don't worry...trust instead

If you watched the news in recent weeks you may have heard that Virginia had a massive, freak wind storm recently. The storm left millions without power, brought down trees, tore off siding. In the community where we live it knocked out the emergency 911 system...and the back-up emergency system.

Here's what's amazing...we were clueless. Absolutely. Positively. Completely oblivious.

Without TV, we didn't watch the news. So, we didn't know we were supposed to be afraid.

Instead, we watched a movie on the laptop. Went to sleep. Slept soundly. Then woke to find the world had changed.

We were lucky to have been spared - we had electricity, but no internet or cell phones as the storm had knocked out the entire system.

I have told this story a few times since the storm. Each time it has me thinking of this scripture in Matthew...

Matthew 6:27
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?


What would we have done had we known in advance the storm was coming? We would have worried...okay, I will speak for myself. I would have worried. What if...what will we do?

What we will do is deal with whatever comes - just as we did. What would worrying have got me? Less rest.

This was an important lesson, as I was able to avoid worry and rest in perfect peace. I think that is the message of Matthew 6. Don't worry. Trust God. He's got this.

Thank you, God, for providing peace in the midst of storms - literally and figuratively.

just Sheri, learning about trust in the year of "perfect peace"

bath salts?

Have you heard about bath salts? I don't mean the kind that dissolve in a tub of hot water. Apparently, this is a new kind of drug. The state I live in has tried to pass laws to control the chemicals that go together to make this drug. The Hubs works at a local emergency room, they received warnings about patients presenting who had been using bath salts.

This week there was an article in a local paper on the topic: Richmond Times-Dispatch

I learned from this article, the drug they are trying to replicate is one grown in East Africa called khat. I have driven through khat fields in Kenya. It is a hallucinogenic and very lucrative.

It seems there is nothing new under the sun...

Concern over global economy

When I read articles like this I think, "perhaps our expectation of constant growth is unrealistic."

What would happen if our leaders adjusted their expectations of growth and made decisions grounded in reality? What if...

IMF's Lagarde voices concern over global economy
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE86505J20120706

quotable quotes: happy endings

unconventional life

Some of my family members recently came for a visit. This was a BIG deal as getting here from there is time consuming and expensive. Also, they would be our first out-of-state guests to stay in our home. As I prepared for their visit I realized how "unconventional" our lives are.

I was thinking of what will make their visit most comfortable and how we would spend our time. I planned some fun things, then tried to imagine relaxing time in our home. We only had one bed, a limited number of chairs (not enough for all guests), no coffee maker, and most importantly - no television. That one was the kicker. What does the typical American do at the end of a busy day? Come home, kick off their shoes, and turn on the TV. 

The visit was motivation to remedy some of this. I bought a bed and some dining chairs. I borrowed a coffee maker and an additional air mattress. However, the status of a working television in our home isn't changing any time soon. I had a few realizations during the visit related to this status.

While at lunch with my friend Angela, we were talking about the William's family fun nights of old - when I would come over weekly for Chinese food and an American Idol watch party. My (now grown) godson Paul said, "I was surprised anyone lived without TV." I still do, Paul, I still do. While at certain points in life the absence of television was a matter of circumstance...it has become a matter of choice.

My brother, unknowingly, mentioned the benefits of the absence of television during the visit. When home, we spent the time together hanging out. Or as he said, he would probably be more productive or get more sleep without a television. I have found both to be true in my life as a result of losing a TV. I fill my time with reading, volunteering or other projects around the house. I go to bed around the same time and pop up ready to go early in the morning, rather than staring mindlessly at a show until the wee hours and feeling unrested in the AM.

Sure, there are some consequences to not having a TV - when there is something I want to watch, such as NBA finals, it takes some effort to make that a reality. Or, there are certain pop culture conversations where I am clueless since I don't know many new products due to my lack of exposure to marketing, or am unfamiliar with many of the shows. I consider these consequences an acceptable trade off.

What I am also learning, is I am not alone in this unconventional choice. Here is a recent blog post I came across from someone who lives without TV and has seven children. You can read about their lifestyle choices HERE.

just Sheri, resisting cultural norms