Hodgepodge

Linking up with Joyce for the Hodgepodge

1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like.

One priority is to be the best mom possible to three young adults none of whom live at home at the moment. Helping them with school, career and relationship challenges while recognizing that my role, while important, is diminished to the extent the kids want it to be diminished. In other words, my advice can be asked and/or I can give advice even when not asked but ultimately, the kids decide how much if any of the advice to take. For me, how much to "meddle" is always a concern. I want the kids to know that I care, because of course I do, which is why I ask a lot of questions about what is going on in their lives, but I don't want to try to exercise a bigger role in their lives than a mom should be to kids who no longer live at home. 

Another priority at the moment is to figure out how much emotional and mental space to give to the topic of politics and the election. Let me try to elaborate. Many Christians and others whom I know feel pretty strongly about who they want to win the presidency, but from there- from how to talk about it with others to getting actively involved differs. 

Some Christians take the position that since by faith we trust that God is in control and we know that ultimately God's will will be done, it does not matter if we don't engage in politics other than voting. God is gonna God and He is going to reign triumphantly for eternity so why bother caring too much with what is happening in the temporal world where we reside? Plus, God can change anyone's heart at any time so even if someone gets elected who seems in favor of policies that harm women, children, the unborn, the safety of American citizens, that engages is lawfare against its opponents, etc. then it does not really matter who gets elected. And maybe, like some people believe that the books of Daniel and Revelation prophesize that the United States ceases to exist by the end times, political events are destined to occur that facilitate our country's demise. 

BUT, I think we owe it to our country to care and to talk about the issues and to not fear reprisal to share what we think is wrong for a policy issue or with a candidate. The impact that the president has on its citizens is vast and we should do what we can to make sure that the person elected to a high-powered position will use that position to further everyone's freedom, including speech and religion. To not want that is to not care and if we love our neighbor as ourselves, we want our neighbors to be truly free- free to speak freely and to practice whatever religion they want to freely.

The country of Finland is and has prosecuted (in Finland, people can be prosecuted for the same crime even if found innocent in one trial which is what is happening here) a sitting Finnish parliamentarian for tweeting a Bible verse. The verse that the parliamentarian tweeted references sexual sin. The Finnish government claimed it was hate speech. So, one Western country (in all likelihood, it's "so far") has referred Biblical text as hate speech. 

Hearing a story like that is sobering and reinforces the importance, to me, anyway, that simply voting is not enough. We must talk about what is potentially at stake. We have to talk to our children and encourage church leaders to have the courage to speak truth to congregants (not to tell them how to vote but to explain what the Bible says about some of the salient political issues). I think we must not throw our hands in the air and say, "God's got this. It's all good." At the same time, I don't want to become despondent and depressed at the prospect of the outcome not being good for the country and Christians. Because God does ultimately "have it." 

To summarize my priority in this regard it is to care and talk about the election while having enough faith and trust in God to not become completely demoralized at the thought of what will happen to the country if the person who wins does not seem to care about American citizens' economic well being and safety and freedom of speech and religion. 

2. What's one thing you wish you had more of? 

More of a blase attitude about the election, perhaps? See above. 

3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year?

Yes, I celebrate Halloween- I focus on the fun and candy, not the dark. For instance, I would never go to a haunted house or decorate the house with macabre decor. 

We trick or treated when the kids were younger. Now we just hand out candy- usually with neighbors if the weather is nice. Our only plan this year is to hand out candy to trick or treaters.

4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate?

Well, this bag of Halloween candy now contains exactly zero Twix bars, so I am going to say Twix.

5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it?

This one is easy- I prefer a mixture of both! I love to be at home. I love to read, to chat on the phone with loved ones who don't live nearby, to bake, to occasionally work on a home improvement project or craft. However, I also like to spend time with friends and family who live in town, to go on dates with Donnie, and to occasionally do adventurous things on weekends. So a weekend that contains plenty of relaxation with a concrete plan or two to socialize and get out of the house works well for me. This past weekend, we had few plans besides church (we didn't end up going to church- we watched a sermon instead but most weekends, going to church on Sunday morning is a given.) We went to our friends' Halloween party Saturday night. It was fun to eat good food and socialize. I am thankful for friends who like to entertain :). I like to entertain but for smaller events like a dinner. I'm not so into planning parties so it's nice to have friends who do.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The school where I subbed on Tuesday had a "wear pink to school day" in support of breast cancer awareness. I dutifully wore a bright pink sweater but couldn't help but think of how hollow a gesture it was! I mean, obviously, cancer is horrible, and I want to show support for anyone dealing with it; I am not sure how wearing a shirt of a particular color packs any kind of actual punch, but I went with it. (Got a couple of compliments on the sweater so that was nice.) It seems to me (just my perception) that the whole October/breast cancer awareness campaign hasn't been as strong or robust in recent years as it once was? It seems like you used to see the pink ribbons everywhere in October. I feel like I haven't seen them as much recently.