Friday January 1 2016  CONSIDER ALL THAT’S IN YOUR HEAD

On my title line above this sentence is the first time I have written 2016 as an actual date.  A New Year gave me pause to wonder about all that might happen this coming year.  Would you like to have a glimpse of just what might happen this year?  I’ve given that some solemn thought and have decided from a serious point of view that, no I would not.  I think it would be quite overwhelming.  The most crushing would be to know what is going to happen, both to and in, our country this year.  If I gave that topic some thought I think it would be disconcerting.  If something drastic takes place would it be better to know ahead so you would worry about it, or to not know and just go about your normal everyday life.  How would it affect our lives if we really did know the future.  I think that would be a stressful way to live. I know that both life and death happen.  I certainly hope a catastrophic event will not take place where I am, but I would rather not be burdened with the knowledge of knowing if a horrible situation was going to take place.  God can handle it.  I can’t.

Had I thought in that manner I certainly would not have set out on my odyssey in March which took me to deserted back roads, mountains too high for me to climb, back woods bear country, and miles and miles of driving in isolation and unknown areas.  Was I cautious?  Well, I would like to think I used common sense and was therefore alert and watchful so as to avoid dangerous risks.  I drove in the daylight and planned my daily driving distance to not be farther than a six hour drive so I could take about eight or nine hours to get where I was going.  I have a penchant to stop and get out, speak to strangers, and discover out of the way places.  I tried to make wise decisions before doing any of those things and I did arrive home safely.

Instead of worrying or fretting about the state of affairs our country is in, I choose to be informed and well read about what is happening, know what precautions to take, avoid dangerous environments, understand our governing processes, be informed about the candidates that are running for the top position in the country, and to give everything over to God.  If and when disaster strikes, then I will do what I can do, and must do, and rely on God for my strength, courage, and refuge.  But, as you can tell by last night’s blog and tonight’s blog I do stop to think about a lot of things.  And I guess that is a good thing.  I just wish I could get into the head of others and really know what they think.  Now to me, that would be interesting, and maybe a little frightening. 

How do you think?  Do you really take time out of your busy schedule to actually just sit down and deliberately THINK?  Do you let your mind stretch itself by what you think about, by what you read, or by what you watch on television?  I do what I call “intentional thinking”, which I have mentioned in previous blogs.  Dave and I are reading the book YOU STAYING YOUNG which I mentioned in a blog recently.  We read a few pages together at the morning breakfast table and then discuss it.  I did find out one thing about myself when I turned a page and viewed a drawing that illustrated how some minds map out thoughts.  It’s point was to show the reader how a brain can think, organize, branch out, and compartmentalize all sorts of data.  It used the illustration as a positive way to exercise the brain power you have to keep it strong and healthy.  To Dave it was somewhat askew.  To those of you are list makers it would probably seem more than askew, perhaps a bit disjointed and cluttered.  The caption above the drawing gave this description: “MIND MAPS, DEVELOPED BY TONY BUZAN, EXERCISE THE BRAIN BETTER THAN LISTS CREATED AND NOVEL DECISIONS MAKE NEW PATHWAYS IN THE BRAIN.”  Well, when I first turned the page and looked at the drawing closely, reading all the words written in the pictures, I realized I had just viewed the pattern of the way in which my brain processes.  It is cluttered.  It goes in different directions, but with a reason and pattern for what I am thinking and planning.  I couldn’t help but laugh after I read the caption, to know that I wasn’t so weird after all (My husband just verbally inserted this comment “ONE PERSON’S OPINION” as we were proof reading. Hmm…). The author was encouraging people to allow their brain to be used in this manner to exercise it and make it grow.  So, I guess I am blazing new paths and it will help keep my brain healthy.  I’ll just have to blaze a new path about turning off water faucets!

In all seriousness, STOP, AND TAKE TIME TO JUST THINK!  Search out answers.  Be inquisitive and stretch your brain muscles (or whatever it is that needs stretching).  People think that three and four year old children have lots of questions.  I had lots of questions when I was younger, but I have even more now.  That is one reason I love talking to Dave every morning.  After all the quiet hours of the evening and night I awaken with lots of questions.  He doesn’t always have all the answers or even the answers I think I WANT to hear, but he is always patient and gives a lot of thought to his answers.  If he doesn’t know the answer, he often researches my questions, and then educates me at the breakfast table or dinner table.  I sometimes try to imagine other couples and the kinds of conversations they might have when waking up or at the table and just can’t imagine anyone else talking about the things we talk about. (Another Dave insert:  “THAT’S TRUE”). It’s as if we (or at least me) never have enough time to talk.  I just wish all that brain exercise would help me retain more than I do.  I just hope my brain keeps working for a bit longer (a LONGER bit longer)!

CONSIDER ALL THAT’S IN YOUR HEAD

By Kathleen Martens

January 1, 2016

When you really take the time

Thinking can be quite sublime.

But you must first find a thought,

One that is deeply sought.

Important ideas may be found

In your brain just laying around.

Everyday there is something new,

That which must be sifted through.

Unless you ponder you do not find

That special muse that’s one of a kind,

Allow moments to just ruminate,

So that you can then meditate.

Think on that which is good

For it is easily understood.

Contemplate not on the bad

Perchance it may, make you sad.

Let reason rise within your brain

So that you will stay quite sane.

Well balanced stability helps reflect,

On what you may expect.

Consider all that’s in your head

And upon what your brain is fed.

Allow your thoughts to deliberate,

So that you can contemplate.

Plan, consider, and envision each day

What it is your brain wants to say.

And study hard to make it grow,

The bigger it gets the more you know.

Organize and design, the perfect plan

And reflect on all you can.

Cogitate from deep within

Discerning where you have been.

Rekindle childhood fires

By imagining your heart’s desires.

Be the best you, you can be.

Allow your thoughts to go free!

So, I guess what I’m saying in this poem is, give pause, and allow your brain to go on holiday to think about whatever it wants to think about!  You might just go along for the ride and see where it leads you!  It’s what I call CREATIVE THINKING!

Today is the day I gave myself permission to start my new Tozer daily devotional.  I will only tell you the title since I really don’t like to break copyright laws.

So here is the title:

January 1

“GOD IS ALWAYS FIRST AND WILL SURELY BE LAST”

“I am  Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord.”  Revelation 1:8

Good night and God bless you!

I pray that you have a healthy and safe year.  

P.S.  I get to read another Tozer devotional tomorrow!