Monday, September 30, 2013

Be a voice, not an echo

Life seems to be passing by quickly the past few months, well make that years.  I've thought for weeks about some thoughts I would like to get down on paper.
Today the most looming is the US Government and the lack of reality between those we vote in to office and those of us who do not commute to Washington on a daily basis. I was listening to NPR the other day and for a moment thought of my own voting choices over the years.  I can honestly say I have been a registered voter of all parties. Before you jump to any conclusion on that let me say the first choice was the family choice. Then came the rebellious choice and now I make my own choice!  I also realize as I look back over my adult years how my views on life, politics, and faith have evolved. I get confused and concerned when I hear people say, " It's how I've been my whole life". You see, I can't see where we are to stay the same our whole life.  When asked an opinion I am quick to preface it with - today I believe... I realize to some they think I just go with a fad or the popular choice but I do not.  For anyone who has known me for any time at all you know I speak my mind. Right, wrong and indifferent.

As I read, discuss, pray, live and repeat those steps- I evolve.  I grow.  I learn.  My viewpoints change.  My actions change.  I learn more about myself when I am a part of peoples lives who are not just like me. When dealing in the political realm you don't seem to see this happen.  Politicians draw party lines. They spew hateful words, twist facts to suit their taste, and vote on bills that effect all of us and sometimes not them.  How are we as people to have our voice heard?  We must call. We must email.  We must reach out to those from our states who are in congress voting for "us".  I was once told by a Congresswoman that 4 calls from her state can make a difference in how she votes.

So today, we the people, set and wait.  What are we waiting for? However you feel today about the possible shutdown you need to make your voice be heard.  We have no right to complain when we do not make our voice heard.

Be a voice, not an echo!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

More than a day

I began this post on Valentine's Day - I will try to finish it today.

Today is Valentine's Day.  A day that many couples celebrate in an over-the-top kinda day.  A day that some celebrate as a family.  A day that some like myself really don't celebrate at all.  Why, don't I celebrate?  I've been asked this many times through the years. And my answer remains the same, "Love should be celebrated everyday not just one day of the year".
I've thought for several days about what I would write today.
Thoughts of Love: Simple love, Difficult love, Everlasting love, Friendship love, and Relational love

Simple Love...I'm still trying to figure out how anything about love is simple.  I've boiled it down to all the things we say we "love".We will say we love certain foods, drinks, books, movies, places, items of clothing...will you get the picture.

Difficult Love...Abuse. Broken families. Addiction. Broken relationships. The journey for many in our society. Forgiveness, restoration, healing, and trust are part of this type of love.

Everlasting Love...This love I have known since I was 7 years old but continue to learn and grow more in this love each day. A love that is extended to everyone.  A love that requires us to have faith in someone we cannot physically see as an individual but see Him in others, in creation, and can feel His presence in our lives.

Friendship Love...Childhood friendships are beautiful memories.  Sometimes we are fortunate that those same friendships grow up with us and are a part of our lives forever and sometimes they are just a memory.  When I think about it, it doesn't really matter the age of the person when we love that special friend. Friendships are sometimes for a lifetime, some are seasonal but they are all a wonderful part of our life and I can't imagine life without the love of friends.

Relational Love...This love is beautiful and comes from the everlasting love.  The creation of humanity, the creation of relationships, all come from God's love.  This love grows each day, should be at the forefront of our thoughts.  I saw a poster the other day that said, Love is not the person you can live with but the person you cannot live without. This love is not always easy and it can have some rough patches along the way but it is beautiful and worth the "work" that goes into it - that protects it.

The words above were written on February 14, 2013 but stored in a draft to get back to and finish. As life happens days turned in to months and I vowed to finish the post today.

Since my word for the year is love, I continue to look at love, live in love and long to love. So far in 2013, I have experienced love these ways -  in our family as our son was married two months ago today; Tommy and I celebrated 26 years of marriage; a friend who has fallen in love; the pain of losing love for a few other family members; the loss of a loved one for friends and family... the list could go on.  A lesson in love is a lesson in life.  It is ever-changing.

Today, I am thankful I am loved.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

A list

A friend of mine and fellow blogger, Kris Bridgman, shared her list today and asked others to copy/paste and share their own list.  I went with the first thing that came to my mind.  

I am:  a bit sassy, hardheaded, and passionate
I think: about the future, a lot
I want:  people to truly live life not just walk through it
I have:  a loving husband, son, family and friends
I dislike: when people (including myself) think we know what is best for everyone else, or that we completly understand their situation
I miss:  the snow, seeing my son on a regular basis
I fear:  for my son 
I feel:  happy and sad at the same time sometimes
I hear: my husband singing upstairs in his studio, the fan of the furnace
I smell: not much today

I crave:  mexican food, a good cup of hot tea
I search:  for answers and solutions
I wonder:  how old I will be when I become a grandmother
I regret:  not staying in shape
I love:  to cook, and to share a meal with friends, to laugh, read and garden
I care:  about the homeless, the loss of empathy and compassion in our communities
I am always:  planning ahead
I worry:  about overscheduling and just going through the motions of life
I remember: Sunday afternoons at my grandparents houses, hiking the mountain behind Mama's house with my cousins
I sing:  all the time
I argue:  to be a voice for the unheard and sometimes because I'm grouchy
I write:  to decompress
I lose:  ink pens
I wish:  I could travel more often to see friends and experience new places
I listen:  sometimes...this is a continual work in progress for me.  To listen to God and others is important to me
I don't understand:  why so many don't act like they care about anyone but themselves, why 18,000 children die from hunger and other issues each day, why human trafficking and fair trade issues aren't important to more people
I can usually be found:  at work, at Spencer's, or home reading
I am scared:  of needing my valve replaced sometime and having cancer someday
I need:  more patience
I forget:  who I use to be and how far God has brought me

I am happy:  having conversations with my husband, son, family, friends, strangers ( I guess that means I like to talk, still working on the listening side). Hiking. Sharing with others. 

Now it's your turn.  Make your own list and let me know so I can come read yours.  And remember, don't spend too much time thinking about it.  Usually what first comes to mind is what you need to write. Don't worry about sounding goofy, or nonspiritual, or whatever. . .we are all a work in progress;)


Monday, January 7, 2013

Loving those like I was.....

So who knew the word "Love" could stir so much in just one week.
I've been met with loving those who "despise" me or the actions I have. Loving those who made choices that hurt those who were offering help to them.  Loving those who hurt me in the past. Loving those who love me just as I am. Loving myself when I struggle to love others.  
I've sought wisdom from others.  I've prayed. I've read. Though questions linger.
I told a friend this morning that I see this as a major challenge for me this year.  A mountain to climb but a mountain that is worth the climb.
You see, I can love my family, my friends, the broken, the poor, the homeless, the murderer who is sorry, the sex offender who repented but I struggle to love.....

How did Jesus love the Pharisees and Saducees?

This is my question to explore, to pray about, to read about.  How do you love someone who talks about you, who talks down about others, who judges situations as though they have never had a problem or failed, who picks and chooses who is "good enough" or lives the right way for them to "love".

My reminder is not so long ago I too was one of "those people".

I did not love the poor.
I did not love the homeless.
I did not love the person living or dying in a foreign land.
I did not love someone who was liberal.
I did not love someone who was conservative.
I did not love someone who was gay.
I did not love someone who was rich.
I did not love the person dying from AIDS.
I did not love someone who was thin.
I did not love someone who was fat.
I did not love someone who questioned me.
I did not love a drug addict.
I did not love the person trapped in human trafficking.
I did not love an alcoholic.
I did not love the abuser.
I did not love the person who went through a divorce.
I did not love.


You see. Even though I became a Christian as a young child, it wasn't until my adult years and not all of them that I began to love others.  Remember, I had to learn what loving the Lord my God with all my heart, mind and soul and loving my neighbor as myself meant.  I cannot say today that I've accomplished loving all that I am to love because I struggle to love those who are like I use to be. I have to remind myself that God did a miracle in my life and he can do it in others too.  My role is to show his love through my life. It was one layer at a time for my life.  Maybe it will be one layer at a time for their life too.
 In the meantime, I must love, extend grace, protect my spirit and pray.

As you read this maybe you see yourself or part of yourself in the words on this page. Love is a beautiful thing.  It is a noun, an adjective, an action word. Love comes from the source of life, God. May you find yourself praying, seeking, reading, sharing the love that he created you in.  The love He has given to all of us. The love we are to give to Him and all of his creation.


                                                                         Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave