Monthly Archives: January 2014

Still The Reason Why

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ink-drop2I had to go back and read the page titled “Reason Why” that I wrote four years ago.  When I started this blog, I had no idea what I was doing.  And that was a good thing.  No expectations, no goals, no grandiose visions of glory.  Just a small drop of ink to make a few, perhaps, think.

So, after four years of trial and error, I thought I’d get serious and try to learn a little something about blogging from the pros.  Maybe take an online class from a blogging expert or tune in to a webinar promising tips and tricks.  Turns out, I’ve been doing it all wrong.

It seems a real blogger is supposed to seek out advertisers and sponsors.  A true blog has a goal — make money by selling something or by working toward a lucrative book deal.  I am supposed to create a platform, gather a tribe, build my subscriber list, and develop my brand.  I should have been on Twitter by now.  I should have ditched my free template a long time ago and designed a one-of-a-kind look with some real wow factors.  I should have a stack of business cards ready to hand out to everyone I meet. (I actually did print out 10 business cards four years ago, but they are somewhere on the bottom of my purse — I never got up the nerve to give one to anybody.)

After giving this serious thought, I have come to some conclusions:

1.  I don’t want to do all that.

2.  I hate self-promotion.

3.  I’m doing this for fun.  I hope my family gets a kick out of it, and if anybody else wants to read along, well then, fine.

4.  I am going to change a few things.  It might be time for a new look.  I’d like bigger print so it’s easier on my eyes and I’m getting tired of blue.  So, don’t be surprised if one day the view is different.  It won’t be fancy.  It will be free.

5.  My reason why hasn’t changed….and I’m at peace with doing it all wrong.

Too Cold to Poop

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brrr-17 degrees, -29 wind chill.  It’s too cold to poop.  Our dog, Bo, can’t stand it.  She can’t keep all four paws on the frozen ground at once.  Can’t stop dancing long enough to squat.  Can’t think about anything but getting out of the frigid air and back into the house.  Tug, tug, tug on the leash.  No poop.  Too cold.

I love how extreme weather conditions shut down activity.  We all think we’re in charge, with our to-do lists and responsibilities.  But really, we have no control over this world.  It’s good to be reminded of that from time to time.  I prefer extreme days — they make us slow down.  Those other days when it’s cold but not too cold, snowy but not too snowy, icy but not too icy — those days you have to carry on despite the elements.  But a blizzard or an ice storm or an arctic blast, they make you put up your hands and surrender.  “Ok! I’ll leave my pjs on all day!  Uncle!  I’ll sit by the fire and read all afternoon!  I give!”

Sometimes it’s nice to be told what to do.  Usually I like to be the boss, plan my day, decide what’s next.  But sometimes I like to be told, “No”.  And just give in.

I Need Help

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So, I was on my way to Walmart yesterday to get dog food.

And I was going over my memory verses.

I’m working on 1 John 3:16-17 right now.

 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”

As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a man standing there with a sign —

NEED HELP, TRYING TO GET HOME.

I went into Walmart, picked up the dog food, and then, while standing in line at the checkout, over the loudspeaker in the store I heard, “Dinah!  Is the love of God in you?”

Well, maybe it was whispered in my heart.  Loud.

I paid $17.99 for the dog food and put it in the car.

I stopped at KFC to pick up a gift card, but by the time I drove out, he was gone.

I don’t know.  Maybe it was a scam.  Maybe the guy was making a good living standing on the corner.  Maybe he would have traded the free chicken dinner for a bottle of Scotch.  Maybe.

But I do know there are lots of times I need help.

And I’m just trying to get home, too.

And the only way I know if the love of God is really in me…

the only way I know if all those scripture memory verses I can spout off have made it from my head to my heart…

is if I lay down a little bit of my time, my money, my life.

This is how we know what love is.

A Balmy -13

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below 0What’s the difference between -10 and -20 degrees?  I mean, really, isn’t there a point when cold getting colder becomes irrelevant?  This is the third straight morning of below zero temperatures.  In my experience -9 and -29 feel about the same.  When things are bad, how can you tell when they get worse?

I suppose it works the other way, too.  When things are good, how can you tell when they get better?  Goodness heaped upon goodness stacks up, but eventually it stops registering, doesn’t it?

Maybe that’s why ups and downs are better than constant downs or even constant ups.  The give and take between highs and lows is what keeps me from becoming numb to either one.  So I should rejoice in the downs because it means I’ve had a contrasting up recently.  And the present difficulty will serve to enhance the next upward swing….which is due to arrive in April.

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”  Genesis 8:22

Thotful Spot

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Pooh

Winnie the Pooh had a Thotful Spot.

He would sit on his special log, tap his head, close one eye, and say,

“Think, think, think.”

We all need a thotful spot — somewhere to ponder and treasure moments from each day.

Mary must have had such a place.  Luke 2:19 says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  And it’s a good thing, too.  When Luke got around to writing his gospel, who better to interview about the night Jesus was born than someone who was there?  And how does one remember every detail years later? By treasuring and pondering.  Everyone else who heard the shepherds’ story about the baby in the manger marveled at the news.  “But Mary…”

There’s a difference between hearing a sermon and marveling at the truth of it….

and giving it some serious thought.

There’s a difference between seeing a beautiful sunset and noticing its beauty….

and reflecting on creation and its Creator.

There’s a difference between enjoying small pleasures in our day….

and stopping to turn them over in our minds.

There’s a difference between reading the inspired word….

and soaking awhile in it, mulling over the meaning of the words.

Taking my cue from Mary and Winnie the Pooh, I declare this year to be a year of pondering and treasuring.

I plan to sit in my special chair, tap into the riches of the Word, close my eyes

and ponder like Mary…

think, think, think like Pooh Bear.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

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tailpipeHaving a break from the routine sure has been nice.  The week between Christmas and New Years offers slower paced mornings (sleeping in until 7:00), a lighter schedule (a blank Google calendar), and space for the spontaneous (“Want to go to a movie this afternoon?”)  It’s all been wonderful, but it can’t go on forever.

Today I feel like my 1973 Ford Pinto hatchback must have felt on a -11 degree morning.  Getting the old girl started took a few tries before she finally turned over.  Her gear shift felt like it was stuck in a bucket of molasses and could barely move.  She creaked and groaned and fumed a while.  After sitting idle for a few days, she needed some time to warm up.  So….

“This is the day the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

“Rejoice in the Lord always, I say it again, rejoice.”

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

“Without Me, you can do nothing.”

“Nothing is impossible with God.”

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches.”

There.  Now I’m humming.

Lord, as long as You are in the driver’s seat,

and You provide the fuel,

and You know where we’re headed,

this old girl will give it a go.