"you shouldn't judge a book by its cover" - what lies beneath could bear an element of surprise
I know that sounds harsh
as
the scriptures tell us to
become like a little child.
Doesn’t say a well behaved
child or one who is still
learning and growing and
have patience as NONE of
us is perfect.
My calling in primary felt
more like a disciplinarian than
a teacher.
Perhaps that is why
I was in for so long.
I was supposed to learn from them.
Though I don’t think that I did.
I do quite enjoy Sunday School.
That is growth for me.
Well, perhaps not totally finished.
The microwave was installed May 16th.
Still have boxes of items that need to be put away.
And the contractors need to come collect their laundry sink and lock box.
The first counselor in Relief Society
was just released yesterday.
We knew it was coming. But now
there is a vacancy. Almost every
active member already has at least
one calling. Dang!
I did see a sister get called out of
Relief Society. I wonder
if she was called to fill the position.
If so, I wonder if she
accepted.
When Christ shared parables the “characters” were servants, sons, a certain man and so forth. In the parable found in Luke 16:20 the beggar in the parable has a name. I don’t know that I would have even thought anything about it if it hadn’t been pointed out. The poor man was given a name but the rich man (verse 19) remained nameless. According to Google the name Lazarus means God has helped.
This was one of the parables that we
had covered in Sunday School last week. We also discussed the “gulf” more in
depth as we read the footnote which referred us to 1Nephi 15: 28-30 which explains
in part Lehi’s vision and that the “gulf” separates the wicked in the spacious
building from those holding on to the iron rod.
I am fascinated with the interpretation
of parables and placing myself into each role of the characters as I age and
relate to the story differently than I had the first time. There was quite a lot of participation and
the lesson was really good. I so do
enjoy Sunday School now. There was a
time when I didn’t.
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| Kindly Light by Simon Dewey |
Last night Richard was approached by an unhoused woman who said she had not eaten for two days and would he be able to help her out. We did happen to have some leftover food in the car. He gave her the part we hadn’t eaten and she went on her way. She reminded me of the unhoused woman mentioned at the end of this post. One week into the pandemic and not all people were certain of how serious it was. Masks and social distancing were not yet enforced everywhere.
Jaime and I could hear the homeless
woman singing and Jaime decided to join her and made a tiktok video of the two
of them singing “This is Me” from The
Greatest Showman. I remember how Jaime looked at her as an equal and had
not passed any judgement. I knew she was
standing too close for Carol’s liking. We had met up with her a day or two
later (here) and had driven in separate cars. Jaime showed her the video the
next day. I think it made Carol nervous.
As careless as we had all been none
of my household members ever got sick with COVID. Carol, on the other hand, believes she got
it. She’d venture out of the house to
make a small purchase – such as cat food and toilet paper and there were
certain places that she started boycotting because of not enforcing “people
protection”. I remember many feeling
that way and others the opposite. Some
people still won’t support those that enforced the mask and social distancing
and so forth. Some people are in denial
and still believe it was all a hoax.
I LOVE them.
I love finding them in the sky and surrounding the hills.
I like watching them change colors.
Clouds are beautiful.
Didn't turn out what I had expected. Still not through. But closer - I suppose.
I
saw the date and
realized
I have a friend who
has
a birthday today.
It
has been a very long time since
I
called her my friend.
I
don’t know why we fell
out
of touch. Nor do I
know
why I feel
compelled
to create this post.
Happy
Birthday, Janeen –
Hope
you are doing well.
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| the chocolate here won't kill you |
When I had my brick phone my son Tony added an app that he thought would be beneficial. I started getting all kinds of text messages about things that I really didn’t care about and asked Jaime if she could remove it. Eventually all the unwanted messages stopped also. I don’t want apps on my phone! I want my phone to be a phone. Yes, being able to receive text messages and taking pictures are nice bonuses but really not necessary. I don’t need the website. I don’t need apps to clog up my system.
Richard and I had gone to Staples. An overly enthusiastic employee attempted to give me tips on how to save money if I install their app onto my phone. I whipped out my flip phone and showed it to him. When Richard joined us I excused myself to use the restroom. Apparently he talked Richard into putting the app on his phone. I don’t imagine it will be living there for long.
I didn’t realize that darning socks is still practiced – and evidently has been upgraded to being performed on the sewing machine. Really? When I have a hole in my sock, I will just by a new pair. Forget the darning thing. I have seen it performed and am certain I could figure it out, but it seems more work than it’s worth.
I wear cheap socks – not a lot of fabric or weight. I don’t really care for the expensive ones or handmade or bulky socks. Richard had purchased a couple of pair for me and Jaime. I admire the thought – and although the socks are cute seem impractical to my feet.
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| The sage are mine and the black are Jai's |
For
one thing there are multiple threads which always manage to catch on my
toenails. They hug my leg too tightly
for another. I have many pair that do
that. I prefer my legs to breathe. I
prefer cheap socks or a bamboo fabric (also comfortable).
In the Church of Jesus Christ there is a meeting in which members of the congregation are encouraged to make their way to the stand to bear their testimonies. This meeting takes place once a month – usually the first Sunday of each month. General Conference also falls on the first Sunday of the month and so testimony meeting gets moved to either the last week of the month prior or to the second week (depending on the ward or stake). In the South Umpqua ward we have held testimony meeting the week prior – except this year.
On March 26 we had stake conference –
which is a geographical boundary made of up several wards
April 1 and 2 was General Conference
(which is when the meetings are broadcast world wide)
April 9 Easter program
Thus our testimony meeting was not
until the 16th of this month.
I
recall sitting through a many of sacrament meetings as a youth in which
testimony meeting especially seemed to drag.
Either a person would make his/her way to the stand and drone on
endlessly or else there was such a lull of space in between each testimony that
the silence often seemed to account for a longer amount of time.
There were several things on my
mind. Jaime had made a surprise
visit. I am so grateful to have her so
close to home. I have also grown a lot
due to the “Come Follow Me” program in addition to my current living situation –
becoming more tolerable I guess and feeling like I have become (and continue to
become) a better person as I compare my own faults to the scriptures direction
on how to improve.
During the week I had asked for the
Spirit to be with me that I might express my thoughts without detraining from the
testimony’s purpose. Bishop had announced
that we keep our testimonies short and sweet – which this ward members seem to
be really great at – and there are rarely lulls or distractions like some
meetings of my past.
I mentioned how the “Come Follow Me”
program has assisted me with my current living situation and how grateful I
have been for the examples each have given me.
I was then prompted to sit down.
“But I still have more to say,” I
thought.
I sat down without expressing my
gratitude for Jaime and being at a close distance. And so I am expressing it here.
