Depravation

What are you deprived of? Whoa...that's a loaded question!  It seems in this age of instant gratification and entitlements we all have our opinion of what we should have that we don't have.  I mean, at the moment, I'm feeling a little deprived of winter.  Not only me, but my yard.  Basically, I live too far south to enjoy to the fullest my favorite of all seasons - winter. But that's ok.  I choose to live here, so I choose to have less winter than I want.

There are all sorts of depravation in this world. Sleep depravation is a biggie for some of us. One might even consider oneself to be socially, financially, emotionally or physically deprived. How much of that is a choice? How much of that is chosen for us? Where does contentment come in?

I have now had my cell phone for over 3 years. Now that's a long time by todays standards.  First of all, there's the technology of the thing.  Most of the stuff that's available to download is either for another OS or too large for the device memory to handle.  So I could consider myself technologically deprived, huh? Yet, I trudge (bad choice of words, maybe?) on with the old phone, content to have what I have.  Heck, I don't even like talking on the thing anyway!

All of this is to say that contentmentis probably the opposite of depravation in this particular connotation. Why are we, then, so discontent? Certain discontentment is valuable.  Contentment can lead to complacency if allowed to.  Discontentment can lead us to positive action, but can also lead to depression and the like.  Nope, don't want to go there.

Paul said in Philippians that he had learned to be content in any situation that he was in.  Now that is a formidable task for most of us.  I wonder what a Paul would look like today? to be content in everything takes a special person. I would even say that a human could not achieve that alone.  But, with the pawer of the Spirit in us, I do believe that we can stay content with what we have been blessed with.

I think that I will probably be getting a new phone before too long. But, what about that?  I hope that when, or if, that time comes, I would not feel as though I accomplished contentment by doing so. 

Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.

No depravation hanging around in any of those commands. 

I hope to get over my winter depravation soon. 

Hey, spring is here!  (forced smile...and a giggle)

Thank You Lord for Blessings and contentment!

On Growing Older...

"I'm growing older but not up
My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck
Let those winds of time blow over my head
I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead."

 ~Jimmy Buffett

As I fast approach the time when I feel as though I will be forced to do the latter (sorry Jimmy...) I find myself reflecting on such a prospect.  Those who know me know how I refuse to let life go by without a little comedy.  No, I'm not assuming that I'm even funny.  I just didn't see the point of being so serious all the time.  I heard somewhere that the person who reads the comics section of the newspaper first will live longer than the one who reads the front page.  I don't know how much truth that comment holds, but it sounded good to me! 

This brings another thought to mind. (Bear with me - I do believe that I have AOADD...Adult onset attention deficit disorder...)  Don't take yourself too seriously. You, after all, are only you.  Scripture tells us that when we take ourselves too seriously we run the risk of having our plans failing, and failing miserably.  What, then, do we take seriously? Our God - certainly.  Our family - of course.  How about the time that we have left? 

Thoreau pulled away from society for a couple of years presumably to ponder life and its meanings.  Of all the things he 'found' for himself, I'm not sure that he found that which is alone worth finding.  We are told that, if we are to gain our lives, we must first lose our lives.  At what point in life do we actually, consciously, lose our lives? Is it upon confession and repentance?  Is it at an early age, or later in life?  Does it happen over and over again, or just once?  I have found that, if you keep 'you' in the forefront, you aren't even close to losing our life.  Maybe the real question is whether or not it's your life in the first place.  If losing your life isn't part of growing up (specifically, the 'growing' part...) then what is?  What can possibly differentiate your 'grown up' years from all the others, if not losing all that you have held onto with white knuckles?

Fifty. 

When I was fourteen, I had a dream that I would not live to be thirty-six.  Now I am on the brink of being fourteen years older than I dreamed I would never live to be.  Sort of an odd thought, I know.  My mother died when she was only 45. I have now lived 5 years longer than she.  When did she grow up?  What even constitutes growing up? 

So...maybe I'll grow up this year.  If you see me, let me know how well I did...

Welcome 2011!

What's your most difficult life adjustment when a new year presents itself?  No, I'm not talking about the endless resolutions we make (and break) to ourselves and others.  Every year brings new challenges, new thoughts - basically a fresh perspective on our life and the lives of those around us.  We have another year behind us to ponder over.  What went right ro according to 'the plan'?  What could have been better if...(fill in the blank).  We most undoubtably have regrets.  Those coulda-shoulda-woulda's that have already started to nag on us a bit.  When do you let go?  When do you release the hold on things past, things that can't be changed, and strengthen you grip on the possibilities to come?  Are you encouraged? Ambitious? Optimistic?

I love living in the northern hemisphere.  I don't know how it would feel to me if the new year was celebrated as summer faded to fall.  I love fall...and loathe summer, to an extent.  But with winter, newness abounds. In the season of the year where most living go dormant, and where night is king, there is a sense of expectation, an 'I get to start over and make things better' feeling that I don't think I'd have on a sweatty summer day.  New birth. New life.  That's what I - indeed, what we long for.  And in our part of this globe, that comes in the fresh air of a winter day. Welcome 2011!

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

One of my favorite hobbies is cooking. I love cooking.  Everyone asks, "How can you cook when you work with food all day?"  I don't know.  I guess it goes to the 'if you love what you do...' notion of things.  But I do love cooking.  I love the challenges it provides.  New recipes I try and new recipes I create.  They're all the same - a challenge to make it better than I did before. Better than anyone else.  No, not in order to brag about prowess or any of that nonsense.  In fact, it makes me somewhat uneasy when someone proclaims 'how good a cook Baine is,' or any like comments.  I'm just glad that someone likes it!  After all, my cooking is essentially my taste.  All one is saying when they love my food is that they love my taste.  Bon Appetit with Baine!

The Chill of an Early Fall...

The season I love most is fast approaching. Fall brings with it a fresh wind.  I am not a hunter. Fall sports are fine.  But fall doesn't need these to be. Life moves on with the seasons.  Sometimes I feel as though I might be missing out on the autumnal season by living here in Texas.  Then I feel the cool breeze and my mind wanders into reverie.  Growing up in north Texas I experienced what I would consider a great fall and winter - a respite from the steamy, hot temperatures of summers without rain.  I've always been a cold weather lover.  Fall is the promise of that best time of my year.

Along with a slighter crisp freshness in the air, fall brings to mind memories - of childhood, of blessings, and of a life, although passing further and further away with each successive trip around the sun, full of hope and love.  Hope for the newness that comes with spring.  And love that beckons me forward in silence and in awe of all that is and was.  Together with the perfect ethereal music flowing in the background, those fall days can remove me from the most hectic, labouring, worrysome moments to one where nothing else matters.  I seem to float on the air with each note.  Closer to my God at those times than any other.  A gift, a special moment that He and I alone can share together.  He knows me.  I am just learning how deeply He does...know...me. 

Come, now, o gentlest of seasons.  Refreshing breath of life. Come.

Howdy!

I am not a writer.  I am not very good at keeping up with things!  However, I am passionate about food, friends and my faith.  So that's what I will do my best to share here!  I welcome all comments, contributions and stuff like that.  Recipes, observations, points to ponder...that's what I'll be sharing.  (If nothing else, this will be around for my kids/grandkids to remember a little something about me when I've gone home!)

Cheers!  Blessings!  Peace!