Tuesday, November 05, 2013

RICH MAN POOR MAN





RICH MAN, POOR MAN, BEGGAR MAN, THIEF
DOCTOR, LAWYER, INDIAN CHIEF


I spend a lot of time thinking about the stages of life and the differences between classes of people, races, and cultures.  I don't really fit anywhere. I'm of two races and four nationalities. All of my friends are middle class, but according to economics I am extremely poor. I have no college background. I've been unemployed more often than not. I own all I own. I live within my income and have no debts.

I believe I have a much better education than many of the people I meet. I chose my own rather than follow some school's formula...just as I prefer to bake from scratch rather than to buy and use a mix. I made good choices.

The rough spots in my life came from relating to other people. I'm much better at that now. When people begin to act controlling, I back off and head in another direction. My first loyalty is to my own sense of joy and well being. Now that I have that settled, the rest of my life is assured to be full of intelligent playfulness.

 

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

BETWEEN HERE AND THERE

Boy is my home neat! That's what happens when I spend too much time here. Even my "clutter" is organized and neatly piled. This place looks really settled now. I love it. I tried to picture where I am at in my life and saw a picture of a train on a turn table. OK. That's a pretty good picture. I'm not actually going anywhere right now, but I am willing to go whatever way God wants. This is one of those times I am simply living by rote...which is what good habits allow room for. I just put one foot in front of the other and do little things each day to keep life manageable. I prefer the time when I am creative, but I don't put maintenance in last place. Without it there would be no order in my life. It's just dull; that's all...so right now I imagine I am rather dull.
"How are you today?"
"Dull, thank you. And you?"
Have you ever noticed that bored people are boring to relate to? So it follows that I will be dull for a bit until I get into something creative once again.
What's nice about all of this is that for me to be bored is a luxury. I used to have knots to untie and tons to sort through. Now that's done. I'm in a "Huh?" place. There is no instruction manual with this life we give ourselves. I have spent many years sorting out what I didn't want and saying no to that. I found things I liked to do and have done them. Now my life appears to be in a wash, rinse, repeat mode. I'll practice that for a while, but I KNOW I will have to find something to learn or create. It's in my genes. (Thank you, Dad!) Waiting, though, is also a strong point of mine. (Thank you, Mom!)
It's a special joy to report that I am in a place that allows me to look at my past and pick out all of the pretty things to cherish. The other stuff? That's what forgiveness is for.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

I ENJOY BEING A SQUIRREL


Squirrel gathers for the future
And lets go easily of excess

I began using a squirrel icon several years ago. I joined a photography site and found a picture online of a squirrel holding a camera. 


 I love to do several things at once, flitting from one to the next and back...completing all around the same time (I love circles!). I remind myself of a squirrel running around a tree. I may appear erratic, but I get a lot done. I have a well-stocked pantry. I stock up on supplies for all of my artistic endeavors when I see things on sale. For example: I used rubber cement for my collages. Cans that usually sell for $8.00 went on a close out sale for $1.00. I bought a dozen cans. 


Since I saved $84 off the regular price of the rubber cement, I can afford to be generous with others and give away some of what I bought to those who might need it. I shop that way for anything that I consider a staple, the same way a squirrel gathers nuts while the weather is mild. When we make good use of what we have and think ahead to needs in the future, we are better able to provide for others from our excess.

'Get the picture?   

Freely you received, freely give.   Matthew 10:8