I love to write this blog; it gives me the opportunity to express myself in ways I really never have before. The articles are NOT PLANNED and I do not want them to be (at least the ones that I WRITE). So, when you read you will get to know me and over a period of time REALLY KNOW ME!!! And I get to know myself. Now, that sounds funny, but it is not. Believe it or not, its only been about ten years since I realized I have a sense of humor. And the title of the above picture fits me perfectly. Why, because in my retirement I have begun to really enjoy life a little. Somehow, I am more at ease with myself than ever before; I can't explain it- that just the way things are. This comes with time, I guess, with having the perspective of many years under my belt- and that is a good thing. This made me think of John, Chapter 8. Why? well, I will get to that later, for now- please read this famous passage...
John, Chapter 8
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst, 4 they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?” 6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of.
But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”
But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”
In this passage, people are condemning this woman "caught in the act" and Jesus turns things around so that they face THEIR OWN SIN. They see her sin and think of themselves and can no longer condemn her - so they leave (those with the most life under their belt first). And the woman gets a second chance to change her life. In retirement, I feel that I have a second chance to really live and as unusual I am, God is blessing me with happiness in a life filled with reflection of the world around me, HIS WORD and its application to my own life and to that of others. I know the picture is a little strange, but honestly, so am I- and I like it that way!!!