"On Meanderings and Progressive Dinners"

In all probability, I am dating myself when I speak of progressive dinners. They have been around for a while, but perhaps they have gone by the wayside, along with the turning over of outhouses on Halloween.   

The term "progressive dinner" is self-explanatory.  A large group of people can share a meal and an evening of socializing without the entire burden of entertaining falling upon one host/hostess.  The meal begins at one home with appetizers and continues to the next with, perhaps, soup and salad.  The menu is as simple or as complex as those who plan it wish it to be.  The main course is at yet another home, and the evening ends with dessert at a final destination.

My mind was in that state yesterday, roaming from one place to another.  Often, these writings take form and shape while I am working, with the consideration "What is the point?"  In all honesty, I couldn’t come up with one, and so I went from one place to another, changing not only physical but mental scenery as I cleaned.

“I think I’m spending too much time on Facebook.”  That was the conclusion I came to as I thought of my involvement with that social media in recent days.  I feel that each person has the right to his/her own point of view, and my perspective is simply that--mine.  However, three times this past week, I just had to open my mouth and spout off, disregarding a daughter's admonition to "Just don't make comments, Mom!"

A post of a well-known televangelist had been shared.  Generally, I don’t read them, but read I did.  I responded by commenting I disagreed, and I laid out my thoughts.  Yet again, a second post which stated how important it is to not do things which might cause personal unhappiness while making others happy had me jumping up and down. “You have got to be kidding!," I ranted.  "Since when is my happiness or unhappiness the standard, the gauge of how I live my life?  How happy do you think Christ was at the Last Supper with His disciples, or in the Garden of Gethsemane, or as His body was being nailed to a cross?”  Life with God does not revolve around my personal comfort.

The third time was the result of a post regarding ISIS, the terrorist group wreaking havoc and misery around the world.  All varieties of opinions were expressed, and God got drug into the argument.  “There is no logic in God,” said one, “when there are 4000 other gods.”  Busy fingers here—“The logic is that one God is living, 4000 gods are dead.”

"I am either becoming very bold or 'plumb dumb'," I thought.    

The wandering continued.  As I began mopping the floors, my thoughts were in yet another place.  I thought of prayer and religion.  There  are some who believe that, with the burning of incense or candles, prayers ascend to one who can answer; others send their offerings into the air with chants, songs, and repetitious motions.  “That makes as much sense as spitting into the wind to put out a fire,” I thought.  I differ in that my prayers are conversations, one on one, with my Father. 

On to the next "course."  Periodically, I find myself examining my life and the way I live my life.  Yesterday was one of those times.  One of my pet peeves, in addition to barking dogs, is the person who has words—lots and lots of words, with no substance to back them up.  I am particularly reviled when they are spoken "in the name of God."  For me, it is sickeningly worsened when monetary gain is made from those words.  That, I feel, is the ultimate in taking advantage of those who are in need, and is the base of my reaction against the religious televangelist. 

At any rate, I need to be concerned with myself and with my life, and so in these times I stand quietly.  “Please change those things within me that need to be changed.”  

The meanderings continued just like a progressive dinner.  The thoughts were like the courses, settled in a single place and completely enjoyed before moving on to another.  And this is what I decided:  No, I don’t have a particular point for this writing and, as with a progressive dinner, I did not end up where I started, but I certainly ended up filled and satisfied.