"It" comes like a thief in the night and steals from you while sleeping. The word pops up in conversations with your doctor and even with your friends and relatives. "It" cannot stand alone, but must hang on to you by what ever means it can find. They write about "it" in newspapers and magazines. In fact, you might say that some folks are obsessed with the process. You can study "it" from all angles, discuss it, cuss it, and some people even try to run away from "it". But it is all to no avail. "It" is old age, which will catch up with you when you least expect it.
You'll first notice it one morning as you're getting out of bed. Nothing to get alarmed about--a little stiffness in your joints. Once you move around, it goes away. Then, unfortunately, the day will dawn when the stiffness and pain does not go away. As you look in the mirror at the lines bracketing the smile that does not come as quickly as before, you have the dreaded epiphany--"I am growing old."
You tell the eye doctor "I need new glasses, I can't see as well." He shakes his head and looks at you with a sad expression. "I can give you stronger glasses, but it won't help." Yes, you got it......"age related."
You tell your regular doctor "I need to move without pain." He shakes his head and looks at you with a sad expression. "I can give you stronger pain pills, and something to calm your nerves...but...." Yes, you got it......"age related."
Although prayer will not halt the inevitable passage of time, our gracious Heavenly Father will hold your hand and share your burden as you trod this passage through life.
So, as I "celebrate" my seventy-eighth birthday, I know I must face the facts. My eye sight, my hearing, my memory, my digestive system and my joints are all wearing out. You look back to your wasteful youth and wonder if you could have done anything any differently. Probably not.
To quote baseball star Mickey Mantle, (who thought he'd died young from an inherited disease) "If I knew I was gonna live this long, I woulda took better care of myself."
In spite of the gloom and doom which I struggle to cast aside, deep inside of me there is a fire and whereas age has caused that fire to flicker and fade slightly, it still burns. And, as long as I have breath in my body and, with God's help, I will continue to fan the feeble flame.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Evolutionary Thoughts
EVOLUTIONARY THOUGHTS
I woke up early last Sunday morning feeling pretty darned good. My hubby and I got ready for early church (8:am) then we sat down for breakfast. While having coffee and a bite to eat, I turned on the TV, planning to catch the forecast on the weather channel. I was greeted by a real pulpit pounder. Ordinarily I would have changed channels, however, the subject matter snagged my interest. Shock prevented me from remembering the preacher's name, but when an apparently well educated man announced that anyone who believed in evolution of any form would be going straight to hell, I went a trifle ballistic.
I state firmly and without a moment of hesitation that I'm a card-carrying, church-going Christian. I'm not often so consumed with anger that I find myself totally speechless and feel grossly wronged. I do believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things seen and unseen, and also believe some aspects of the Biblical story of creation. Although my core of belief is that most of the story has been distorted over the millennia. After all, nobody was there to record what happened.
Why can't hard line Christians understand that evolution and religion can thrive together? Yes, I believe that God created our world. I also have many questions and I'm a voracious reader. Have you ever wondered why we are alone in this vast universe? And of all the ape-like creatures who began walking upright, why we, homo sapiens, were chosen to evolve while other hominids fell into extinction?
In a very moving letter written by my brother following the death of his wife, he rales at God for causing or allowing her death to occur. He wondered why God either allowed or caused such a tragedy to happen. But at the end of his dissertation, he puts forth his supposition that God simply started every thing in process at the beginning of time. He had no direct input into the accident and decline of his wife's health that led to her death.
The theory of "Divine Intervention" along the pathway of evolution is not my invention. This particular theory (along with many others) has been bantered about for several years. Many archeologists and paleontologists are atheists. However, there are a growing number of scientists, investigators and biblical scholars who are leaning toward this new line of thinking. I am among them. Divine Intervention. I like the sound of that.
With new bones and other relics being uncovered, photographed and studied, all the evidence is pointing to a certainty that man did indeed evolve from and along side primitive apes into what we are today. It is not outside the realm of possibility that God set our planet on its course and when man evolved to a certain point, He was happy with the results and gave us a soul--the very essence of our humanity.
I woke up early last Sunday morning feeling pretty darned good. My hubby and I got ready for early church (8:am) then we sat down for breakfast. While having coffee and a bite to eat, I turned on the TV, planning to catch the forecast on the weather channel. I was greeted by a real pulpit pounder. Ordinarily I would have changed channels, however, the subject matter snagged my interest. Shock prevented me from remembering the preacher's name, but when an apparently well educated man announced that anyone who believed in evolution of any form would be going straight to hell, I went a trifle ballistic.
I state firmly and without a moment of hesitation that I'm a card-carrying, church-going Christian. I'm not often so consumed with anger that I find myself totally speechless and feel grossly wronged. I do believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things seen and unseen, and also believe some aspects of the Biblical story of creation. Although my core of belief is that most of the story has been distorted over the millennia. After all, nobody was there to record what happened.
Why can't hard line Christians understand that evolution and religion can thrive together? Yes, I believe that God created our world. I also have many questions and I'm a voracious reader. Have you ever wondered why we are alone in this vast universe? And of all the ape-like creatures who began walking upright, why we, homo sapiens, were chosen to evolve while other hominids fell into extinction?
In a very moving letter written by my brother following the death of his wife, he rales at God for causing or allowing her death to occur. He wondered why God either allowed or caused such a tragedy to happen. But at the end of his dissertation, he puts forth his supposition that God simply started every thing in process at the beginning of time. He had no direct input into the accident and decline of his wife's health that led to her death.
The theory of "Divine Intervention" along the pathway of evolution is not my invention. This particular theory (along with many others) has been bantered about for several years. Many archeologists and paleontologists are atheists. However, there are a growing number of scientists, investigators and biblical scholars who are leaning toward this new line of thinking. I am among them. Divine Intervention. I like the sound of that.
With new bones and other relics being uncovered, photographed and studied, all the evidence is pointing to a certainty that man did indeed evolve from and along side primitive apes into what we are today. It is not outside the realm of possibility that God set our planet on its course and when man evolved to a certain point, He was happy with the results and gave us a soul--the very essence of our humanity.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Women's Rights
My readers are going to have to excuse this diatribe, but I am so appalled by the suppression of women's right which is going on right under my nose that I simply have to vent. What better way than with the written word?
I read a message on Facebook the other day that one of the local Churches of Christ is having serious money problems, dwindling attendance and no new, young people coming into their church. I was saddened to read that they might have to disband.
Back in the early eighties, I was living in Detroit when the auto makers were in one of their many crises. Back then, many churches closed down, most of which were Catholic. Beautiful cathedrals were leveled into a pile of dust and bricks.
I kept reading one Facebook message after another until I came upon a group of women who were fighting the Churches of Christ for equal rights. Hmmm? Equal rights? What does that mean? Surely they were talking about having a woman leader. Look what happened to the Southern Baptists after they elected a black man? The gender or color (or even sexual preference) of any Church leader has NO bearing on my relationship with my God. None. Zilch. Zip. Church leaders are to me some remote entity and I pay them no heed.
Apparently, women are not allowed to speak in the Church of Christ. I have NEVER heard this openly discussed. Goodness, what a sheltered life I've led. A friend told me it was in Ecclesiastics. Women shall not be heard. The only reason I can fathom why this subject isn't openly discussed is that women are embarrassed. Who ever heard of being ashamed of the very Church that you lean on for comfort and guidance?
The thought of women sitting like meek little lambs and being treated like second class citizens because of gender is appalling to me and should be to all forward thinking women of this century. I thought only third world countries and radical fundamentalist Muslims treated their women like that.
A good number of well-educated scholars believe there are many many mistakes in translation of the Bible. Although my education is limited, I'm firm in my belief that too many hands, too many corrupt rulers, and even the early Catholic Church bent and tweaked the words for their own selfish purposes. Why else were banned books of the Bible (Gospels) and other sacred writings surreptitiously buried in the desert by desperate people hoping for more enlightened times?
Don't get me wrong. Basically, I believe in the validity of the Bible, but I do not believe that every word was transcribed through the personal, hands on guidance of God. The first compilation of books that comprise the Bible was done in three hundred years after Christ's death. Three hundred years? Man did the translations through the ages and Man can be corrupt.
Why has there been so much resistance to women serving in the clergy? I never felt any ill will toward our new rector. She's a high energy woman who's passionate about the word of God.
Stop and think about this for a moment...Jesus could not have devoted so much of his attention and energy to his holy mission, were it not for the work of the women who prepared his meals and cleaned his clothing. Women were important to Jesus. In my heart of hearts, I cannot believe that He would have forbid them to speak in His churches.
I read a message on Facebook the other day that one of the local Churches of Christ is having serious money problems, dwindling attendance and no new, young people coming into their church. I was saddened to read that they might have to disband.
Back in the early eighties, I was living in Detroit when the auto makers were in one of their many crises. Back then, many churches closed down, most of which were Catholic. Beautiful cathedrals were leveled into a pile of dust and bricks.
I kept reading one Facebook message after another until I came upon a group of women who were fighting the Churches of Christ for equal rights. Hmmm? Equal rights? What does that mean? Surely they were talking about having a woman leader. Look what happened to the Southern Baptists after they elected a black man? The gender or color (or even sexual preference) of any Church leader has NO bearing on my relationship with my God. None. Zilch. Zip. Church leaders are to me some remote entity and I pay them no heed.
Apparently, women are not allowed to speak in the Church of Christ. I have NEVER heard this openly discussed. Goodness, what a sheltered life I've led. A friend told me it was in Ecclesiastics. Women shall not be heard. The only reason I can fathom why this subject isn't openly discussed is that women are embarrassed. Who ever heard of being ashamed of the very Church that you lean on for comfort and guidance?
The thought of women sitting like meek little lambs and being treated like second class citizens because of gender is appalling to me and should be to all forward thinking women of this century. I thought only third world countries and radical fundamentalist Muslims treated their women like that.
A good number of well-educated scholars believe there are many many mistakes in translation of the Bible. Although my education is limited, I'm firm in my belief that too many hands, too many corrupt rulers, and even the early Catholic Church bent and tweaked the words for their own selfish purposes. Why else were banned books of the Bible (Gospels) and other sacred writings surreptitiously buried in the desert by desperate people hoping for more enlightened times?
Don't get me wrong. Basically, I believe in the validity of the Bible, but I do not believe that every word was transcribed through the personal, hands on guidance of God. The first compilation of books that comprise the Bible was done in three hundred years after Christ's death. Three hundred years? Man did the translations through the ages and Man can be corrupt.
Why has there been so much resistance to women serving in the clergy? I never felt any ill will toward our new rector. She's a high energy woman who's passionate about the word of God.
Stop and think about this for a moment...Jesus could not have devoted so much of his attention and energy to his holy mission, were it not for the work of the women who prepared his meals and cleaned his clothing. Women were important to Jesus. In my heart of hearts, I cannot believe that He would have forbid them to speak in His churches.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The dictionary states that "to vent" (a verb) means to give often vigorous or emotional expression. Example: she vented her frustrations.
I already have a blog for my series on "How to Write". Then I came up with a second one on "How to train a cat when you don't know you can't".
Now I have come up with my third blogging subject "Venting My Frustrations", however, this title was taken by an eleven year old girl who was threatening suicide. I tried all other titles and they had already been used. So, I created Sharleen Rhinocks Slant. That is my slant on life and other subjects.
This is going to be a catch all category covering just about every subject under the sun. Whatever stirs my ire or irks me beyond all reason.
I find this avenue to be great for my inner peace, blood pressure, and maybe even my digestion. Many times I will write two or three pages when I'm outraged over a subject, then when my ruffled feathers lie flat again, I trash it. And yet, there are parts of every vent that are, in fact, some of my best writings. Succinct and to the point. It will be nice to have this secret place...pardon my laughter, but no one pays any attention to me...where I can put a public face on my private thoughts.
I already have a blog for my series on "How to Write". Then I came up with a second one on "How to train a cat when you don't know you can't".
Now I have come up with my third blogging subject "Venting My Frustrations", however, this title was taken by an eleven year old girl who was threatening suicide. I tried all other titles and they had already been used. So, I created Sharleen Rhinocks Slant. That is my slant on life and other subjects.
This is going to be a catch all category covering just about every subject under the sun. Whatever stirs my ire or irks me beyond all reason.
I find this avenue to be great for my inner peace, blood pressure, and maybe even my digestion. Many times I will write two or three pages when I'm outraged over a subject, then when my ruffled feathers lie flat again, I trash it. And yet, there are parts of every vent that are, in fact, some of my best writings. Succinct and to the point. It will be nice to have this secret place...pardon my laughter, but no one pays any attention to me...where I can put a public face on my private thoughts.
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