An Honor

I am humbled and honored to have been included in The High Calling's monthly "Around the High Calling Network" article, written by David Rupert.   The article features just a handful of blogs out of the 1800 that are included in the network.

The High Calling is... 

"...an online magazine and community founded on the belief that God cares about our daily work. On our site, you’ll discover a broad range of articles, interviews, devotionals, and inspirational stories—all specifically created to help you find God in your work, family, and the broader culture. Our writers and bloggers tell engaging stories crafted to encourage you in the high calling of your daily work... " 

Excerpted from The High Calling/About

Featured Posts From Around the Network for August

Lisa Sylvia — 48 Hours Without

Nikole Hahn — Jesus, My Stain Remover

Ryan Dueck — Elvis and Me

Lisa Burgess — What’s Your Passion?

Julie Gillies — Overlooked No More

Keith Miller — How to Get Out of Pain

Brenda Rodgers — What Everyone Ought to Know About God.

Colin Fagan —  Learning Discipline

Many of the bloggers included are experienced Christian authors.  I am grateful, excited, encouraged and humbled to be included and featured among others with such talent and experience.  

Where the Practical Meets the Fanciful

When beginning this blogging adventure, researching and dreaming of what direction God may lead, listening to the encouragement of good friends, and Mom...

praying...

Knowing I am not a writer, english classes never were my thing.  With only three years of college under my belt - four really- and no degree to show for it {that's a story for another day}, I wondered -and still do- about how God may use me.  With millions of blogs on the web, maybe more, what can I offer?  Why does this seem to be God's leading for a girl who always hated, always failed, English?

Those questions have yet to be answered, but Dan's words of wisdom stand out in my mind.

"Your job, your goal, is to find where the 

practical meets the fanciful..."

He does this well and I have learned, am still learning.
What is it that can make the ordinary beautiful?

The everyday worthy of a second glance or a photograph?

What is it that I love about the holes in the knees of my
boys' jeans?

The weeds that flower?

Why is the old, the rustic and the antique sometimes more lovely than
the new, the shiny and the modern?

Why does wisdom often come with age
- not always- but often?

Where do practical and fanciful meet?

Me, the practical.  Dan, the fanciful.

Polar opposites, practical and fanciful, yet the intersection is often beautiful.

Fanciful without practicality is imagination.
Ornamental.  Unrealistic.
Practical without fanciful is dull.
Unimaginative.  Boring.

Practical intertwined with the fanciful must lead to the realization of the dream.

Fulfillment.

Perhaps the Jews in Old Testament times felt much the same.  The words of the prophets yet to be fulfilled.  The waiting for the realization, the fulfillment, of Old Testament prophecy.

With Jesus, the two intersect - practical and fanciful.

Perfection.

Olive Tree Facts

After the last post about The Olive Tree, I thought it may be helpful to include some of the more interesting facts we learned about olive trees. Really pondering these facts it's quite amazing the understanding that can be gained when referring back to the mentions of the olive tree in scripture.

Olive trees can live 1000 years or more.

The olive tree is a historical symbol of peace.

They are able to survive drought and dry periods due to their wide spreading roots, though they do best when irrigated and fertilized.

The root system is capable of regenerating a tree even if the above ground portion is destroyed.

Olive trees are fire resistant.

They are little bothered by pests or disease.  One of the few pests that can damage them are the olive fly, which lays eggs in young fruit and can damage a whole crop.

They are evergreens.

Olive trees need pruning. Pruning both regulates production and shapes the tree for easier harvest. They can withstand radical pruning.

Pondering this sampling of facts, I am even more convinced that we have chosen the most appropriate name for this blog, a journal of sorts, of our journey; our journey that involves drought and disease, fire, pests, growth, pruning, and peace.