What?? by Susan L.

  I am tempted to call some sort of global biology organization. About half way up, snuggled in a tight cluster of branches, an apple appears to be growing in my pine tree! Is it a miracle? Some fluke of cross genetics? Has a new species suddenly evolved? 
  Reporters will flock to the scene hoping to get the scoop! Photographers will be jostling to get the best picture! Can you see the three inch headlines on a special editions of newspapers around the world?
  "Mutant Pine Tree Bears Fruit!"
  It'll be the leading story on the six o'clock news!
  Twitter and Facebook will have record breaking hits as billions want to know what's happening.
  There will be no room to park in front of my house. Police will need to control the crowds because everyone will want to see. A quarantine zone will be initiated with roadblocks to ensure that no one without a special pass can get to the site of this strange phenomena. Scientist flown in from around the globe, dressed in white paper suits and paper slippers, will be investigating. They take copious notes and DNA samples. They huddle together like a bag of marshmallows. There will be yellow tape everywhere!
  My goodness, I'll be famous!
  Yaaah....I don't think so.
  The fact that the apple is half eaten just might prove the hoax as a hoax. I'm not sure I'd like those global headlines.
  "Pine Apple a Fraud! Woman Arrested!"
  Hmmmm...an apple leading to a fall. I think I read something about that somewhere...
  I also saw a small, feisty red squirrel in the immediate vicinity chasing a fat and not so feisty gray squirrel away. I figure it was Red who stashed the apple there. It'll be interesting to see how long it stays up in the tree before the wind blows it down.
  "And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me." Gen 21:6
 

Foot in Mouth Disease by Susan L.

  It happens on a regular basis. I say the wrong thing. Especially when I think I'm being funny and teasing, it ends up coming out catty and hurtful.
  I have to take teasing out of the picture all together. Lord, I'll need Your help.
  It is never my intention to hurt anyone but once the words are out it's hard to take them back. I try and apologise as soon as possible. Love means saying you're sorry. Thankfully, the Spirit is quick to convict me but still, the damage is done.
  I should know better. Forgive me, my Lord.
   The old saying "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me" is a load of hooey. Words hurt as much as a fist. The damage is just as bad and just as long lived. Ask any adult who has been or child who is being bullied. Check out any literature on abuse. The physical aspect is only a fraction of the ways an abuser can exert control over another. There are mental, financial, social, sexual, and verbal facets of abuse.
  That's why I said I should know better.
  Many a word said behind a veil of laughter cut me down to nothing time and again.
  Simply writing about it stirs up far too many unpleasant memories. Thank You, Lord, we have walked a path of healing and forgiveness. Thank You, I am growing to know the truth, Your truth, about who I am according to Your will and Your design.
  Help me become that person. In Jesus' name I pray.
  "He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness." Mal 3:3
 

Which Came First? by Susan L.

  A&W, the burger joint, has an ad campaign going on for their bacon and egg breakfasts. They are celebrating the fact that their eggs come from chickens that are fed a vegetable diet. The big question that I don't have an answer to is: why?
  Chickens are omnivores. They eat everything and anything from toads and snakes, insects, vegetables, grasses, and grains to each other should one show signs of illness or injury. Gravel helps them digest all these things. When we were on the farm and had a selection of free range chickens and other fowl wandering about the yard, kitchen scraps and leftovers were tossed out the back door for them to eat. Nothing was left except bigger bones and maybe potato skins. I quickly discovered their favorite food was Kraft macaroni and cheese. The squabbles and fights that used to break out over that treat were hilarious! I also used to wonder how many pounds of sand and grit were pilfered from the driveway each year.
  This ad campaign has filled me with a whole slew of questions. What supplements are the chickens being fed to maintain their health? Are they chemical, hormonal or steroids? Are they oil bi-products? Does A&W, in its decision to flaunt the "high road" of vegetarianism, get its eggs from humanely raised birds or do they buy them from massive commercial enterprises? This means the birds are stacked assembly line fashion: row upon row of small wire cages with barely room for the bird to sit down. For their short and miserable lives they lay two eggs a day because of an artificial twelve hour day/night rotation.
  It doesn't take long for them to burn out.
  Britain is leaps and bounds ahead of us in regards to this matter by out and out banning intensive farming for most livestock not just chickens.
   I feel a bit hypocritical. I buy commercial eggs because they are cheaper, handy and I honestly don't think my local grocery store offers the humanely raised alternative. It's something to investigate. I will take my own advice and start asking for them or find a local source offering free range eggs. Change can begin one dozen at a time.
  "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." Gen 2:15

Church by Susan L.

  It was a bit of a nervous rush to get out the door in time for church yesterday. My stomach was knotted. It's always difficult returning to the scene of a previous panic attack. It's even harder if there's been more than one or close to one. Still, the intense feeling to go was stronger.
  Communion means a lot to me and as I drove the five minutes to get there, I hoped it would be happening. I wasn't sure because I thought it was usually celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. Nevertheless, for whatever reason, Communion was served. Thank You Lord for giving me the urge to go which couldn't be ignored.
  We passed around the elements and when everyone has received the bread and wine, we take it as one body. That's special too. That connection not only with Christ but with brothers and sisters in Christ as well. I hadn't realised how much I missed being with like minded people, albeit a small crowd.
  The music didn't seem as loud either.
  The service was run by a visiting pastor. He will be coming back to continue his teachings on what it means to be a disciple. His is a temporary position until a new pastor is found following Pastor Randy's passing.
  Bible Study is starting up on Wednesday after a summer break. The desire to go is outweighing the anxiety.
  I am thankful for having had the break to do what needed to be done around the house this summer. It was often lonely though. Most of the time I have no problem being alone but then there are days it's tough even with the Lord as my forever Companion. I may have used this line before: sometimes we simply need love with skin on it.
  "And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 1 Cor 11:24-25

Heat by Susan L.

   I had to break down yesterday and put the furnace on. The house was chilly and damp despite a whirlwind of rare and downright unusual domestic kitchen activity. The aroma of almonds and peaches as well as oatmeal raisin muffins warmed the soul. It was topped with the heartwarming fragrance of spiced applesauce coffee cake but the body was left shivering. Most of these tempting goodies have gone into the freezer for days when comfort food is needed but of course there had to be quality control testing accompanied by a cup of coffee. It doesn't get much better than that!
  I am feeling led to go to church this morning. Don't know if it my own guilty conscious or what. Ill ask the Lord to bless the situation regardless of the reason. He will anyways.
  "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding." Prov 9:5-6
 

A Bit of a Territorial Display by Susan L.

  Anonymous is a busy bee. As much as I like to respond to comments people thoughtfully take the time to write in response to my posts, there's an increasing issue with spam. A majority of the unknown add links to their own web pages in the body of the text for products. When everything from hair care systems to I don't know exactly what they are pushing is included amidst a barrage of flattery, it leaves me wondering and cautious.
  And rather sad that my blog is trying to be used for unsolicited and unapproved advertising.
  For these commenters please note: Blogger does the sorting for me by sending any comments including links into a separate file. They do not get posted on this site for the general public to read. It's a waste of time if your intention is to simply hawk a product. Your entries get read by me and me alone and usually deleted.
  Yes, there is a security setting where it is necessary for someone to type in the distorted letters and numbers seen in a small box before they are allowed to comment. It's too bad such measures are even needed. When I first started this written journey, my writer's group encouraged me to omit that step so it was easier for readers add their own thoughts. I have no problem with that at all.
  I am more than willing to extend compassion and grace to those who are reluctant to use their names because often my posts are related to mental health. That's a touchy subject.
  Not only that but Anonymous, minus the ads, has written some extremely insightful and thoughtful comments that I know have blessed me tremendously and helped me rethink some of my own attitudes and understandings. Please continue to do so!
  As for the advertisers, I hope, should you take the time to read them, my little writings bless you in your daily life.
  "Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure." Is 33:6
 
 

The Sound of Silence by Susan L.

  My folk's condo is in a busy suburban area. A major highway runs near their place. The Toronto International Airport has a runway a few kilometers south of them. It's neat to watch the planes coming in for a landing or taking off to places unknown. Compared to my little house in the country, it is a noisy place and takes some getting used to. My folks don't notice it.
  Years ago we used to live a bit north of where they are. It didn't seem noisy but I guess it's all what we're used to. The area has changed a lot with huge subdivisions built and tons more retail. The traffic is constant, rush hour or not. I am glad we left when we did. I thought it was too busy then.
  I remember our first night on the farm in 1993. My ears throbbed from a silence so intense it was almost painful. It was October so even the nighttime cricket chorus was gone by that point. There was only an occasional moo from the cow tenants who were residing in the barn. It felt like a sensory deprivation experiment and took some time to acclimatize to the absolute stillness and peace of the country; a peace I now relish and celebrate.
  My city dwelling son commented on how unbearable the crickets were when he stayed over, that he'd had a hard time sleeping. Crickets? What crickets? It took active listening on my part to hear them again.
  It's funny how the music of our lives becomes sub-audible until something isn't quite right like the fridge motor starting to grind. For me, it's the sound of my sump pump. It wakes me from a deep sleep if it isn't working properly.
  I wish...or should it be pray... I would hear the quiet whispers of my Lord all the time. Somehow they seem to fade into the background unless I take the time to focus on hearing His voice. Somehow, sadly, He gets lost amidst the sounds of silence.
  "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Mat 11:15