The View from Here

Food for Thought

I’ve thought a lot about food in the past few months since I set out on this dual quest for weight loss and a healthier body. The two are not necessarily compatible if you spend any time online. There are SO many “quick and easy” weight-loss plans. Far too many supplements. Lots and lots of misguided advice.

I’ve concluded that very few people are willing to do what it takes to actually have a healthy diet that sustains and strengthens them. That’s not a judgement, just a fact. The proof is in the menus of popular fast-food restaurants and the proliferation of products that are “edible”, but barely qualify as “food”.

Many people cook and eat for entertainment, not nourishment.

Most people are apt to feed their own children the same foods they ate as children, thus passing on the same bad habits and health risks they’re now struggling to change.

The sin of gluttony doesn’t just refer to eating large quantities of food, but also to the excessive desire for food that leads to eating the wrong things at the wrong time and for the wrong reason.  

Most of us are ignorant of what our bodies need for optimum health. As a society, we seem to care more about our pet’s nutritional needs than our own.

Human’s are addicted to sugar. It’s the “acceptable” drug, in spite of its harmful effects.

I’m not offering advice. I’m still working on my own diet flaws. I’m reading, reading, reading. Thinking. Tasting. Experimenting. Eliminating some foods and restricting others.

We only get one body and it has to last a while. I’m sorry that I didn’t realize how fragile mine was until I began to reap the consequences of my earlier neglect of it. Trying to take much better care of it now.

Rest and Relaxation= Peace of Mind

 

It’s been a roller coaster week, filled with blessings and challenges. However, even as I type that I find myself thinking “Isn’t every week?” I suppose what was different this week was that the roller coaster seemed a little bigger and faster than usual. But with God’s guidance I continue on, confident that His overall plan is working on my behalf to make me a stronger, healthier, and wiser woman.

And on Thursday I took time to rest and relax at my favorite place. I can’t even explain how comforting it is to cross the bridge and clear my mind of everything except the sights and sounds of nature. I urge you to take time each week to do the same. There must be an outdoor space somewhere near you…go visit.

A Day Worth Remembering...

 

                It’s been quite some time since I’ve spent most of a day “glued to the television”, and not been filled with shock, disbelief, and sorrow. We all remember those days of national mourning that are forever imprinted on our hearts, those days when we remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when tragedy struck. Those are days I really don’t want to remember. I want to honor the event and respect the dead, but I dread reliving the pain.

                So, it is a tremendous relief to sit here this morning and realize that this past Wednesday, inauguration day, will be forever engraved on my heart and soul as a day of joy and dignity and restoration that is worth remembering. America stood before the world that day and declared democracy to be alive and well. I needed that. We all needed that.

                No, I didn’t agree with everything that was said and done. However, JOYFUL is the word that springs to mind as the theme for the day and the mood of the crowd. Dignity and decency were displayed once again on our capitol steps. Diversity was also clearly and proudly exhibited in a variety of ways. Strength and determination were evident throughout the day. I watched with pride and I feel confident that we will go forth as nation that is capable of facing the many challenges still before us.

                For me, the day was also one of personal joy as I completed a series of assessments and consultations about my future healthcare. I actually missed a portion of the inauguration because an important appointment had been made for me that day with a specialist. We all know how difficult it is these days to get an appointment of our own choosing. In any situation, knowledge is power, so I was pleased to finally get a diagnosis that answered a lot of questions. I also feel confident now that I can face the challenges ahead.

                Only God knows what the coming days will bring. Let’s work and pray, and strive to make each one worth remembering…

Gold Star

I was thrilled to watch our nation’s celebration of democracy on Wednesday. Such a blessing to see decency and dignity proudly on display! I believe we not only passed our test, but deserve a gold star. However, I need to save the rest of my thoughts for another day. At the moment, my brain is simply too tired.

I’m finishing up a week filled with appointments and tests. I even had to go to one on Wednesday.  I’ve spent hours in waiting rooms and doctor’s offices and have one more to check off the list tomorrow at 8am. Then I hope to breathe a sigh of relief and get to work on my list of writing projects.

I pray that we all join together now and create a better world for our children and grandchildren.

Final test...

Today feels somewhat akin to the beginning of finals week in college.

Our ability to demonstrate democracy will be tested.

Our faith in our government, and in each other, will be tested.

Our plans for peace and prosperity will be tested.

Our commitment to change will be tested.

Our strategies for survival will be tested.

Our belief in God will be tested.

The difference between a college final and this one is that it really might be the last test we take. The grade our country earns this week won’t be a letter on a piece of paper. The outcome of this test will be the life or death of our country. I don’t think there is much we can do to revive our democracy if it doesn’t survive this week.

With that in mind, I’d like for you to join with me in doing three things:

1. Pray each day for ALL of our leaders to make wise decisions.
2. Pray each day for ALL of us to choose peaceful actions.
3. Ask yourself, “How will what I choose to do this week affect the future of my family?”

Philippians 2

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

The Good Old Days

I know this will not be a popular post, but I think that in order to maintain a healthy perspective about the future, we need to give up some of this nonsense about the good old days of the past. I’ve read much of the history of this county, going back to 1848 and I would love for someone to tell me when the “good old days” occurred. Human behavior has not changed since creation. There has never been a decade or a year or even a month when life was idyllic. If we are honest about it, those blissful days we recall so fondly were probably those of our childhood- when we were unaware of the woes of the world or the challenges faced by our parents. We didn’t have a lot of responsibilities and we were the center of our own universe. My childhood took place in the fifties and I was a teenager in the sixties. Google those timelines and see if times were ideal.

And please don’t tell me about small towns and unlocked doors and walking to town at night. You lived to talk about the risky things you did. There are plenty of headstones in our cemetery that tell a different story.

I don’t mean this to be completely negative…just realistic. Let’s move forward by letting our experiences of the past, both good and bad, guide us to make each day we have NOW as safe and healthy and peaceful as possible.

With Bated Breath

As the world watches and waits to see how Americans will deal with the crisis of the past week and the challenges of the next two, I find myself unexpectedly calm and confident that the righteous among us will prevail. I’m not naïve. I know that evil exists and that there are too many people in America who awaken each day with no other purpose than to lie, cheat, steal, and harm. But I also know, personally, many more people who woke up this morning with plans to love, assist, support, encourage, and protect their family, friends and neighbors. Some of them will even spend time and effort and money helping strangers. I put my faith and hope in God and in those who follow His guidance, rather than the rantings of the devil’s followers.

 Yes, I’m concerned with what is happening and I watch at least an hour of the news that unfolds each day. I pray that in the coming weeks and months we will manage to rebuild order from chaos and peace from rebellion so that our children and their children may live in a world that is less troubling than it is today. I also pray for the wisdom to make good decisions each day so that I stay healthy and faithful and spend my time being useful to others. Excessive worry serves no purpose.

Philippians 4

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Quiet Time

As many of you know, my usual habit is to awaken at 4am and spend half an hour praying, reading my Bible, acknowledging my blessings, and reviewing the events of the day before. Then I think about my plans for the current day and ask for God’s guidance in completing them. I pray for family and friends. My final request is to be useful to others. This quiet time allows me start my day with a calm and confident attitude. I’ve come to look forward to it, depend on it, need it.

Of course, even a well-established routine isn’t perfect. I don’t rely on an alarm, so this morning I woke up at 3:45. One day last week I awakened at 5:00. I rarely sleep any later than that. Most mornings I’m alert and happy and eager to start the day. Once in a while I’m a bit groggy and in pain and less motivated than normal. However, enjoying my quiet time always improves my feelings.

This morning my thoughts focused on how few members of the younger generation have or make time for quiet contemplation and planning. Their days often begin with the immediate need to take responsibility for a child, spouse, or parent. Their routine requires them to feed family members, coordinate schedules, pack lunches, and get ready for a day of work. They don’t have the luxury of extra time that I now cherish. I remember those days. They were rewarding, but also challenging and exhausting. Retirement changed my life and gave me this gift of personal time.

This year I expect to continue my morning routine. Perhaps if you haven’t already done so, you will establish your own quiet time. I promise you won’t be sorry.

No Words...

 

I’m finding it difficult these days to adequately express my feelings. My life is such a mixture of joy and sadness, blessings and problems, hope and heartache. I’m sure you sometimes find yourself in the same situation.  

Yesterday I sat in stunned silence as I witnessed the assault on our nation’s most cherished beliefs. There are no words that can adequately explain how or why that happened. I’ll listen in the coming days to the commentators, analysts and experts, and I’m sure I still won’t understand.

Violence is never the answer to our problems. Hatred doesn’t change hearts and minds. I believe each of us, not just our leaders, must search for words that inspire hope and cooperation, not ones that incite rebellion and violence. We’re already battling for our lives against an enemy we can’t see. Let’s not complicate our struggles by battling against each other.

First Sunday...

What better way to begin the New Year than 60 degrees and sunshine?! Of course that prompted me to spend some time in the yard with the birds.