"On 'The Summer of My Discontent'"

discontent:  dissatisfaction, a longing for better times or circumstances

It was one of those hands-and-knees kind of jobs.  The garden is quite large, with three levels, and I have not been diligent in maintaining it.  My clients are having a party in a few days, so it is “crunch time” to bring it back to its former glory.  Going deep in thought it came to me--Summer, 2015 has, so far, been "The Summer of My Discontent."  While “The Winter of Our Discontent,” a novel written by John Steinbeck, referenced the political climate of a country, this is personal.

In thinking about it, I would have to say it began in the Spring, this pervasive feeling, this sense of unease, and I have carried it with me into what is now mid-Summer.  Isn’t it interesting that these inner states become a companion, an old friend?  Where I go, it goes.

It isn’t depression; nor is it unhappiness.  It is an underlying feeling of being unsettled, of not being “at home,” that all is not well.

When life feels out of balance, man often needs to find a reason, a cause for such and then to “fix” it.  I know better than that. 

I could say that it is the heat which is causing the discontent, but our 2 ½-week-long heat wave of 90 degree plus temperatures has passed.  I could say it is the reality of my age, that of being a 70-something, of living life alone, my financial state, or the lack of time to pursue personal interests.  But I know better than that.

Several days ago, I experienced a great deal of pain in the arch of my foot.  It seemed to have come out of nowhere, and I was unable to identify a point in time when I could have injured it.  Placing any kind of pressure on it was difficult, and I walked with an obvious limp.  I knew a potentially serious situation was developing when I calculated how close I could park to the grocery store entrance and how many steps it would take to get there. 

Awakening in the middle of the night, I faced the truth of being unable to garden, which is my livelihood, if I am unable to walk.  It is that simple.  “Help me,” was the extent of my prayer. 

At some point during the night, I unconsciously massaged my upper leg.  The next morning, imagine my surprise to find the pain in my foot had alleviated.  Rubbing the foot had not helped; the base source of the problem was further up the leg.  It’s that “foot bone connected to the ankle bone, and the ankle bone connected to the leg bone” thing. 

The source of a situation or state, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual, is often far removed from what we would speculate, guess, or assume.

The world is in an upheaval.  Weather is changing, power is shifting, the rule of money and lawlessness has never been more evident.  Narcissism abounds with mankind concerned only about “me."  God is being rejected at every level from personal up and through government and is being replaced with self-service and self-glory.  Peace is absent in the land, and discontent permeates and is manifest everywhere.
  

I would like to say I have made it through this state of discontent, this malaise, that I received enlightenment and understanding as to what is going on within, that I experienced a moment of epiphany, but it isn’t so.  I would like to state that what I am sensing is the state and condition of the larger whole, the ominous cloud of despair covering the land, but I don't know if that is so either. 

What I do know is that I will "Just keep going," one basic precept by which I live my life.   When what I really want to do is to curl up in a ball and plant myself, it is one of my least favorite things to do.  But I shall, because, for me, it is the only way--I shall "Just keep going."

      

"Precept Upon Precept"

Living life with God.  Just how does one live life with One who is all knowing, all powerful, the Creator of all things?  First and foremost is the need for honesty, coming before Him with no pretense or excuses, no expectations or demands--simply coming to Him as I am.

He wants us to have a rich life, and He wants to be a part of that.  It is our choice to include Him or exclude Him.  As teacher, He shows us how to live and how to have a full, satisfying life.

The first step is the foundation, which is God.  In order to build on top of that foundation, He has given me these precepts, these building blocks.  I share them with you along with the challenge to seek for yourself and find the truth of them with Him.

precept:  a guiding principle or rule, esp. one that guides personal conduct

Precept #1:  ALL things are spiritual.

Precept #2:  Things are not as they seem to be.

Precept #3:  First things first--the inner first, then the outer.  The outer without the inner is worthless. 
"....do not worry saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'  Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Precept #4:  If you don't make a decision, the decision is made for you.
"Whoever is not with me is against me."

Precept #5:  If you wait to see, you've waited too long.
"We walk by faith, not by sight."

Precept #6:  There is a better way.

Precept #7:  There are no skipped steps; there are no shortcuts.

Precept #8:  Just keep going.

Precept #9:  Not a moment too soon, not a moment too late.

Precept #10:  Stay in your own yard.

Precept #11:  Do not add to; do not take away from.

Precept #12:  In order to become a teacher, you must be willing to be taught.


"Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the wind blew upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."

"On a Rush to Judgment"

It’s been a long, hot summer so far, and summer has only officially begun.  A heat wave in my part of the world, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, is heading into its third week.  There is a palpable weariness as lush green turns brown, a felt intolerance in dealing with the heat, and concerns over a potential lack of water in the area.

Another type of intolerance is revealing itself across the nation, however, as recent events have turned our world upside down.  That climate is as prevalent, as manifest, as tangible across the land as the heat is in the Western U.S. 

The country is in an upheaval as, first, tragedy struck in a horrific shooting in a church, the victims targeted because of their race; and then, a ruling made by the Supreme Court declaring same-sex marriage legal in every state in the country.

In the wake of these events, I am seeing rigid responses.  I would daresay there are few lukewarm, mediocre points of view.  People have always had their opinions and positions, but many of the reactions are intolerant and unbending on both sides.  What I find troubling is that the point of view isn't being targeted, but the one holding that position of difference is.  “I’m right, and you are wrong,” is a widespread attitude, and with this have come charges and accusations, name-calling, and judgments and labels cast on those who disagree.  And disagreement is everywhere.

If you and I have a difference of opinion and conviction on an issue, be it spiritual, political, social, or any other, that does NOT mean that either one of us or both of us comes from a place of hate, bigotry, or racism.  It means, simply, that we disagree.  How DID things get so screwed up?

There are those who are filled with hate, bigotry, and racism.  Being in disagreement is not the marker or indicator for casting that judgment.

The following quote has been running through my mind for a long time.  Whatever happened to this point of view?:

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”  Evelyn Beatrice Hall,  September 1868

It would be in the best interest of us all to refrain from judging.  Disagree?--Yes, of course.  We are individuals, not robotic creatures, but we need to be careful not to judge others who differ in belief and thought.  It would be wise to first take a look in the mirror and look within oneself before pointing the "Finger of Judgment" at another.

“If you judge other people, then you too will be judged.”

  

 

   

"Halfway, Half-hearted, and Half-a**ed"

When I first set up this blog and began writing, it was with the thought that I would be able to allude to my personal faith and relationship with God without using the “G” word.    You know, kind of like being in a closet and opening the door occasionally to toss out some tidbits.  Many people are offended by that word, and it was my effort to not "turn off" my readers.

Silly me!  That approach is not unlike being a little bit pregnant.  It simply isn’t possible and can’t happen.

Have you ever been around a person or been involved with one who does things half-hearted?  In the end everything is halfway, compromised.  You may have found yourself thinking, “Why bother?”

Several years ago I taught piano. That enterprise didn’t last long as the majority of my students did not have the passion or desire to put in the time and the effort it takes to learn how to play an instrument.  It is impossible to teach one who isn’t passionate about the whole process, that it takes practice and commitment to be a pianist.  Those half-hearted students quickly faded away.

passion:  great, strong, powerful emotion; fervor; determination; zeal 

A friend commented recently that I was a “bit fired up.”  He was referencing how I see our world and the things taking place in that world--and that is in a spiritual light.  My response was “Yes, I am fired up.  I am very passionate about what I believe and what I see.” 

We are spiritual beings, and the world and everything in it is spiritual.  Those who view life in purely a natural, political, environmental manner are going to be caught by surprise.  I believe that with every fiber of my being. 

A spiritual alarm is being sounded, and a mediocre response isn't going to be good enough.  We were born into a world where a battle between good and evil is taking place. “Armageddon” is not a word created by Hollywood.

And so I have come out of that closet and will continue to lay myself, my thoughts, and my beliefs out in the open.   I can do no other.  Question them, challenge them, find out for yourself what is true and what isn’t.  Warning:  the "G" word will be used.

These are important times we are living in, and halfway, half-hearted, and half-a**ed are not good enough.  As my mother-in-law used to say, "Pardon my French," but I needed to get your attention. 

"He who is not for me is against me."

“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either cold or hot.  So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”