I have been in prayer over the issue of, what should I now be doing with my life? Yeah, I know at my age the possibility of finding meaningful employment is about zero. And that zero is compounded by the severe allergy I have to toner fumes from printers and copiers, which are everywhere these days.
And, I wonder if frustration is one possible way in which God is answering that prayer.
I am so frustrated with one of "my girls" whom recently left her husband to find romance, I have screamed more than one. We are talking about someone who knows their Bible better than I and yet has no problem in condoning her own sin. Much less, being empowered by a close friend into her new adulterous lifestyle. Yeah I am frustrated.
But, this occurrence is not all for this young year! one of "my girls", from thirty years ago, has decided to follow suit! Yeah, she left her husband and moved in with a more romantic guy also. What the heck?!?!?!?! The compounding problem here is they were working as missionaries with an organization which puts on marriage seminars for Christian couples! Eighteen years of marriage and ..... Oh yeah, I am frustrated!
Now double this to four couples doing this, this year, and you can get a glimpse of the importance this matter has with me. Of the eight people in these marriages, all were solid Christians, all were from solid families, all were workers in the church - and the women of the marriages have all willingly abandoned their husbands and often children as well.
What in womanhood is going wrong here? I do not get it.
But, I understand my Timothy enough to know that I am NOT going to go into a counseling relationship with women, that is for a female to take on. As for the guys.....I have no idea what I could/should/would do for them before or after being abandoned. I have long felt that most males (and I am not just talking American or even Western males) really need a good smack down! Men have grown so self centered and indulgent across the last several decades that the concept of living a life, in support of another, is completely anathema for them!
And yet, this is how we as Christians are supposed to live - completely (as possible) in support of one another in Christ! So yes, everyone of those husbands I just described above and they do need to be dealt with. But, holy cow!, the women left because they all told me they were bored/need romance, etc. The guys never saw it coming. Pathetic men, pathetic women.
What to do, what to do............?
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Never Say To A Toddler
This tale is sort of like the couple whom owned a parrot but could not go on vacation because the only one available to babysit their parrot was the pastor. Yeah, that bird had a potty mouth.
In the same vein, it was probably a bad idea for me to say to my grand-daughter, "Bite me!". That is now her major response to everyone and I get 'The Look' from Oldest Daughter, every time that rascal opens her mouth. Sigh.
In the same vein again, her father managed to say something was, "Stupid" and of course if it is inconvenient for grand-daughter then it is also stupid! So, last week when we were at the hospital it was, "Stupid hospital this...", "Stupid doctor that...." And when I attempted to explain to her that it was not a stupid hospital or doctor, she said, "Bite me!"
Yeah lots of startled looks from others in the ER waiting room. Sigh.
In the same vein, it was probably a bad idea for me to say to my grand-daughter, "Bite me!". That is now her major response to everyone and I get 'The Look' from Oldest Daughter, every time that rascal opens her mouth. Sigh.
In the same vein again, her father managed to say something was, "Stupid" and of course if it is inconvenient for grand-daughter then it is also stupid! So, last week when we were at the hospital it was, "Stupid hospital this...", "Stupid doctor that...." And when I attempted to explain to her that it was not a stupid hospital or doctor, she said, "Bite me!"
Yeah lots of startled looks from others in the ER waiting room. Sigh.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sinuses Ugh!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Using Your Talents
Gaelic Girl suddenly appeared in Seattle for a meeting, and remember I am still stuck here! So, we all piled in her vehicle and headed off to pick up son from his job. It was sort of late and I figured we would pick him up, then take youngest daughter and GG to Pete’s BBQ on the way home, which I had seen that morning.
So, I was sharing with GG and YD about oldest daughter’s accident and upon testing her finger was broken – taking her to the hospital. YD was impressed that I could diagnose a fracture (well, like I have had a few of them in my life!).
“Well, I spent decades in search and rescue on snow, ice, mountain faces and underwater. So, I had to know all about broken bones and a host of other problems you might need to address before you can move a victim out of their circumstance.”
Now GG on top of being a scientist also holds medical degrees comparable to something similar to a paramedic in this country. She muttered under her breath about how she had gained all of this training and NEVER had a chance to use it. YD agreed.
“Well, you never know that you will not use that knowledge tomorrow or next year. But, every piece of knowledge and training you give yourself is one more way in which God can and will use you!”
“Think of it this way, suddenly you come upon and accident scene and you have the chance to save someone. But, you never learned how – so you are about as worthless as……”
“As what?” asked YD.
“Well, I was going to try and think of something but all that came to mind was a screen door on a submarine!”
Silence…..
YD comments finally, “Well who would put a screen door on a submarine? That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard…..”
Continued silence as the miles roll by.
YD explodes with laughter, “I get it! I get it!” “Ha, ha, ha, ha!”
Blondes, Lord help us.
So, I was sharing with GG and YD about oldest daughter’s accident and upon testing her finger was broken – taking her to the hospital. YD was impressed that I could diagnose a fracture (well, like I have had a few of them in my life!).
“Well, I spent decades in search and rescue on snow, ice, mountain faces and underwater. So, I had to know all about broken bones and a host of other problems you might need to address before you can move a victim out of their circumstance.”
Now GG on top of being a scientist also holds medical degrees comparable to something similar to a paramedic in this country. She muttered under her breath about how she had gained all of this training and NEVER had a chance to use it. YD agreed.
“Well, you never know that you will not use that knowledge tomorrow or next year. But, every piece of knowledge and training you give yourself is one more way in which God can and will use you!”
“Think of it this way, suddenly you come upon and accident scene and you have the chance to save someone. But, you never learned how – so you are about as worthless as……”
“As what?” asked YD.
“Well, I was going to try and think of something but all that came to mind was a screen door on a submarine!”
Silence…..
YD comments finally, “Well who would put a screen door on a submarine? That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard…..”
Continued silence as the miles roll by.
YD explodes with laughter, “I get it! I get it!” “Ha, ha, ha, ha!”
Blondes, Lord help us.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
ER Questions
As oldest daughter was in X-Ray, the admitting nurse is hanging around asking questions -
N: So do you have any medical history?
OD: I had my tonsils out once, but I think they grew back.
N: No.... Uhm, does your family have any kind of medical history?
OD: My mother died of cervical cancer....
N: No, no, no!
N: Sighes, Do you feel safe in your home?
OD: Of course I am safe in my home!
So I almost fall out my restaurant booth as Oldest Daughter is telling me this! Talk about cross-cultural communication! I thought I was going to die! I am still not sure if OD understands what was so funny about this exchange.
Though, I really do feel for the girl and her steel encased fingers.....
N: So do you have any medical history?
OD: I had my tonsils out once, but I think they grew back.
N: No.... Uhm, does your family have any kind of medical history?
OD: My mother died of cervical cancer....
N: No, no, no!
N: Sighes, Do you feel safe in your home?
OD: Of course I am safe in my home!
So I almost fall out my restaurant booth as Oldest Daughter is telling me this! Talk about cross-cultural communication! I thought I was going to die! I am still not sure if OD understands what was so funny about this exchange.
Though, I really do feel for the girl and her steel encased fingers.....
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Stuck For Cause
Been a very frustrating week of working on auto, injuries and just wanting to get back home! But, it seems God has had other purposes in mind.......
Take yesterday for instance. Youngest daughter had to go into school early and son had to go in late. So son would have had a real problem since he does not drive yet (no savings = no car, no savings = no insurance which = no car again!). So, I took him to work and here is where our story begins.
On the way home I heard there was a major mess at Southcenter due to a tractor/trailer turning over. With nothing better to do, I headed over to check out the mess. Yup, nice mess! Three hours of watch tweedle-dee and tweedle-dummer working to flip the rig back up onto its wheels, I headed to north Seattle to visit lumber stores.
Heading back to my dead car, to work on it, I suddenly felt as though I had to get there as quickly as possible. Generally, these little "intuitive" thoughts are God - so, need to react! Ha! the first street bridge was up and I knew I did not have 30 minutes to sit there while the bridge cycled. I headed back to I-5 and burned rubber south.
I got home and there was nothing unusual at all! Yeah, nothing out of place, nothing wrong that I could find. Then came the rapping at the door. It was oldest daughter. No I had not invited her over, was not planning lunch with her, what was up I wondered.....
She came in sobbing and I quickly was able to rule out son-in-law being dead, leaving her, or beating her. Turned out she had taken a fall and her hand was hurting something awful and she wanted her daddy. Ahhhhhh.
But, it took all of 5 seconds to spot that she had broken joints and finger bones. Yeah, I am the king of those too. So I whisked her off to the hospital, which is a great deal worst than you can imagine.
First, the admitting nurse instantly recognized me from last week. Probably my still being bent over like Groucho Marx might have been a clue, however, she did recognize me and thought I was up to it again. She even had my paperwork all called up on her machine by the time I reached her desk. But, seeing daughters face, quickly whisked her off to x-ray.
Now I sat for three hours with a terrible two's grand-daughter and squirrelly nine month old. Those suckers plum wore me out!
It was with relief daughter returned, fingers steel incased, and children could be allowed to sob on her for a change.....
Take yesterday for instance. Youngest daughter had to go into school early and son had to go in late. So son would have had a real problem since he does not drive yet (no savings = no car, no savings = no insurance which = no car again!). So, I took him to work and here is where our story begins.
On the way home I heard there was a major mess at Southcenter due to a tractor/trailer turning over. With nothing better to do, I headed over to check out the mess. Yup, nice mess! Three hours of watch tweedle-dee and tweedle-dummer working to flip the rig back up onto its wheels, I headed to north Seattle to visit lumber stores.
Heading back to my dead car, to work on it, I suddenly felt as though I had to get there as quickly as possible. Generally, these little "intuitive" thoughts are God - so, need to react! Ha! the first street bridge was up and I knew I did not have 30 minutes to sit there while the bridge cycled. I headed back to I-5 and burned rubber south.
I got home and there was nothing unusual at all! Yeah, nothing out of place, nothing wrong that I could find. Then came the rapping at the door. It was oldest daughter. No I had not invited her over, was not planning lunch with her, what was up I wondered.....
She came in sobbing and I quickly was able to rule out son-in-law being dead, leaving her, or beating her. Turned out she had taken a fall and her hand was hurting something awful and she wanted her daddy. Ahhhhhh.
But, it took all of 5 seconds to spot that she had broken joints and finger bones. Yeah, I am the king of those too. So I whisked her off to the hospital, which is a great deal worst than you can imagine.
First, the admitting nurse instantly recognized me from last week. Probably my still being bent over like Groucho Marx might have been a clue, however, she did recognize me and thought I was up to it again. She even had my paperwork all called up on her machine by the time I reached her desk. But, seeing daughters face, quickly whisked her off to x-ray.
Now I sat for three hours with a terrible two's grand-daughter and squirrelly nine month old. Those suckers plum wore me out!
It was with relief daughter returned, fingers steel incased, and children could be allowed to sob on her for a change.....
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Sexism Is Not Dead
So, I was working on the car, so that I can go home eventually, and yeah damaged myself. Sometimes it just is not worth getting out of bed at times. Sigh.....
Sitting in emergency, waiting for my name to be called so I can get something for the pain, I occupied myself with watching others. Of course, there were the usual attendees there - people whom had a head cold, people whom were klutzs like me only with nails sticking out of various body parts (friends doing a roofing job when a nail gun went full auto!), etc. Yeah, I might not be the real king of klutz!
Then there was this little girl whom found a coloring book and some crayons. She was working on a picture of some construction equipment when her mother walked up. "Oh no! That is for boys! Girls do not have anything to do with trucks! Here is a book of kitchen pictures, lets color this instead.''
Of course, little girl had no interest in coloring pictures of a table with flowers or a pile of dirty dishes. So, end of coloring session and perhaps death of another budding artist.
I was a might unhappy over the stifling of the of the artist within the girl, but as I sat and thought about this, I really got bothered because this little girl was being programmed by her mother to be a domestic and only a domestic along gender roles!
Personally, I am glad there are two sexes, both with their strengths and weaknesses, but programming a child to play gender based roles is about as bad as what Nazi Germany did in the 1930's - programming children to understand it is the State right or wrong. I see no difference between telling a child they are not able to be anything other than a homemaker and it is your duty to die for the State.
Do your programming early on and that child will never know that they did have the ability to make choices in their lives. No wonder people get to be such mental cases.....
Sitting in emergency, waiting for my name to be called so I can get something for the pain, I occupied myself with watching others. Of course, there were the usual attendees there - people whom had a head cold, people whom were klutzs like me only with nails sticking out of various body parts (friends doing a roofing job when a nail gun went full auto!), etc. Yeah, I might not be the real king of klutz!
Then there was this little girl whom found a coloring book and some crayons. She was working on a picture of some construction equipment when her mother walked up. "Oh no! That is for boys! Girls do not have anything to do with trucks! Here is a book of kitchen pictures, lets color this instead.''
Of course, little girl had no interest in coloring pictures of a table with flowers or a pile of dirty dishes. So, end of coloring session and perhaps death of another budding artist.
I was a might unhappy over the stifling of the of the artist within the girl, but as I sat and thought about this, I really got bothered because this little girl was being programmed by her mother to be a domestic and only a domestic along gender roles!
Personally, I am glad there are two sexes, both with their strengths and weaknesses, but programming a child to play gender based roles is about as bad as what Nazi Germany did in the 1930's - programming children to understand it is the State right or wrong. I see no difference between telling a child they are not able to be anything other than a homemaker and it is your duty to die for the State.
Do your programming early on and that child will never know that they did have the ability to make choices in their lives. No wonder people get to be such mental cases.....
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