On Earth, As it Is In Heaven

While very interested in many points made in the recent news about the recent Occupy Wall Street movement, I want to make a point I am not hearing from most Christians. My point is this: regardless of one's political party (and I, as a Christian, am Independent), regardless how you feel about the OWS movement as a whole, it is VITAL that the Christian Church, whether Catholic or Protestant---acknowledge that within this protest one can hear the voice of our Heavenly Father crying out against the oppression of the poor, on the side of the marginalized in our society. One need only read the Prophets to know that EVERY CRY FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY IS THE SOUND OF OUR FATHER'S VOICE!!! If we continue to refuse to acknowledge the concerns of this movement; many of which ARE INDEED LEGITIMATE (out of fear of being misunderstood, or our comments being taken out of context or exploited in some way)--- and continue to call what is good within it, evil--we will lose those in the mix who are genuinely seeking an honest and just solution to a complex problem. We will shut their ears and their hearts to the call of the Kingdom of God--because we will force them to equate the Church with being on the side of injustice. That, my friends will be the biggest loss of all. The Church of Jesus Christ has a tremendous opportunity, and indeed a RESPONSIBILITY to bring the cry of the Gospel to bear upon this movement---to cry out for equity and justice along WITH the movement--but then to point them in the only direction that will actually take them nonviolently TO that place of Justice and Equity. The Kingdom of God--which is the Kingdom of God's Justice and Righteousness. When John the Baptist came preaching in Israel in preparation for the advent of the ministry of Jesus the Messiah---he did so not merely by calling for repentance; he told them some very specific ways in which they were to go about that repentance. He said, "If YOU have 2 coats, give one to him who has none." (Luke 3:10-14) He did not say--if Herod has 2 coats give one to him who has none. He put the responsibility for change squarely on the shoulders of each of his hearers. He did not say Herod was not responsible for oppressing the people or that Herod need not change (In fact He himself called for Herod to repent of some specific scandalous sins to his face, risking death to do so)--but he put it to the people that great change is the result of everyone making the little changes THEY are capable and responsible to God to make for themselves. Society as a whole will only change when you and I are willing to change. John the Baptist didn't go about calling others to repent until he himself had become willing to live at subsistance level himself, with faith in God for his provision. Only then did God use him as His mouthpiece to call others to surrender to the call of the Kingdom of God. That my friends is the roll of the Church, as God's prophets. If we continue to refuse to perform our role in this society--refusing to call the wealthy to remember the poor, to do justly and righteously with the wealth they have been entrusted with, God will indeed raise up a rabble if He must to bring His message to them and to the masses. This movement has risen up because the Church has failed in it's God-given-role as His mouthpiece. Plain and simple. WE are the ones who need to repent of our apathy, to repent for failing to act in the Lord's name for the cause of justice in the name of the oppressed. Perhaps if we take this call seriously there may still be time for the Lord to forgive and bless us, and the country we so love. If we refuse to repent, and acknowledge what IS right within this movement, you can be guaranteed we will lose this generation to the enemies who have already infiltrated it, and who will turn these sincere seekers against Jesus Christ-- as they will no longer believe He stands for Justice. God forbid that we continue to profane His Holy and Just Name, and grant us all true repentance, for the glory of His name and the advancement of his Kingdom 'on earth, as it is in Heaven'.

All Tied up in The Wireless Net.

Having accomplished the first goal I set out to achieve in setting up my blog, I am sitting in Borders sipping coffee, and able to write my blog wireless from somewhere other than my computer desk at home. This victory has not come without its defeats. Just today I failed to get my new laser mouse to work with my desktop computer, and had to temporarily buy a new wired one until I can figure out the problem. I also tried to set up a router so I could use my new laptop wirelessly at home, but it also has not connected for some reason; forcing me to still have to plug in my laptop at home. I did manage to get Norton 360.4 working on my old desktop this morning, (just in time to prevent the yearly meltdown when my annual subscription expires). I found, however, that I'd assumed wrongly about the new technology, and I'm not able to go wireless anywhere I wanted, without first paying $100.00 connection fee (plus a two year contract) as well as a $60.00 monthly fee to be able to buy the kind of technological freedom I was hoping for when I started this venture. A two year contract....sounded like a committment that I was unwilling to make. After all, why should I have to 'tie myself down' to a company for two years to get freedom of movement? Didn't sound so freeing to me afterall, but more like a new form of bondage. I said ''no thank you" to the clerk who was attempting to sell me these new chains, and left the store with my independence still somewhat intact. I headed to Borders quite defeated, to buy one of those "computers for dummies" books, hoping to drown my sorrows in a hazelnut coffee, while attempting to learn the answer to the many technological mysteries I'd encountered. You can therefore imagine my delight, when, upon approaching the store, I saw a large sign in the window offering free Wi-Fi to all customers!.... What a concept!! Thus, I sit here triumphantly sipping my coffee, dreaming of a day in the future when I can venture beyond the borders of 'Borders' to bring you my latest blog. In the meantime, the coffee is great, the store has some amazing books for dummies like myself on a variety of topics, and I'm able to get out of the house... I'm happy to celebrate any small victories I can manage in attempting to survive the current technological onslaught. If you are ever in Borders, come have a coffee with me, and let's swap war stories.....

~Weeding Carrots~

In an attempt to beat the heat and humidity we were scheduled to get today, I got up very early this morning and went into my garden to get some weeding done before the sun came up very high. The grass was still wet from the rain the night before, and the neighborhood was quite peaceful with everyone else still enjoying their Saturday sleep-in time. The birds joined me in having an early morning song of gratitude to God, for His goodness and provision.
I have writtten about my garden before; back when it was still an idealistic beginning of a dream. Now, it was overrun with weeds, stunting the growth of the plants I had worked so hard to put in. We have had several weeks now of unusual heat and humidity; and though I have faithfully watered my garden every evening (due to the lack of rain) I have greatly neglected to keep up with the weeds, which had now taken over. I just didn't have the energy after working all day to face not just the work of weeding, but weeding in the heat. I was determined this morning, however, to make an attempt to regain some control.
I started, as is my nature, with what was easiest; the tomato plants. They are still producing their fruit for me, and deserved my attention. Their stalks are also large enough to easily distinguish them from the weeds around them. After the tomatoes, I spent the next half hour or so bent over hoeing around the eggplants, broccoli, green peppers and green onions. Way back in the corner, however, I knew my true challenge awaited me; the carrots. I saved them for last. I had planted them close together in 4 rows, and now I was paying the price, as they were too close together for me to hoe. I had to get on my hands and knees and painstakingly pluck out one weed at a time, lest I accidently pull up the carrots with the weeds.
Down on my knees, next to my carrots, I got to thinking; so much of my heart was represented in that patch of earth. Sometimes it is very very hard to tell the difference between what is good fruit, and what are just plain weeds. We THINK we are serving God. We are doing all the right things, we even have our good deeds pilled up high and packed in close together---but closer still will always be the weeds of wrong motives, selfish intentions, and self-righteousness. These are always at the ready to choke out and render lifeless what we had planted for God in hope. It is easier to just do the regular watering; read the Word, sing songs, go to church when expected. We don't like the uncomfortable heat of the nitty-gritty of weeding. We want to assume we will get the same abundant fruit if we just keep watering and leave the weeds alone. But the sad fact is, we won't. I did manage to accidently pull up a few stunted carrots as I was weeding. They were pathetically small compared to what I had expected by now. I got what I had worked for, however as I hadn't been willing to put in the labor intensive work required to get the good and abundant fruit. Now I was paying the price--pulling up weeds that were larger than the fruit I had anticipated. Was my heart like that as well? Lord, have I been neglecting the hard work of confession and repentance; all the while assuming my spiritual life would still thrive with steady watering with the Word? Have I been unwilling to get down to the nitty-gritty with you and try to distinguish what my true motivations were behind my good deeds, so you could uproot the inpure intentions, and clean up my heart? Was I now reaping the chocked out life our Lord spoke of, which I had sown? (Matt 13:22)
Oh Lord, here I am. A stunted child of yours, ready to be overrun by the weeds in my own heart. Help me to see; to distinguish between what is that which will bring true fruit, and what will only kill the seed in the end. Cause me to put in the hard work required to pull things out by the roots, so you can revive me. Revive me, Holy Spirit. Bring your scorching heat of noon, and allow all that was never planted by you to dry up and wither in the brightness of your sun. And bring on the showers of your grace and love, that I might drink in again of your goodness and kindness, and rise high in the fields to bear you the good fruit you intented me to bring forth for your glory. Amen.

25 of my Favorite Things

When I was in high school, I was in the school production of the musical, "The Sound of Music". One song had the line, "these are a few of my favorite things" which listed a long line of favorite things. I had that song in my head for some reason tonight, so thought I would give you an example of 25 things I'd have named if I had to make such a list.
1) the smell of Lilacs in bloom
2) the beach by moonlight
3) a fresh word from the Lord
4) poetry that is phrased just right
5) well written literature
6) a good turn of phrase/ puns
7) the fresh smell of clothes from the clothesline
8) the calming sound of a babbling brook over rocks
9) the happy laughter/squeels of children
10) a manly man......
11) melodious guitar music
12) A day to myself with no obligations
13) long scenic drives /exploring unknown roads
14) the majesty of mountains
15) waterfalls
16) Warm tomatoes fresh off the vine
17) The softness of cashmere & fluid flow of silk
18) The sweet smell of freshly mowed grass & wood smoke
19) The colors blue and green
20) a hot cup of Earl Grey tea with honey
21) footrubs & backrubs
22) intellectually stimulating conversations /documentaries
23) the hush and beauty of the silence after a newly fallen snow
24) sleeping until I'm no longer tired/waking rested
25) A long road trip alone--at my own pace--singing along with the radio...

What are your favorite things?

Woodland meditations

Next to my picture in my high school yearbook is a quote from a poem by Robert Frost: "...Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less travelled by; and that has made all the difference..." I didn't know why I chose that particular quote at that time; I just liked it-- nor did I know that, the summer after I graduated, such a choice of divergent paths would indeed come to me and mark my life as different forever after. I was thinking about that verse today as I took a walk at Bluff Point State Park in Groton, CT. The park has a path that follows the shoreline out to the seaside bluff, but it also has a less travelled path up a hill and through the woods that also eventually leads to the bluff. Smiling as I remembered that poem, I took the less travelled path today....

As I mounted the initial hill, I noted an immediate change. There was suddenly a reverent hush around me, as I left the more crowded path. I had been surrounded, up to that point, with alot of other people; bikers, riders on horseback, yelping dogs, crying children, people conversing, etc. I'd observed that very few of them seemed conscious of their surroundings, as they were so taken up in conversations, or in reaching the end of whatever form of exercise they were diligently pursuing. But now, as I entered upon the more solitary path, my own pace lessened a bit as I became aware of the quiet beauty all around me. Unhurried now, I listened more as I walked. The gentle wind in the leaves of the trees seemed to be harmoniously singing with the songbirds. My steps tred more gently on the path so as not to block out the lovely sound of the woods. I took the time to sit for a while on a small bench, and allowed myself to simply BE for 10 minutes. The stillness was so peaceful, and I realized it had been this, even more than exercise that had drawn me to the quiet woods in the first place. Why are we always in such a hurry? Why do we allow ourselves to be so rushed through life; to the point where we have no time to enjoy it? A friend of mine once wisely reminded me that 'God had made us human BEings, not human DOings.' I thought that was so wise then, and am reminded of it often when I find activity crowding out meaningful meditative moments in my life.

The road-less-taken for me, was following Jesus; a calling I received in August after my senior year of HS, 1975. There was just something about those Christians in the Bible study I had begun attending, which made me want to go back again and again--even if they did seem a bit weird to me--talking directly to God and all.... What was it? Why were they so happy? What made them so loving and welcoming to a stranger like me? It wasn't so much what they did, or how much they talked--it was something more intangible, which I now realized I longed for----peace. And not just any peace, specifically peace with God...They weren't struggling or seeking to find God, like I was; they were celebrating His having already revealed Himself to them by a 'Holy Spirit' they talked alot about. And sing? I'd never met grown ups who loved singing more, or who did so with so much joy...I just had to have this Holy Spirit--I had to find peace with God. So, I did what they told me. I humbled myself and I asked. I knew I wasn't worthy; that I had sinned against a Holy God. But amazingly I was assured that Jesus KNEW all about my sin, and had died in order for me to be cleansed of them. All I had to do was confess my sins, invite Jesus to take control of my life as my Lord (being prepared to obey Him) and then ask the Holy Spirit to come live inside me, giving me the ability to follow and obey Jesus which I lacked when left to myself. --I did---and He was faithful to receive me as his child. For, "As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on His name... (John 1:12 KJV)

All these things I thought about today as I sat on the bench. Where had that quiet peace, that inner reassurance gone? Had I become so taken up with DOing the Christian life---that I had stopped knowing how to simply BE a Christian? Something a new Christian is taught is that they must 'witness' or tell others about the amazing things God has done for Mankind, by sharing the gospel with them. So often times, one can fall into a mindset that begins to have us believing our peace with God now depends on our behaving ourselves and doing Christian works, or witnessing. We fall ito false condemnation when we fail to live up to our own false expectations of what a good Christian should 'do'. I thought of this today and recalled something someone else had taught me---that Jesus told His disciples, 'You shall BE my witnesses..' (Acts 1:8) He never said, 'you shall DO witnessing'. For when our hearts are full of belief in the glorious truths of the Gospel--that someone has already paid in full the price we owed God---not only the death we deserved for our sins, but also lived the righteous life in our stead which we could never work up----we can't but be full of joy all day long--and such joy is a magnet; it 'witnesses' to those around us that what we believe must be true--or it is at least worth investigating further... Such joy says more than our words ever could....

The sermon in church today was based upon Psalm 127, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it....for He giveth His beloved sleep...(rest)" My walk continued on, eventually leading out to what was once the home of the Govenor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony--Gov John Winthrop Sr. He later bequeathed the house to his son who became Govenor of Connecticut, Gov. John Winthrop Jr. Despite being a well-made house that lasted several hundred years, it was totally wiped out in the now infamous Hurricane of 1938. The land had once belonged to the King of England, before passing into the ownership of the Sr Winthrop. What is amazing is that, despite all the time that has passed, and all the tragedy that has befallen it, it can still be located and identified as having been the home of the Winthrops, and former property of the King. How can this be? The foundation remains to this day. Regardless what may be built upon it or not, it is that foundation which was laid and which remains which belies anyone to lay claim to anything different. Our Lord told a parable about houses being built upon either sand or rock, and which would remain and which would be utterly destroyed when the hurricane came. In that parable, (Matt 7: 24-27) it is the foundation that was laid in the beginning which was known to make all the difference in the end. This house's foundation was made of rock-and it testifies-it witnesses, to this day as to who the Master of the house is; who can lay claim to the property. So with us. If the Lord has laid His foundation in our heart, He has not built in vain there. Herein is our confidence and 'sleep'/ rest He has given us...

Over the years, some of those from my original Bible study group have gone off in another direction, and built up strange edifices upon the original foundation that was laid---the foundation of Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 3:11) It can be painful and upsetting to think that those who led me to peace with God could wander away themselves down a different path later. However, I was comforted looking at that foundation today. The house is destroyed, as well as any outward proof of who the rightful owner of the property is--but the foundation remains, and testifies to the truth. Thus would the Apostle Paul want us to be comforted as well as we meditate upon that scene, and the words of (1 Cor 3: 10-15) "...as a wise masterbuilder, I laid a foundation and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident, for The Day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet, so as through fire..." How can this be? Timothy tells us: " Nevertheless, the FIRM foundation of God stands, having this seal: The LORD knows them that are His...." (2 Tim 2:19)

It is the foundation, saving faith in the Lord Jesus, that will save us in the day of God's wrath that is coming. Not our works--however good they may be--nor will the lack of good works condemn us. (Consider the thief on the cross who had no time for good works. (Luke 23:33, 39-43) It is the work of Jesus Christ, and Him alone, and our faith in the complete adequacy of His work, which will save us in the hurricane to come. I know who the King is who my wayward friends belong to. He will recognize His own handiwork in the end.....Still, it is always wise to ask those we meet: What foundation is your life built upon?....

As I turned to head back down the path to home, I saw something I'd not noticed on the way out. Lots of broken down stone walls all along the way. Someone had worked hard several hundred years ago as they cleared their land for crops, lugging those big stones to the edge of the fields to build up a boundary wall. They had worked with skill, for, though not completely intact, those walls still stood to 'witness' to their labor. I recalled the weeping before the Lord of Nehemiah when he had been told that the boundary wall of Jerusalem had been broken down. (Nehemiah 1:3-11) Nehemiah was grieved that the city which was once known in the world as the City of God in the earth, was now exposed, and overrun by her enemies. God's name and glory had become a thing of mockery among the nations because of the unfaithfulness of His people. Nehemiah, whose name means 'comforter', and, as such is a picture of the Holy Spirit at work in the Old Testament, was grieved in his heart. Nehemiah did more than feel badly, however; he did more than weep; he interceeded on behalf of God's people. He came alongside them, became one with them in their sorrow and pain, and entered into their efforts by rebuilding the walls with them. That wall in Jerusalem represents the moral wall in our hearts. Have we allowed the enemy to overrun us, and disgrace God's name that we bear? Our comforter wants to come alongside, and lead us in the rebuilding process. He does not stand aloof from us, condemning us. He grieves for and with us, loves us, and wants to comfort us as we rebuild the wall together. "Yet, there is much rubbish, and we ourselves are unable to rebuild..." (Neh 4:10) the people almost despaired....And so will we if we focus on all the 'rubbish' in our lives. We must look away from ourselves, our failures, however dishonoring to God we have been. Look to Jesus, who in at the right hand of God interceeding for us, and begin, like the Jewish people did---each one building right where they were. In their own home area first. It would have been overwhelming for any of them to think of making all the repairs. But God only asked each one to do their own part. By being obedient to that call, the wall was eventually rebuilt. And so in the church. Personal revival is the basis for all true corporate revival. Sometimes, we look like the Church in Sardis--(Rev 3:1)-having the name of being alive, but we are dead.....at times it all seems hopeless. At such times, we must remember the Valley of Dry Bones..(Eze 37:1-10) Like those bones we in the church are just as dead, dry and lifeless at times as well. We well wonder if such lifeless bones can ever live again....'THOU knowest, O God...'

God asks us to have faith---not in the ability of the bones to live, but in He who is able to give new life--and that more abundantly (John 10:10) When faith in God wells up in us, we are to prophesy by faith in our God, that they---that WE, SHALL indeed live again, and gain the victory which is ours in Christ!! The victory is ours, it is as sure as the resurrected Jesus sitting on His Father's throne, and it is ETERNAL, Hallelujah.....

"...Thus says the Lord, 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life....'" (Eze 37:9)

The garden

My garden plot is a lovesome thing--
God wot!
Rose plot,
Fringed pool,
Fern grot--
The veriest school
Of peace; and yet the fool
Contends that God is not.--
Not God in gardens! When the sun is cool?
Nay, but I have a sign!
'Tis very sure God walks in mine.
- Thomas Edward Brown, My Garden

I read this poem almost 20 years ago, yet it is only in the last 3 years I have begun to plant a garden myself. (skipping last year, this is now my 2nd) This May I planted 10 tomato plants, a row of 3 kinds of lettuce, 4 eggplants, 4 broccoli plants, a row of bell peppers, a row of onions, chives and garlic chives, 4 rows of carrots, 2 rows of beets, a row of herbs consisting of basil, sage, dill, parlsey, oregano, peppermint, spearmint, a row of spinach, 8 cucumber plants, 8 butternut squash plants, 8 potato plants, 2 rows of green beans, 2 rows of peas, a row of corn 8 watemelon plants, a row of zucchini, a plot with 25 strawberry plants and a rhubarb plant, a rasberry bush, blackberry bush and a blueberry bush---AND put up a fence around the main garden all in one day. What is too much for me, will be shared or given to the local soup kitchen.
Although it is a back breaking activity at my age, it is also very satisfying to pick and eat vegetables that God & I have been co-laborers together in creating. I suspect parents feel this way regarding watching their own children mature and come to fruition. Co-laboring with God in the production of life is an awesome thing. It is what we were created to do as humans. As an unmarried woman, however, I had never before experienced this strange yet wonderful satisfaction. The Bible tells us that co-laboring with God spiritually is also a wonderful way to take part in the production of life of the best kind-- eternal life. As such, the Scriptures use the garden as an allegory to speak of the human heart. We do what we are able, but ultimately, spiritual growth, and the growth of life in all forms, comes from God alone. "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth..." says the apostle Paul regarding the life of his disciples. (1 Cor 3: 6) We must look to God to cause our growth.
I have noticed that every garden plant has a specific weed that grows near it that looks alot like the genuine thing. (called tares in Scripture) If one isn't careful when weeding, one can pluck up the real plant along with the imitation. For this reason, God cautions us that Satan has sown tares in among God's genuine people in the church. Only God knows for sure who is genuinely His and who is not. We are His garden, the plot of His planting, the sheep of His pasture, as another Scripture portrays us, in (Psalm 100:3) It is not for the plants to be judging the other plants around them to pluck them out. The Lord said we are to allow them to all grow up together until the harvest. At maturity, it will be apparent what was the real plant, and what was the false, for only the real plant will bear the intended fruit. And the Bible makes clear what the fruit is what will distinguish the true plants of God: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22) Notice the fruit is not, speaking in tongues, performing miracles, ability to quote Scripture, regular attendence in church or Sunday school, music ministry, or any other kind of 'good work'. It is the heart motivation and the way one goes about such works that will be the distinguishing factor. So, in the Harvest, the Lord will easily be able to tell His people from the tares of the AntiChrist. Though he and or his followers may perform many awesome deeds--even miracles, and know the Bible forwards and backwards, though they may even be prominent leaders in a church, the distinguishing mark will be the fruit they will bear before men. We are told to not believe every spirit, but test them.....(1 John 4:1) Are they gentle, or contentious; humble or proud; receive glory for themselves, or give glory to God; love God's people or hate their witness; glutonnous and given to fits of anger, or self-controlled and temperate in all things? These signs will hold good in both the Antichrist, as well as those who follow him. The Bible tells us that in Eden, the first Garden, God habitually walked with Adam in the cool of the day. (Genesis 3: 8) God's promise to His redeemed people, His garden, was even more intimate: that He would "dwell in them, and walk among them.." (2 Corinthians 6:16) If God is truely dwelling IN us, then the fruit of the Spirit will manifest itself through us, as we come to maturity. This was the 'sign' referred to by TE Brown in his poem above. The peace of the spirit was in his heart, teaching him the ways of God.
What sign, or fruit, do we have to assure us that God is walking with us in our gardens????

~The Tyranny of the Urgent~

Whew---- (Shaking off a very dissheveled self....)

I've just escaped for a few minutes from the maddening merry-go-round of duties and responsibilities that have held me tightly in their centrifical grip for the past two weeks. I have been running from one task to another with only micro moments between them, and I simply had to break through it all long enough to catch my breath.....

Why is it that when we have nothing in particular on our agendas we are bored and unable to focus enough to be able to accomplish the 10,001 tasks which we suddenly remember we never got done; once we are too busy again to do anything about it? I think I'll need at least a year's sabbatical to call a 'time-out' and get caught up on all the projects I haven't completed--and then I will need at least another summer off after that so I can finally relax and enjoy being caught up! I don't remember what it is like to not have a voice inside my head nagging me about how far behind I am in everything. I SERIOUSLY NEED A VACATION.....(and I don't mean visiting relatives, as much as I love them.)

Where does one go to learn the perfect balance between not enough activity, and way too much? Is there a course one could take? (Not that I'd have the time to take it..!.) How is it that something as innocent as teaching a (free) English as a Second Language class one-Saturday-am-a-week to a few local Haitians has spiraled into a multi-evening preparation activity costing ME lots of money each month? I know, I know, I am a soft touch--they cannot afford their own books, and xeroxing isn't cheap--and how was I to know it wasn't tax deductible when I first bought all the supplies??? Now I am kind of stuck, as it was a one year committment I signed on for. If that was all I had to do, it wouldn't be so bad---but I am also taking a class to have my ham radio license updated to a higher level which will allo me to make more international calls. My first license was not that hard to obtain. I assumed the next level would be similar. No one told me that the course I signed up for this time, however, involves alot of mathematical power equations and electrical principals and circuitry---my brain was not expecting to ever have to be used in that way again, after high school, so it came to me as quite a shock!! However, now that I have gotten through the toughest chapter in that book and am still standing, I'm feeling rather good about surviving such an intellectual onslaught.... I'll take the test the end of April--and sure hope I'll still remember what I just learned by that time...

With all this in mind, blogging today for the first time in almost a month is a real stress relief for me----like having a cup of tea with a good friend. It is a dark, cold, and rainy day today; the kind of day that forces one inside to rumminate about better days, and happier things. For me, that would be writing. Essays, poems, or just simple commentaries; they all would fill the bill on such a day. To huddle alone over my keyboard with a warm cup of Earl Grey fragranting the air, sharing my struggle against the 'Tyranny of the Urgent' with all of you, has already strengthened me to stand strong and fight again another day.....but I don't have time to wait for another day ---I've got to get up now to cook something for tomorrow's church potluck, then head out into the rain to see my great-nephew for his 16th birthday party; I still have another chapter in the Ham radio book to read--(this week is all about Antennas), and...those dishes need doing, the laundry is behind, and I am on-call for work....and....and.....and....oh oh here I go, getting sucked back into the merry-go-round--(Large sucking sound) (!Gone!)