Just Checking In

Good Evening, God.

I've been thinking a lot lately, but then you know that. Sitting with Grace does that. And it never ceases to amaze me how the mind works.

I was just outside on the porch. It was raining softly and there was a slight breeze finding its way through the leaves on the trees. I looked down and saw the kittens peacefully dreaming their little kitty dreams. One's foot twitched as it chased a butterfly or mouse. Another was coming awake from hearing me out there.

Then I could hear the rain coming down a little harder. There seemed to be a rhythm to it. I thought, "No, it's just your imagination." But I wasn't entirely convinced that it was imaginary.

Suddenly a pretty brisk gust of wind came through the screen and along with it came a few drops of rain. When it settled on the cats they flew out of the box. I couldn't help but laugh, but they sure didn't think it was funny.

And then the thought generator kicked in so I became consumed by the process.

I called each one by name. Nothing. So I tried again and again. Nothing. I spoke out loud to them, "Why you ungrateful clumps of fur! Only yesterday you were snatched from the brink of homelessness and this is how repay me?" Nothing. (Yesterday the other six were taken to the shelter. Nine was just too many.)

So tell me, God, why do cats ignore us? It's like talking to a post. I suppose I will never have an answer to that, but seeing I was talking to you I thought I would ask.

And by the way, do ants sleep? The reason I ask is that at 2AM they were busy working on trying to move one piece of cat food that the furballs missed. There must have been 100 of them pushing and pulling. I made sure to steer clear of them after what happened not too long ago. Oh yeah, and while I'm thinking of it - Thanks for sending that angel when I was bitten by those fire ants. He told me to use meat tenderizer on them and the stinging would go away. Sure enough, it worked! I have to tell you though, I felt really stupid applying it.

As I was reminiscing about that a bolt of lightning skidded helter-skelter across the sky. I waited for the thunder but it was pretty far away. And that got me thinking even more.

You made the rainbow curve in a perfect arc. You could have made it any shape you wanted. Why did you pick the circular shape? Is it a subtle message that you can get there from here? That maybe it's not a straight line, but it's doable? I don't know.

The way my life has been I would think a promise coming from you would come in that zig-zag pattern of lightning like Ws strung together like this... WWWWWWWW. Or maybe a spiral - how symbolic is that? It would seem more accurate.

But then you are the Creator and I am just an innocent bystander in awe. I have to say though, the arc is pleasing to the eye, not to mention easier for school children to draw. I'm sure you know more than I do. I just don't really want to think about curvature of the earth and light refraction. That takes all the wonder out of it.

And speaking of awe and wonder, I saw some pictures about scientists who have created cube-shaped watermelons. The article mentioned that they were easier to transport and store due to the fact that they don't roll around. They also 'created' heart and pyramid-shaped ones too. They ARE interesting, but it just doesn't seem right that someone spliced the genes or fooled around with the DNA. To me DNA stands for Do Not Adapt. Who are we to be rearranging anything you create?

Just then another breeze came in and when I looked for the kittens they had moved to the top of the workbench out of the rain's reach. I saw the leaves moving to and fro. Some have changed colors and will soon drop to the ground. In the Spring they will replaced with new ones. Is that why so many babies are born? Because the older people keep dying? That sure makes sense to me. Maybe it's as simple as you are not done creating yet. What would I know?

Well, that's about it from me for now. Just thought I would check in with you and tell you how grateful I am for my life straightening out a bit. It was nip and tuck for a while. But even then, YOU knew better. I just wish I was better at this faith thing. So do you think you could help me out with that? I'll be checking in with you again real soon, God. Take care of all my friends. Thanks... You are an Awesome God... You make me smile.

So I Don't Dance

As I dance merrily down the road of life it is comforting to know that I am in the fold, a child of God.

OK, so I don't dance, I shuffle. And maybe sometimes I grudgingly trudge the road of happy destiny.

But it is days like this that I know I am a Child of God. I don't have to question that. Yet still I pinch myself wondering if I am truly awake. Could this possibly be true? Time will tell. It always does.

And though I mutter and moan, and stutter and groan, it is always an epiphany to me when You come to take me by the hand, God, and let me know that, indeed, You were listening the whole time... not only to my prayers, but to those that were lifted up on my behalf by others.

Re-energized and hopeful I say, "Let the adventure begin!" I will go where you point me. Please forgive my doubts. How truly Great Thou Art...

Into the Darkness

I look back over my shoulder and feel as though I am walking into the darkness.

I rely on all those old sayings I have heard over the years. The one that comes to mind is, "Feelings are feelings, feelings aren't facts."

And EVEN THOUGH (just for you, Bebe, haha) I feel like I am going to a dark place, it doesn't necessarily make it so. I am a person with choices. And those choices are the power I can draw on when the darkness seems to be closing in.

Oh, I can let it happen all right! But it doesn't mean I HAVE to, thanks to one-liners and supportive people in my life.

Once again, God, Thanks for listening. I am blessed.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Hello, God. It's just me again.

I've been told that if I feel lonely or distant from you that I should examine exactly who moved. It usually isn't you. OK, in fact, it never is.

I love those times when I am 'in the zone,' Your zone. Or when I know I am connected. And I wonder why it is that I am not a lot of times. And then at the times when I am not close to you, why it is that I cannot see the distance.

Then... when I finally make it back to You, I can't remember the path I took so that the next time I can travel it again. All this back and forth stuff sure is confusing and baffling. Why can't I just stay in Your Light? Why is it so difficult?

Such is the life of a human being, huh? Back and forth, yin and yang, push and pull. And yet, at the end of every struggle, there You are... waiting, my personal Light at the End of the Tunnel. How awesome is that?

Thank You for listening once again. You must have the most tired ears of the Universe.

Angels' Gate

This is it, God! This is how I imagine Angels' Gate. Not on some lofty cloud somewhere, but grounded in a lush forest with life all around it. And from a distance, Your Light shines in to provide warmth and comfort.

I look forward to the day I can see it with my own eyes. Not a scary or foreboding place, rather a place of solace, joy and fellowship.

And if the entrance is so grand, how exquisite the interior must be! I can almost hear them singing from here.

How Great Thou Art!