Here are a few of the close-ups I have taken this last week here at The Vicarage.
The nectarine tree and pear trees are blooming. Soon the crab apple tree will bloom. In spite of the busy-ness of the season I am determined to take the time I need to enjoy the yard this year.
The maple flowers are really making me sneeze this year. The pollen is really something else.
I am really enjoying the moments of rain this season. We haven’t had enough moisture this year. Every drop counts.
I haven’t participated in CEE’S FUN FOTO CHALLENGE in a long time. This has been a funny year. I started out with a lot of time to write and as I saw it I was turning a corner into the writing world as a profession….As they say man plans and God laughs.
at the end of January, beginning of February (the world has been such a whirlwind since then it is hard to remember exactly when it all happened) my lead pastor resigned and I began to feel “the mantle of ministry” pass to me. So the last months have been about me shifting into a deeper level of ministry than I have ever maintained before. I am now beginning to figure out once again how to maintain the normal rhythms of life whatever those are.
This week Cee has challenged us to use photography to make size comparisons. I thought this was an appropriate way to explain the size of my feelings about the ministry at this time.
I took this picture about a month ago. Perspective really is everything. The Vicarage looks so large compared to the plane in the sky.
Our Christmas bell here looks larger than the raised garden bed behind it. It isn’t of course but the illusion is at least momentarily effective.
I know this is a little like my life right now. The task at hand sometimes consumes my vision and obscures all the other things God has put in my heart. I know that is the illusion of the moment. God assures me there is room in my life for everything He has promised me. I just have to take one thing at a time and remember that how I see things is not always exactly how things are.
For instance these trees are much smaller than the senior center behind them, but perspective skews my mind’s ability to judge the true size of what lies before me. This is a reminder that the challenges I am facing are in truth smaller than I am making them out to be. There is much good work to be done….but it doesn’t all have to be done today.
I am excited about the future. It is full and IT IS GOING TO BE FUN!
It is time to SHARE MY WORLD WITH YOU. This is the weekly challenge where our hostess Melanie asks several questions and in answering them we all share our worlds. When you have finished learning about me, click the underlined link and go and see how all of her other contributors have answered the questions.
Do you think psychic abilities exist?
Yes, but those gifts are not what they think we are.
How would you describe peanut butter to someone who didn’t know what it was?
SOOOOOOOOOOOO YUMMY!
Why does an octopus squirt ink?
To provide cover for a quick escape.
Who are two of today’s greatest entertainers in your opinion? (can be actors, musicians, singers etc)
The Home Photo Challenge was fun for me last year. Since I do not think much is going to be changing for me in the way of travel this year, I am going to continue the challenge for myself into 2021. This year I am going to add a little twist. I will give a brief description of each photo I take and write a Haiku to go along with it
IF YOU WANT TO JOIN IN THE FUN.JUST TAKE A PHOTO IN OR AROUND YOUR HOME AND WRITE YOUR OWN BLOG AND POST THE LINK IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW
This is a view from the sitting window above the bird yard
I have made it to SHARE YOUR WORLD , now two weeks in a row! This is the weekly challenge where our hostess Melanie asks four or five questions and in answering them we all share our worlds.
I think this world can do with a bit more sharing and so here we go. The questions and my answers are below. When you have finished here please take a peek over at Melanie’s blog, SPARKS FROM A COMBUSTIBLE MIND, and see how her other contributors have answered the questions. Just a warning these questions are definitely taking us down the rabbit hole this week.
What is knowledge?
Yikes! How many philosophers have taken a stab at this one? KNOWLEDGE IS….
UNDERSTANDING… EXPERIENCE WITH….RELATIONSHIP TO…A CONNECTEDNESS WITH….ULTIMATELY ITS SOURCE IS GOD.
How do you define consciousness (self awareness)?
“I think therefore I am.” – Descartes
Is it possible to prove that other people besides yourself have consciousness?
This song comes to mind as I think of this question…
Would you be able to tell if time had been altered in some way?
Only from my position in eternity.
Do you like potato chips (they’re called ‘crisps’ in Europe I believe)?
Only from my position in eternity…..Wait have I said that before? Maybe time has been altered.
On this side of the world it’s coming into Springtime. Celebrate Spring by sharing an image or anecdote that shares “Spring”! Alternatively, it’s coming into Autumn on the other side of the world. Please do the same for Autumn! Thanks!
My schedule for the last few weeks has kept me from jumping into, THE SHARE YOUR WORLD CHALLENGE. Our lead pastor at Cornerstone Church (my boss) left four weeks ago ,and for the last month I have been working through the decision and process of transitioning into his role. This week the deacon board voted to advance my name to the congregation and so the last step of the process has begun! There are a few more steps to take, but before I go back to addressing them, I wanted to take a few moments to answer the questions this weekly challenge brings.
My answers are below. When you have finished reading here, please click the underlined link above and travel to Melanie’s site to see how her other contributors have answered her questions.
QUESTIONS:
If not now, then when?
Made me think of this song….
Can you describe your life in a six-word sentence?
ONE THREAD IN THE GRAND TAPESTRY.
Do you remember that thing people used to say, about how you swallow eight spiders a year while you sleep? It’s not true, but do you think you’ve ever swallowed any? What bug do you think you’ve eaten the most of by accident?
I am pretty sure I have never swallowed a spider but I have swallowed mosquitoes.
What’s the best approach to resolving conflict?
Speak the truth in love. It’s a lot more complicated than that, but this is a start.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in the sitting and waiting spaces of life. Here are a few places I enjoy sitting and waiting.
It is time for SHARE YOUR WORLD. This is the weekly challenge where our hostess Melanie asks several questions and in answering them we share bits of our world.
This week’s questions and my answers are found below. When you have finished reading my answers please use the underlined link to go to Melanie’s site and see how her other contributors have answered the questions.
QUESTIONS: (an “odd” basket full today)
Have you ever ‘butt dialed” someone? (‘butt dialed’ means have you ever made a phone call that you weren’t aware of making, because the buttons on the phone got pushed by your sitting on them (in your pocket) OR having something in your handbag press against them?).
Yes I have done this a few times, but I have had others (especially my son) “butt-dial” me more than I have done it myself.
If you were given 1000 acres of land, what would you do with it?
I would look at it for a long time. I love big tracts of land, especially when they come equipped with chairs.
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen on-line recently?
Have you ever eaten something off the floor? ‘5 second’ rule applies or not (the ‘5 second rule’ is that if you pick up the dropped food within a set time frame, it’s still ‘clean’ and you can safely eat it)?
Of course! Especially when the food is too good to sweep away and throw out….Don’t get me wrong it’s not like I would eat supper off the floor or anything, but a dropped crust or a cookie or something….sure.
GRATITUDE SECTION (always optional)
Feel free to share your gratitude with everyone in the form of a quote, a thought or an image.
Share Your World is a weekly challenge I have participated in for…gosh… 7 or 8 years now at least. It is hard to believe I have been a part of the blogging community for that long. In some ways I still feel like a real novice at this work and am just really discovering my wings.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PART OF YOUR ON-LINE COMMUNITY?
Anyway one of the things I like about this challenge is that it lends itself easily to one of my blogging goals, which is to inspire community through conversation. This year my number of hits has gone down, but the number of deep conversations I am having with people has gone up. It has been very nice to see this sense of community deepening with those of you who choose to read and comment on my blogs.
Anyway here are this week’s questions and my answers toward starting conversations with you all….
Do you feel you ask enough questions or do you settle for what you know?
I know I definitely do not ask enough questions. It is something I am trying to remedy…but I have to admit I am not very good at it.
When did you fail to speak up when you feel you should have?
This is a close cousin of the last question. I feel like not asking questions and not speaking up have the same root. ….Fear of other people’s opinion. As I look at what God’s next steps are for me I know that these things are going to be essential skills to develop further.
When was the last time you felt lucky?*
I don’t know that I consider luck as a part of my life. I do consider myself blessed. Blessedness understands that everything that comes, good and bad, is taking me down a God-ordained pathway that leads me, ultimately, to God’s plan for me, which is my created purpose and ultimate fulfillment of being. Blessedness understands that resisting the difficult things, because I want only easy things, only slows the process of receiving and achieving God’s plan. Blessedness embraces what isbefore me as a part of something larger which is both good and benevolent.
I am so grateful that the Franklins got to join us for church and for supper on Sunday! I am also grateful to have the first pictures of my new grand baby in South Korea!
It is hard to believe how fast the weeks are going here in 2021! We are almost to Valentine’s Day. It is time once again to SHARE MY WORLD. This challenge involves answering four or five life sharing questions and then linking it to Melanie’s main page so we can all share our answers together. It is a great exercise in community. I CHALLENGE YOU TO GIVE IT A TRY!
Here are this week’s questions and my answers….
In your opinion, do May/December (older partner with much younger partner) romances ever work?
Sure! Mary and Joseph were probably a May December romance and they seemed to work out fine (at least as far as we know).
What physical action or gesture do you find romantic?
I think sitting quietly looking out over a panoramic view is very romantic…I admit I am a bit boring for most people’s taste but romance is a quiet thing for me. Then again romance is a part of my past. Everyday it becomes a bit more distant and to be honest I was not super good at it when I was an active participant.
What is your idea of a romantic dinner?
Italian. Then again I could eat Italian food literally everyday and be happy; So either I am super romantic or I do not know what I am talking about….I guess what you think about this answer probably modifies my answer to question #2.
Is ‘love’ a real ‘thing’ or merely a physical chemical response and brain activity pulling our emotional strings?
Love is a real thing. If the Bible is to be believed it is one of only three real things in the universe (See the last verse of 1 Corinthians 13).
How do you show your loved ones that you love them?
I try to be a help and a presence in their lives they can rely on.
Great Scott! We have already accomplished one whole month of this new year!!!! We have walked through 4 share your worlds already and today it is time to SHARE OUR WORLDS for a fifth time in 2021.
In case you do not know, Share Your World is a weekly challenged hosted by SPARKS FROM A COMBUSTIBLE MIND. In this challenge Melanie asks us several questions and in answering them we all share our worlds! This week’s questions and my answers are found below. Once you have read my answers please hop on over to Sparks… to see what Melanie’s other contributors have said.
NOW ON TO THE QUESTIONS……
If the government offered to suspend all laws, and law enforcement for 24 hours, letting you (and everybody else) do whatever you wish… Would you be in favor of it, or not? (Credit for this question goes to Cyranny and her Daily Quickie Question)
OH HECK NO! We have seen what can happen in less than twenty four hours when law enforcement and laws were still in place. How much more dissipation would there be without any safe guards in place?
What would be the creepiest thing you could say while passing a stranger on the street? (We’re suspending the whole social distancing and Covid involvement in this scenario)
Ummm….Yeah…..I will not be upping my creep factor by answering this question.
As a child, what did you think would be great about being an adult, but isn’t as great as you thought it would be?
Somehow I thought making my own decisions would be a lot cooler than it is. Things look so black and white when you are young. The older you get the more you understand that most decision do not fall into the strictly right or wrong category. There is lots of gray in the world.
What, in your opinion, has been blown way out of proportion?
The importance of opinion.
Gratitude Section (Optional as always)
Where is your ‘happy’ place? My happy place is the prayer place.
Lillie-Put 