17 Jun 2009 No Comments
Today would have been my father’s 64th birthday. He missed it by about five weeks.
The rest of us are left behind, to put one foot in front of the other.. to take one breath at a time.. until we find a way to smooth the edges, once again.
“getting stronger with time.”
I’m just staying mentally busy.. accomplishing a lot of nothing.. but maybe tomorrow..
28 Mar 2009 No Comments
I think “talking in tongues” is a simple concept.
It does not mean that we talk, in a way, that makes no one, we are talking to, understand us.
It is not babble. But, it can seem to be babble, to some. The message, then, is clearly not for he whom hears the babble.
I, rather, think, it is being given the Spirit to communicate with others.. “their way,” but “His Way” is a more appropriate thought..
This can take many forms. I, in my mortal knowledge, am incapable of knowing all the ways of this..
I am blessed, to know, that I don’t have to know God’s Plan, in its fullest, to be able to participate in it.
When the Spirit touches others, through you.. you may not even be aware of it.
With that, in mind, I’d have to say, then, that “talking in tongues” could be as simple as a touch.. a courtesy.. a “thank you” to a stranger.. or a smile.
We simply can never know when we are being used by God. What a wonderful thing, though, to be “used by God.”
Let us all want to be “Used” like this.
06 Mar 2009 No Comments
Last June, I read Camille Fronk Olson’s book, “Mary, Martha, and Me – Seeking the One Thing that is Needful.” I had purchased it, as a gift, for my eldest daughter’s high school graduation.
We had, previously, watched Camille, together, in the round table discussion, on BYU-TV.
Up to that point, I had never heard of the Mary/Martha guilt. I was so intrigued, I stayed up, all night, during our travels, prior to her graduation, to read it.
I loved Camille’s take. It didn’t surprise me.. I’ve always been so inspired by Camille.
A few weeks ago, I was seeking out some books, to read, for my 101 in 1001 challenge. My youngest daughter has been a reading nut, lately, and although I’m concerned about what she may be reading.. strictly because I can’t keep up and research.. I’ve been allowing her to purchase and I’ve been purchasing “unknown-to-me” books.. because I figure that she’ll get them, one way or another, anyway.
I can only hope and pray that she makes wholesome choices.
I was perusing the christian and spiritual type inspirational books.. while I waited for her to gather her needz..
I saw this book, called, “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joann Weaver.
There was Mary/Martha again. And there was I.. over interested.
I added this book, to my “nightstand” of many titles, of many varied subjects. I’ve been reading a few pages, here and there..
And the other night, I happened upon a most interesting part/ideal/thought/concept..
I hadn’t give much thought to the religious history, of Mary/Martha’s day. I hadn’t thought about how women didn’t “walk with God,” then. I hadn’t thought about the historical precedence of Jesus’ chastisement to Martha.
I am a busy-body, like Martha. I, too, would have been going out of mind, trying to see about all the necessary preparations, with added guests..
I know I would have been offended to think that I was not doing “good.”
But, Ms. Weaver has opened up a wonderful new light, of understanding, for me.. (Camille had settled my offended thoughts.. but this understanding is so much more..)
The only thing that was needful was knowing God.
Women were given the great blessing of being allowed to worship.. allowed to know.. allowed to do what only men, in that day, were allowed to do..
Weaver wrote, “With those words, Christ swept away centuries of chauvinism and bias, tradition and ritual. Women were no longer to be on the outside looking in when it came to spiritual matters.”
What a remarkable change, of heart, it is, to realize that it was not the chastisement that it appears, to be. He needed to teach Martha how to do what was completely against her “everyday knowledge.”
He needed to teach her that she could know God. She was just as worthy. In the grand scheme of things, the dishes are not as important as learning something spiritual.
And we are all just as worthy, as another, to learn..
