Diary of a Grown-Up Church Girl
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I blame "45"

3/29/2017

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There is absolutely nothing that anyone can say that will convince me otherwise…
 
The current racist and divisive climate in this country is a direct result of the election of Donald Trump. 
 
Since his election, good manners and common decency have been thrown out of the window and replaced with a dismissive and hurtful attitude that let’s us do and say whatever we want.  Whenever we want.  No matter how unkind.  No matter how mean.  No matter how unlawful.
 
Shots are being fired, both literally and figuratively, for the most insane reasons and the outcry seems to be going largely ignored. 

It's all over the news, and the trickle down is real. 

Just yesterday in my office, a "questionable" conversation was overheard.  I caught a little of it, but didn't pay much attention.  But a younger woman who reports to me caught more if it and she was concerned.  And she was hurt.  I felt it was my obligation to see what I could find out, so I approached one of the people who was in the group engaged in the questionable discussion.

It turns out that, while a tad bit inappropriate, the conversation was in no way malicious or meant to hurt or insult.  I explained the particulars to my direct report and all ended well.  But this just illustrates how today's climate has forced many of us to live somewhat on the edge, as darts are being fired from all over the place.  No place feels completely safe from the hatred that's being spewed at almost every minority group.
 
I’m concerned.  Not afraid, but concerned.  And, while I do not like to wish my days away, I’m longing for the year 2020 when Trump leaves the White House… if it takes that long.

In the meanwhile, as a grown-up church girl, I feel the need to pray like never before.  And when I get up off of my knees, my feet need to get moving toward helping us come up with a solution.

I can write about it, I can talk about it, and I can link arms with groups and organizations that are mobilizing to bring about change.

I can also go out of my way to be a little kinder and gentler, and to show more tolerance than ever before.

If any good is to come out of this season, it will be things like this.

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Preparing for the storm

3/21/2017

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I live in the DC area, and last week we were all preparing for a snow storm. 

People were running to the grocery store, making plans to work from home, and doing the things we do when we think we may be homebound for a few days.  We wanted to be ready.

And it got me to thinking...

What about the next storms in our lives... the challenges and disappointments that just go along with living life.  What do we do to prepare for them?

Do we work hard enough to establish a relationship with God so that He knows our names when we need to call out to him?

Do we try to maintain good eating and exercise habits so that we can fight whatever bug or illness may attack us?

Do we keep our relationships with family and friends strong in case we need to ask for help?

Do we save money?

Do we prepare our family for life without us?

These aren't all things we like to think about, but they're necessary.  Because as the old folks say... "If you're not in a storm, you've just come out of one or you'll be heading into one real soon." 

Will we be ready?  


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Sometimes the s*#t is attached to you

3/2/2017

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If curse words horribly offend you, do not read this post.  Cause I'm going to use one throughout this piece and it starts with an "s."  It's necessary, trust me.   

I’m a church girl, tis true, but I’m far from perfect, and cursing from time to time is one of my vices.  I often enjoy it, truth be told, and I find it sometimes necessary.  This is common news to some of you, while others are clutching your pearls.  Just pray for me, ok?  Now…
 
The other day my beloved cat, Sasha Malia, was acting quite strangely.  She’d sit down on the floor and then quickly get up and start scratching at the place she’d just sat.  She was doing the kind of scratching that cats do when they’re in their litter boxes, as if she was trying to cover up something that she found
offensive.   
 
She did this a few times, in a few different places so I, as any concerned cat mother would do, got up to investigate.  I quickly realized that my long-haired cat had a little bit of shit stuck in the hair near her behind.    
 
Now, please, do not judge my Sasha.  Her hair is extremely long and she usually does a marvelous job of keeping herself clean.  On this day, however, she was a tad bit shit-challenged, it could happen to any of us. 

The poor girl smelled shit wherever she went, though I’m not sure she realized that the problem was her.  Nonetheless, wherever she went, the smell of shit followed.
 
By now you probably know that I look for the message in everyday things, so I found one in this situation.  And it came to me in the form of a question that I will pose to you today...
 
When was the last time you were shit-challenged?  The last time you found yourself in a situation where you knew something didn’t “smell” right?  And you scratched and sniffed and sniffed and scratched only to find the problem was you?  Yes, you!
 
Of course not literally, but figuratively speaking, when was the last time you were guilty of bringing the shit into the situation?

Maybe it was in the form of a frowning face or a nasty attitude or an unkind remark or an ugly gesture.  Maybe the funkiness in the air was because of you.
 
Don’t get offended, I’m really talking to myself.
 
You see, there’s a young lady in my office that just rubs me the wrong way.  She tries to be nice to me, but each and every encounter I have with her is unpleasant.  Once I gave the situation some honest consideration, I had to admit that the problem was me.  I was bringing a shitty attitude into the relationship with her, I wasn’t even trying to meet her halfway.  The shit was attached to me and it was up to me to get it removed.

So now I’m trying my best to bring my better self to the table as it pertains to her.  I have to, otherwise the shit will remain in the air, the room will continue to stink, and that won’t serve either of us well.

Am I the only one?  Or do you have some shit to you as well?  😊

 

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    Hello and Welcome to my blog!

    I'm a grown up "church girl" who is bouncing back from some hard blows, including an ugly divorce, financial hardship, and dreams deferred.  Now, more than ever before, I am embracing the idea of transformation and beautiful new beginnings. 

    Won't you take this journey with me?

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