Feelings

     Feelings are such interesting and complicated parts of our lives. We cannot separate ourselves from our feelings and be truly healthy and human. We are made to feel.
     Jesus felt frustration, sadness, anger, and extreme joy. It seems he even felt hurt when, in the Garden, he said, "Could you not watch with me one hour?" He was disappointed in people.
     Many of us were taught some of these things as we grew up:
-- stop crying and be a man, indicating that real men don't cry
-- knock it off or I'll give you something be mad/to cry about
-- don't get so excited; it's not that big of a deal
-- you don't really feel that way
     Affirming and understanding feelings is a way to help us learn to return to calm and peace from those feelings. When I tell Jesus  my feelings, I feel his compassion and comfort.
     If I refuse to admit that I have those feelings, they don't go away as some people suppose. Instead, they go deep inside. When enough stuffed emotions fill us up, the next logical step is explosion.
     Today I am sad about the ravages of Huntington's Disease on people I love.
A verse I've been thinking of for 2 days is this from Jesus: "In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world."
     Thank goodness this is not all there is!

Do you crack yourself up?

     That's probably a very poor English sentence...but that's what I want to ask!
I just don't want to be the only one who regularly laughs at myself.
     I love this city. I want to do some research on the building of Seattle and putting in all these streets that go around, on top, and sometimes through the mountains that surround us. Maybe it will help me understand my GPS!
     Yesterday I was looking for that specialty shoe store. I had the address. I put in my GPS. On the way to the nursing home, I looked for it, and did not find it. After I left the nursing home, I searched again. I found the street names, but many of them were dead ends. The GPS kept saying, "turn towards...." I did and it didn't go through. So I turned around. I must have done that about 4 times.
     When I finally reached the store, and found what I wanted, I was delighted. I also was able to just "let go" of my crazy journey. I continue to surprise myself by no longer getting angry or upset when I get lost or when streets end abruptly. I just whip into someone's driveway and back out going the other direction.
     I am so thankful for: Rose Marie Wrung introducing me to Thrive Ministries, and the JOY work they do, for Living From the Heart Jesus Gave You and Joy Starts Here, books published Shepherd Publishing and Thrive.
     I am thankful to finally know --- in my heart and soul, not just in my head, how much Jesus loves me.

Stripped and Cut Down

    They came early this morning. They walked around the yard and looked for the blue tape which marked the trees destined to fall.
    As I sat at my table, writing, I watched as a man harnessed himself to the tree and reached for the chainsaw attached to his belt. He trimmed the lower branches first, and climbed ever higher, stripping the tree of all foliage. Then he sawed off the top of the tree and worked his way down.
    This property was left to the elements for some time before my landlady bought it. As a corner lot, there are many trees, and it's beautiful. It is not, however, easy to care for. Some trees had to go so that other things could grow correctly. I am not a tree hugger, but I was surprised at my initial response - a little ping of remorse in my heart.
     I love the trees of the northwest. They are amazing to see and smell. I love the sounds of the wind whispering and sometimes shouting through them. I know some have to be removed, but I don't have to like it!

The End is Not the End

Been studying the Gospel of John again. In chapter 11, Jesus heard that His friend, Lazarus, was ill. He then makes some enigmatic statements, which the disciples don't understand:
     ---Lazarus' sickness will not end in death.
     ---Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I will wake him up.
     ---Finally Jesus declares clearly: Lazarus is dead.


Jesus reminds the disciples that the final goal is that His glory be seen in all circumstances so that they would believe in Him.


My musings from these verses: 


The END MAY NOT BE THE END:
     ---The end of childhood (age) does not necessarily mean the end of childlikeness.
     ---The end of schooling does not mean the end of learning and education.
     ---The end of singleness by getting married does not necessarily mean the end of loneliness.
     ---The end of a career does not mean the end of working.
     ---When children grow up and move out of the house, it is not the end of parenting.


You can make your own list from your life experiences. When something ended, was it really the end? How can God be glorified through it all and your faith increased?