Sunday Thoughts

I am a sucker for getting pulled into reading the comments after some random article on the internet.   I pull out the computer fully intent on signing onto Living Life and writing something brilliant, witty and/or entertaining (joking), but soon find myself scrolling through the current headlines.  An hour or so later my muse, my idea, has abandon me, as I have spent my time reading a wad of silly and ridiculous comments.  I know, I know this speaks volumes to my ability to waste time.  What can I say?

I am most often drawn in when the comments turn into rants against the belief in God.   I never really can figure out who they are talking to, as seldom do I find a comment defending God, Christianity or any faith.  In other words, no one is arguing against them.  Usually it is a string of those wanting to lash out at something, and the belief in God is always the perfect bull's eye for someone who is angry.  Though I would never want to respond to any of the comments, I find them interesting and worth studying.  Not because I agree, but because I am a believer in God.

I suppose you could say I am somewhat like Peter.   It was Peter, Jesus's most loyal, who denied knowing him when he was arrested.   I have never denied having a spiritual life, but I have never defended it either.  When I find myself in a conversation with someone who challenges my beliefs, I sit, listen, but seldom respond.  Though they run deep, I don't often write of my spiritual beliefs either.  I hope my actions are enough, but perhaps they are not.

I was four when an older child told me there was no Santa.    It was a few months before Christmas.  I was over at a neighbors house playing.   We began talking about the toys we were going to ask from Santa.   I vividly remember my friend standing over me telling me Santa wasn't coming because there was no Santa Claus.  I was heartbroken.  I burst out of her house and ran home sobbing.  Mother, having been alerted, was waiting for me at the door.  She held me until I calmed down a bit.   She rocked me in her lap as I told her my story.  She turned my face to hers and place her hand on my chest.  She then told me, "Santa Claus is right here.  He is all that is good about Christmas.  As long as you believe he will always be right there".  

I thought of this time in my life today during my morning prayers.  You know how you think of one thing and that leads you off onto another thought, and so on.  That is what I was doing this morning.  While giving thanks I began thinking how sad it is that so many live not knowing God (by any name).  Wondering why some find it so hard to believe in God.  I turned the question on myself and ask why I believe in something I cannot see.  Why do I believe in something that allows bad things to happen?  A lot of people spend a lot of time giving a lot of concrete reasons for not believing in "the myth" called God.   I then remembered that Saturday morning long ago, and the words my mother spoke.  Those things we cannot see, the things we are told are illogical, stupid, unproven, we hold in our hearts.  I could hear her saying, "God is in your heart.  He is right here.  There is no need to question his existence.  If you believe, he is with you."

Everyone has to have their own beliefs, for me, it is having faith in something greater than myself.  I open the newspaper and wonder, what is wrong with having faith?  It is much nicer having someone walking this path with me, than walking it alone.

From the Mouths of Children

My summer vacation has come to an end.  I am back at school, and trying to return to some semblance of a routine.  My mind and my heart are there; my energy level is trying catch up.

My break lasted longer than I anticipated.  I am afraid I underestimated my time away.   The last few days I've thought a lot of how to return to my blog.  What might my subject be.  It feels as if I am back at the beginning.

My book group is back together for another year of reading.  I've been spending time in the kitchen baking, canning and experimenting.  There have been home projects and family events.  I've created  these posts over and over in my head,  but as so often happens my returning post comes from an unexpected voice.

Yesterday I shared a favorite book with my children during story time.  

The book,  How Full is Your Bucket, (I may have written about this book before) is a book I use to begin a discussion about being kind to one another, sharing and being a good friend.   The perfect story for the beginning of the school year as we are meeting up with old friends and making new ones.  The basic premise is by treating others with kindness, both the giver and the recipient are filled with joy and good feelings 

(filling one's bucket).

Just as I finished the story and was preparing to ask for suggestions on how to fill our own "bucket" and that of our friends,  one of my boys raised his hand,

"Miss Bonnie, when you do nice, nice comes back to you".

We continued to chat about sharing and being nice to one another.  The children had fabulous ideas, but it was the "when you do nice, nice comes back to you" that continued to echo in my head throughout my day.

I mentioned earlier I am still working on building my day to day stamina...keeping up with preschoolers, wow!   We are all adjusting to a new school year, and becoming reacquainted.   At the end of the day all I really want to do is come home, take a shower, and settle in with a good book.

Yesterday afternoon was no different.  The afternoon was hot and the playground dusty.  By 2:30 I had wilted, but there were errands.   I had also volunteered to help serve dinner to families who are currently in transition and in need of a helping hand.  Leaving school and feeling a bit bedraggled all I really wanted was to have my day finished.  As much as I didn't want to do anything, I knew I needed to follow through with my commitments.  

By the time I reached the hosting Church, I had revived a bit, and was looking forward to being a small part of this worthwhile program.  These are families who are working to pull themselves out of an unfortunate situation.

As I entered the dining hall I was immediately greeted by a young girl of about eleven.

"Hi, my name is ....."

I greeted this happy girl, held out my hand and introduced myself.  

"It is nice to meet you."

She reached over, grasp my hand, but her big smile quickly faded  

as she released my hand and darted around the table toward me,

"I don't do handshakes...

I do hugs!

and threw her arms around my waist.

I hugged her back, and said,

"I'm always good with hugs".

You know my little guy was right this morning...

"When you do nice, nice comes back."

Yes, it does!

And, I slept well last night!

Keeping My Brain Healthy

Neural Plasicity:  the brain's ability to change in response to normal developmental

processes, experience, and injury--

Friday, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture on Neural Plasticity.  Though the seminar was directed to healthcare professionals treating clients with traumatic brain injuries, this presentation included material helpful to anyone who hopes to keep their brain healthy and active.  There was also much information I will take back to the classroom.   There was one point though, the last point the speaker addressed that was priceless...

The best activity to keep the brain healthy and active....
this is too good to be true....
Do you know?
Have you guessed?

Forget the crossword puzzles (and I do love my morning crossword puzzle).
Forget the high priced programs and apps offering activities and games
to keep the aging brain active.
The best brain exercise is...

Reading, reading
lots of reading!!!

I no longer need to make excuses for afternoons spent with a book or
frequent stops at a neighborhood bookstore.

Now, excuse me please.
I have a book waiting to join me
in a little exercise session.

*****

I may be away for a couple of weeks.
It is time to begin preparing to return to the classroom;
and, I have the opportunity to spend a few weeks with my daughter and new grandson.

Enjoy the remaining weeks of summer dear friends.
I will be checking in on you.

It's Raining

I woke up this morning to raindrops hitting my bedroom window, 

 and what a glorious sound.  It looks like the rain maybe on its way out, but for now

it is the perfect morning to relax in my sunroom, with a cup of coffee and
 talk books with you.

Do you remember the stack of books I told you I have toted around this summer?

I've finished all but one...whew...
Along the way I've read a few other's as well.  

Reconnecting with my friend J has been wonderful.   We enjoy getting together for lunch or an evening glass of wine and catch-up...we've both had very busy summers.  We chat about the children and our new grand babies.  Can you believe it?  Our babies were born only a few weeks apart.  

It doesn't matter what we are doing our conversation always evolves to the question,

"What have you read lately?"

Last time we were together she was looking for something to grab her attention, but not too time consuming... something light.   She has a lot going on these days; I had the perfect book.

   

The Borrower is a book you read simply for the story.

Lucy Hull, a children's librarian (if you are a librarian, her credentials are going to bother you, be forewarned ) befriends, Ian, a young boy whose love of reading is censored by an overbearing mother.  When the mother enrolls Ian in an antigay class with a "rehabilitated" charismatic minister,  he runs away taking Lucy with him.   Wanting to believe she is taking Ian to his grandmother, and convinced she is saving him, Lucy finds herself in the roll of a kidnapper.   With Ian giving directions the two begin an across state line journey that will take them from Missouri to Vermont.  Who has kidnapped who?

Along the way the unlikely companions encounter the Russian mafia, a stalker and a crazy boyfriend, (there may be a stowaway ferret in there as well), all the while Lucy is trying to work out how she can return Ian safely home without being arrested.

I was drawn to this story, as I am passionate about children reading.  I feel strongly children should read all kind of books... the good, the bad, and the scary (age appropriate, of course).  In bookstores libraries, and on the internet I hear parents talking about not allowing children to read this or that book.  Sometimes the book challenges a belief or the parent didn't like the book as a child, it scared them.  I believe we underestimate our children when we place these limitations on them.  We live in a world full of evil happenings; how better to help children face scary things, solve moral dilemmas and not give up, than through literature.  Allow them to read, then be available to discuss the content.   I cannot imagine not having the opportunity to read Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, A Wrinkle in Time or The Giver.   One of my favorite quotations is from Coraline,

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."

Okay, now I'll step down from my soapbox, and get back to the book.

I am not recommending this book for the writing.  There are more
than a few issues which are questionable, but it is fiction.    It was an entertaining, one day,
ride...read...

I had to find out if they survived the road trip or
would it end the way of "Thelma and Louise".

Now I have about an hour for...

You know I always love hearing about what you are reading!


The above quotation is a paraphrasing from the writings of  C. K. Chesterton.
(author of Father Brown mysteries)

Enjoy the day!