Sunday, November 13, 2016

Political Burn-Out and "Family"

For nearly a month I have read numerous political posts a day.
 I can't seem to help myself. It's like I've become a political conflict junkie.

One thing I read makes me feel justified.
Another post I read makes me feel shamed.

And in the Church realm there are those saying, "If you are a Christ follower, how could you vote for him?" Or, "She is evil. How could you vote for such wickedness?"

I have people I dearly love who are happy or grieved. I've been on an emotional political roller coaster ride and I want to get off and I don't know how.

Until now.

I just read something that I think is my exit strategy.

Brennan Manning, in his book, "The Wisdom of Tenderness" says,

'To say, "Abba, Father," in the Spirit is to say that we're children.
It's to acknowledge that other people are our brothers and sisters in the human family.

This understanding affects our lifestyle because it implies acceptance of others
and responsibility for others: we do our best to give family members whatever they need.

This familial relationship is to be taken literally for it's a thing of flesh and blood in the bond
of the Holy Spirit. True Christian community is the realization and actualization of
"Our Father, who art in heaven."
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So, I think that my 'family' doesn't need me to read and empathize with every opposing news flash or viewpoint that comes along.

I think my family needs me to pray with Jesus' His ageless words,

"OUR Father,
who art in heaven.
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give US this day, OUR daily bread.
And forgive US OUR debts as WE
forgive OUR debtors.
And lead US not into temptation,
but deliver US from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.
Amen."
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Such wonderful words, "OUR, US, WE."
Not, "Us" and "Them."

"THINE is the kingdom, and the power and the glory,"
reminds me of Who really has us in His care.

To be "Delivered from evil," is all of our hearts cry.
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Praying this prayer is the best way I know to be 'family' in a divisive situation.

It is the best way I know how to protect the people who are being attacked on both sides.

It is the best way I know to empathize and see the big picture.

It is the best way I know how to love.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Hertzler Doings~November, 2016

For some reason, I think less and less of writing.

So far this month, we've flown to CA and visited Tom and Kathy. We really relaxed there. Kathy and I rested in the hot tub after walking a mile around the block. Phil and Tom watched the news, talked, and read. They took us out to eat on the hill and we watched the sun set and the lights come on. The next eve. Jenny, Brian, and the boys came over. We had charbroiled burgers for supper and the alarms went off and the security system people called four times. It made the house smell like a picnic. Phil and I took off early the next day in our convertible red mustang. We drove the coast part way and got out and took in one of the beaches. My hair was blowing like crazy and it was a little scary. I felt like I should be wearing a helmet. We saw mountains of shrubs and rock and vast fields of rice, nut and fruit trees, etc. We stopped and bought local pistachios at a produce stand.

After we arrived in San Francisco, we drove around Lumbard Street and the other crazy streets and nearly got hit by a car that did not see us. I was sure he had swiped us and when we looked their was a streak on the side of our car. Phil had said that a book wouldn't have fit between us but it was more like a paper. He apologized with a wave and we gave him a thumbs up and we didn't have an accident with multiple cars which we surely would have if Phil hadn't slammed on the brakes.

We also stopped in to see Old Sacramento .(We actually did this on Sunday on the way to the wedding.) I'd like to spend more time there but I never need to drive those crazy streets where you can't see over the top of your car when you're at the stop sign.

We met Eric and Kendra at Sessions and I got to hold Theodore. He's 7 weeks old. She ordered for us and it was fun to eat from the different plates of food. Kendra is a delightful person. At age 31, she is considered young in San Francisco to have a baby. And when they tell people they want 3, people can scarcely believe it. Later, as I walked Theo around outside and put him to sleep while looking at the Golden Gate Bridge at night, a young family asked me how old my baby was. I had to tell them twice that he wasn't mine. So, maybe women wait to start having children when they're 58 in SF.

We drove and hour and got a King Suite. The next morning we took it easy and eventually made our way to Roseville where we went to Danny Fisher and Jennifer Crutchfields wedding. We got to sit with Marv and Sherri and Uncle Ed and Aunt Rhoda at the reception. The wedding was outside and beautiful. It meant so much to Danny and his parents that we came. The groomsmen-Tommy H. and Andrew F. -worked things out so that the bride and groom could drive off in our rented red mustang convertible. That was so sweet. The drove through our pathway of long lighted sparklers glowing in the dark. We soon had our car back.

We got our motel and the next morning, headed early to the Sacramento Airport. When we arrived in Minneapolis, we had over a 3 hour wait and soon afterwards I heard someone calling my name. It was Kenny Spencer. He and Angel waited with us and we got to hear his testimony. Time flew by. Angel and I went for a walk and somehow our clocks were messed up and the guys were trying to call us and even had us paged. We raced back and everyone was already on the plane and they were waiting on us. Shwew. And when we got on the plane, we had seats right across from each other. It was just great.

We drove home from Richmond without a glitch and were happy to sleep in our own beds.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Had a physical. Sugar levels normal.
Susan had court. All charges dropped. Judge seemed surprised she had been charged since a deer was involved. Yay!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Voted. Trump is now President. Va. went to HC.
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Alli, Jessica, and I, hosted The Gathering Table here on Monday night, the 4th. It was a Thanksgiving theme. We had probably 28 women in our little house and it was wonderful. I even 'did' my rap for them and they laughed so hard. Michael grilled our turkey for us, using a homemade juice. I think he's getting some orders for Thanksgiving.
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Jessica started working full time for Phil on Monday, the 14th.
I went to Lynchburg to a podiatrist on Tues, the 15th. I'm getting some inserts made and also bought some support socks. He thinks my left foot especially is turning in such a way that the nerves are affected and it gives me the sensation that my toes are turning to mush but they aren't really. I nearly cried with relief. I'll go back in a few weeks to get fitted with inserts.
I went to two Goodwill's afterwards and found some little girl things and got a few things for Jessica. I have her name for Christmas. Also found a shirt for Phil, a shirt for D., a shirt for Susan, and some shirts and pants for myself. That was fun.
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Thanksgiving-We had a good time together in the evening but we were missing Daniel. In the afternoon, when he and Susan were at the gym, he experienced acute chest pain. Long story short, he's been in the hospital since Thanksgiving and today is Dec. 1. He was moved to Lynchburg today. Diagnosis-a collapsed lung. They are hoping to avoid surgery by keeping the drainage vacuum going and hoping the lung seals up on its on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hertzler Doings~November, 2016

For some reason, I think less and less of writing.

So far this month, we've flown to CA and visited Tom and Kathy. We really relaxed there. Kathy and I rested in the hot tub after walking a mile around the block. Phil and Tom watched the news, talked, and read. They took us out to eat on the hill and we watched the sun set and the lights come on. The next eve. Jenny, Brian, and the boys came over. We had charbroiled burgers for supper and the alarms went off and the security system people called four times. It made the house smell like a picnic. Phil and I took off early the next day in our convertible red mustang. We drove the coast part way and got out and took in one of the beaches. My hair was blowing like crazy and it was a little scary. I felt like I should be wearing a helmet. We saw mountains of shrubs and rock and vast fields of rice, nut and fruit trees, etc. We stopped and bought local pistachios at a produce stand.

After we arrived in San Francisco, we drove around Lumbard Street and the other crazy streets and nearly got hit by a car that did not see us. I was sure he had swiped us and when we looked their was a streak on the side of our car. Phil had said that a book wouldn't have fit between us but it was more like a paper. He apologized with a wave and we gave him a thumbs up and we didn't have an accident with multiple cars which we surely would have if Phil hadn't slammed on the brakes.

We also stopped in to see Old Sacramento .(We actually did this on Sunday on the way to the wedding.) I'd like to spend more time there but I never need to drive those crazy streets where you can't see over the top of your car when you're at the stop sign.

We met Eric and Kendra at Sessions and I got to hold Theodore. He's 7 weeks old. She ordered for us and it was fun to eat from the different plates of food. Kendra is a delightful person. At age 31, she is considered young in San Francisco to have a baby. And when they tell people they want 3, people can scarcely believe it. Later, as I walked Theo around outside and put him to sleep while looking at the Golden Gate Bridge at night, a young family asked me how old my baby was. I had to tell them twice that he wasn't mine. So, maybe women wait to start having children when they're 58 in SF.

We drove and hour and got a King Suite. The next morning we took it easy and eventually made our way to Roseville where we went to Danny Fisher and Jennifer Crutchfields wedding. We got to sit with Marv and Sherri and Uncle Ed and Aunt Rhoda at the reception. The wedding was outside and beautiful. It meant so much to Danny and his parents that we came. The groomsmen-Tommy H. and Andrew F. -worked things out so that the bride and groom could drive off in our rented red mustang convertible. That was so sweet. The drove through our pathway of long lighted sparklers glowing in the dark. We soon had our car back.

We got our motel and the next morning, headed early to the Sacramento Airport. When we arrived in Minneapolis, we had over a 3 hour wait and soon afterwards I heard someone calling my name. It was Kenny Spencer. He and Angel waited with us and we got to hear his testimony. Time flew by. Angel and I went for a walk and somehow our clocks were messed up and the guys were trying to call us and even had us paged. We raced back and everyone was already on the plane and they were waiting on us. Shwew. And when we got on the plane, we had seats right across from each other. It was just great.

We drove home from Richmond without a glitch and were happy to sleep in our own beds.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Had a physical. Sugar levels normal.
Susan had court. All charges dropped. Judge seemed surprised she had been charged since a deer was involved. Yay!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Voted. Trump is now President. Va. went to HC.
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