Sunday, January 27, 2008

There's lots of blues in Blogville

After reading over this entry, I realize it may sound a little "preachy", which isn't my usual style. Consider yourself warned: some of my readers may want to skip this one.

We're having a genuine winter here in Missouri, with very few breaks between the cold spells. I count my blessings daily, and they are many; but I confess that it's sometimes hard to stay chipper on these bitterly frigid days, with all the extra bills that come flooding in at this time of year. Add to that the rising price of gasoline, propane and groceries.


I've noticed, while surfing through my favorite blogs, that I'm not the only one who's a little "down in the dumps".

When I open my Bloglines each morning, there aren't half as many new entries as there normally are. And I've added a lot of new blogs lately, so there should be more than in the past.

This doesn't help the situation: Cliff and I hear of the death of somebody we care about every week or so, of late. I realize that goes with the territory when you're past sixty years old, but it isn't a thing a person gets used to. We had a discussion yesterday about how it could be either of us next, at any moment. The older we get, the more likely it is that our number will be up.

As a Christian, I believe in life on the other side of the grave. But as a human, I'm in no hurry to leave this poor, battle-scarred body.

Cliff and I used to laugh at my mom who, in her eighties, after being widowed for the second time, would sometimes say with a sigh, "Why can't I just die?"

But at the first tornado watch of spring, she was running to the basement.

I can imagine myself in her shoes nowadays.

Spring will come again. Chances are, I'll have several more weeks, months, or even years to share my life with my friends through my blogs.

The best I can do is to take this day and live it to the fullest.

For this day, I can try not to be judgmental (which is probably my worst fault). I can do my best to see troubled people the way Jesus saw them when He walked the earth... the way He still sees us, I'm sure: "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."


In the words of the old song: "Life's evening sun is sinking low; a few more days and I must go."

8 comments:

  1. That's "preachy"? Really? I wouldn't say so.

    I, personally, HATE the cold. Winter is my least favorite season. I definitely blog less, that's for sure. This year I'm very much in a funk, probably because I'm not working, but doing the 'mom' thing at home. I rarely see other adults!

    Spring will be here soon; I for one cannot wait!

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  2. I just recently found your blog and I look forward to reading it daily. I think your post is honest, not preachy. Keep up the honest, Christian blogging, you put a smile on my face...

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  3. Even though it is still winter I enjoyed being out there today. I filled the bird feeders , cleaned & added fresh water to the heated birdbath. I even took my nippers & cut some vines out of the trees. Winter is not my favorite but I do find that I have more time to blog.

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  4. I really liked this post and didn't find it preachy at all. I agree with you wholeheartedly that there is an afterlife for believers that will be wonderful but I too am content to stay right here for a while longer.

    I'm glad you got a chance to ride Blue. Buddy is a bit sore again, not bad though, it's just that everything is frozen here and it's hard on his feet. I guess I'm going to have to get winter shoes put on him which I hate to do but I don't want him hurting all winter. I don't know why my farrier and vet wants him to go barefoot all winter, I'm going to give them a call tomorrow. Some of the other horses are a bit sore too from the ice and frozen ground. We need more snow to soften things up again.

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  5. Nope, not preachy at all. Just honest, which I really appreciate.

    "To meet the deeds, that I have done, where there will be, no setting sun."

    "A Beautiful Life", one of my favorite old gospel songs. I love the Chuckwagon Gang's version of this.

    Hope you have a great week, Donna. ;o)

    Love and hugs,

    Diane

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  6. This reminds me of Gandhi. In the same way that your New Testament describes the masses as sheep without a shepard and Jesus had compassion for them, Gandhi saw that one must have great compassion for all people, even when they do things we don't like (um, like enacting violence, being rotten neighbors or coworkers, etc), because they are simply doing what they've been taught, they are following a path of untruth and uncompassion. They can, however, see and learn about Truth and compassion (and non-judgement) through the example we set. (Tall order, ain't it!)

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  7. I know lately I jave been down in my blog. I guess that is why I have not been posting as much.

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  8. We were just saying we missed getting out more like we do when it is nice. I didn't think you were preachy--just right on the money.

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