My Personal Tutor

         

       I am a ‘natural born student.’  Some of the greatest pleasure I allow myself is to study!  While my children cringe, I pick up a History or Literature book, do research online, and read articles that will teach me.  The downside to this, is how sporadically I will stay focused on one subject.  I like variety, so instead of sticking with one subject for eight weeks or longer, it’s usually only a week or so (and sometimes less) where I remain in one subject matter.  Interest in another topic, interruptions in what I was studying, or even the ‘need’ to study another area will send me off into unknown territory.

            This method, of course does not apply in college.  Having the opportunity to actually attend classes about fifteen years ago, thrilled me!  However, after being out of school over thirty years, it was quite challenging in some areas, and even downright intimidating, given my non-traditional status.  

Most of the professors were wonderful to work with and appreciated my efforts.  There were subjects, however, like Science and Math where I struggled, because I lacked the background necessary to excel. And while I enjoyed it very much, I still found test taking a trial, especially Math, since I had had no algebra in high school.  

It seemed no matter how much I studied the Math problems in the book or my notes from class, and thought I was ready for the test; I would not remember all the steps necessary to do the problems correctly. Remembering the steps and process of even getting the problem in the calculator correctly, frustrated me to no end!  

            It’s wonderful to know across America, college institutions are recognizing the number of non-traditional students, like myself, is rising. Statistics show non-traditional students often make up as much as, and often more than, the traditional, right-out-of-high school student.  They are accommodating learning styles and needs for these students.   Professors are willing to work with those of us who want nothing more than to learn!

            The Holy Spirit does the same thing for each of us.  He recognizes right where we are spiritually, and will aid and teach us, remind us of what we have learned, and yet challenge us on how to handle life situations, just as the professor on a college campus.  

Unlike my math instructor who only saw me twice a week for one and one half hours, Jesus is always there, tutoring.  I always have His Book to turn to when things get complicated.  I know if I prayerfully study His Word, I will find the answers to my questions.

 The Math book on the other hand, while being somewhat helpful, usually only made me more confused.  It was the one on one with my daughters, after class, that enabled me to get through the class!  It is also the one on one with God, that gets me through my trials.  

When I pull out my Bible, my personal “instruction manual,” I can sit down, as can you, with our own personal tutor and find peace.  I encourage you to rely on Him, His Word and guidance as your personal life tutor.  You will find an Instructor unlike any on Earth. 

Photo credit: college algebra problems 

Moving In God's Energy

I watched a movie recently where the faith and trust of a woman was tested. Her marriage was suffering, despite flourishing careers and moving ahead.  Bad choices were made by the husband, costing him his job.  The woman learned prayer was her life line. It wasn’t an easy lesson to learn, however. Offering forgiveness and grace come hard, when there is so much anger and frustration.

This movie resonated with me. There have been times when I’ve been right where the main character was.  I was sad and wanted to “fix” my problems and couldn’t.  I was not in control and it took much prayer and submission to recognize that!

I’ve been described as moving like the “Energizer Bunny.”  It seems I almost never stop!  From the time my feet hit the floor until I crawl back in bed at night, I’m usually doing something – the more productive, the better.  

I’m not the only one like this.  Seniors across the nation strive to stay busy, (even though COVID has hampered this).  After a lifetime of “doing,” it becomes a way of life.  They search ways to be involved in community, politically, school systems and a host of other ways which are productive to both themselves and in public service. Still life has a way of causing knees to buckle, creating a need to slow down, re-evaluate and sometimes even change direction.

When our knees buckle in prayer, as our hearts meet with God, we can find renewed energy, even in places we hadn’t expected!  What is even better is when our “renewed energy” is a direct gift from God, leading because we’ve opened our minds to His voice. 

The Bible talks about being renewed daily.  But to be renewed every day, requires a commitment to meet with God because we want to, not because it’s in our schedule.  I admit, those little devotionals having a scripture and application message are easy to use and wonderful.  I’ve both used them and contributed!

Yet, there is a drawback. We sit down for three minutes, open to the right page (given they are usually dated), read the message and prayer, close the booklet and go on our way; done deal!  But is it?  What have we done?  We’ve done nothing more than allow another person to do our “work” for us.  We’ve likely not even opened our personal Bibles.  We’ve spent three minutes with the Lord without ever “giving of ourselves.”  There is hardly even a time sacrifice. 

Can you imagine having that kind of relationship with your spouse?  What if in the morning you simply picked up an index card, read whatever the message said to your loved one and then walked away without another word or thought all day?  How long would your relationship last?  It wouldn’t!  Yet, as Christians, very often that’s exactly how we treat God. 

I encourage you to evaluate your walk with God and decide if you are moving in God’s energy or through a fog?  Do you draw on Him to sustain your thoughts, actions, behaviors or attitude? 

What To Believe

           One of my daughters shared information she learned about an actor I am particularly fond of, which in my opinion taints the picture I have of his character.  It bothered me, even though I told her it would not.  I decided to do a search on my own, and sure enough I verified the information.  Or did I?

               

            It’s interesting that my post this week is on media dishonesty, given the current world we live in.  We assume because we’ve read something in print, or seen it on television, especially portrayed as a news article from a reliable source, it must be true.  My research proves otherwise, which in the case of the information I learned from my daughter, I’m going to judge as false. (Just because I want to, since in my opinion it’s a defamation of character and I don’t have to believe it!)

            I am amazed at the media information which is apparently dishonest on quite a large scale.  According to an article I read, everything is verifiable if you look hard enough. Television news programs, reputable magazines and newspapers can be dishonest.  Dishonesty can be verified by what we consider credible sources and people who have/had integrity and good character, so you have to dig deep.

            Sometimes ‘dishonesty’ comes from honest misinformation, while others comes from outright lying, making up stories and people for interviews and creating quotes; falling for hoaxes and reporting on them as truths before further investigation; plagiarism; creating fake footage for news programs; bias; doctoring photos; conflicts of interest, even creating voicemails, faxes and web sites to help corroborate a story.

            So how do we know when or what to believe when it is in print?  And what exactly is “in print?”  Articles written for the internet (including this one) needs no actual verification or approval.  We have the right to write whatever we choose for any variety of reasons.  It is up to the reader to question, research, qualify and verify said information!  

Some information is very good, but an equal amount is very bad.  The ethics involved include honesty and truth, but a grain of truth can be twisted to the unbelievable by those who interpret it.  As reader you must read, then question what you are specifically looking for.  Is it facts, research, opinion or even something different?  Once you determine that, you will decide whether to accept the information just as you read it, or search for further validation.  

            My point to all this information is, we live in a world where the more unlikely, more bizarre, and unusual something sounds, is the most likely believed.  We’ve created a culture who finds good and right, boring!  It’s using tidbits of information to fabricate something outrageous because people find that interesting!

            Information which can be made extraordinary or incredible is eye catching, grabbing the minds…..which can be placed strategically where readers can cause it to go “viral” yet it is poison.   , A person can rise to instant stardom, -- or down to the depth of the earth, based on the information given.

            Yet, while a person is willing to believe the most bizarre stories about people in the world around us, that same person is not willing to believe in the truths found in God’s Word, a book that’s been a best seller for a couple thousand years!  How is that possible?

Photo Credit: https://www.pexels.com/search/bible/ 

Grape Stew

         “Wow! It’s nearly noon!” I said picking up the large bowl one more time. ”Come on, Champ,” I said to my four year-old.  “There’s time to cut one more batch of grapes before lunch.  We’re headed back to the grape vines.”

            “Oh good!” he responded.  “I love grapes!” he affirmed moments later when we reached the vines, popping another and another into his mouth.

            Back in the house, the routine began again:  wash and stem the grapes, cook and process. As I worked, my young son said dreamily, “Wouldn’t it be cool to have grape stew?”

            “Are you kidding me?  Grape stew?” I asked in wonder.   

            “Yup!” he responded, without hesitation.

“Well, if you’re going to have grape stew, why not a walnut milkshake, carrot ice cream, or green bean cake?” I asked sounding just as silly. 

            “I don’t like carrots,” he said.  I’d like that milkshake and Daddy might like green bean cake,” he continued, processing my comment. 

            “What if we settle for grape jelly and grape juice?” I asked him laughing.

            “I guess so,” he said agreeably, “but it still would be cool to have grape stew.” Without another word, he was out the door, lost in his own world of make believe, fighting the bad guys one minute and being a fireman the next.

            While pondering what the ingredients grape stew might be, my mind began focusing on how much time and energy we spend caring for the vines and the work involved in harvesting the fruit.  There is the work of pruning, weeding, and watering that delights us with the bounty. 

            Some years it seemed it didn’t matter the hours of labor spent, the garden refused to cooperate.  The heat of the sun, along with lack of rain, dried and scorched everything, except the weeds of course, spoiling the otherwise generous bounty.  Sometimes it was too much rain and cool weather which caused the grapes not to grow.  There is no human control over these natural things, of course, but somehow I felt responsible when the harvest was less than plentiful.

            Life is like that sometimes.  It seems no matter how much effort we spend nurturing our young ones, ultimately they decide how much “watering, weeding and pruning” they accept as they grow older.  As parents, we advise, mix in faith, forgiveness and patience; add friendship, tenderness, loyalty and laughter, fertilize with love---and a liberal amount of Godly teaching. 

Still the choices they make are ultimately their own.  They choose the paths they follow.  There is little control over their likes and dislikes, friends or interests.  Suggestions and counsel is certainly a viable option, but it is they who decide where life takes them.

            We all dream of having “perfect” children: polite, friendly, loving, happy, helpful, neat, tidy, etc.  The truth is, however, each child will have his unique portion of the “perfect” qualities.  No child has all.

            It’s much like the grapes I pulled off the vine.  Each clump, overall looks wonderfully delicious.  As I wash and clean them, however, some have spots or are partly eaten by insects. Others are dried and shriveled or just plain rotten.

            Grape stew, huh?  I gathered my small child to me, as he came into the house thirsty and in need of a snack, returning the hug in a hurry to be back at play.  He’s part of my personal “grape stew” --a family with imperfections but beautiful as a whole.  It’s what makes having a family worthwhile.  It’s hard, continuous work, never knowing how it will all turn out because life is just that way.  But still I know without a doubt, the rewards are as sweet as grape jelly!

Mask Of Fear

           Decisions!   They can be paralyzing and leave a person feeling helpless.  It can be about any number of things; our future, finances, relationships, medical questions, our kids, and so much more.  There are those who seem to do very little decision making and it all works out.  

          For others, decision making comes hard.  It seems every little decision becomes a stressful event, causing lack of sleep, tears, screaming and even a physical illness.

            This kind of decision making ends up being an in-decision.  I have one friend who has serious issues making up his mind.  First he’ll decide to move one way and by the next morning another thought has entangled his thought process and he’s going in a completely opposite direction.  His spouse, when they were first married, just took it in stride when he’d change his mind about a decision he’d made which affected them both.  As the situation grew over time, it became frustrating, because it became a day to day effort just to keep up with what they were doing!

            One of the biggest decisions we have going on right now is related to the COVID-19 ‘thing.’  Social distancing is still very much a part of our lives. We’ve begun to return to a level of normalcy in some instances, but we are still required to wear a mask.   And of course, physical touch is still banned.  (This is especially hard for me!)

            Besides the lack of hugging, trying to decide whether or not to wear the mask is still creating problems for some.  I admit, I loathe it, but have been diligent to wear it, except in those places which doesn’t require it!  But it’s hard for those who have difficulty breathing in it, like the pregnant woman who just feels like she’s gonna be sick (literally) if she has to wear it for more than a moment; or other individuals with other specific needs.            

A friend of mine has an interesting perspective. His take (in a nutshell) is, ---We wear the mask out of the fear of catching the virus.  Or at least that’s what we are supposed to believe.---

(I’m not going to go there—and get political---)  But this virus is mean.  There is no doubt about that, but we’ve become a people who are afraid of other people.  We have to decide how we are going to respond to it.

My friend asked if Jesus was afraid to go to the Cross?  He went willingly for you and me.  He didn’t hide behind any fear.  He had enough love to put himself at death’s door and walk through.  Love is the greatest gift we have been given.  That love pours over to others we know, whether it be family, friends, strangers (friends we don’t know yet!) and our church family—and other brothers and sisters in Christ.  We should not be afraid to love them.  

This pandemic has put us, on some levels, ‘out of touch’ with those we love most—out of a spirit of fear.  We are afraid we are going to get the virus, or spread it.  That’s a worthy concern, please don’t misunderstand my perspective.  But it’s time we smile!  And it’s time people can see our smiles instead of a half-hidden face, behind a mask. 

That, I’m sure is not always the best thing, and I get that.  But I’m tired of being afraid.  If I am careful, then I should be able to display my joy,---even if it’s just a smile—to those around me!---Even if I must keep my six foot distance!

I encourage comments, but would ask that you not be mean if you don’t agree.  Share your view.  Let’s have conversation---just say it with a smile and with genuine kindness and love.

Photo credit:  https://unsplash.com/s/photos/covid-19-mask