You can't rush sadness

You can yell at it

Trivialize it

Patronize it

Or disguise it.

But you can't rush it.

If it settles, as a mist

You can observe it

Acknowledge it

Understand it

Process it.

Eventually, it will burn away.

And you will find yourself 

Where you always were.

In the path of the sun.

Photo Credit

-Kristen Meyer Harmon

Processing

Yesterday I enjoyed a refreshing yoga practice.  And some nachos with blackberry tea.

I sat outside and appreciated the cooling breeze.  And swept around the flowers on my porch.

We watched who stood and who didn't on the football field.   And drifted off to sleep, anticipating the tasks of the week ahead.

And somehow yesterday, some previously unknown person sat in a hotel room full of guns.  Waiting. Maybe eating, maybe not.  Maybe also observing the football field.

Until the moment.  The moment when he opened a window, and reminded the world that there is a hell.

What can go so horribly wrong in a person's life to unleash that moment?

How did he go from buying groceries and living in society to a fire breathing dragon.  Soon to implode himself.

I guess we will never know.

Lord have mercy on our world.

What if Revelation was not about a Beast

This weekend I attended a seminar on Biblical Prophecy by Professor Zdravko Stefanovic who has a lot of expertise in Biblical languages.  And his words confirmed a path my heart had started years ago.

As much as sometimes we might wish there were, there is no magical formula to reading Daniel or Revelation.  No secret code that will unveil the events of the last days.

We can study those books to be sure.  And we can learn how God has led in the past, and gain insight into His eternal wisdom and plan for today as well as the future.

But as Professor Stefanovic so aptly stated, "God is consistent, but full of surprises." 

In other words, yes, God will fulfill his promises, but he is not bound by our calendar of events.

In fact, Jesus plainly said in Matthew 24:44, " So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

Which means, even if there is no visible beast power, or mark on people's foreheads, or laws cast about which day we can worship on, Jesus could return tomorrow.   He doesn't have to wait for the Pope, or Obama, or Trump, or the antichrist, or anyone else.

Does that feel true to you too? 

What might change if it did?

Photo by Kristen Meyer Harmon: Haleakala Sunrise.

The Fallacy of Social Media

Social media is many things.  Some of them good.

But today I'm frustrated by its ability to fixate on one perspective.  One gif.  One meme. And make that seem like ALL THE PERSPECTIVES.

Let's take Joel Osteen for example.  I've read a variety of articles on his church and the reactions to their reaction to the flood.   There are basically two opinions.

1.)  He's a terrible person who closed his doors on Houston in its hour of need.

2).  The church was flooded and was not prepared to be a disaster center in the initial days.  (No kitchen, no showers.)  But now they are open and have a huge group of volunteers helping.

Apparently pictures were posted of the outside of the church,.looking very much dry   Which lit the fires of social media outrage.

But pictures were also posted of the inside full of water.

This so perfectly describes my opinion of social media right now.  The outside telling one story, but the inside another.  

The ability to fixate on one angle.  To be completely sold on the valor of one approach.  But missing the grounding reality of more than one angle.

Before we engage in judging/fury/outrage, it's probably wise to seek an additional perspective. Preferably from an eye witness.  

And beware the trap of thinking that one small image will always tell a true story.

The Color of Water

What Once Was

My husband and I said goodbye to dear friends this week who are embracing a wonderful opportunity in another state.

As we were driving to their Florida home for the last time, a thought struck me.  Today, I can drive this route, and find my friends here, as I have for days and days past.

But tomorrow, even though I can traverse the same roads, and pull up to the same address, tomorrow, the house will be empty.

I have an opportunity this day, that I will not have the next.

Life is funny like that.  We can have a routine that lasts years, and then one day, it can simply ends.   Sometimes with fanfare and procession like the graduation of high school or a new home after your wedding day.   Sometimes abruptly in the closing of the next door coffee shop or a responsibility transition at work.

Perhaps this is why we are encouraged to make the most of what we have today.  Because we do not know what tomorrow will hold.  Hebrews 3 has this direction in verses 7 and 13.

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…But encourage one another daily so long as it is called “Today.”  

It’s still Today.  What will we do with it?

Photo Credit

To be Present

Fast.  Available.

Two words that describe our time

And the pressure to think quickly, respond quickly. 

Know within a Google Search.

But what of reflection?

Of pausing and living.

And through time and consideration

Gaining more than knowledge.

Slow.  Present.

Two words that describe our need

To drink deeply.  Live freely.  To Rest

To Run.  To Look and see.  To Be.

And from that time to find

Peace in beauty

Joy in friendship
And communion with God.

-Kristen Harmon

Photo Credit

Book Review- The Maid of Fouborne Hall

I enjoyed reading this book.  It's a great option for a beach read or a plane trip and an enjoyable adventure that will keep the pages turning.

There are twists and turns and conflict, it’s not the kind that is dark or especially stressful to the reader. 

The resolution is predictable but still enjoyable.  Though I feel the ending could have been a bit stronger to give a more satisfying conclusion.

Still this is a light, fun read  that I recommend for anyone who likes Historical Christian Romance.

Story- 8

Beauty- 7

Bookshelf Worthy- 6

Amazon link here

Unplugging

Unplugging

I learned about something new this week though my church newsletter: There is a national day of unplugging from electronics.

On the surface this sounds fairly easy.  It’s only one day.   I’ve still lived without cell phone data for the majority of my life.  So how hard could it really be to turn it off for one day?

Probably harder than I think.  Especially if the data detox includes the TV and computer.

The website offers sleeping bags for your cell phones to rest during the 24 hour period.  While cute, if I participated in this digital detox, I would keep my phone as a phone.  Telephones have existed for a long time and the idea of being fully unreachable is  disconcerting. 

However, even with phone power, to disconnect from the internet, from apps and Google and Facebook?   It would probably be harder than I imagine, even for 24 hours.

My husband and I agreed we would have to plan for such an occasion. 

Ideally we would spend this day somewhere outside, with friends and family, and a collection of books and journals, and food.   The hardest part would be in the evening.   TV is an embarrassingly solid part of our evenings.   It doesn’t feel like a problem until I think about how hard it would be to give it up.

It’s seems as a society, we have developed modern expectations and pathways of entertainment, and the old ones (board games, conversation, and books) don’t hold our attention for as long as in years past.

So, perhaps a 24 digital break isn’t such a bad idea.   

Turn the data off.  

And turn the conversation up.

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