THE METHOD IN THE MADNESS?
There is a method in the madness. This is an expression to mean there is a good reason for a plan or an action even though they may seem foolish or strange at first. In the story of creation in Genesis, God called forth light from darkness. It may seem a little strange to call light and beauty from darkness and nothingness, doesn’t it? No drama or running around or other complicated steps. Just calling forth life into existence and we have this vast expanse of creation. No wonder, the Bible rightly describes God as the master builder and instructs us to be fruitful. Indeed, we can be when we have the God-nature in us to call the light from the dark places. Oh, what a privilege it is to co-create with God! George is who you might call a garbage collector. He speaks with a nice British accent…
SOPHIE’S CHOICE
Sophie’s choice! A phrase that seems innocent enough. But is it? We use it so often without real thought to the story behind the phrase. I have always loved the name Sophie. Sometimes spelled Sofia or Sophia. It has a nice meaning too as far as I know. Wisdom! So wisdom’s choice! How about that! Sophie’s choice began with a story about a woman named Sophie who had to choose between two terrible offers. Afterwards, she couldn’t live with her decision and committed suicide. Click here for the full story. Her story bothered me. To have to make a choice when neither proposition is pleasant can be tough. What do we do at such moments? Now, seems like a good time to pray, “lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.” Right? The woods Hard to say if Sophie could have done differently at the time. We have…
LOOKING IN FROM THE OUTSIDE
Looking in from the outside and everything seems perfect. Sometimes things are indeed as they appear. Other times, not so much. Three friends are hiking and happen upon a bridge. Looking from the top of the bridge at the river below, the river looked blue and sparkling clean. Except they knew better because they had seen it up close and the river is anything but what it seems looking down from the bridge. A what- you- see- not- what- you- get situation right there. geranium The trio continue on a map trail that indicated there was fishing and reach a cove which seemed perfect enough for fishing looking from the outside. They catch nothing after trying for a while. One of them observed that he was losing worms. Something is down there and I’ll catch it, he thought. He was rewarded with three small fish for lunch. The clues…
OF LABELS, LIMITS AND WRONG BUSES
A label is nice when one is looking to boost a brand or stand out from the competition. How about other times? Can labels be limiting? William may cheerfully greet a new neighbour. James may not even make eye contact with the new neighbour. William may get labelled as friendly or an extrovert while James is viewed as unfriendly or an introvert. Same situation, different expressions and perceptions. William and James expressing themselves differently, and get defined based on people’s perceptions. Rightly or wrongly! Through the years, like William and James could, we might believe perceptions and labels about us and repeat them often enough. “oh, I am squeamish,” one might say. Or “I have been described as finicky, and we typically put others down.” And like an eagle that does not soar, because it thinks it is a chicken, our wings are clipped, and not in a good way.A…
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SILVER LINING
Silver lining, is a phrase to describe a situation in which good can occur in harsh circumstances. Venue is Accra Mall. A couple of women entrepreneurs meet up for an excursion to Blue Skies. Yes, the famed company noted for making mouth-watering gelatos that people are nuts about. What’s not to love about this trip! Except it gets cancelled and at such short notice too. Sigh! That was difficult to understand. We had to make the most of the day and soon introduce one another over coffee at one of the mall’s cafés. We share business experiences. Naturally! We also discuss product packaging and visit packaging factories in the city. It was a good learning and networking experience. Some factories impress with huge machinery in well-maintained, clean spaces, with boxes and bags neatly put away on shelves. Others, not quite. Who dropped the ball? I met Aku-Shika. She is the…
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THE ELEVENTH HOUR
The eleventh hour is the nick of time, just before it is too late to complete a task or make an appointment. It is a yearning to use time judiciously especially when there’s some compensation. A master went out early in the morning to hire workers and arranged to pay an agreed some for the day’s work. Much later in the day, he went out and found others standing idle and hired them. At the eleventh hour, he goes out again and finding some hanging about, he asks why they waited idle. No one has hired us is their reply. So, they were looking? He hires them too. At the end of the day’s work, everyone gets their wages. The first group had worked longer hours of course, and thought they’d receive more for their time. They grumbled about receiving the same sum as the last set of hired hands.…
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
“Mary! Mary! Quite contrary, how does your garden grow?” is a line from that nursery rhyme so long ago. Such fun to sing along, it was really about a queen at whose command people were tortured and murdered for believing differently than she did. The garden in the verse is really the burial place of these dear folks. Now, how about that for a children’s rhyme! Knowing the history does take the fun out of singing it, doesn’t it? Quite contrary and conflicting a personality, Mary. Lyn planted cuttings from her wedding bouquet on a patch and watched them grow. A year after, it is still a great reminder to her that life keeps growing, no matter how brutal the world may be. Lyn redirects her thoughts to create beauty. Gardens and parks, literal or connotative evoke feelings. blue flowers Perfectly tended landscapes, with plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables, and…
THE UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF GRACE
Come with me to the land of Susa where lived an extravagant and generous king with his alluring queen who understood “the unforced rhythms of grace.” The king was to choose a new queen after deposing his former queen for refusing his wish. There was a process to get chosen as queen. It took a year to groom the women for the big event. There was graceful Esther who asked for nothing except what was advised by the chief of the living quarters. The king finds her appealing when they meet and she becomes his queen. Surely, all the women must have been beautiful. What extraordinary and appealing quality did Queen Esther possess over all others? Grace? Je ne sais quoi? In our fast-paced and competitive world, perhaps, we could use some of what she had. The Message translation of the words of Jesus in Matthew 11: 28-30 helped me…
THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES! No More Nights
Mary Neal, MD and author, describes her experience of a place yonder and distant. She recalls leaving her body after a kayaking accident and being aware of heaven. A place beyond the pines, gleaming lights and no more nights. ZACK WILL BE ALRIGHT Zack Clements collapsed at gym class in his Christian high school. His heart stopped and for a full 20 minutes, doctors worked to revive him. He shares his experience of a place far off, a glimpse of heaven, seeing Jesus and a line of angels. Jesus touched him and said he’d be alright. He was 17 at the time. People did not believe him. FATHER ABRAHAM EXPLAINS In the Luke 16:19-31 account, the rich man recognized Lazarus. He felt thirst and torment. It was so intense he asked that Abraham have Lazarus return to warn his five brothers about an afterlife experience. Abraham’s reply is intriguing. He…