Category: Spiritual Reflections

The bleeding heart is a perennial plant, meaning they come back year after year. They grow in the shade or part shade and are usually paired off with hostas or other shade loving plants.

The flowers look like hearts and the little “white” at the end looks like a drop of blood — thus the name bleeding heart.

Perhaps instead of humans being called “living beings” or “man” we should have been called bleeding hearts. We certainly have a lot in common with the plant. All around us there are plenty of people whose hearts have drops of blood flowing in them because of the inhumanity of other people or of life in general. It’s a vicious circle. Hurt people hurt other hurt people. Intentionally or unintentionally. All bleeding inside — this thing we call humanity sometimes doesn’t appear to be so human.

Or perhaps that’s really what being human is all about.

The word “inhumane” is a variant of the word “inhuman” which means lacking compassion, sympathy, or being cruel.  So couldn’t we then assume that the word human would be the opposite, ie, having compassion, sympathy and not being cruel?

The bleeding heart comes back every year just as humans bounce back from emotional or physical distress. But when humans bounce back they don’t come back the same. One has to hope they come back with a better vision of life but that’s not always true. Sometimes they come back too hurt, bitter or discouraged to feel much of anything.

It’s like people stay in the “shade” of life instead of coming out to enjoy the full sun.

Life — it’s just what it is.

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

Went to church this morning at 11:30 a.m.  The church I’m attending off and on has two worship services – one at 9:30 and one at 11:30. They have the Sabbath School in between those two times.

I’ve always been at church by 8:45 a.m. so the later time is a new experience for me but I like it. I can sleep in and leisurely make breakfast.

The church is 30 minutes away in Minneapolis. Today it was rather warm as they don’t have air conditioning and the service didn’t end until almost 1:00. By 12:30 my eyes were getting kind’ve sleepy.

Normally I enjoy the service. The people are diverse and there are many African people here — quite a few from Kenya. The special music they have is very lively. I nod my head and tap my toe to the music. Today, although the music was great and there was a baptism, I was annoyed.

They started the service with a hymn I’m familiar with — The Battle Hymn of the Republic. But then they went and meddled. They continued with the songs America the Beautiful and God Bless America. Then they had people stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Fat chance I would get up and pledge my allegiance to America in church. Or any other place for that matter. I’m quite upset with the America I live in right now.

First – I believe in separation of church and state and I don’t want to go to church and pledge my allegiance to anyone but God. I go to worship God — not America.

Second – the America I know today has gone ballistic. From illegal searches at airports by our very own government to going to war for — what was it again? Oh yeah, we were trying to kill Osama bin Laden — in Iraq. Then there’s Guantanamo Bay where hundreds of people are locked up for years with no “rights.” Yeah, yeah — military rule is different than civilian rule. Give me a break!

Shouldn’t there be human justice? Forget the labels we plop on things to make ourselves feel better and/or to treat people inhumanely.

I’m tired. Tired of the excuses or lack of excuses that our beloved (uh … not!) politicians give us. Can anyone answer a question anymore? Perhaps they should ask more simple questions of our politicians. Instead of “Were you confused when you stated John Wayne was from Waterloo? Wasn’t it John Wayne Gacy?” To which the reply was “Well, my intention was … ”

I think the questions we should ask our politicians should be more basic “Was the sky blue when you entered the building today?”

No — let’s not answer the questions anymore or take responsibility for being WRONG. And, according to a recent Los Angeles Times article, Ms. Bachmann is ahead in the polls. Are you kidding me?

I was giving her the benefit of the doubt as we should anyone. I waited to “hear more.” And then I heard. I heard her not saying anything.

Pledge my allegiance to America? No. Especially knowing, from Biblical prophecy, what this America will and is already turning out to be.

So — if any more church services I attend decide to pledge their allegiance to anything other than God I’ll be walking out. And I’ll keep walking. I get enough junk in the world without having to hear it from the front of the church pulpit.

We live in a world where we can see everything live on TV, the internet or on our cell phones. And yet, in the U.S. we live fairly sheltered lives. We have a choice in what we see — what we allow to be in our minds.

Not so with millions of people throughout the world. In a June 22nd article in World Magazine, Afghan Christians purportedly warned President Obama of the danger in pulling our troops out of their country – a risk to their lives.

We are aghast when we see crimes in the U.S. not fit to be viewed with our eyes. But this is everyday life for a lot of people.

Our American society gives us freedom to believe as we wish and yet there will come a time when that will not be the case. (Revelation 13) There currently exists bits of prejudices against people with a different belief system whether they are Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc. yet not as bad as in some other countries.

People are afraid of the unknown and seem to be more afraid of getting to know the unknown.

For now, I choose not to look at pictures of beheadings or other gross crimes whereby the images will permanently be etched in my brain.

One day though, I’ll not have the choice.

We invited family over for Father’s Day and had a great time spending the afternoon talking, snacking, playing on the Wii and napping. (I have always found it a compliment when guests feel comfortable sleeping at our house. Having said that — there are times when I don’t want my guests sleeping if I rarely get to see them.)

Our son made roasted lamb, spanakopita and for dessert we had apple cobbler — all of which was delicious! I don’t think I have ever had lamb that good before.

In searching for the lamb, we went to two grocery stores and finally wound up at the butchers. Lamb is expensive! I don’t know if this is true throughout the U.S.

But – the day was about fathers – the role models of children everywhere. “Daddy, daddy!” I love to hear those words although I’m not a father. I enjoy seeing little children running into their father’s arms with twinkles in their eyes as they are lifted up into caring arms.

One day … I’ll run into my heavenly Father’s arms. What a day that will be!

Make your home atmosphere fragrant with tender thoughtfulness.

Home is to be the center of the purest and most elevated affection. Peace, harmony, affection, and happiness should be perseveringly cherished every day, until these precious things abide in the hearts of those who compose the family. My Life Today, Pg 178 by Ellen White

In reading this devotional today, my heart couldn’t help but give a hearty Amen! to the thought of what our homes should be like. Imagine if every child grew up with tenderness in the home. How different our society might be. Fear, mistrust, pain, anger, insecurity — all would be abolished.

But, it won’t happen in this life. At least not in society as a whole. Little by little though, one by one, we can make a difference — each one reaching one.

If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12