Weather and Life

March is already zooming into April. It seems like the year has only begun, but it is already Spring. We’ve gone through the time change and life marches on. We haven’t seen too much of spring as though Winter is holding back the warmer weather.

Today is no exception. Even last night I heard the wind howling around the house. I heard sleet pelting the siding. Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment. Keith also picked up prescriptions and a few groceries. I am so glad we accomplished those things yesterday because today is no day to be out especially since I can’t hold my own against the wind.

My kids were elementary age when they realized the wind was dangerous for me. They had to hang onto me to keep me safe. They teased me that they should tie a rope around me and fly me like a kite. With the wind today, I wouldn’t dare go outside and I am glad to stay inside, warm, and safe.

Most of us can stay safe against the elements. What we can’t predict is the cold, winds, and sleet of life. Tragedy, illness, or other circumstances can derail our ordered lives. Suddenly we’re caught in the eddying winds that we can’t defy or escape. Our lives may spin out of control unless we already have an anchor.

If we have a solid anchor, we can hold on and not be whipped about by the winds of life. How we deal with the unexpected shows who we truly are. Do we complain, turn to hate or blame or do we realize life brings both good and bad? Do we turn inward or reach out to those around us who want to help and reach out to others who are also hurting?

I can deal with life’s circumstances if I have an anchor. For me, that isn’t wealth or family. It is my faith. God is bigger than my circumstances. God never said we wouldn’t have difficulties. He said He’d walk through them with us. I am glad I have an anchor and can hold when I lose loved ones or my heart wants to race away. No matter what, my anchor holds.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. –Isaiah 41:10 ESV

© 2023 Carolyn R Scheidies

Column published Kearney Hub 4/11/2023

Feel free to share

Choices today matter tomorrow

I woke up to a world of beautiful white snow as far as I can see—lawn, park, and school grounds on the other side of Collins Park. When I was a child, snow drew me outside to make snowmen and snow angels. This snow, though it didn’t appear real deep, did not tempt me.

Much of the day I hear something bang against the roof and windows—and it wasn’t soft fluffy snowflakes. What I heard on into the night was cold, hard sleet. The day before I heard warnings of what this storm was bringing. Though we were warned we might lose power, that, thankfully, did not happen.

As I look outside I am not tempted to go out. In fact, we’ll stay warm and safe inside. Though snow may tempt, sleet does not. This lovely snow hides something deadly. Under that particular snow is a coating of ice. With the overcast skies and temperatures, I doubt much will melt quickly, making this even more a potential for disastrous falls and accidents.

Life is often like our deceptive snow. What appears harmless may well cover up something that can alter a life forever—and not for the better. A small white lie can rebound into hurting you or someone else. Taking something, even a small, something can lead one into making negative choices. The truth is the more negative decisions one makes the easier it is to make the next bad choice. A man checks out porn and then more. He gets too cozy with another employee or friend, sharing things and feelings that should be shared with a spouse.

Dinner. Lying to a spouse. One step at a time and trust is broken, hearts are shattered, and marriage is destroyed with kids as collateral damage. Media and movies excuse such behavior, often mocking the sanctity of marriage. Even filling our minds with such negativity makes it easier to excuse bad and dishonest choices.

Instead of skirting the edges of disaster by giving in to temptation that appears beautiful and inviting, we can remind ourselves of the slippery path we’re choosing. We can strive to be honest and persons of integrity in all we do, think, and say. As making one wrong choice makes the next wrong easier, so choosing the path of integrity makes the next positive choice easier as well.

Faith can help us make those positive choices that lift up instead of destroying our lives, reputations and families. This year, what path will we choose?

© 2023 Carolyn R Scheidies

Column published 2023 February 8

Feel free to share

Blog Do I redeem my time by using it wisely?

We live in a society that is ever seeking ways to fill our time. Zip-out of bed in the morning. Zip-off to work to this or that activity or appointment. On Saturday, zip here and there—shopping, cleaning, catching up with “friends” on social media.. (There is always a to-do list.)

Do we take time to slow down and rest, even on Sundays? Sundays can be very full days. Even with a day of “rest,” we manage to keep busy. Work happens whether it's in the office or at home by Zoom or other media. There are still meetings to attend.

School for kids takes up time, even if online. God had something besides our hectic pace in mind when He inspired Paul to pen these words. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” --Ephesians 5:15-16

What does making the most of our time even mean if it doesn’t mean filling every moment? God isn’t about wearing us out, but in building us up--mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Even He got away from the crowd to pray, to rest, and to be refreshed.

Making the most of our time refers to using our time wisely and in the most beneficial ways for our health and well-being--starting with a daily quiet time to start the day out with a calm, focused mind. Spending time communicating our “higher power” throughout the day, and meditating on His Word, helps us find direction for those hectic days.

How should we spend our time? Doing so wisely means taking time for family, spouse, and children--time to listen, to share, to hug, and to care. It means considering their needs important enough to be there when they need you and be 100% present, not only giving half your attention to them.

It means taking time to teach, to lead, to guide, to be an example. This type of relationship doesn’t just happen. It takes lots of time, effort, and attention.

Using time wisely means spending time with friends and neighbors, and building foundations for the long term. relationships. It means making and taking opportunities to show we care.

Using time wisely--redeeming the time--also means being careful what we put into our hearts, our minds, our homes, and our lives. This includes what we see, read, watch and play. It means time with family and friends isn’t at the bottom of our priority list.

Using time wisely doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We need to take stock of our activities and time, decide priorities, and budget time for those things deemed most to least important—starting by making time for faith, family, and friends.

Remember, redeeming our time is good for health mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Let’s redeem our time for our well-being and the health of those around us.

(C) 2021 Carolyn R Scheidies
Column in Kearney Hub published 2/15/21
Feel free to share.
Read more like this in my book.From Listen! Who Me? 

Blog You can make 2021 better than 2020

On Facebook, I’ve seen comments and all sorts of graphics about the year of 2020--of how tired everyone is of the year, and how everyone hopes 2021 will be different--a year everyone hopes is far from disease and death and restrictions and masks, with which everyone is so tired of dealing.

But for all the hopes, it appears many of the restrictions will continue on into a year we all hoped would be different. Already the unintended consequences of restricting individuals and families to their homes is being paid in a variety of ways from increased abuse and suicide, to higher drug and alcohol use and even death from loneliness.

What many do not realize is that mental health matters to physical health, We, and especially children, need to be touched, and hugged. Need to communicate face-to-face. Need to be part of the community in a way that technology, as nice as it is to have, can not. There is no substitute for people being together.

There are differing opinions about masks and restrictions and many other aspects of the situation we’re in. There is hope vaccinesCovid shots will change the picture—the data shows they neither stop one from contracting Covid nor stop the transmission of it.

Still, we hope cases will not only decrease, but new cases stop altogether. In the midst of conflicting information even from “experts,’ we need to find our way for ourselves and our families.

America stands on three pillars--faith, family, and freedom. This pandemic has shaken every one of these pillars in one way or another. However, we don’t have to give in to despair. While this may not be over in the dawn of the New Year, we have hope of an end.

Nothing lasts forever. As for faith, even when we are told not to meet together in large groups, we can still read God’s Word and communicate with God anytime and anyplace.

We can pray for others, especially for those who are ill or grieving. We can reach out to those in need with a letter, a phone call, or a donation.

Our freedom has been greatly impacted and that truly bothers me. Our elderly citizens didn’t vote to be locked away from family and friends--and pay dearly for such a “privilege.” This has been wrong on so many levels.

I am not the only one who, now, has no intention of ever going into a home--if it can at all be avoided. Even in this, attitude matters. We can complain or focus on the positive and we can seek to make changes.

If we want changes, we need to let our Representatives, Senators, Governors, and Mayors know what we think and expect. Let’s do our part to stop Covid-19, but also to realize balance is needed and make our concerns known--through letters to the editor, phone calls, and letters to those making and enforcing restrictions.

Maybe you agree. Maybe you don’t, but you are the citizens. Do your research, beyond government and media sources, knowing they are often very biased. Those for whom we vote are supposed to be our employees, not our masters.

Make tomorrow be different by standing up for faith, family, and freedom. Then 2021 will become the year of hope and change we want so much right now.

© 2021 Carolyn R Scheidies

Published in Kearney Hub 01/04/2021
Feel free to share

Politics Deliberate Destruction of Property, a Crime?

• Deliberately stealing, damaging, or destroying someone else’s property is a crime. Pandering to those who do is almost as bad. Either we are a nation of laws or we are a nation of thugs.

• There are lots of good people and good cops. There are bad people, some of whom are cops—and they will do bad things. That gives no one the right to harm people or property and commit crimes as a result.

• Such incidences give some the excuse to do wrong. Often there is a paid element to riots that egg on those who do not consider the consequences of their actions.

• Those who commit crimes need to have consequences, not let off with a slap on the wrist.

• What we need is a nation that returns to a sane and moral base of faith and personal respect and responsibility.

• By Carolyn R Scheidies
  Feel free to share