Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Gritting My Teeth Over: Getting Older

I wore my good black suit pants to work backwards today.

Nobody noticed.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Gritting My Teeth Over: Morning Traffic

We have a sign similar to this one over Highway 30/167 in North Little Rock.


Now, some well-meaning Christian person put up this sign and is saying, "Jesus is over the highway," or, "Look! There's Jesus."
You and I know what is really happening. Drivers look up and ask that retorical question that begins with,
"Jesus!"
"This traffic is horrendous! Am I ever going to make it to work?"
Well today, this yay-hoo (The writer lives in Arkansas, USA. We have plenty of "yay-hoos".); This yay-hoo in a fancy pickup truck (most likely a cowgirl, determined by the curly long hair under the cowboy hat); This yay-hoo in a brand spanking new fancy pickup truck decides to pass me at an intersection. She guns it and takes off just in time to run at a pedestrian who is crossing the street. While I am holding onto my head screaming,
"Oh, GOD, NO!"
the pedestrian outruns the pickup truck.
And when she pulled away, do you know what I saw? Shoot no, I missed the license plate number.
I saw the Christian emblem glued to her bumper.
"JESUS!"
'Nuff said.
"Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac" Genesis 31:53, NIV.
Sometimes fear is a great motivator of people.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Gritting My Teeth Over: Cats, Again

I have a purebred Spitz for the right owner.



Beautiful dog. Gentle nature. Stayed at my house last night. Sister wants me to keep it.

Did you hear me say that I hate cats?

Every 15 minutes last night a cat tapped me somewhere on my person and said, "Mom, wake up. There's a dog in the other room."

I answered, "Yes, dear. Let sleeping dogs lie. She'll be gone in a day or two."

After 15 minutes of sleep another tap came, "Mom. Wake up. There is STILL a dog asleep in the other room."

The two cats took turns watching the dog sleep and tapping me for my attention.

You know the story in the Bible of the 10 virgins who kept watch and only five were ready? I hope I get some sleep before it becomes my hour to keep watch...

Matthew 25

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Gritting My Teeth Over: Being Angry at God

A cat fell out of the sky yesterday morning at 4:00 a.m.
.... Landed on me in my bed
....... Took off running as if nothing had really happened
...
I have yet to repair the ceiling fabric where she went through.
.
Did I mention that I have an undiagnosed illness?
.... Nausea starts an hour after waking; bout the same time the nose bleeds start
....... Take nausea to bed with me.
............ Sometimes I'm so tired that I have to eat a high-energy meal and drink a cup of coffee in order to wake up enough to fall asleep at night.
....
Doctors say it is a mental illness because, after all, who else looks up their symptoms on the Internet to find a disease that matches?
.

My work could not get done during normal business hours. So, I'm at work on Sunday, finishing up.

The problem is: if God were good, would I be sick?

If God were good, would cats fall out of the rafters on me in the wee hours when I so desparately need rest?

If God were good, wouldn't I have a house that is fully remodeled, not one that has exposed rafters, which a creative cat can find her way up to?

So, I'm driving to work this morning, pissed as all get out at God.

And the sky was blue.
I *know* who created that
The trees were my favorite color of ashen gray.
The wind was chilly and exhilarating.
You ever hear people speak of a lover whom they can never stay mad at?
That's the feeling.
I love Him. I'm just angry at something he hasn't done yet.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9

Thursday, March 1, 2007

You know God is present when

You feel like you were born yesterday.

And you like it!

He is the ancient of days and I am just a child of 52.