Things I've Learned

It has been several days since my last entry. One reason is a need to do some pondering on things I've been reading and thinking. I don't think we, as Americans, do much pondering any more. We just take things as they come for the most part and have very little critical thinking. The other reason was because we were out of town and I did not have Internet access. Imagine that, being some place in the US, not in isolation, where there is no Internet access. I suppose my mother and father in law should really get with the times, but then, they really don't need access to the Internet.

Did I miss the Internet? Not really. I thought I would, but I really did not. There was a time or two when I was reading that I thought, "gee, I would like to look that up!" When I realized I could not, the thought vanished and I was fine until a later time.

What I learned while I was away was this:

• I can get by without access to the world through the Internet
• Most of the email I receive has little value or consequence to my personal life
• When I'm stuck in a house with dozens of relatives, I can find a quiet place to read and find it quite productive
• There are seminaries that grant MDiv. degrees that do not require students to learn the original languages of the Bible
• You can have 20-30 adults in one place over a period of two days and only hear one brief conversation about God
• I have far away friends who care enough about me to call me on Thanksgiving
• That religious zealots killing whole tribes of people - men, women, and children, could really prove to be intolerant behavior for other people looking on
• My dog learns better than some people
• That my sister was surprised and pleased when I called her to say "happy Thanksgiving"

There was much more, but by now I'm sure what you've learned is that you can only take so much of what I've learned. So that should be sufficient.  Oh yes, one more thing. Reading scripture for the pure joy of reading scripture is actually a delight.

Ain't life grand?