When we moved into our house the front yard (garden) needed to be....well, fixed. I'm not a gardener and I certainly don't have a green thumb so I wasn't excited about getting out and tending to the garden. I felt a lot of pressure because the people a long my street have beautiful yards. I just wanted to let them know that I was going to be a good neighbor and keep things tidy.
As is typical in England, it rained the night before and as I pulled weeds God really showed me a picture of my spiritual life.
In the Bible, rain is seen two different ways....as blessings (There shall be showers of blessing....) or as hard times. (You know the song....the wise man built his house upon the rock.....and the rains came tumbling down?) I was reminded that even when hard times come....and no matter how painful, one thing happens. The rain softens the ground. When the ground is soft the weeds can be pulled out much easier.
Rain, in the form of a trial or hard time in our lives breaks our spirit. I know that sounds harsh, but it helps us. Without that brokenness we can't get the weeds out of our lives. AND weeds....no matter how horrible the rain....weeds are worse.
I was feeling so sad and lonely when we first moved in our house. I realized that even though I trusted God with this move there was still pain involved. Pain in leaving a place that I was finally thinking of as home, friends that I felt I was getting so close to, having to be without my children for a longer period of time....the list goes on and on. Then I was plopped down in a place where my husband had a couple of instant friends and I was all alone. And worse, no church I felt comfortable in. (I have one now!)
This was a place of brokenness for me. I realized how far away I really was from God. I realized that I was waiting for things like the T.V., internet and phone to fill up my time because I was in pain, sad and lonely. The things I was waiting on aren't bad things I just realized that I could use this time waiting, to get closer to God. No one can heal like God. I would like to say that time was a real mountain top experience but it was more like a ride through the valley. It was hard....but it's over. The things I learned about myself were great and I hope God was able to pull a few more weeds from my life.
The point I would like to leave is, don't wait until a huge storm enters your life to try to grow a garden or pull weeds! If there is a gentle rain, take time to stop and let God tend to you. Release the weeds.
I don't know what your weeds are. Maybe your weeds aren't very big and they might have pretty little flowers on top....but in the end....they are still just weeds and they will over take your life.
Don't be afraid.....let go and let God.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Literally 2 Minutes and Other Observations
Timing
It's been almost 3 months since I've driven a car and there have only been a few times I've really missed it. Most of those times come when I'm running for the bus only to watch it drive away. Thinking that it might be "8-10 minutes" (as the sign says) before the next bus comes, drives me insane. I have the dilemma of walking or waiting. See, here's the debate....if I walk....I might miss another bus that might be running a bit early, then I'd kick myself. But, if I wait....I could end up waiting for 20 minutes like I did one time! AAARRRRRGGGGG!!! I know, the world is in crisis with the credit situation and this is the prime example of turmoil in my life! Sad, isn't it?
Literally 2 Minutes
Since I walk, take the bus, train or tube....I ask for directions many times. When we first arrived in London, I would ask for directions and discovered people's answers were always the same! I would hear...."It's literally 2 minutes from here".........................20 minutes later, I began to question how people were arriving at this time frame.
I thought, am I just THAT slow? Does everyone else run? Does time stand still while people zip to their next location? Is London really that small and I'm looking at some optical illusion on the map??? OR is it just an English persons way of making fun of me, since I AM American????
You know, when you hear how close you are to something it gives you great hope! I mean, look you've almost reached your goal! You can follow instructions! But then, when you walk around the corner only to find nothing there but a big empty lot or something completely different, you start to think you don't really know or understand the meaning of "literally"!
Then one day, I discovered I wasn't crazy. (No, don't laugh.....I really am not crazy.) I was speaking with one of Skip's co-workers who is from Italy. I almost cried with relief when Frankie said that he too had been given directions like..."it's literally around the corner"...."it's literally 2 minutes away"....."it's literally right across the street". He explained how he copes. He said when someone says some place is literally 2 minutes away he thinks it's going to be at least 10 minutes away. I thought this was a great idea. Now, I don't feel like I'm in a horror film, running down a never ending hallway!
I think I know why people make this statement. It's just a great way to not have to claim responsibility. If I say, the cup of coffee is literally in the next room....well, I didn't say WHICH room or exactly WHERE! See? Then if you can't find it....I'm not responsible! So, now I use this all the time!
Examples:
"Lisa, how far away are you?"...."Literally 2 minutes away!"
"Lisa, when will you be finished with this e-mail?"....."In literally 2 minutes!"
The Heart Of Denmark
We made a trip to Denmark to visit Skip's mother and grandmother. We had a very nice visit and I got to meet almost all of Skip's extended Danish family. Our visit wasn't very long, just 4 days but it was enough to give me a good feel for the country and the family!
The interesting part of visiting any country is getting to taste the food. Skip was so excited to have some of his favorite dishes and he explained some of them to me. Now, I'm not a big "experimenter" when it comes to foods....especially sea food. I'm sure many people will disagree but somethings just don't sound or look "tasty".
I was brave though. I had several kinds of small sandwiches. One with pickled herring and one with cod roe spread. The pickled herring (or whatever it was) wasn't bad. I wouldn't pick it for lunch every day but it was o.k. The cod, well, it smelled like tuna. So, I thought I will probably like this! Uh, do you know how cat food smells? Well, it sort of tasted like cat food....o.k....how I imagine cat food might taste. That thought stayed in my head and well I tried but just couldn't finish this tiny sandwich.
Now, the last day we were in Denmark was my greatest challenging meal! We had Skip's favorite meal......heart. Let me say that again......heart. I couldn't look at it while it was being prepared. I knew if I did there would be no way I could even try to take a bite. Skip's mom, her boyfriend Jens and Skip explained that heart tasted like liver but not as strong. (No, I still wasn't excited.) I told myself that I would have to focus....like I was on Fear Factor....and tell myself I could eat this and smile! My mom would be so proud!
When the roasted heart came out of the oven I was lucky enough to be right there in the kitchen. Skip's mom said not to think of it as a heart but as any other piece of meat. About that time, Jens picked up a small piece of heart, walked over to me and stuffed it in my mouth! Yes, I was shocked!
Everyone was looking at me. Everyone was waiting for some reaction. So, I chewed, nodded my head, smiled and said "interesting" and "it's not that bad". Yes, the whole time I was thinking....I'm eating a heart....I'm eating a heart. aaarrrgggg!!!!
Denmark is a lovely country. The people are friendly and warm. I can't wait to go back for another visit. Oh, they have great bread....which I ate a lot of....because I didn't want to starve. And I lost 5 pounds in 4 days. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
It's been almost 3 months since I've driven a car and there have only been a few times I've really missed it. Most of those times come when I'm running for the bus only to watch it drive away. Thinking that it might be "8-10 minutes" (as the sign says) before the next bus comes, drives me insane. I have the dilemma of walking or waiting. See, here's the debate....if I walk....I might miss another bus that might be running a bit early, then I'd kick myself. But, if I wait....I could end up waiting for 20 minutes like I did one time! AAARRRRRGGGGG!!! I know, the world is in crisis with the credit situation and this is the prime example of turmoil in my life! Sad, isn't it?
Literally 2 Minutes
Since I walk, take the bus, train or tube....I ask for directions many times. When we first arrived in London, I would ask for directions and discovered people's answers were always the same! I would hear...."It's literally 2 minutes from here".........................20 minutes later, I began to question how people were arriving at this time frame.
I thought, am I just THAT slow? Does everyone else run? Does time stand still while people zip to their next location? Is London really that small and I'm looking at some optical illusion on the map??? OR is it just an English persons way of making fun of me, since I AM American????
You know, when you hear how close you are to something it gives you great hope! I mean, look you've almost reached your goal! You can follow instructions! But then, when you walk around the corner only to find nothing there but a big empty lot or something completely different, you start to think you don't really know or understand the meaning of "literally"!
Then one day, I discovered I wasn't crazy. (No, don't laugh.....I really am not crazy.) I was speaking with one of Skip's co-workers who is from Italy. I almost cried with relief when Frankie said that he too had been given directions like..."it's literally around the corner"...."it's literally 2 minutes away"....."it's literally right across the street". He explained how he copes. He said when someone says some place is literally 2 minutes away he thinks it's going to be at least 10 minutes away. I thought this was a great idea. Now, I don't feel like I'm in a horror film, running down a never ending hallway!
I think I know why people make this statement. It's just a great way to not have to claim responsibility. If I say, the cup of coffee is literally in the next room....well, I didn't say WHICH room or exactly WHERE! See? Then if you can't find it....I'm not responsible! So, now I use this all the time!
Examples:
"Lisa, how far away are you?"...."Literally 2 minutes away!"
"Lisa, when will you be finished with this e-mail?"....."In literally 2 minutes!"
The Heart Of Denmark
We made a trip to Denmark to visit Skip's mother and grandmother. We had a very nice visit and I got to meet almost all of Skip's extended Danish family. Our visit wasn't very long, just 4 days but it was enough to give me a good feel for the country and the family!
The interesting part of visiting any country is getting to taste the food. Skip was so excited to have some of his favorite dishes and he explained some of them to me. Now, I'm not a big "experimenter" when it comes to foods....especially sea food. I'm sure many people will disagree but somethings just don't sound or look "tasty".
I was brave though. I had several kinds of small sandwiches. One with pickled herring and one with cod roe spread. The pickled herring (or whatever it was) wasn't bad. I wouldn't pick it for lunch every day but it was o.k. The cod, well, it smelled like tuna. So, I thought I will probably like this! Uh, do you know how cat food smells? Well, it sort of tasted like cat food....o.k....how I imagine cat food might taste. That thought stayed in my head and well I tried but just couldn't finish this tiny sandwich.
Now, the last day we were in Denmark was my greatest challenging meal! We had Skip's favorite meal......heart. Let me say that again......heart. I couldn't look at it while it was being prepared. I knew if I did there would be no way I could even try to take a bite. Skip's mom, her boyfriend Jens and Skip explained that heart tasted like liver but not as strong. (No, I still wasn't excited.) I told myself that I would have to focus....like I was on Fear Factor....and tell myself I could eat this and smile! My mom would be so proud!
When the roasted heart came out of the oven I was lucky enough to be right there in the kitchen. Skip's mom said not to think of it as a heart but as any other piece of meat. About that time, Jens picked up a small piece of heart, walked over to me and stuffed it in my mouth! Yes, I was shocked!
Everyone was looking at me. Everyone was waiting for some reaction. So, I chewed, nodded my head, smiled and said "interesting" and "it's not that bad". Yes, the whole time I was thinking....I'm eating a heart....I'm eating a heart. aaarrrgggg!!!!
Denmark is a lovely country. The people are friendly and warm. I can't wait to go back for another visit. Oh, they have great bread....which I ate a lot of....because I didn't want to starve. And I lost 5 pounds in 4 days. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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