Not Odd

While collecting cucumbers, we overlooked many odd-looking, smaller, rounder ones until they were mostly orange-yellow. Izzy and I assumed they would be unpalatable and immediately let the hens enjoy them.

Rummaging through the twisted maze of vines the following day, I targeted the rounder, ripe, green cukes. I also found a few remaining yellow-orange ones. Some were longer, more like slicers but with a twisted tip – like a fuzzy, bumpy little tail. I also picked some that had just begun to turn yellow-ish.

Once indoors I sliced one of each shape and color and arranged them on a plate for a taste test. A dirty duty, I know…

Though the yellower skins were distinctively harder, to my surprise those cukes tasted fuller, actually sweeter than the green cucumbers.

Soon the phone rang. After the lengthy conversation I was anxious to finish my project and get to work. Even so, I went a step further peeling a slice of each kind of cucumber. Then, feeling pressed for time I sat at the table and continued my Bible reading.

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4 (NIV)

Hmmm… Lifting my fork as I pondered I noticed that, aside from diameter and thickness, no slice or seed was distinguishable from another. They tasted, well, like cucumbers without much variance. Certain there was more, I continued perusing the sidebars:

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29 (NIV)

I chewed on this thought while putting the remaining slices in a pitcher of ice water.

Though they all looked quite different from the outside and came from separate vines, each of the plants came from the same bag of seeds. I suspect their only difference are the amounts of water and sunlight they get, some being closer to the treeline.

Yet they were all exactly the same on the inside.

What a wonderful world this is. How much better when we focus upon one anothers’ similitudes rather than our differences.

^“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2,3 (NIV)

 

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More Hopeful – Bliends

Reading Robert Goldstein‘s posts usually grab me by the throat with his raw emotion and common sense, especially his recent post, Dissociative Identity Disorder: Anger and Shame. (You’ve met my friend, Hope).

I agree that to continue as a healthy society, all American’s must get past the stigma of Mental Health and Mental Illness. I appreciate Rob’s conviction to “… remind people that the only way we can fix a problem we collectively created is to act collectively.” Rob does more than talk/blog his opinion – he is hands-on involved with numerous organizations to affect a positive difference. Ya gotta respect that.

Spoiler alert: Rob leans toward disputations regarding politics. In my experience discussing politics in open forums tends to divide people rather than uniting us, so I avoid doing so. There’s too much disunity in the world already. However, after following Rob for several months I respect his opinions. We don’t agree on everything, but his passions and his objectives are unmistakable. Please give him a read.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Every Single Sparrow – or Starling

During my recent trip out of state I especially noticed news broadcasting everywhere. People are talking about terrorism from numerous sources, genetically modified food organisms, health and environmental issues and global financial crisis that were unimaginable when I was young. With all our advancements it seems the roots of greed and the lust for power also corrupt faster than ever. We can honestly say the world has changed.

​Home now, I walked through my local park again when a typical scene caught my attention. Hundreds of starlings. ​I can’t stop thinking about them, especially the way they noisily they cover trees or the ground, their chirping rising until not much else can be heard. And then suddenly the chirping would abruptly pause and the birds would all take wing – all in the same direction and then all turned sharply into another direction. Together.

Captivated, I stopped and waited. I watched hoping to catch some video of the flocks as they took off. Not a great photographer, that didn’t happen. Even so, I clearly recall the sounds, the images and the feelings I experienced. I can’t stop thinking about those birds.

A little farther on I noticed a couple of older gentlemen also enjoying the unseasonably warm, sunny morning. Soon I realized they were arguing until they stomped off in different directions from one another. Moments later, a loud “boom” sounded from the highway nearby. I jumped at the sudden sound and looked around carefully. Almost immediately I also noticed the same two men hurrying toward one another again. Reaching for one another, they grasped each other’s hands, did the man-hug and then walked toward the park wall – together – perhaps to investigate. Whatever had upset them seemed to be forgotten.

I wondered again about the starlings. Whatever set them to flight as they chirped away, they flew together. Not one bird bumped into another. None screamed to be the leader. There were no stragglers, I didn’t see one bird left behind. They moved like a large black cloud – together.

I wonder what if people imitated the starlings more.

I’ll certainly continue praying that mankind realizes how we need one another, that we learn to not let disagreements or upsets drive us apart. I’ll keep hoping that we stop dividing over ignorance, fear and hatred. I shall keep believing in God’s perfect creation. I am certain I will continue to marvel over human behavior, the starlings – and the sparrows as long as I live.

“​What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:19-31​