The Box

A few days ago I came to the definitive conclusion that common sense is not common. I’ve known this for some time, but today there is no doubt in my mind we have a lot of people walking around with not a clue what common sense is. On this past Saturday I was walking across an intersection and I witnessed two examples within seconds of one another of what I’ll call ‘stupidfullery’. Stupidfullery definition is one without common sense.

The first example was a woman driving a car across the intersection that I was crossing with a cell phone to her ears. I’m glad that she wasn’t so engrossed in her conversation that she did recognize that she did have a right turn signal. The second illustration was a young woman who was crossing the intersection with me. She too was on her cell phone and was all into her conversation and started crossing the street only because she saw me crossing. I had to mention to her to watch for the cars where making a left turn across our crosswalk. Apparently her phone volume was too loud because she did respond by looking at the turning cars and thanked be for bringing this to her attention. But she didn’t miss a beat on her conversation that continued throughout her street crossing. Has technology inserted stupidfullery into some people’s heads? I have to laugh to keep from crying.

Okay, let me digress. I have been perplexed for some time by actions of stupidfullery to the point I’d ask “Why God?” I finally came to the conclusion that common sense is not common. For many years I’ve held fast to an analogy about “The Box” that I developed many years ago. The analogy is when examples of stupidfullery arise I would state that that person didn’t open their box.

The analogy that I developed is somewhat comical. In the beginning, before we are born God presents us with a beautiful box giftwrapped with a beautiful bow on top. There are three responses to this present. 1^st – The person looks at the gift and says “Ooh pretty box and places it in a place of high esteem and never opens the box.” 2^nd – The response is that the person sees the box and proceeds to crush it without opening it. 3^rd – This person opens the box and in it is the precious gift of common sense. When I see stupidfullery I now say, “They didn’t open their box.” These analogies although it is sad to realize that there are so many people without common sense it keeps me from being frustrated.  Because you cannot make a person accept a gift.

Without Reverence

I woke up this morning and I would say "I had reverence on my mind." My thoughts floated from the fact of being five generations from being a slave to today’s "ageist antics." I then thought about today’s society’s youth who think it is the responsibility of the older generation to treat them with respect. This is when in turn they do not “first” respect those who have paved the way for them. So... once again I'm back to reverence.

 Since I’m back at reverence, let's take a look at the definition.  - Reverence – noun – honor or respect felt or shown profound adorning awed respect. Webster's Collegiate Dictionary “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of saints, and to be held in reverence of all of them that are about him." Psalm 89: 7 KJV. With these definitions, man’s and God's reference, I will expound on an act of disrespect at a church I once attended. This act of irreverence was in the wrong place, the church, but it was done in its most reverent position the pulpit.

 A young member in leadership of this church went into the pulpit and expounded his thoughts about how the older people in the church should act towards the younger. Mind you this church is over 113 years in its quest to serve Christ and its community. In short he stated that the older people don't respect the younger people. When I was RAISED it was said that in order to get respect one must give respect. Does this younger generation have some mixed up notion that they truly believe this is the way to obtain respect, just because you have youth? Most of all I do not understand how leadership of this church would allow dishonor in the pulpit sanctified position within our Father’s house.

This example of lack of reverence and respect, even within the sanctuary and its pioneers shows why there is no reverence to God. These pioneers have and are still going THROUGH on their journeys in this life time. Once again if you are giving respect you will get respect.  These forerunners know and show true reverence to God and His house. Youth, children, young people remember where you come from. When you give these pioneers and God reverence and respect you will gain reverence and respect in due turn and time. Without these older people and God there would be no YOU.

Leadership, stand up admonish disrespect. Giving dishonor in God’s house should not be tolerated. Maybe this is the reason why the youth have no honor or respect of position. Young people, how can you say from your mouth how reverent you place the Father God you cannot see but have no respect for the elders you do see? Reverence although it is a state of being also in an action. Showing reverence to those around you is showing reverence to Him who loves you. And once you have supplied reverence you will find respect. This is my idea of “reverence on my mind.”

The War is on

This morning we were greeted with the atrocity of the day. Gunman kills 14 and wounds more than 50 at a premier of a Batman movie in Aurora, Colorado. I am reminded of two things; number one – God is still in control and number two – He gives us free will. Okay Father we are back to the free will concept once again.

 The gunman’s intent was clear. He was there on a mission to cause disarray. And to some point he has been successful. But although his intent is clear our Father’s intent is even clearer in His Word. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:11-13 NIV.

Equip ourselves through supplication, study, prayer, and stop refusing to answer our Father’s calls upon our lives. Yes YOU get with the program. For the days to come, the weeks to come, the years to come we are indeed in battle. Soooo, my challenge to you; offer up prayers of healing for those impacted by this atrocity. This is for ALL affected, families of the decease, those recovering from injuries, and the family of the gunman.  We are accountable for OUR reactions to this situation.   

In the faith hurting the hurting

Today I’m in awe of how the Lord works matters out in His time.  For the past few weeks I’ve meditated on actions of the past in relationships that surrounded a significant family out of order death. Sometimes we believe that surrounding ourselves with believers will help to heal the wounds and emptiness left by death of a loved one. This thought is especially important when one’s family is outside the faith.

 When this death occurred I looked into my family member’s eyes and saw that they are more worried about themselves.  I also noticed immediately that I was the only one who could speak of the deceased person without being uncomfortable; still to this day it is true. It was my thought that liked minded persons of the faith would be different. Boy was I in for a rude awakening.

They too supported for a few weeks and in some cases a several months. However, the grieving process doesn’t have a time table. There needs to be support as long as it needed for the griever to proceed into healing. What I found out is that people go on with their lives and do not comprehend that the griever is still healing. They don’t call; nor ask about the deceased party, for the most part “It’s not their problem!” What happened to: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 and “Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the laws of Christ.” Galatians 12:15 ( NASB)

For many years I have supplied support to those going through different life challenges and it never extended to a minimal involvement. Often times this support lasted many, many months. My conversation with our Father has allowed me to know when this support should be suspended or slowed. So… I implore you, be that support, remain stead-fast and diligent in uplifting those in need. This is not people mandated but godly commanded and it doesn’t have a timetable for its completion.   

Note: I would like to thank Reverend Cheryl; your willingness to just walk with me to address an injustice has allowed true forgiveness which allows peace.

Heeding warnings part III

Sorry to have been away for a while but I’M BACK!

Recently the Lord has helped to see an understanding about His creation.  He gave his creation, man, free will. This revelation gives significance to my warnings to my co-worker and former neighbor in part I and II of Heeding warnings.

Often times the Lord places people into our lives to make their travels easier. Many times they do not consider this road map. Numerous times I have termed this as “Going to the school of hard knocks.” We in the faith cannot become discouraged when we give sound insight. Yes, even when it is solicited and not followed. All, yes all, believers and non-believers are God’s creation and He gave us all free will.

So…be encouraged for the insightfulness from our Father places discerned up our hearts for our fellow journey mates. Whether they CHOOSE to head our gift of insight is their choice. Our choice is not too fade, but to continue to utilize your discernment gift and to impart this insight unto those He has spoken to you to bless the recipient with your gift. “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” Galatians 6:9 NASB

Heeding warnings part II

Heeding warnings part II

The second young woman whom I had contact during a time that I call heeding warnings was a co-worker. Sometimes, we would have lunch together, and once I was invited along with my adolescent daughter to have a summer holiday meal. At one time, we had worked in the same office and occasionally would have lunch with each other. At one of these lunch visits, at a local soul food restaurant, we got into a conversation about our situation with our estranged husbands.  At this point, she had expressed on occasion she went out with and slept with her spouse. As we talked about this matter, I explained to her my thoughts on this situation. I expressed an old saying that I today still totally agree with. “A man might not want you, but they do not want you to be with anyone else.” I expressed my concern for her safety.

Let us fast forward about a year later. This co-worker and I no longer worked in the same office but still worked within groups in the same office building. One Thursday at lunch time I went up to her office’s work location and had a conversation with her and her pod mates. I looked at her and then looked away. Even so, I immediately had to look back at her. I saw what appeared to be an aura glow surrounding her. At this point, I thought, “How strange” but didn’t recognize its significance.

The next day the three offices in our building were made aware of an emergency situation at this former co-workers home. Apparently, the co-worker’s sister had arrived that morning to drive her and her daughters to work and school, and the police had to be called. It seems that the estranged husband had spent the night and when the sister arrived to pick the woman and her girls up he shoved the daughters out of the door at the sister and locked the door. The sister and daughters went to the neighbors and called the police. When the officers arrived, they could not enter the residence because the emergency call for help was not placed by my co-worker. The police had to want for the supervisor to arrive before they could break down the door and enter the premise.

Once they entered the home my former co-worker’s throat was slashed from ear to ear. Needless to say she did not survive her wound, and her husband went to jail. And one of the most ironic situations that happened when the family made arrangements for her funeral, and with these preparations they had to go to the jail to get her husband’s approval to cremate her body.

As I think back on this instance of unnecessary loss of life, I think today that there might be someone out there that is experiencing this same or similar situation. So I say to you, please seek shelter and heed the warning,

In my next update, I will tie together my thoughts on heeding warnings.

Heeding Warnings part I

Heeding Warnings part I

The longer that I live the more I realize that our lives are intertwined for a reason. These entanglements can only be called amazing.  Astounding because we have a choice to find lessons, wisdom and understanding through these life interactions. This morning I was drawn to two relationships both where between husbands and wives in turmoil, that in one, case was toxic until death. What I realized today, when I thought of these situations, were they both happened around the same time, and I imposed warning to both women.

Looking at the first case it was a relationship developed because the woman was a neighbor of mine in the same apartment building in a large suburban complex. We often passed each other and exchanged pleasantries. Even so, this one Saturday we struck up a conversation, and I was talking to her in her apartment. At this time, she and her husband were separated (as was I). She then told me that she had been to court, and her husband had told the judge that he didn’t believe that their son (a toddler at the time) was his.

When she told me what her husband had stated in court I was taken aback and appalled. The reason for my astonishment was because her son looked like her husband had given birth to him. I would say her husband could have literally spat the child out. At this point, I said to myself, I would be through with him if he was my husband. Our conversation continued, and she indicated that she and her husband had had physical fights. This is when I told her that as mild manner as my husband is I would never put myself in a situation that could put me in harm’s way. Because what I’ve found is that even if a man is in the wrong in the relationship, if they cannot have you, they don’t want you to have anyone else. Furthermore, I told her if a man hits you once they will do it again.

Months later the woman and her son moved but some time later the three (husband, wife, son) moved back to the complex with their new daughter. We talked in passing and a few months later I moved into a new home in another suburb. A few weeks after I had moved one of the other neighbors in the apartment building called me with horrific news. She indicated that one Friday night the wife was late coming home from work and when she arrived home, her husband had proceeded to beat his wife. The husband was now in jail.

About a year later the beaten woman who is now divorced from her husband contacted me, and I went to visit her at her new residence. As we talked, she told me about the beating incident. She had arrived home late from work because she had stopped at the store to purchase milk for their daughter. When she entered the apartment, her husband then accused her of cheating a proceeded to beat her. She stated that every time he hit her our previous conversation came to her recollection. “If a man hits you once he will hit you again.”

Today when I think about this interaction with this person, I think about the warning that had been placed in my heart and spoke by my mouth. We make a choice to state warnings and to head warnings. This is part of the free will that our Lord has placed upon us. However, I know that there is someone out there today that this warning has been expressed. Will you heed?

My next blog post will continue with the second heeding warnings' circumstances. To be continued…