I heard a rap...

I heard a rap on my car window while stopped at a red-light. I was startled to see a mime. Where had he come from? I had no sense of fear—my daughter had taught me well. “Mom, when you get in your car, the very thing you should do is lock the doors."

The mime and I made eye contact. I smiled and he returned it with a smile. I mouthed the words, “Nice face!” He replied by motioning that I should roll down my window. I replied that I could hear him just as clearly with the window up.

The light turned green and as I was pulling away, I saw his brightly colored sandwich style sign on the corner. It read:

Sounds of Silence, Inc.

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Mimi

Written during a Writing Group five minute write from a story starter,” I heard a rap….” 1/18/11

Paradoxes and their Lessons from Mark 10

Five Paradoxes of Luke 10 …. Many Lessons for Life


What is a paradox?

” a statement that seems to contradict itself and yet expresses a valid truth or principle. “ Warren Wiersbe

From Websters’

1: a tenet contrary to received opinion or common opinion

2 a : a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true b : a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true c : an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises

3: one (as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases



A piece of a jigsaw puzzle where the coloring of the piece doesn’t give a clue to it’s location—Michelle Detterick

How would you answer the question?

Do any paradoxes come to your mind from the Scripture?

Mine: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

It is a "great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory." Read Mark 9:35 The first definition of paradox would put all of Christianity as a paradox. Living in 24/7 fits definition 3. My prayer and Share group is studying through Mark and using Be Diligent Stay on Path by Wiersbe as our guide. We are up to Mark 10 and the title from the book is of the Chapter: The Servant’s Paradoxes Of course we first have to decide who’s the servant? It’s us, folks!

Questions to wrangle with:

Do we really think the Bible applies to us?

Can it be seen in our actions and known in our character?

Do we view ourselves as God’s servants?

What are the implications of being a servant?





As I See it, through my windshield of my life, understanding a paradox of Scripture comes in stages. Getting into my truck on January 4th, I took the following pictures as it defrosted. They increased my understanding of the term paradox. It was my view or understanding of what I was looking at through the windshield that changed, not the scenery itself. The truth of the paradox is unchanging but our understanding of it can increase. We may just need to sit still a bit longer, that is not in a cold pick-up but the place of communing with God.










The pictures represent:

Photo 1: People who are Pharisees, those who are pushing Jesus away.

Photo 2: Crowds who followed and disciples in public places, “seekers.”

Photo 3: Disciples in private, pursuers of intimacy with the Lord.

When I am not pursuing intimacy with the Lord, or stuck in the two-year-old’s phase of “I can do it on my own, I am living in picture 1.If we are trying to grow spiritually “on our own” or without learning the Word and ways of God, it is impossible. We are stuck, living in picture #1 settling for the muddled, while the clear view of #3 is available.

Paradox 1- The Two Shall Become One

The Law meant to protect and preserve God’s way of love had been twisted by man to suit his whim and ease the restrictions of the Law. Jesus answer and Heart message challenged the common ways of thinking of that day (and ours) and went against the flow of tradition. Read and discuss Deuteronomy 24:1-4.

What is the commonly held thought about divorce in “society?” Sally-blow at the mall interview type answer would be ”as long as it’s good.” How about from Pauline in the pew? Unfortunately, it may be the same as Sally but with an addendum of “you’ve given it a try!” And WWJSay? Well, quite a bit and definitely not the going thought of 2011 view in America and elsewhere. Your vows are not only to each other but include God. God is included in your relationship with one another. That doesn’t always mean you will always have smooth sailing but God will enable us to stay in the boat (not bail out) and for the boat to stay afloat.

Lessons: Divorce is painful. Immensely painful. God is the Great Physician and Healer of our wounds, including those that cut to our core. Accept His forgiveness and salve for your soul.

Support the “one-ness” of your marriage and that of others, especially those of your children. Be proactive in support, doing nothing to divide and do everything you can to increase their special one-ness. Pray. Support your prayers through your actions.

Recognize the role of a “helpmeet” changes through the chapters of a marriage. Determine to be a helpmeet to your spouse in your current chapter, not yesterday’s or tomorrow’s.

Hugs from Mimi



Happy New Year! Oh, those resolutions...

Successful resolutions are intentional, obtainable changes in our lives which lead us to experience happier, more fulfilled days throughout our years. Many resolutions require a change in our thought life and acceptance of a new mindset. Successful resolutions in small seemingly insignificant areas of our lives affect our character and conduct.


The Contest

The announcement in the Daily Press grabbed my attention; a contest for the best picture of the colors of fall. I immediately knew that I wanted to enter the contest. I have been taking pictures for years but in the past two or three my interest in taking pictures other than “of friends, family, events, and grandchildren” has increased. This interest in photography has been piqued by travels and other adventures, including perusing a motivational book from a friend’s collection; You Can Do It, Badges for Grown-up Women. . I resolved to enter the contest with a really good picture. It would complete my photography badge.



One of the specifications of the contest is that the photograph had to be shot locally. I yearned for the colors of autumn in Appalachia —burnt orange, golden yellow, scarlet red and all the shades in-between. So the adventure began.

Driving to work, I began noticing different trees as they changed colors. I found a group of willows turning yellow. They were gorgeous! The following weekend I dressed in “clothes for lying on the parking lot” and I took shots through the cascade of golden yellow leaves. When I got home to look at my treasures, man’s footprint, in this case power lines, sliced the photo’s karma into a million little pieces. This would definitely not work as “a really good picture entry.” The hunt continued.

As I went through my daily life, the contest loomed in the back of my mind. Getting ready for overnight company, I spread a bright red and yellow quilt on our guest bed. Its colors reminded me of fall and the comfort one gets from cozying up with a cup of tea, a good book, and the warmth of a quilt. The next weekend, Bob and I played like we were tourists and did some gallery hopping. One of our walks led us past the museum and …bingo..I found my Appalachian colors in their courtyard. I took a few pictures and saw the potential when I looked at them on the computer. None of the shots were THE one but the location was perfect—if only I could capture the beauty of the leaves glistening in the sunlight.

The Daily Press ran a picture of last year’s winner in an effort to remind people that the contest’s due date was the following Friday. I looked at the picture again, noting the rustic wagon full of fall colors and how the wagon set the tone of ‘welcome to fall.’ I looked around and thought, “What welcomes a friend or stranger more than a cozy quilt? “ The quilt would definitely be a prop for THE photo. Recalling the milkcan from the dairy that was part of Bob’s family years ago, I loaded the milkcan and quilt into the truck and headed into town for a quick photo shoot at the museum. I pulled into the parking lot and it was completely filled. The vehicles obscured the Autumn’s Welcome that I had planned to capture. Ah, I would have to do this on the weekend when the parking lot would not be full of man’s four-wheeled footprint.

Sunday afternoon I returned to my ideal spot only to find that the one vehicle in the parking lot was parked in the one space that had to be empty, the one closest to the gate and courtyard. I waited patiently for the owner to return. After a good two minutes, I got out of my truck planning to study the angles, looking for any distracters that I would need to work around, and took my props and camera over to the Museum’s yard. The heavily tinted window of the compact truck rolled down. Startled, I jumped as the couple in it asked me if I needed any help. I asked if they would mind moving to another spot in the lot, explaining about the photo.

I lugged the milkcan inside the arched gateway, with my camera around my neck and the quilt slung over my shoulders. And then I began taking photos, discovering later as I worked with the photos on my computer that I had indeed taken THE photo that afternoon that was my creative best. The judges agreed with me, awarding me third place in the contest and its prize of a $25 gift certificate to Diane’s restaurant.

My photography badge was completed, topped with a gold star.

Go for it! Hugs and love, Mimi

The Contest is just one recent resolution in my life to strengthen my belief that all I do is unto the Lord and should be done well.