Happenings

It's been a wild and unexpected go these last days; Wednesday my mom told me she was taking me out to eat, only to find my two other conspiring friends along on our way to the Wildflower Cafe. We supped on delicious Peanut Curry over live guitar worship music, and finished off on outstanding Euroyogurt. The next day I got a flat tire on my bike while trying to help out a friend, and then my car stopped dead in the road Friday on the way back. I rushed home to eek out an apple and peach pie, pack for Boston and head off for a picnic. It was a most lovely time with a grand group of folks. Friends were visiting from N.C with their newest of 11 chilluns. We had some wild games of duck-duck-goose and I scuttled home a little late for our 4am departure to Boston..

Boston is an interesting city, but I must say I have a much more interesting and entertaining brother living there. He is wonderful. Upon arrival we walked through town and got some barbeque, and made plans for our next day's fishing excursion on Boston harbor. We had a relaxing and incredibly unprofitable time fishing, but a wonderful time being with brother. We went to a most exquisite Argentinaean restaurant, and I was pleasantly entranced by the sensory delights of my skirt steak, squash and sweet potato mash, summer veggies and 2008 Malbec. The walls were pale yellow and brick with cobalt ceilings. The decor were tanned hides and glossed pottery plates, and the many beverages came in terracotta pitchers. (I love a lot of things, and I have eaten out more in the past week than all year--which has been special.) Mmmm...


Despite the glories, it seemed that conflict hung on the fringes of all interactions with my pa, and this morning as I was reviewing these things with my Lord, some verses came to mind. I've been considering much my role as a Biblical woman and my verbal communications with those in my life. All believers are called to have honest and gracious speech, (Ephesians 4:15), but it seems there is slant to this I must consider. God has graciously created females to be the bearers of life; in human females this ought apply to both physical offspring, and to the kind of gentle kindness that is uniquely life-giving and feminine. A few weeks back I heard a radio show with an Elizabeth Elliot recording, wherein she asserted that the role of women at most every age is specifically to mother and nurture the world. I was both challenged an excited by this, for my heart flutters to nurture--I was also supremely challenged, and bowed in humble ineptitude at my flawed speech, and unsubmissive spirit. Human nature innately points fingers without considering personal responsibility, and I am stuck here. I am called by God to be a gracious, kind, and truthful woman who honors all I meet, whether their conduct calls for it or not. These verses challenged me greatly: Proverbs 12:18 "There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

I often forget that my struggle with those closest to me is not a mere matter of our differences, but a struggle with the unseen agents against us. Each step of obedience disarms that stronghold, and by good works wrought by the Spirit evil is overturned. Perhaps you can relate?