Showing courtesy in simple ways

I went to a meeting last Friday at The Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City with the Board.   It was a rainy, stormy day from start to finish and by the time I arrived, I had dealt with problems at home on the phone, worried about the weather, left the house at 6:30 a.m. and worried about whether I would even make the meeting, and struggled with my aching back which does not do well in cars when it is stormy.

I walked in and the men kept talking as did many of the women.  No one stood to greet me and asked if they could help me get in carrying all the books and parasols, or told me where my packet was and to get a cup of coffee.  Most of them had driven less than a mile to get there.   Some of us came from many miles away.  I was aghast at their lack of courtesy.  I have hosted many meetings and never have I not been there to welcome members (or had someone briefed to handle this).  The men were in conversation and did not bother to stop their conversation or rise to greet the speaker of the morning.
Sheer rudeness.   Courtesy is such a simple art.  

  So what did I do?   First I wondered what the Bible said about such simple courtesy and it was right on target.  Titus 3:2 says, "..to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle and to show perfect courtesy toward all people."   This was far from perfect courtesy.

To even add to it, I wrote several members of the board and told them my thoughts and feelings.  We shall see what their idea of courtesy is.   At age 74, one has the right to speak up!  I consider that benign courtesy!

Monday morning coming down

I got up tired this morning.  I had spent the weekend cleaning out closets and Cathy was supposed to be here to pick up clothes and she got here at 8:30.  Meleia called and said her daughter was sick so I had to put all those tasks on hold.  Debbie came to do my hair.

And the rest of the time, I did emails and answered phone calls to Tom Rackers, Laura Bennett-Smith, Greg Brune and Jackie Majoris.  Just business as usual with the frustration of so much I can't do on computer.

So what is my theological lesson on this today!  There is none. Just get thru the day and try to make it count for something.  Don't expect miracles every day!  Some days it is just hum-drum busy work!

This is Monday.  This says it all! for me today

When Heaven is Silent

Sometimes, you can listen and listen for God to speak to you or solve your problems and you hear nothing.   It is almost like God is saying, "It's your problem.  Handle it!"

  Matthew Henry wrote about the same subject, "The God of Israel, the  Savior, is sometimes a God that hides himself but never a God that is absent; sometimes in the dark but never in the distance."

I believe Matthew Henry but the dark, distance is sometimes desolate and disillusioning to those who need to know that a God is out their listening.  I guess that is what faith is all about!

Missouri Mansion

What a dreary day of driving through storms practically all day yesterday.  Layne, my niece, took me to the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City for a meeting where I was to speak on fund-raising, etc.  The drive was awful and the drive was long but we made it back okay.   Many problems at home so we stayed on the telephone all the way home.

How does this apply to theology?  It really does.  How do we treat our history and our past?   How does one adapt the past to the present.  Do we throw out the baby with the bathwater or do we allow the baby to continue to bathe long after that time is past?  Has my theology changed to meet the needs of the present day?  Or does it need to?

I hope to explore these thoughts today.   Was too tired to think yesterday and dealing with the phone calls, my aching back and wishing I could fly away from home under an assumed name and lose my past forever.  Won't happen!  But I can wish, can't I!  If only for a few minutes---when that infernal phone rings!
 

Lawyers

Lawyers, lawyers, lawyers.   We can't live with them and we can't live without them.   I have talked to my friends who are lawyers this week and they talk legalese and litigation.  Somehow I find myself in certain situations where I want to know how to extricate myself from situations and I want to live my life in sheer and utter peace.  I do not want to play fencing games where I have to protect someone else.  I want them to protect themselves!  I am not keeper of the world!

 

Nor do I want to play the role.  So get me out of all this so that I can enjoy my years without worry.  (actually the dentist visit yesterday did little to help my nerves, either, but I have to do this.)  Mike Richey, an old friend and lawyer, came over this morning and we commisserated on matters.  I said, " I don't want to get even;  I want to get out."  When you try to get even or help settle someone else's problems, you continue to think about the matters and stay upset!  I am way past wanting to help settle problems that have been here since Christ came to earth;  I WANT OUT!

 

Galatians 5: 24 says:  "You shall love your neighbor as yourself".  If everyone did that, who would need lawyers or someone to listen to the pleas of someone who wants out!  The adage, "If at first, you don't succeed, try, try again!" should have another sentence added on ot it, "But if you have given it your best shot, and no one is better by it and you are worse mentally and physically with worry over it, kick the dirt off your shoes, walk out and put a piece of mistletoe on your lower backside."

 

The mistletoe is on the back of my outfit for today.

 

I love children!

I love children.  They don't have to be kin to me or anything.  I love listening to and learning from them!   Psalm 127:3-5 says:  "Children are a gift from God".  And I believe that.

Yesterday I met Greg and Bobby Brune and Brady Brune at Port Cape for the Coach'es show.   So fun.  Brady was so excited about seeing Coach Samuels and I asked him if he wanted me to take their picture.   First, he said no but then he jumped up.

I love the enthusiasm of children.  I feel like I am bound down by worries about everything and then there is this kid's smile.   Funny thing, I helped set up his mother and Dad!

Change my focus, it's dentist time!

Just about the time that I think I'm wiser and more adult, I face a trip to the dentist's office and then i realize, anew, that I am the world's biggest baby.  That's where I am today and I hate it. Last week I went and couldn't do it because of the coughing and sneezing which I do every morning after coffee.  i think this is baby, too!

So how can I help anyone when I can't help myself.  Excuse me, I am mad at myself today and I want to avoid my pecadillos at all cost.  So I am signing off on Blog and me today.  I am too immature to live today and I hate it!