“Do you ever feel like running away?"
"Of course...
"Of course...
Sometimes I feel like I want to run away from everything."
"I remember having that feeling once when
"I remember having that feeling once when
I was at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm
... I climbed over the fence, but I was still in the world!”
Charles M. Schulz,
The Complete Peanuts,
Vol. 11:1971-1972
Ever feel like Snoopy and want to run away...to escape whatever you might be unhappy with? Okay, me first and my answer is yes, I have.
I recently read an article about the top places to live in retirement...other than the U.S. There were several in South and Central America, Mexico; finishing off the list were a few in Europe. Seems you would be able to live on very little...made it sound quite inviting.
I recently read an article about the top places to live in retirement...other than the U.S. There were several in South and Central America, Mexico; finishing off the list were a few in Europe. Seems you would be able to live on very little...made it sound quite inviting.
If you've watched, listened or read much news recently you've probably noticed the flurry of contradictions that are flung around by the powers in control of our country (referred to as lies...probably correct assumptions)...right? Then again, maybe you've given up on the news...it can be upsetting and downright disgusting. 'Spose there's an 'escape place' that's serene, no sit-ins...demonstrations...frivolous law suits...nasty stuff? Doubtful...doubtful.
Here's a good quote about wanting to 'run away':
Here's a good quote about wanting to 'run away':
“The grass is not, in fact,
always greener on the other side of the fence.
No, not at all. Fences have nothing to do with it.
The grass is greenest where it is watered.
When crossing over fences, carry water with you
and tend the grass wherever you may be.”
Robert Fulghum
Honestly, I NEVER wanted or intended to retire to Texas...no way! Lesson learned...never say never. Where did I end up? Ha, ha...Texas, of course! M and I had lived in many beautiful places...Kentucky, Virginia...my state of choice was Colorado where we had spent so many glorious summers! Hmm...keyword there is 'summer'. M isn't a snowbird and frankly neither am I...see, I was caught up in the great summer temps. Drawbacks, of course but I was enchanted! Incidentally, should tell you M pumped all our water all those summers!
We two were ever so happy campers among other things! What we hadn't planned was being tapped by God and His plan...we were busy with what 'we wanted for our future'. We were movin' right along ~ when?
Shift gears a tad, okay? Our small group has begun a new study, "Experiencing God"...and it's going to be quite a trip. One of the side-notes says "Don't just do something. Stand there". Really now!
HE didn't plan for us to do what we were planning...HE stopped us dead in our tracks. Stand there! Stand there we did, reading the brochure about spreading His word in China! Ta-Dah, we got the message and God really did His thing.
For much too long, I had forgotten that He is always (ALWAYS) at work around me! ME! Wow!
Oh God, why me?
My mother can't see, she's in her 90's...
"You've three brothers, a sister; they'll be there for her."
What about the little house I love on the ranch?
"Well, it won't be there for you because the kids are going to sell the ranch!"
What about my kids, my grandchildren...my friends?
"They have their own lives, they're busy B's...you'll see them often enough."
I stood there ~ in my tracks ~ and HE made all the arrangements.
Admittedly, the first wake-up in Changsha China...when you couldn't see through the smoggy atmosphere...I asked aloud...'what in the world have I done?'
Had zip to do with 'what I had done'...I was a conduit for some God work. We knew one, ONE Chinese Christian when we switched to Qingdao and now? He worked it so that from that tiny beginning there are now two active families of His where we lived. You can see and read for yourselves how things have changed...read the Qingdao report.
I'm blest that Michael's my amazing partner. We've crossed many fences...managed to have green grass. How'd we do that? Simple, we carried His living water w/us and trust me, there were no fences...it was all about tending the grass!
From my heart...to yours,
Vasca
Green grass...oh how nice it is. In some areas, the grass seems so lush; in other areas? Ha, one can barely keep it alive...unless you have a good water well all your own! We don't seem to get enough rain in North Texas...wherever M and I have lived there always seems to be an invisible 'rain line' and we're on the 'no rain' side! Guess we've lugged water everywhere we've been...didn't hurt us at all.
I can be content with the grass I have...and believe me, I am! Our Dodge truck (Henry) is growing old along w/me and Michael...nice to have company. We think our sweet house is older than us by about 20 yrs...it's sweet...with tons of charm! M & I are growing old along w/the house! But...these are material things...so material.
Mark Twain penned this: "Any so-called material thing that you want is merely a symbol; you want it not for itself, but because it will content your spirit for the moment."
I can be content with the grass I have...and believe me, I am! Our Dodge truck (Henry) is growing old along w/me and Michael...nice to have company. We think our sweet house is older than us by about 20 yrs...it's sweet...with tons of charm! M & I are growing old along w/the house! But...these are material things...so material.
Mark Twain penned this: "Any so-called material thing that you want is merely a symbol; you want it not for itself, but because it will content your spirit for the moment."
Honestly, I NEVER wanted or intended to retire to Texas...no way! Lesson learned...never say never. Where did I end up? Ha, ha...Texas, of course! M and I had lived in many beautiful places...Kentucky, Virginia...my state of choice was Colorado where we had spent so many glorious summers! Hmm...keyword there is 'summer'. M isn't a snowbird and frankly neither am I...see, I was caught up in the great summer temps. Drawbacks, of course but I was enchanted! Incidentally, should tell you M pumped all our water all those summers!
We two were ever so happy campers among other things! What we hadn't planned was being tapped by God and His plan...we were busy with what 'we wanted for our future'. We were movin' right along ~ when?
Shift gears a tad, okay? Our small group has begun a new study, "Experiencing God"...and it's going to be quite a trip. One of the side-notes says "Don't just do something. Stand there". Really now!
HE didn't plan for us to do what we were planning...HE stopped us dead in our tracks. Stand there! Stand there we did, reading the brochure about spreading His word in China! Ta-Dah, we got the message and God really did His thing.
For much too long, I had forgotten that He is always (ALWAYS) at work around me! ME! Wow!
Oh God, why me?
My mother can't see, she's in her 90's...
"You've three brothers, a sister; they'll be there for her."
What about the little house I love on the ranch?
"Well, it won't be there for you because the kids are going to sell the ranch!"
What about my kids, my grandchildren...my friends?
"They have their own lives, they're busy B's...you'll see them often enough."
I stood there ~ in my tracks ~ and HE made all the arrangements.
Admittedly, the first wake-up in Changsha China...when you couldn't see through the smoggy atmosphere...I asked aloud...'what in the world have I done?'
Had zip to do with 'what I had done'...I was a conduit for some God work. We knew one, ONE Chinese Christian when we switched to Qingdao and now? He worked it so that from that tiny beginning there are now two active families of His where we lived. You can see and read for yourselves how things have changed...read the Qingdao report.
I'm blest that Michael's my amazing partner. We've crossed many fences...managed to have green grass. How'd we do that? Simple, we carried His living water w/us and trust me, there were no fences...it was all about tending the grass!
From my heart...to yours,
Vasca
No comments:
Post a Comment