What Is the Meaning of Life?

Last night I was reading the December-January issue of Reader’s Digest. An article, “Maintain Your Purpose” by David G. Allen, poses the question, “What is the meaning of life?” and suggests that this question should be asked and answered by each of us anew each year, writing it down without looking at the previous years answers.

Without writing it down I have pretty much answered this question for myself quite some time ago – Serve God, serve others, spread God’s light to those around me (Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16), and remind them, and sometimes myself, to choose joy (Rejoice at all times. 1 Thessalonians 5:16). But I do think that thinking about it and writing it down at least once a year is a good idea.

I also feel that my answer is inclusive to love others and make my corner of the world a better place. There are so many street beggars these days that I get mixed feelings about contributing to them. There is the part that I don’t wish to contribute to their addictions but I also don’t want them to be hungry. And our Corps is usually within walking distance from where they are begging (1-2 blocks), why don’t they go there?

But God has also told us that we will always have the poor among us and to take care of them. (Deuteronomy 15:11, For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land. Psalm 82:3,

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ .Matthew 25:35-40)

Yet, the verse I always think of when making this decision is “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:42)

I have two new projects for 2019. This is along with my other activities: still working, still emptying my home, writing this blog, and still Home League Secretary (Women’s Ministries leader). The new projects are: shortly before Christmas (but put away for the last three weeks) I started a painting. I also bought a smaller one to complete. I figured the first one will take me quite awhile to complete. The second project is that I have a friend who wrote a book. I suggested he turn it into thirteen Sunday School lessons for teens. He likes the idea but doesn’t have time so I’m going to do it. I give myself all year for this project. In one year I’ll have to tell you if I achieved my goals or not.

Happy New Year.

Family Christmas Time 2018

Thursday through Monday (11/29-12/3) I traveled to Moses Lake, Washington, to see my daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. I have seven grandchildren now and someone reminded me that seven is God’s perfect number. I forgot to tell my daughters.

I went to see them so that we could celebrate Christmas, even though it is only the beginning of the month. Temperature-wise, I was fine during the day, but froze when I tried to sleep. I ended up sleeping with my heavy sweater on every night. They didn’t cool down their houses any more than we do, so I realized that it’s wetter there and that makes it colder.

Everyday Orrin would ask me if I was staying at his house and everyday I told him, two nights at his house and two nights at his cousins.

I did a craft with the grandchildren. I had asked my daughters ahead of time if they had the supplies I needed. I had already bought supplies to do this craft with my women’s group (Home League). My first daughter said yes, but when I got to her home I asked again.

“Eve, do you have the supplies I need?”   

     

Eve, “You should find them in the middle set of drawers, second drawer down, on the desk bar.”

I looked through all the drawers and cupboards there and couldn’t find any of the supplies. So, I went to the store and bought them. The kids had great fun doing a craft with grandma. I let my daughter keep the rulers and hole punch. When I went to do the craft with my Home League ladies I discovered we didn’t have rulers; if I’d only known.

My oldest grandchild liked the craft enough that we made six more for people on her Christmas gift list.

On Saturday we all trooped off to Cashmere for their Christmas celebration. The third and fourth grade volunteer choir sang a number of Christmas songs. They were good. Santa arrived noisily on a fire truck while they were singing. But he stayed and listened until they were finished before he moved to his throne in the fire station. Liam got close to Santa while he was outside but, when we got in line to see him, Liam didn’t want to go in.

Mike and his family were 1 ½ to 2 hours behind us. He had gone in to Urgent Care believing it would be a quick trip and it took them three hours to help him. Meanwhile Sara was unsatisfied with the activities in Cashmere and called Eve to have them join us in Leavenworth. Five miles outside of Leavenworth the traffic was stopped. Two things were taking place in town – road construction, and a festival day. Traffic was being stopped by the road construction and slowed down by people trying to find parking. All the lots were charging $20 for parking AND were all full. Even the free lots on the edges of town were full. Sara talked to Eve one more time and continued to look for parking. Then she called Eve a third time and told her it was no use. There was no parking left. On the way into town I had commented that the cars traveling east were turned away. I guess I was close.

We met up in Wenatchee and had a late lunch before returning home. It was still a fun day.

Sunday we celebrated Christmas. I read the Luke 2 story to the children, asking questions to make sure they understood the story. Then we unwrapped our gifts.     

I love spending time with my daughters and their families, but I was so glad that it was time to go home.

Advent Calendar

My theme for Home League (The Glendale Corps of The Salvation Army Women’s Ministries) this week was Advent. I did this theme in another year past and found an advent calendar that I handed out that time. This year I couldn’t find the calendar. So I took the older calendar and updated it.

Because I had trouble finding one I thought I would share this one with you. I hope you find it useful and devotional. For the Advent Sundays the calendar says, “See Scripture readings for Advent.” The ones I passed out are copyrighted so I suggest that you can find readings by online-googling them. There are many churches that post their suggested readings for the season. Find the offering you like.

Attached is the Advent Calendar (.jpg). Right-click on the calendar and "Save as" to download.

 May you be blessed through its use this season.

Meeting and Greeting

Last Tuesday (November 27) I saw, what to me was, an incredible sight. An elderly gentleman, small and skinny, was pushing his grocery cart while keeping his wood crutches, both of them, moving forward. He had only one leg yet he had a perfect rhythm and smoothness.

I watched a second incredible event; I saw a deaf man having a cell-phone conversation. He had video contact with the other person using sign language over the phone. Pretty awesome (to me).

Wow, how today’s technology has opened up the world (and yet still gives us many headaches and aggravations).

Today, (we all know this, however) give a stranger an opportunity, an opening for a conversation and they love it. They will talk until they have run out of words for the subject that has opened up. There seems to be a great need today to connect with other people through conversation. I say conversation, but mostly I just listen.

I saw many friends and acquaintances today also (individually, at separate times) and handed out lots of hugs. It was a busy day.

Before leaving home it poured down rain, twice. But I missed the beautiful bright rainbow, so I was told by someone who saw it.