On being mindless

Some people are born with a propensity to mindless  behavior, which is developed to be an art over a life time.  How does one recognize someone who does not have a clue, who spends life in a marathon of stupid choices?

First, such a person would walk across a yard while the sprinklers are on full force, because one is playing “candy crush” something on an iPhone.

Man tears tendon after playing Candy Crush for 10 hours every day for 8 weeks

Next, one such is seldom wary of danger, like crossing against traffic, while checking local movie times on that stupid iPhone.

Screeeccchhhh!

Finally, this person, who is downloading Johnny Cash’s Greatest Hits, will suddenly develop itchy welts on feet and legs after ignoring a friend’s text message, “Hey,   My dog is swarming with fleas.  Don’t go near it…”

Source

Fact is, mindless people will find that being mindless does not serve them well. Ever.

Thanks to Elephant's Child who has provided 6 and/or 8 words for writers to use and challenge themselves.  The underlined words are from 2015.

And, many good wishes to Delores at Under the Porch Light,who created this opportunity to up the game of writers.  Delores retired from this, handing over the baton to River and other volunteers.

 

Flying to Romance

Entomology

 Sheila was not pleased. No, not pleased at all.

     Her BFF Brenda said that flying down to Florida in October would be a real hoot, and all the gang would be hanging around.  So Sheila, Brenda, Kimberly, and all the other damsels headed down to their winter spot in Florida.  “Eddie will be there!” Brenda had said. 

          

  So they went, and hit the water at high speed, skimming over the shimmering glassy pond, trying out new maneuvers, out-spinning the other.  It had all started so perfectly.  The dragons, including Eddie, were keeping all their eyes on the damsels as they made the first pass-by.  Brenda turned to give Eddie that coy look that said so much.

            That was her mistake.  Out from the depths of the quiet waters came a wide-mouth bass, and gulped her down in one smooth motion before sinking down into the waters.  Gone, just like that.  Brenda was gone.

big mouth bass

                                                           

            The tragedy hit them all like a strong wind, and the damsels headed to the shade of the cypress at the edge of the water.  “What happened to her?!  Didn’t she see that one coming?”  Kimberly spoke bitterly.  She was always that way, so quick to speak, to judge the other damsels.  The others hushed her, while Sheila came to terms with the loss of her friend.  Kimberly was right.  Brenda knew better, but dammit, Eddie caught her eyes, and that was all it took.

            This was to be their season, their time to connect with the dragons and leave some larvae in the quiet waters.  Brenda let that get in the way of survival, and see what happened to her.  Sheila shook out her gossamer wings, and turned to face Kimberly.  

“Brenda was a fool.  We know that.  But, we have to watch out for each other, and we forgot that.”  All the lenses in her eyes scanned the water, the trees, the sky, the grass—looking for the predators that came so quietly.  “Now, let’s get out there, and do what we do best:  feast on mosquitoes and bugs, shake the air with our wings, and be the damsels we were born to be!”

            As if one, the damsels rose into the air, and skimmed down across the swamp grass, catching insects as their laughter rang behind them.

            Some dragons angled in to catch up with them.  Eddie grew level with Sheila, “Say, uh, Sheila,” he stammered.  “Awful sorry about Brenda.  She seemed a good sort.  Uhm, would you like to go over to the willow, and check out some lower branches with me?”  Eddie’s eyes glistened with deeper meaning.

            Sheila kept her course and eyes searching around, but she devoted a few lenses to observe Eddie.  He was attractive in that bad-boy way, and she could see what made Brenda focus on him.    She gave the matter some thought, and then gave him the only answer she could, which was.......

                              This was the photo used for the photo prompt.

This was one of the first blog posts I wrote  ten years ago. That anyone read it (12 people) with 3 comments surprised me. Just one of my silly little stories!

 

Listen to...

Just Listen

Throughout my life, I have taken my own decisions and used them, instead of listening to and knowing that God was in charge of everything. It never went well. God protected me, keeping me safe through my ignorance.

Our body hurts as we grow older. Sometimes that pain is excruciating, sometimes because we/I abused our then young bodies. Oh, how stupid.

Basically, listen to...

multiple injuries

Your joints. We watch sports, some of which can be violently impacted and others are seemingly mild.   Have you watched how crazy some injuries are related to impact sports? Did you know that rodeo has the most horrible injuries? 

Probably the most dangerous sport ever

 Most people can't see the injuries of golf.  It is silent to enthusiasts, but do not see until a
player needs surgery on
every joint.

Your brain: There may be minor things, like your keys, but then that becomes bigger. It is so gradual until life shows that there is more going on. And then.

Death caused by boxing

Your pain: Sounds odd, but it isn't. Diabetes, 
heart, kidneys, you name it. Watch those symptoms. Don't ignore them "Oh, it's just a twinge, just a pain, just a...And then. (Men are notorious for this.)

Considering all those "listen to..", realize that 
you are not immortal, but get over it. God is in charge, and you will do just fine.

We live in a community where all of the above are present. At a recent gathering, many elderly semi-joked about their entertainment is going from doctor to another, on the same day. "It's like a cheap date." Everyone nodded in understanding.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Uh huh. Yes. Oh really?

Perhaps one of the annoying habits and the hardest to break that people possess is not listening to what other people are saying.  Not just nodding politely, but is one actively listening with understanding in their eyes?

Guilty. I am so guilty of this. 

Over my lifetime, my mind has always been wandering, thinking about what I want to say in answer to their words. I want to tell my story! Let me interrupt you and tell my story. Their last sentence comes to a logical end, then I grab the reins before they reach the full stop.

Their eyes glaze over briefly before I hit my stride and then they relax. Oh, well, they think, politely smiling. Are they also mind-plumbing for their next reply?

It doesn't end with conversations. When our progeny were small, I would sit in church and the pastor would be preaching, sincerely presenting the Word of God. I fed my youngest progeny Cheerios and let the middle progeny play with his cars. The oldest one was quietly drawing.  

What was I doing? Hearing Pastor talk and nodding my head in agreement. What was I really doing?  

I was wondering if the crock pot chicken would be done. Would Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce) be on after I washed dishes? Did I move the wet clothes to the dryer?

Yes, inane random thoughts would invade my brain, while I nodded in response to God's message.

Perhaps the worst not-listening is when God is talking to me.

We have an on-going conversation throughout the day with me querying Him and then hearing His first three words, before I jump in. Yes, You are right.  Then my mind wonders off to laundry or dinner.

Let God Talk.  Then, wait. Don't cut Him off. He knows what you are going to say, but He wants you to hear Him. 

Let God Talk. He knows the answers to questions you are asking. He understands your fears, your worries. God is in charge.

Let God Talk. He has a plan for your life. Even though you groan and shout at Him, He is big enough to absorb your pain and your anger.

Don't interrupt God. Don't ignore God. Don't guess what He is going to say.


Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10

Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. Matt. 7:7

Let. God. Talk.

AND then LISTEN.

I'll Talk with You in a Minute

Posted at a daycare in Illinois

Have you ever seen something like this?  I bet you have.

Coincidences?

All photos from this Source

Throughout my life, I have heard about events when one person’s random decision changed his/her life or even saved their life. 

I was going to turn left and head to the store, but I forgot my list. Went back home, and then heard that the store was hit by a tornado.  I could have been killed…

Or

…We were walking on the trail when I slipped.  Bob helped me up, and then the trail just ahead collapsed.  We would have been on it!

Random coincidences?  I believe more and more that there are no coincidences, or that things just happen.  Events are ordained, and the choices we make determine the outcome.

This is hard to explain.  In Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it…’

Throughout my life, this has happened.  Once when I was coming out from a store, I decided to take the street to the right where one shop sold pecans instead of going left where I wanted to buy fabric.  I would eventually go to both stores.  But, by going right, I ran into a friend who was desperate to get home to her dying husband.  I drove her to her home.

Another time while I was traveling, I needed to find my daughter who would meet me somewhere, after I called her.  My cell phone was almost dead, I was in a foreign country where English was not universally spoken, and I was lost.  Deciding to turn left and go to a bus-hub corner, I made my last possible phone call.  She answered; she was across the street in a café with red umbrellas.  They had decided to have a coffee there spur of the moment.

This seems to happen more often to me, as I have learned to be aware of that ‘voice behind me’.

What about you?  Have you ever had an experience like that?  What happened?