Navigating the Ocean of Information

"What a culture we live in. We are swimming in an ocean of information, and drowning in ignorance."

That is a powerful statement, isn't it? While I can't remember where I first came across that quote, it is absolutely true. We are bombarded daily with more information than we know what to do with.  There's social media.  And the twenty-four hour news cycle.  The phone beeps and buzzes and dings.  Tweets are flying back and forth.  Politicians never stop talking.  It goes on and on and on.

Yet even with all this information, are we any more knowledgeable?  How do we sort through all this information to know what is truth and what isn't?

The reality is that in spite of all the tweeting and the talking, everything we read or see or hear is not truth.  The one who talks the most or talks the loudest is not necessarily the one we should be listening to.

Albert Einstein is credited with having said, "What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular."

In our media-driven world, that's an important truth to remember.  As we are bombarded with information daily, much of it misinformation, how do we know who or what to pay attention to? How do we filter through all the information that comes our way? How do we prevent ourselves from drowning in ignorance?

The answer is discernment, defined as the ability to judge well.  Discernment is our "filter"; it is the ability to sift through all the information that comes our way and find the truth. 

The Bible has something to say on this subject.  Consider these examples:

"Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of  God.  For the Lord gives wisdom."  (Proverbs 2:2-6a NASB)

"Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments."  (Psalms 119:66 NASB)

If we are to stay afloat in this ocean of information that surrounds us, we must learn to discern truth from error.  We must think carefully about what we see and hear, and not be swayed by the voices of media and celebrity that would distract us.

If we are to discern truth from error, we must have the wisdom that only God can give. 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind."  (James 1:5-6 NASB)

We are bombarded with information daily. But whether the information is from politicians or from the media or from celebrities or from our friends, we need our senses fine-tuned to discern truth from error.  That kind of fine-tuning can only come from the Author of all truth.  We need His wisdom to navigate this ocean of information.  We need His wisdom to discern what is right and what is wrong.  We need His wisdom to know what to believe and what to ignore.

God has promised to give us that kind of wisdom when we ask Him.  Then, and only then, are we able to safely navigate the ocean of information that surrounds us.

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ."  (Philippians 1:9-10 NASB, emphasis mine)

Anyway

Inevitably there will be some disappointments in life. Life, even at its best, can be challenging, and those challenges come in all shapes and sizes, in all areas of our lives.

In health.
In relationships.
In politics.
In the workplace.

Everywhere we turn, there are challenges to be faced and disappointments to be dealt with. Some days it seems there is a new crisis hiding around every corner.

How do we deal with all that? How do we handle these challenges and crises and disappointments? What do we do?

We trust God anyway. Even when things aren't going our way. Even when we have health issues or financial issues or relationship issues. Even when we have been hurt or disappointed. Even when politicians seem to have no moral compass. Even when those we love are suffering. Even when we don't know how we will pay our bills. Even when there aren't enough hours in the day. Even when the pain is more than we think we can bear.

Even then. Anyway.

Martina McBride expressed this well in a song she wrote and recorded a few years ago. One verse of that song says, "God is great, But sometimes life ain't good, And when I pray it doesn't always turn out like I think it should. But I do it anyway, I do it anyway."

Anyway.

That's what faith is all about. Faith is not dependent on circumstances. Faith is faith in spite of circumstances.

Trust God anyway.

Obey God anyway.

Believe God anyway.

Let your light shine anyway.



"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD!  I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!  The Sovereign LORD is my strength!  (Habakkuk 3:17-19a NLT, emphasis mine)

Seasons

We've had some really interesting weather lately. It seems we have experienced nearly all the seasons in the last few weeks. We had the bitter cold. Even some sleet. Then we jumped to balmy spring temperatures. In between we have had long bouts of the rainy season. Yesterday and today have brought March-like winds. Some of our rain has been more reminiscent of summer storms than of winter rains. Today has brought us bright sunshine, although it's still cool and breezy.

Seasons change. They come and go. It's part of life, and not only in a weather sense.

Consider the young man who was a star on his high school football team. Perhaps he went on to play college football. But now, some twenty or more years later, he just can't compete at the same level. He still loves the game, but his body won't cooperate any more. He's in a different season.

Perhaps as a child or adolescent or young adult, you were one of those people who could eat anything and everything, yet not gain an ounce. I was never one of those people! But even people who had that kind of metabolism when they were younger often find themselves in middle age with a "middle-age spread". It's a different season of life, and the body just doesn't respond as it once did.

Once upon a time I had a dress that I loved. To this day I still remember and love that dress, even though it's been more than twenty years since it was hanging in my closet. It had all my favorite colors in one dress, and I loved wearing it. Until I gained too much weight and it no longer fit. But I kept that dress. I kept hoping it would fit again. Eventually I realized that wasn't going to happen, and the dress found a new home in the bag of other no-longer-for-this-season items that were going to Goodwill. No matter how much I loved that dress, its season had come and gone.

Life is filled with seasons. Seasons for athletics. Or food. Or certain clothing. Seasons related to age. Infant to toddler to adolescent to teen. Young adult, then parent, then grandparent. The cycle of seasons takes you from young adult to becoming a parent, and the infant-toddler-adolescent-teen season progresses to your infant growing up and eventually becoming the parent of an infant, and on and on and on it goes.

These seasons of life involve growth and change. Physically. Mentally. And spiritually, as well.

Have you ever stopped to think about the seasons of your life? Not so much the seasons of physical life, although we can't really avoid thinking about that when we look in the mirror each day. The marks of our maturing are evident on our faces.

Spiritual maturity may not be quite so evident. But it is just as important. Perhaps more so. We don't want to stay in the same season forever, but rather our desire should be to continue moving forward, progressing on to ever increasing maturity in our spiritual lives.

If we give birth to a child who always remains a child, who always drinks milk from a bottle, who never learns to feed himself, then we realize there is a problem. And the same is true in the spiritual sense. 

An infant who remains an infant is not healthy. Neither is it healthy for us to remain infants in the spiritual sense. We need to move forward, from season to season, moving toward maturity.

Are you stuck in a season today?

One of the best ways to get unstuck is to spend time with the Lord. Talk to Him. Spend time in His Word. Ask Him to help you.

And He will.

"Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation."  (1 Peter 2:2 NASB)

You Look Normal

Several days ago I saw a friend I hadn't seen for quite a while. Once the hellos and the hugs were done, she said, "You look normal!". I think that may have been one of the nicest things she could have said. Because, quite frankly, I don't always feel "normal". From time to time, the memory of what my life once was takes over, and that often leads me down a rabbit hole of despair and depression.


About this time last year I wrote a blog post titled "A New Normal". Since that time, a lot has in my life has changed. Many things in my life post-stroke continue to improve. But the fact remains that my "normal" has changed a lot in the last 2 years. One day life was normal. And then it wasn't. On that day in mid-November 2016 when I had a stroke, "normal" was forever changed.

Today I have much to celebrate. Today I have many reasons to give thanks. Today is a good day!

Back in November 2016, things were not so good. On that day, there were a lot of questions. Would I wake up? If I did wake up, would I be able to speak. Would I be able to use my right arm. If I did wake up, exactly what would my life be like? I'm thankful that I was unaware of that, and even more thankful for all of the people who were praying for me on that day, and who continue to pray for me even now.

Today I'm celebrating those prayers. Celebrating a faithful God who hears and answers prayer! Celebrating that not only did I wake up after what we have come to refer to as "the event", but I am healthy and happy and loving my life! Yes, my life has a new "normal", but life is good and I am so blessed!

I am still frequently asked if I am back to normal. I'm asked if I am "100%". The answer to that is "no", not 100%. Not "normal" as I used to know it. But still making progress!

To bring you up to date, and for those who are new to this journey, I regained the use of my right arm before I left the hospital, and after weeks of therapy I regained most of my strength on that side. These days I'm able to participate in an exercise class several times a week, and do most physical activity. I no longer have double vision to contend with. And my speech (reading, writing, speaking) are pretty much "normal", at least most of the time. I still get words jumbled up, especially when I'm tired, and I sometimes get "stuck" on a word, but that part of my life is going very well. I don't read as well as I once did, and I still often stumble when reading in front of a group, something I once did very well.

My writing skills continue to improve. Throughout this process, I have had trouble understanding why it is so much easier for me to "write" on the computer keyboard than to use paper or my phone, but typing continues to be the method by which I am best able to communicate. My written communication continues to improve, although it is still a long way from what it once was. The very neat, precise handwriting I once had is pretty much a jumbled mess these days. Whereas it was once easy for me to sit at the computer every morning and compose a blog for the day, most days my brain just won't put coherent thoughts together. Some days it works, and some days, not so much. I'm thankful for the days it works well, and frustrated by the days it doesn't. But that's my new normal.

Reading remains the most challenging. But I have made remarkable progress. At this time two years ago, I could read short words and phrases, occasionally a paragraph or two, but it was a slow, painstaking process. I'm thankful that all my efforts in therapy yielded a good result! My therapist always used to remind me that it would take time, and that improvement would continue even after I finished my therapy. I confess that I didn't really believe her, but she was right! Now, two years later, I often sit with a cup of coffee and my book, and enjoy the process of reading again.

There have been numerous milestones along my journey. Too many to list here. Anything to do with numbers remains a challenge, so any time I am able pay my own bill in a restaurant and add the tip on correctly, I get really excited. When the choir director announces a page number, I'm often on the wrong page because I got the numbers mixed up. It's part of the new normal, and I have grown accustomed to it.

Life in the last 2 years has been challenging. And frustrating. And exhausting! But these have been months of great blessing and encouragement. Months that have grown my faith. That have blessed me beyond measure! And I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Yes, my "normal" has changed. But my God has not changed. And these months since my stroke have only deepened my love for Him. I am so grateful for all of you who have prayed for me and who continue to pray. You have blessed me beyond words!

As I reflect back, and as I think about my "new normal", I am so thankful! God has been so good to me, and I give Him all the glory for all He has done!

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."
(Psalm 103:1)

With All My Heart

My earliest Valentine memories are of red construction paper hearts and white paper doilies and heart-shaped candies with messages like "Be Mine". Back in elementary school (way back in the 1950s!) we made our valentine "mailboxes" out of construction paper, or by decorating brown paper bags with construction paper hearts.

As I grew older, Valentine's Day came to be less about construction paper and more about flowers and chocolates that came in heart-shaped boxes.

Fast-forward to 1971, when I was a college student and was invited by a friend to attend a Valentine party at her church. There I met a young man who had just been discharged from the Air Force and had returned home.  A little more than a year later, on a warm summer evening, I married that young man! We drove away from the church that evening singing along with Karen Carpenter......"We've only just begun....". For all the years we have been married, that has remained "our song".

But today, I have another song ringing in my heart. On this day when all the world is thinking about hearts and flowers and chocolates and love, my thoughts have turned to what love is really all about.  To that greatest expression of love. To the Savior who gave His life that I might have life eternal.  Today, this is the song I'm singing......

With all my heart

I want to love you, Lord,

And live my life

Each day to know you more.

All that is in me

Is yours completely.

I'll serve you only

With all my heart.

(--Babbie Mason)

On this Valentine's Day, yes, I love my husband. He's been my sweetheart for all these years, and I'm so grateful for the party invitation all those years ago that brought us together. He really is my Knight in Shining Armour, my very own Prince Charming!

But even more than that, I am so very grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who loved me, not because I was worthy of His love, but even though I am not. Who loved me enough to die for me! That's the best Valentine ever!

"We love because He first loved us."  (1 John 4:19 NASB)

What A Memory

I have an appointment with my rheumatologist later this morning. There's nothing particularly unusual about that, since I see her on a regular basis. Al will drive me to my appointment. There's nothing particularly unusual about that either, since he, or someone, drives me everywhere. I'm no longer able to drive in my post-stroke world.


But as I was thinking about this morning's appointment with my rheumatologist, I flashed back a few years to another morning when I was planning to see the rheumatologist. We lived in the mountains then, and Al was planning to drive me over to Kingsport, TN that morning since the roads on that particular day were covered with snow and ice.


That morning did not go exactly as planned. In fact, I didn't see the rheumatologist at all that day. The memory of that morning is quite a harrowing tale.


The morning's events got their start  when another round of winter weather descended on our mountains the previous. Snow fell gently and steadily throughout the day, with about an inch or two accumulation. The driveway and the road stayed pretty much clear. Even so, the forecast was for heavy snow on the morning of my appointment, so Al decided to drive me since I am not a big fan of driving in show and ice.

We had no problems getting down the gravel road in front of our house. The road is very steep, but there was not a lot of snow accumulated on it, and the gravel gives some traction. But once we passed the gate and got onto the asphalt road, things changed. As we rounded the first curve, there was some snow across the road.  And beyond that, the road was a solid sheet of ice. Those of you who have been to our mountain home are aware that on one side of the road is the mountain. And the other side is the fall-off-the-side side, with no guard rail. Nothing to prevent a car from just sliding over the edge.

And slide we did. Al did a very good job of maintaining control of the car. And of staying calm (at least on the outside) while I was having a panic attack. I have no words to describe the terror I was feeling. 

Somehow - and I'm really not sure how - Al got the car turned around on that ice and headed back toward home. And somehow he got it moving forward and off that ice, back onto dry asphalt. We made it safely home.

I know that Al's driving skills played a great part in keeping us safe that morning. I'm grateful for his skill. But I also know that it was the Lord who kept our car in the road, who prevented our going over the side, and who brought us safely back home. And I am so very grateful.

We went up and down that stretch of road many times after that day, always amazed that Al was able to turn the car around and get it pointed in the right direction. Because that particular spot in the road is very narrow. Not wide enough to turn a car around.

I have many friends here in South Carolina who get very excited when it snows. I don't share their enthusiasm. It's a matter of perspective, I guess. I have lived nearly half my life in places other than my native state. Most of those years have been spent in places where it snows. A lot. I have shoveled more than enough snow to last me the rest of my life! I don't like to shovel snow. I don't like to be cold. But more than any of that, I really, really don't like to experience the terror that comes with the possibility of sliding off the side of a mountain. Memories like that morning are why just a few flakes of snow are enough to keep me at home.

I did a lot of praying this morning while we were in the car. I'm thankful that my prayers were answered. That we were protected from going over the edge. That Al was able to get the car safely turned around. That we made it back home.

I often remember that morning and how God brought us safely through that very stressful event. And how He has brought us through so many other challenging events. How thankful I am!


And how thankful I am that it isn't' snowing this morning as I head to the rheumatologist's office!

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee."  (Isaiah 26:3 KJV)