TIMES GONE BY---

Books, pictures, objects and chats with friends like Diane H., have a way of jogging my memory when I think I've lost it.

This morning I was reviewing some fave pages of Wilma Dykeman's book, The French Broad. Meeting her years ago at the Governor's Writers Academy in Appalacha influenced my continued intrigue of the area! Though she was the historian of the state of TN, she was a native of Asheville, NC.

A fave chapter (#10) involved a fervent old time preacher, speaking to a heat-oppressed crowd, with the real soul-splitting, happy-shouting kind of religion. ....not mamby-pamby, low voiced stuff. 

"Because, brother, I'm a-telling you straight, you've got to take the tonic of God and eat the whole word that will put some zip in your soul...." 

(p. 310) 

He reminded those listeners on the courthouse steps of a bone-deep thirst for God's word as similar to theirs for the little 6.5oz, green bottle of Coca-Cola. (a long-time fave of mine as well as Diane's)

The preacher's conclusion .....without God's word one can end up in the "muck and mire of hell" where there ain't  no relief.....

"There ain't no fans, nor no rest and, brother, there ain't no Cokes in hell." (p. 313)

Thx Diane for a fun, encouraging chat!

SEARCHING FOR THE SACRED

Many understand how difficult it can be to move away from the home, street, town, state, and church called home for 46+ years. 

Familiarity is a thing of the past.

But God in His love and mercy has been easing me into this new place of grace allowing me to sense His Presence anew. It has become a place of grace with new joys at every turn.

Today, unloading more books, I came across a devotional book, autographed, no less! 

As I started thumbing through it, I became aware of its emphasis on seeing everything as special. 

Think God-filled. Not ordinary! 

Sacred!

Scripture is interwoven with creation's unlimited beauty, prayer and relationships---sounds like a hope-filled life to me.