Bragging rights!

     I have recently been proofreading a novel written by a friend. This is the third book for which I have been privileged to do this. I explained to this friend, when he abashedly said he didn't have money to pay me, I don't do it for money. I spent no money on education to "qualify" me to do this and I expect no money for having done it. This is a God-given talent. That is not bragging; it's gratitude. It just so happens that when I read, most errors of grammar, spelling, or punctuation just seem to jump right out at me- almost as if they were highlighted. I don't know why and have never worked at it. It's like the ability my daughter, Angela, has to recognize and recall any nuance of color or her ability to see shapes and shading with an artist's eye. She has taken some art classes but this is an ability, God-given, that she has had since birth. It's like my thick hair. I haven't had any salon do something to it and I don't use a special shampoo or conditioner. I have had thick, wavy hair all my life, God-given. My daughter, Lisa, has had a gift of being able to memorize as well as a gift for music, exhibited in a natural ability to play the piano and a lovely voice. (Actually, all of my children have a musical gift. Some have made use of it and expanded it.) My son, James has a gift of making peace. He has opinions of his own and is not prone to just go along with the opinions of whoever he is with to avoid making waves. But he has the ability, God-given, to hear what's behind what people are saying and find a way to explain it to others so understandings can be reached. He is also very intelligent, another gift my children all have. None of these are bragging rights. God-given gifts are to be recognized and acknowledged in order to celebrate and give thanks.
     Bragging rights I can reserve for being a hard-worker. I have decided for myself that I feel good about the accomplishments of my own labors so I get myself up and going every day, without the need of reminders, pleas, or bribes. Hard work is a benefit to myself and others. I choose it, therefore I can pat myself on the back. I also choose serving others. I often hear comments from people along the lines of, "You shouldn't have to do that!", or "Do they really deserve all that?" I don't serve others out of a sense of duty or to honor them because of their position or with hopes for reward for myself. I serve others because I love them- and if I don't currently love them enough, I want to love them more and find that serving them, even if it's only praying for them, increases my love for them. I can reserve bragging rights for choosing to pursue greater knowledge. Entertainment is really the major pursuit these days. Too many people spend countless hours mesmerized by videos of someone else's made-up stories, or trying to win pointless computerized games just to get to another level (??!). We allow our minds to be numbed to the point that whatever conversations we have are either shallow and meaningless or totally inconsequential expressions symbolized by shorthand letters and punctuation over cell phones and computer devices. I want to know more truth, more information- not just trivia. When I die, the only things I can take with me are whatever character and intelligence I have managed to acquire along with relationships I have nurtured. It won't matter if I can name the stars of a movie, quote the dialogue of a made-up story, or say who won a sports match. Who will care? There is a trite bumper sticker that says, "What you are is God's gift to you. What you become is your gift to God." Trite- but true. If you are beautiful to look at, you can only brag about the money you were willing to spend on clothing, hair salons, and maybe the hours you put into working out to maintain body shape. So the bragging is mostly vanity. If you are intelligent, you can only brag if you spend time and make efforts to ponder, analyze, and acquire information. If you are physically strong and healthy, you can only brag about making good decisions to eat properly in sensible quantities, sleep sensible hours, and use your body in ways to promote strength. Much as we are persuaded by ads for vitamins, supplements, and cure-alls, we can not maintain or acquire good health by any form of magic pill.
     I am grateful for the gifts God has given me. I have covenanted with Him to consecrate all I have to honor Him, prepare for the government of His Son on the Earth, and to serve others as Christ would do. I try to do that every day with the gifts He has given me. The gifts are not bragging rights, only my desire and efforts to use them in the way He intended.

Recent photos

I thought it was about time I put some pictures on the blogspot. This was at a bride's brunch in Washington, DC. I was with my sisters and my daughter-in-law. The bride isn't in the picture. She is a totally sweet young woman who just married my brother's son.

While in Washington, I got to see some people I haven't seen in quite awhile. Next to my son James (on the left) with his wife Susanne are Rebecca and Mike Zimmer. Mike was James's best friend through high school, as well as being one of my seminary students. Even though their lives have taken them in different directions, I am glad they have stayed in contact. Mike's mother, Eileene is a good friend of mine with whom I have stayed in contact. I was delighted to spend a few hours visiting with her (as well as Barb Kone) but, unfortunately, didn't get any pictures.

Happy time!

Pictures from my nephews wedding in Washington, DC. At top is my sister-in-law dancing with her son after the ceremony. Next is a picture of me with my son's family during the appetizers and cocktails. The bottom photo is waiting for the ceremony to begin. I wish I had some pictures of my sisters and me (and James and Susanne) dancing during the reception but I was too busy having fun dancing to stop and get my camera!

George Washington

Did you know that George Washington has no descendants? He married a widow with 2 kids but never had any children of his own. He was a humble man who always identified himself as a "farmer". I recently visited Mount Vernon and was quite surprised at the things I did NOT know about the first president of the United States. He was supportive of educating Negroes and often purchased things from his own slaves that they were able to hunt or produce themselves. He wanted to free all of his slaves and, as a provision of his will, he did so. I already knew that there were some people, having come from Europe where royalty were the rulers of nations, who wanted him to be a "king" but he declined. At one time he went 6 years without being able to go home to Mount Vernon. He was a successful military leader but not bloodthirsty or vengeful. There have been some truly admirable men who have served as President of the United States. I think a man's character is a part of how effective he is as a leader. I have heard people comment (specifically about Clinton) that what is done in one's personal life is a separate issue from how good a leader they are. I totally disagree. I have a very hard time respecting anyone, even if I respect the position or title, who is not worthy of my respect as an individual. You can't compartmentalize aspects of a person. I think each human is the sum of all his/her parts, good and bad. It is preferable that the good outweighs the bad but sometimes it doesn't. We all have faults but I respect those who are humble enough to admit their faults, sincere enough to work at overcoming them rather than rationalizing them, and courageous enough to continue working past mistakes including making a greater effort. I am more inclined to choose a political leader on the basis of character than on their promises, rhetoric, or views on issues. I fervently pray that in this years elections the citizens of the United States will look beyond their greed or self-interest and vote for candidates who will be exemplary and desire what is best for our nation.

What I like about Sun City

     The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. It's not just an old saying. It's a truism. Somehow we more easily see the advantages of places we are not currently in, whether a place we have never been or a place we used to be. On arrival at a new place, I notice things that are unfamiliar- different from what I am used to. In an effort to seek comfort, I make an effort to find things I like, things pleasant to me. After the novelty of the "fun" features here in Sun City has worn off (nearly 2 years later), I find myself weighed down by missing things: family members (Mom doesn't really count because she's not herself), green plants and trees and grass (they only exist here through great effort), cooler temperatures (I don't want to live where it is below zero on a regular basis but temperatures ranging over 100 Farenheit in the shade is just not livable for me), and youth (school kids and activities and babies). So, in an effort to pull the pedulum back toward center, I want to focus on things I appreciate about Sun City.
     *Lack of outlandish styles: immodest clothing, wild hairstyles, stupid shoes, multiple piercings in strange places, tattoos- I can't believe how many people have gone to the trouble to graffiti their bodies thinking it somehow improves their appearance. To me, they look like they need a bath. Any time I travel, I am startled by so many strange looking people. Here in Sun City, they are rare.
     *Financial conservatism: The citizens of Sun City have lived through several wars and the Great Depression. They understand real work ethics- you get a dollar for a dollar's labor not just because you think someone else has more than you do so they should be willing to share. They understand that you can't spend money on a house(or car or wardrobe) bigger/fancier than you need or more gadgets than you have time to play with, then turn around and cry for sympathy when you can't pay your mortgage/credit card balance/ car payment. They understand that you don't order food at a restaurant then throw lots of it away because you decide you don't like it or don't want to eat so much. Doggy bags are okay. In fact, due to generally smaller appetites, many senior citizens plan on taking home leftovers. They understand that real food, natural food, is rarely perfect. You can cut bruises out of apples and eat the rest. You can actually buy a carrot the way it comes out of the ground, peel it, and cut it up to eat. (That's not to say there is anything wrong with the convenience of mini-carrots. They have certainly improved the diets of many children who would otherwise live on french fries and chicken nuggets.)
     *Modest cost of living: I know the property taxes here in Sun City are low because there are no schools due to the requirement to be over 55 to live here. Other than that, the gas, food, and general utility costs are really reasonable. There are lots of activities available for free or low cost. It's just not an expensive place to live. I like that.
     *Patriotism: This could also be a result of having lived through wars and seeing too many potential opportunities for the loss of freedom or seeing the results of bad governments and corrupt financial structures in other countries. Most senior citizens are proud of what is symbolized by "Old Glory" and don't hesitate to stand and salute the flag or recite the pledge of allegiance or sing the National Anthem. The Statue of Liberty still brings a tear to their eyes. This is a big country and an amazing conglomeration of all kinds of different people. Each citizen could come up with a list to gripe about things they would like to see changed. But we are free to do that. Most people would probably be able to tell what things they wish they could have or do or places they would like to go. First of all, there are thousands, if not millions, of people in the world who don't even know of the possibilities we see or hear about much less ever have a hope of experiencing any of it. If they are aware, few could entertain the dream of having or going or doing any of them in their lifetime. I appreciate the freedom and prosperity of this country, despite its "imperfections" and I really appreciate anyone else who can recognize and appreciate it, too.
     *Wisdom: If you look past the frail, aged bodies or even the dementia and Alzheimers, and make the effort to get to know these older folks, their experiences can be amazing. They may look a little confused when you talk about "googling" for information but they might already know what it is you are researching. If they lack the techno-savvy or up-to-date factoids, they excel in how to live, relate to others, courage, and knowing how to deal with pain and sorrow. I can't mention a grief here without a sympathetic response from at least one person who has "been there, done that."
     Russ and I keep talking about looking forward to leaving here, but, truth be told, we can't be too anxious because we don't know exactly where we would be in a hurry to go. "We'll go where you want us to go, dear Lord, and do what you want us to do"..... wherever and whatever that might be.

True to our nature

I love to learn and I read whenever I can. I have often found items of interest to others and share them. Sometimes things that I thought would be life-changing, or maybe just opinion-changing have failed miserably. I know that each being is free to choose who they want to be, including how to react, what to read or watch or listen to, and how to interpret everything around them. There is a scriptural phrase I find interesting, "consume it upon your lusts". It refers to our motivation for seeking something. We can read, or watch, or listen because we sincerely seek further understanding, clarification, or greater wisdom. Or we can simply be seeking further justification for our current view or actions.  Among people who believe in a being and power greater than mortals, there is often discussion and a quest for understanding just exactly what "sin" is. A wise king once said, "I cannot tell you all the ways to sin for there are divers (many and varied) ways." We, and God, only can know if and when we are sinning. The importance is not in the particular deeds, words, or even thoughts, as much as it is in the motivation. We can go to church because we enjoy the fellowship of other believers, because we want to learn more about God to feel closer to Him and be more like Him, or we can go because we want to look good to others or because it's easier than putting up resistance to a spouse or parent. When we have attended a religious service, are we happy/relieved to have it over with, or are we glad we were able to go because we are free to attend and it is available to us? Do we seek to justify ourselves because we want to remain stiff-necked or rebellious? Or do we quietly, humbly endeavor to earnestly seek what is most beneficial to others, or even ourselves, in being more Christlike?
I have a sincere desire to enlarge my awareness, understand others, and seek truth which I firmly believe exists. I don't think anything like "red" is better than "yellow" is a truth. There are opinions, and there is truth. Truth is the way things are or have been or will be. Children sometimes try to deny the truth that a parent loves them when the parent doesn't give or allow the child what he/she wants. How to show love can be an opinion but whether someone loves or doesn't is a truth. I exist- that is truth. If someone wanted to ignore me or is unaware of my existence does not change the truth that I do truly exist. Whether God exists or not is not a matter of opinion. It is a truth that some would deny because they want to choose their own version of truth. I find myself really weary of the discord in the world due to everyone insisting on their opinion or proclaiming misleading information in the guise of "truth". We all "look through a glass darkly" without being able to see everything clearly. We all "know in part". I would be like Paul's comment, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or praiseworthy we seek after these things". I think truth is lovely. I seek it.

Envy

Okay- here I go again... ranting. Do you remember the commercial for some hair product several years ago that starts with a glamorous model/actress saying, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful" ? I find it sad and even repulsive when I hear someone speak disparagingly of someone- ANYone- else for no other reason than they consider them "superior" in some way: they have more money, more fame, more knowledge, are more beautiful, more talented, on and on.... I have often made the point that the teachings of Jesus Christ are not only good and righteous, they are totally logical. The scriptures teach us to love one another, mourn with those that mourn, rejoice with those that rejoice, not covet, and treat others the way you would want to be treated. When you have worked hard to accomplish something, doesn't it make you feel good to have others notice and acknowledge your accomplishment? If you have exercised to have a trim body, would you want someone look at you with disgust because they didn't have a body like yours? If you studied hard to ace a test, would you want others to mock you and hate you because you succeeded? If someone is diligently making an effort and not just trying to get attention, it behooves us to compliment them in the same way we would want to be complimented on our efforts. If someone else has a lot of friends, appearing to have more than we have, it would behoove us to ask ourselves some questions: does this other person really have more friends or is it just a temporary situation in which someone has gotten votes or praise or applause? If they really have more friends, are "more popular", is it because the friends they have are simply weak followers? If we would like to have more friends ourselves, what kind of friends would we want and what do we do to acquire more friends? Are we fully appreciating the friends we already have rather than discounting them because we think they should be more or better or richer?
I realize that the real root of envy is poor self-esteem. I also realize that we all have the freedom to choose how we look at ourselves and others. Can ANYONE truly, honestly say that they are not loved? Even those throughout history who have come to exemplify evil have had people who cared about them. We each need to be totally honest about our own attributes and accomplishments, without trying to compare ourselves to anyone. If we can be a little nicer, work a little harder or longer each day, or even just keep trudging on, we are successful. The billions of people who have and do inhabit this planet are all different in some way. We each start from a different place in any endeavor and have different strengths and handicaps. There is absolutely no way we can fairly compare ourselves with anyone else. The scriptures offer great advice when counseling us to lose ourselves in the service of others. We can be paralyzed into inaction if we feel "unworthy". That results in having done nothing to feel satisfied about having accomplished. If we spend time noticing others' needs and do our best to help when we have the skills or resources, we can feel accomplished which builds self-esteem. Our self-esteem is not built sturdily on compliments. We know within ourselves when we have diligently tried or when we have made excuses or given up. We all have moments of flagging energy or determination. That's a good time to pray for reinforcements. That can come directly from God through the Holy Spirit or it can come through an "in tune" friend or family member who lifts us up, encouraging us to keep trying. Envy only destroys- our self-esteem and our relationships with others.