windows

If you could look out your living room window onto any possible scene ... what would you choose? The view from your childhood bedroom? The pasture behind your grandparents' house? Your business? Westminster Cathedral?

I'm thinking I would choose the view out over the hills at the camp where I worked in high school. I had so many good times with God reading my Bible while watching the sun rise there.

I'm finding it interesting that the view I would choose for a window is very different from the one I would choose for a picture.

A window has a sense of "place" to it - as if I were choosing a spot into which I would like to be able to walk out my front door, as opposed to one that I want to look at occasionally.

The "windows" I would want seem to have sentimental attachments ... places I treasured, spots where conversations occurred that influenced my life. They aren't always the most beautiful scenes, but they're emotionally-connected.

Pondering strange things today, I suppose!

forget about it!

I was looking at Isaiah 54:4 today:

"Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. "

The phrase in blue stood out to me. We all have these memories which, when we touch on them, make us flinch. Stupid things said and done ... sinful (or just dumb) choices made ... being at the wrong place at the wrong time, and seeing what you wish you hadn't ...

When I first read the above verse, I automatically had the thought, "praise the Lord, He chooses not to remember that stuff. And He doesn't cause us to be disgraced ... cause others to remember it."

But it's more than that. He says I will forget the shame of my youth.

He's going to allow it to fade, to the degree those memories won't fling themselves in my path.

I'm thankful for that. There are SO many things it's just so nice to forget!

music, dancing and men in chicken hats

I was recently told that I've not been observed having any discernible fun for the last year or two. I don't believe this to be completely accurate. But the friend does make a good point. I've never been very good at "fun." I'm skilled at "educational" or "productive" or even "lazy" ... but "fun" is something I've always borrowed from others.

Saturday I was text messaging with a friend who was working at a folk music festival in Lansing. It just sounded ... so ... fun. So I went. And it was! The music was great, and there was lots of it. I spent a bit of time with my friend who was working, but on the whole was able to enjoy the liberty that comes from not needing to please anyone but yourself.

Dancing continues to fascinate me. I was watching yesterday, and noticed that, while some people did seem to have steps memorized, and patterns they were following ... others just seemed to be doing whatever, and having a great old time. I'm conservative. Really ... really conservative. But I envy the joyful liberty I see when people dance. I've gotten to the point where I can clap ... tap my feet ... maybe sway a little ... but some day I'm going to get myself out there on the floor and give it a try!

First swimsuit I have ever loved

Found this online at becoming apparel.

LOVE it! For anyone who's interested in a swimsuit that covers you up a bit ... have a look. They're pricey, but probably less than somebody would spend if they bought a swimsuit at the mall. It's well made, and so far is holding up great, even though I swim every day.

Thought others might be interested in a modest swimsuit ... such a thing does exist!

Don't forget to check their closeout section - the website isn't very user-friendly, but it's worth the effort.

How does your garden grow?

I've been trying to take steps to compensate for rising food prices, and one of them was to try & plant as much of a garden as possible on my balcony. I thought I'd share the start of it. I have lettuce, green onion, carrot and spinach planted from seeds, and tomato, pepper and cucumbers from boughten plants. The cucumbers are peeking out the bottom of the black triangular planter (and one on the top). I'm hoping they will vine around the supports.

Then there's a little pot of catnip down in the corner, in an attempt to bribe my friend's cat to dislike me slightly less.

What have you got planted this year? My particular neighbors are going to frown on it that there aren't flowers in the boxes ... but they tend to frown on almost anything even slightly unconventional. I suppose it gives them something to discuss. :)

these defects lend an air of authenticity

I was just reading the label on a pizza tray (thanks Dad!).

I always look for a particular line on labels ... the "this thing is gonna get battered when you use it so don't complain about it" phrase.

This one was a new wording to me ...
Slight scratches caused by the cutting action of knives and forks are normal, and lend your piece an air of authenticity.

Let's put aside for a second how a pizza pan could not be "authentic" ... I don't know either.

Instead, let's think about the Velveteen Rabbit idea ... that slight scratches, imperfections, dents, flaws ... lend an air of authenticity.

On garments, they tell you that irregularities in the fabric are normal, and part of the overall "look."

Hand stitched quilts are beautiful, and stand out because of slight unevenness-es in the stitching.

God chooses imperfect people, and does wonderful things with them.

This week, I was reading Streams in the Dessert and the following quote jumped out at me:

Christ is building His kingdom with earth's broken things. Men want only the strong, the successful, the victorious, the unbroken, in building their kingdoms; but God is the God of the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filling with earth's broken lives, and there is no bruised reed that Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take the life crushed by pain or sorrow and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth's saddest failure up to heaven's glory. - J.R. Miller

As we sit here, the day between Good Friday and Easter ... isn't it a glorious thing to think about the One, who went willingly to the cross, to pay our debt? And then, rose again, in proof that payment had been accepted, and we would, one day, be raised?

Since this one turning point in history, God has, for 2,000 years, been gathering His church together ... His little collection of battered, ragged, and moth-eaten people. changing them. USING them. He's not like us. He doesn't go for the pristine, and perfect. When He starts a project, He looks to use the workers, and ingredients, that have fallen to the bottom of the barrel ... so when the work is done, the glory goes to Him.

To repeat a message that never tires those who have heard it most often ... have you accepted what He offers? He's calling the wretches, the sinful, and the failed ... and He offers forgiveness, new life, and hope. Have you taken Him up on it?

my nephew, the antidepressant

How can you NOT smile at this little fellow? :)