidney problem, genetic messing around resulted in a labrador who needed rescue. To look at her, she doesn't look like the regular lab. We call her the super model of labradors. She is tall, muscular, leggy with green eyes and pink nose and mouth. None of the black on her face that a lot of yellow labs carry. She's gorgeous. I knew when I took her from a client as an 8 week old (she nearly drowned in their pool) that there was something wrong with her...as I drove home with her I knew I was in for something, but I heard, "She will save your life." Not the knocking me out of the way of a bus kind of saving, I knew. But in the next puppy months, I figured she would kill me with the housetraining, up all night, etc. We got over that.
Every morning she is happy. She greets each day with joy. All she wants is to BE.
She keeps me going, she makes our family complete. She keeps me healthy because I, too, am imperfect beyond the usual imperfections...a mixed connective tissue disease....that keeps me humble; a thorn in my flesh; waiting for healing. In His gift of Grace to us I see His plan of salvation; that all things will be made perfect in Him. To seek Him. To seek happiness. To greet each day with joy.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
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