We are tired

The flames licked the air with their delicate dance moves atop a bed of vibrating moves all consuming all that came into contact. The fascination with the campfire seemed obvious as I stared into it long into the dark night. Why? What is the fascination with a simple little campfire? A fire started for the purpose of burning dead twigs and branches left lying in the yard from winter's blast. Yet, that fire held my attention and as I gazed into it there was no thought or wisdom flowing from my head, only the comfort of he warmth provided by the fire and my loved one sitting next to me. No words were spoken, no actions taken we just rested in the cool of the evening by the fire.

It wasn't the fire that was fascinating it was the rest that was needed. We were tired. The undulating coals and dancing flames provided a restful hypnosis for us. We sipped a cup of cocoa and watched.

It was the end of the school year, he had finished closing the books and storing the teaching tools, I had finished classes. The deadlines had been met and passed, the work complete. The stress relieved. We were tired.

As night fell the symphonie of the night music began with the crickets, the owls, the frogs and occasionally the dogs. We listened to the music of the quiet. The time passed by and still we sat gazing into the fire, occasionally adding another stick or log. We were tired.

We've grown old and don't remember when we did. It's the body that grows old, the mind grows young. It learns and incorporates its knowledge, it grows better, the body grows weaker. Our minds needed to see, our bodies needed to rest, we were tired.

The sounds of children long has past, but the duty of work continues on and neither of these things would we change. It is the quiet of being together without words or deeds but basking in the presence of the other that comforts and warms. It is the knowledge that although we are no longer young firm and beautiful we are more in love today than yesterday. This time by the fire is not just sitting and staring, it is foreplay for the moment we lean into each other and say, "I love you." It is the moment that we look at each other and smile becasue we know we are no longer tired.

self destruction

I reached into the cabinet for a coffee cup and set it down on the counter by the coffee pot. Then I reached behind the door and slammed it shut with my face in the way. Needless to say the knot that arose was as big as the popping sound it made.

Why did I hit myself in the face I wondered? I have completed this action every morning for years and never hit myself. But this particular morning, I simply was not paying attention. Therefore, I hurt myself.

We often hurt ourselves in the effort to complete a simple task but the hurt may become deep and painful, but because we did it to ourselves we do not let anyone know about the hurt.

For example, let's say sex is a car. At age 16 all people get a car and a gift wrapped key. The car is their dream car, it is the right color, the right style and everything it should be. The key is wrapped in a beautiful box. But there is a group of people that tell you don't open the box and put the car in the garage, you can't open it until you have married. That seems really dumb.

A few will follow the instructions but most want because they are told it is stupid to wait, they have the car they might as well enjoy it. So they open the box and they see the key, bright and shiny. They take it out to the car but the car won't start. It just sets there. So they take the key and carry it in their pocket and show it to everyone else and they look at everyone elses keys. Occasionally, they take the keys and scratch the car, it doesn't do much anyway. They put graffitii on it or simply key it.

A few years later, one of those nerdy stupid people who put their car in the garage and saved it for marriage drives by and the car is more beautiful than ever. The few look at their car and wonder what happened, it is rusted and bent and ugly. They take the key and try it once more, this time the car starts, but the motor misses a little and the tires have knots on them because of the abuse of the car.

The one who took sex out before marriage finds they have a few abortions behind them or a child and a poor paying job, they couldn't finish school because they had to take car of that rusty old car. They look at the one in the car with them and they are as rusty and old as as the car.

Sex is like that car, it is the greatest gift God gives mankind. But he put instructions with the gift, not to deny one the priviledge of the gift but so that they reap the most benefits from the gift. For the one who put the car in the garage and saved it for that special one, their car will always be shiny and new and will give them pleasure all the days of their life. For the others who felt that was stupid may have spent their car up by the time they were 17. There is not another car. This is the only one that is given.

Why do we self-destruct? Because we believe the lies of the others who messed up their cars instead of following the instructions of the one who gave the gift. We self-destruct because it seems so routine and so lame to keep the car in the garage, when it is now that you have the looks and the drive to go somewhere, but those who self-destruct, didn't go anywhere, they still have the shabby old car they keyed and abused. They will have it till they die.

Pay attention to what you do and don't slam the cabinet door on your face simply because the world tells you to. Take the gift and thank the giver and then follow His instructions. It will be the most fulfilling gift you will ever receive and the best part is that it will last the rest of your life without any bumps on the car. It will always be bright and shiny and new, even when you aren't.

Introduction

I begin by introducing myself. I have chosen the name for this blog as "choose the good part." That comes from the story in the Bible about two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha is busy making dinner and preparations but her sister Mary is sitting at Jesus feet listening to Him teach. Martha complains to Jesus that Mary is not helping her, but Jesus responds by saying, "Mary, has chosen the good part."

I love hospitality and having people in my home, I love the fru fru of a sit down dinner party. I love the planning and the preparation. But I also love to study the Bible and hear the words of the Lord , they truly are words of life.

Now as I sit at his feet and do not fret over the cobwebs in the corner, I find a peace and an insatiable hunger. It seems that Jesus is saying that homemaking and caring for one's guests and family is not important but that is not the case at all. He is telling Martha that there are times the necessary things of life can be put aside for a while while we stop and be still and listen. He is saying that digesting His words and taking Him into our hearts is the good part of life.

That is what this blog will be about. The Words of our Lord, served up at a sit-down informal dinner party where my guests can enjoy the food I prepare and learn from the Words of God that I share. I am not a theologian but I am a counselor, I may not know all the theories, but I know the author. I may not express myself in theological terminology, but I will express my interpretation in the context of the whole counsel of God. I love serving the Words of God to my guests and allowing them to choose the good part.

I start and write this blog because I am a writer. I have written many journals, but my typing is much better than my penmanship. I write this mostly for my family both physical and spiritual. I do not write to impart any wise words of prophetic wisdom, but I write to reveal my heart and the things that Jesus reveals to me.

Life is short but has many opportunities and as we develop through each age we find new and more exciting opportuntines, now at the age of 60 I find the opportunity to partake of the good part. I have the time and the desire. In this blog I want to share the good things I ingest with those who do not have the time to research or sit quietly at the feet of the Master and listen to His words.

I hope to impart foundational knowledge gained from sitting at his feet, not opinionated dribble and with the graciousness of Martha, the hostess.