Musings

Thoughts on Judging

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Have you ever thought about judging? I’m specifically talking about judging other people you might meet while shopping or traveling. This is a subject which has been on my mind lately.

I suppose what I’m really talking about is condemning, or judging to condemn. It is looking at someone, judging something about them as inappropriate, or a bad choice, and possibly evil, and then condemning them out of hand.

We currently live in what is known as the Bible Belt. You would think people would be kind and forgiving, what with a church on every corner. But you might be wrong.

As I go about my business in town, I see the glances one person gives to another, because they don’t fit into their idea of what is right or acceptable. Or the person who is friendly to your face and then talks down about you behind your back.

I don’t know about you, but I have enough problems of my own. I don’t need to take on anyone else’s troubles, or worry about what they wear, how they fix their hair, or what color their hair is.

First of all, I don’t know where that person is coming from. What is in their past? What culture did the grow up in? Is there a significance to whatever it is one might condemn? Maybe you don’t like tattoos. I’v seen that look on faces in the store. Ooh, tattoos. Obviously ungodly, unchristian. Hot pink, purple, or blue hair? Probably a drug user. Avoid at all costs. Buying alcohol? Sinner! Oh, no! They vote for the other political party! We can’t be friends.

Can we just give the person a chance before we condemn them out of hand?

I don’t believe I was put on this Earth to condemn anyone else for their life choices. I don’t have to follow their example and do what they do. I don’t have to approve what they do or don’t do. I don’t have to look askance because they are atheists or gay.

And I do not have the right to judge and condemn them for following their path. They will have to answer for their own actions, as I will have to answer for mine. And who knows? They may choose to make changes later in life, which is an option up until death.

Folks, sorry for the rant, but it has been on my mind. I see it so often when I’m out, directed toward people I consider friends–even though we see some things a different way.

We can agree to disagree and enjoy those things we have in common.

So, if you’ve read this far, think about it. If you are Christian, take a look at what you’re doing, how you’re acting, and decide whether your words and actions are truly Christian. Would Jesus treat these people the way you do? After all, scripture tells us, “Judge not, lest you be judged.”

If you aren’t Christian, or religious at all, think about how someone else might view and condemn you. What is there about you someone else might condemn, as you condemn others?

And how would you feel about it?

That’s all for now. If this makes you think, I’m glad. If you agree, fantastic.

If not, you are free to have your own opinion, as are we all.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings!

Remember,

Stay safe, stay healthy, but most of all, be kind

The Aftermath

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Sometimes the storm isn’t the worst thing to happen, in a way. It’s the aftermath. The clean-up. The hopeless, overwhelming feeling of “where do we even begin?” The helplessness of losing everything is traumatic, to say the very least.

Even if your home is mostly undamaged, the trees and power lines down, roads unmanageable, and water lines cut will take much longer to put right. Life won’t even begin to get back to normal for a long, long time.

Now, over in North Carolina, some parts of South Carolina, and Tennessee, folks are stunned by the devastation in the wake of Helene. Some smaller towns are completely gone, and with them, all the memories attached to homes, keepsakes, and personal treasures those people held dear.

But not all of the damage is physical.

The mental and emotional trauma in losing everything and having to start over is a painful burden which will be carried for years and leave scars for a lifetime.

Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers. They need help and will for months to come.

Stay safe, be healthy, but most of all, be kind.

Last Week in August?

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Already?

Where has the time gone? It seems summer just began and now we’re heading into September next week. Monday is Labor Day. Can you believe it?

Goodness me…

So what has been happening in your world this summer?

For me, my husband had shoulder surgery, so we spent a lot of time back and forth to Physical Therapy earlier. Since then, we’ve been trying to catch up on things around the house–yard work, home repairs, replacing appliances… You know the way it goes.

As far as my writing–you did know I’m an author, didn’t you?–I published one book as Sultonna Nadine earlier in the year. If you like a bit of magic and humor, go check out Whiskey Jug Genie.

I’m currently working on final edits for another book in my Gambler’s Folly series. So watch for Old Flame. It’s a mainstream sensual shifter story, with a bit of second chance in the mix, as well as a fantasy world somewhere in the galaxy.

I’m hoping to get back to this blog a bit more, with summer coming to a close and things not quite as busy.

In the meantime, remember to…

Approach each day with gratitude and wait for the magic to begin.

Holiday Weekend!

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Can you believe we’re in the middle of summer already? With the 4th of July weekend here?

I don’t know about you, but this year has flown by.

I know the holiday was yesterday, but a lot of people are still going to be celebrating tonight and this weekend. For some, it’s difficult to visit unless you have a longer weekend for the drive.

So, barbecues, cold drinks, maybe bonfires, fireworks… All the good stuff, right?

But please stay safe. It has been dry around here lately, though they’re predicting a chance of rain tonight. Fireworks can set grass fires in dry weather, so before you celebrate too heartily, make sure there won’t be any unfortunate accidents.

And don’t forget your sunscreen while you’re sipping your sweet tea or other cold drink around the pool or the deck. It’s easy to get caught up in visiting and forget, but who wants a bodacious sunburn?

May I suggest you check at L’bri for your sun and fun products? They’re among my favorite things! I particularly like the Aloe Vera Gel. It’s perfect after too much sun. And a little bit of it goes a long way, so be careful the first time you try it!

Fireworks are a definite thing around the 4th, but they can be dangerous. Don’t add a trip to the ER this weekend.

So have fun, stay cool, and play safely.

And remember,

Always Look For the Beauty Around You

On Saying Goodbye

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Why is it so hard to say goodbye?

Fogg, one of the kitties we’ve had for twelve years, passed away Sunday night after a brief illness. He seemed fine, then was off his food for a little bit, and then just gave up and crossed over. As hard as it can be, sometimes we have to say goodbye.

But on the same weekend, we had another arrival–a little eight week old puppy who is just starting out. We don’t have a name for him yet, but he is a cute little thing.

And so in the cycle of life, there are beginnings and endings. One life gives way to another and the cycle continues on.

Mr. Fogg, we will miss you so very much. The front porch where you liked to sun in the afternoon seems much emptier without your presence there. And I miss the little chirp of a sound you made when you said hello.

Little pup, whatever your name will be, you liven up the household with your sunny, happy personality.

In the meantime, I will get back to more regular posts, and back into Gregor Thayne. If I turne my back on him and Caela for too long, there is no telling what they’ll get up to.

Wishing you a wonderful week,

Mellie

I Have a Question

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From what I have seen in this world, there are a lot of things we can’t explain. Things which seem to defy logic and science.

Coming from a family which converted to a rather fundamentalist approach to life, our leaders taught that most of those things were evil spirits–demons if you like–trying to pull us away from God. And giving them any thought was only inviting evil into your life.

Now, my family has had what we would call psychics today in several generations. On both sides of the family. Some of them have prophetic dreams. Some see things others don’t. Some can feel energy and use their ability to help heal those around them. Some combine all of the above.

Our church leaders told us these were all evil and from the demons.

They also included anything which might possibly deal with astrology, like my grandfather planting his garden according to the moon. Getting ready to plant the garden this year is what sent me down this path today. My grandfather’s practice of watching the moon to plant was considered heretical by our church.

Since that time, science has discovered that energy can be felt and sent from one person to another, such as energy healers do. I don’t know if that church has accepted it, but I’ve seen it done. And my parents were a bit skeptical of the teaching. My father confided to a friend that the people in his family who claimed to have seen things weren’t lying. They were honest, hardworking, God-fearing people. And if they said they’d seen something, they probably did see it.

Could he explain it?

No.

Could those who witnessed it explain it?

No.

Does this mean it didn’t happen?

Again, no.

In this generation, there are people in the family with similar abilities, and I’ve seen them work to help people. I’ve seen prophetic dreams come true, and because of the warning, a dangerous situation was avoided.

Is it magic?

Witchcraft?

Or something else entirely?

Much of what we take for granted today would have been considered magic to someone from two or three hundred years ago, let alone in the Middle Ages. We would all have been put to death as witches with our modern conveniences. Imagine showing up in medieval Europe with a mobile phone. Yes, I know you wouldn’t have signal, but I think the stored pictures would be enough.

What is magic except something we witness but can’t explain?

Things paranormal fit into this category. Imagine hearing voices in your front room and finding there is nobody there. Or hearing children whisper in the night, only there are no children in the house. Voices which fade away when you ask them to be quiet so you can sleep.

Or what about the sweet scent of the perfume your favorite aunt wore, the one who’s been dead for forty years? A swirl of scent coming into the room, lingering for a moment, and then gone without a trace?

Magic? Not sure how.

Witchcraft? Only if one is actively embracing the practice.

Or something else entirely? Something we don’t understand, can’t explain, but witness?

I’ll let you decide. But I will not quickly condemn someone as consorting with demons and evil spirits simply because they see, hear, or smell something I can’t sense. And I would hope you do the same.

What is magic?

Feel free to share your thoughts.

And have a wonderful, happy weekend!