10/23/13

Throwing Stones


Taking a museum break,
I found a small secluded courtyard where 
I could rest my aching feet.

I put my feet up in a chair 
and settled my mind to the rhythm
of a waterfall pouring onto rocks.

There was a little sign nestled in the rocks.
I had to get up and walk a few steps to read it.

It said:

FOR YOUR SAFETY
PLEASE DO NOT
THROW STONES


At first I thought it was a little strange.

Then I wondered how my throwing stones
could be unsafe for ME.

FOR YOUR SAFETY
PLEASE DO NOT
THROW STONES??

The more I thought about it, 
the more I thought about it.

Then I remembered the story of the woman caught in adultery 
being brought to Jesus for her punishment.

He said to her accusers,
"Let any one of you,
who is without sin,
throw the first stone."
(John 8:7)

ouch.

He also said,
"Do not judge
or you, too will be judged"
(Matthew 7:1)

ouch.

Everybody knows that us church ladies
can polish our pretty little stones
and rename them
prayer requests
and 
concerns
and 
helpful comments
and 
how they should have done it.


But it is still stone throwing
and it's still judging.

OUCH

"For in the same way you judge others,
you will be judged.  
and with the measure you use, 
it will be measured to you."
(Matthew 7:2)

OUCH!!


I guess it is true.

Throwing stones 
IS
hazardous to my own safety.

10/19/13

Winter is Coming


We took a little trip 
out of the hectic North Dakota Oilfield
to visit our quieter neighbor to the west - 
Montana.


Even though something in our brains 
wants to tell us 
that we are still 19,
 we seem to be, unbelievably
in the Autumn years of our lives,
Looking at Winter in the distance,


so for hundreds of miles,
our discussion was in and out 
of the future - the last years of our lives.

Where we should live?
What we should do?
Could we build a new house?
Should we travel?
Should we work?
Should we buy a little travel trailer?
Could we live a simpler lifestyle?
How will we get rid of all the junk
(that seemed important at the time)
so no that one else has too?


Looking back, time has flown by.
My Mama used to snap 
her 80 something year old fingers
and say,
"It happens just like that."  (snap)
Life is short.


But for now,
We are healthy.
We have a little savings.
We've been able to travel some.
Life is good.
We are content.


Autumn is a good place to be.

There's no need dreading the future,


Because it is coming


 whether we like it or not.


We can't just sit in a rocker and knit for the rest our days.
We should do the things we enjoy doing.

We could work on those bucket lists.
We could play with
and improve the hobbies 
we already enjoy.

We could learn some new skills,
even if it's something as crazy as learning to
 fly fish in our
Winter years...


C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying
"You are never too old to set a new goal
or dream a new dream"

We are looking for those new dreams 
and new goals.

King Solomon, 
the wisest man to ever live said,
"There is a time for everything
and a season for every activity
under the heavens.
A time to live...."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Yes, 
LIFE IS GOOD

Look out WINTER,
HERE WE COME!!


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