What's On Your Plate?!

It will come as no surprise for those who are acquainted with my family if I were to say there are a few of my friends, relatives, and acquaintances that have a different point of view than most of the rest of the world.  As a friend of the family said some time back, 'When it comes to Westphals the only thing normal is a town in Illinois'.

Be that as it may, the story is told of a friend/relative that went to town and bought a set of all white dishes. He told his wife he wanted to know when he was done eating. "There's nothing worse than spending five minutes trying to clean up my plate only to realize it was some doodad painted on the plate and not food at all."

I'm going to confess right off, there's a whole lot of wisdom in that thought. I won't tell anyone there aren't doodads painted on my dishes--some dishes have more doodads than there are doodads on others. However, as we begin the new year we should consider the need to begin with an all white plate.

Begin with less doodads. I sometimes (often) think most of us would be better off if in some way all of our electronic gadgetry would suddenly stop working. Or if we could eliminate one by one some of the gadgets we have acquired.

Having been born in the early 1950's I know that television, radios, and such whatnots are not necessities, but I also know that-- having started typing on a manual typewriter, and not having a printer until just a few years ago--there are some devices that make life easier. It doesn't make life faster--just easier.

I can work on an article, a manuscript, or a design quickly and efficiently. I can rearrange words, paragraphs, phrases, check spelling or use a thesauruses in the same manner. Ditto with dictionary and research items. It wasn't just that the manual typewriter required more finger strength, but does anyone remember the reason 'whiteout' was invented? Sometimes one mistake made a whole page unusable. Gasp here. Printers are true wonders as well. What used to take me forever to reproduce for my Bible classes I can zip right off ten or twenty copies in a few minutes.

I can keep-in-touch with friends and family that I wouldn't have access to in a matter of moments via the computer. It is not quite as personal as a face-to-face conversation, but it beats not hearing from each other at all for years.

A Bible illustrator friend mentioned a time back that with the new electronics it would make his original mode of work--the pen, paper, and ink--archaic. That is sad indeed. I do still enjoy the pen, paper, and ink--even the letter writing aspect. I enjoy the canvass, paint, and oils, or the feel of the pottery clay, or even just the sweat of an honest day's work.   

At times what seems to be the worst disaster that could happen in our lives turns out to be the one that leads us to where we need to be. For instance, my son-in-law almost lost his arm in a power tool accident. That was three years ago. During these three years he and my daughter have learned to live on workman's comp. They went from the comfortable salary he made as a landscape supervisor (extraordinaire, I might add) to a very small stipend.

The back-story is that several times throughout their marriage I have encouraged her that in scriptures we are taught for the wife to be a keeper at home. This was reinforced by her experience that when she did at times work away from the home, their money situation never improved, she missed her children, her husband missed her at home, and it really didn't work out as it was (in theory) supposed to work.  When she stayed in the home they were blessed in unimaginable ways.

Now they are faced with three years of surgeries, pain, and problems we can not begin to enumerate. There have been those who are incredulous that she didn't rush out and get a job in order to help, but even though that may be what appeared to be what was needed here are some things that happened in spite of not doing things in the worldly wisdom's way, but following God's way.

•  One thing: we have a lot of must haves, that we really don't need. Hint--They have cut down on t.v. time, cable, phones and doodads. 

• They do things as a family. Before the accident her husband worked very long hours and missed out on the time with their children. Now he is home and has more time with them as a family, and those times are valuable. 

• They have learned to trim down on their grocery bill in some very inventive ways. The children have some of their own chickens--they all work at raising a garden, some fruit trees, and such like that help in small ways. 

• They have become more prayerful, and more quietly dependent upon God, who is our true source of blessings. 

• It has also been our blessing to be able to find small ways to help and bless them in their time of need.

What a shame so many people rush out trying to do things their way, leaving God out of their thoughts and ways. Now as they are nearing the end of this trial and about to begin a new chapter, yes, things again will change. God does want each of us to be busy with the 'job' he has given them to do. My son-in-law will soon be released--and God willing be able--to find gainful employment. He has gained much through his struggle these last three years, and God is willing that he will benefit from those life lessons.

I would leave you with this thought--How big is your God?

~Psalms 50:10  "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11)  I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12)  If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
  ~Psalms 46:10  "Be still, and know that I am God..."
Hallelujah! What a Savoir!