Glimpses of North Carolina

 Glimpses of North Carolina

      Earlier in February, Larry and I traveled to a few places in our neighboring state, and also visited our son and daughter and their families.  Here are glimpses of our trip, beginning with the photo above taken on the grounds of the Graylyn Estate in Winston Salem.  The heavy circular piece was once the grinding stone in a grain mill.  My feet represent the famous saying by Lao Tzu, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Now, THAT'S a camel!!  This is Gaylord, the bronze mascot camel at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. He's trying to get away, but I'm holding him back with a hand to his flank.  Bet you didn't know I was that strong.

Here, we have an even more massively large creature -- this time a sauropod dinosaur at the Raleigh Science Museum.  He's trying to get away while my grandkids Marisa and Landon are gripping the dino's leg to hold him still for the picture.  The poor fellow has a boo-boo on his hip and he wasn't too happy about that!  Sadly, we couldn't find a band-aid large enough to cover his wound.

I made myself part of this mural on Fayetteville Street in downtown Asheboro, joining the lawyer walking out of his office.  Then, there's the southern gentleman at the foot of the steps, admiring a sweet little baby girl.  He's probably running for mayor and trying to get another vote from the mother.  I was born in Asheboro, but I don't think I'll be able to vote for you, Mr. Mayor-Wannabe.

Stop that train, Larry!!  Whew!!  So glad the conductor spotted him and stopped the engine.  There was no track up ahead and the train would have been in dire straits - not to mention the dangerous predicament in which Larry placed himself on the tracks.  Thankfully, where we were going we didn't need rails.

You've probably never seen one of these before.  In fact, this is the only Shell Oil clamshell station left in the United States (or probably, the world).  This abandoned shell-shaped petrol pump station was built in 1930.  It proudly stands on the corner of Sprague and Peach Streets in Winston-Salem.

This is the beautiful stone mansion called Graylyn Estates in Winston-Salem where we spent the night of our wedding anniversary.  I was so excited to stay in what was like a castle to me!  

This handsome statue stands on the grounds of the historic State Capitol in Raleigh.  I suppose these three presidents are highlighted in bronze because they were born in North Carolina.  Polk was born at Little Sugar Loaf Creek, while Johnson was born right where he sits in bronze - in Raleigh.  Jackson, however was born in Waxhaw on the border between the two Carolinas and it's unsure whether he made his entry into the world north or south of the state line.  Hmm...is Jackson to be an official tar heel, or rather to seem to be one?  I guess we'll never know the answer to that burning question.  

I was surprised to learn that the phrase, "To be rather than to seem," is the North Carolina state motto - and has been since way back in 1893.  Here, the phrase is displayed in both English and Latin in the shop window of a clothing store.  The store is in the historic temple for the Order of the Odd Fellows (ca 1924), in downtown Raleigh.

And why would this store include the motto in Latin?  I'm so glad you asked.  The quote was taken from Marcus Tullius Cicero's essay, "On Friendship," written in 44 B.C.  Cicero was a Roman statesman, and considered to be a great orator and philosopher - thus the Latin translation.

This phrase reminds me of Shakespeare's famous line from Hamlet, "To be or not to be, that is the question."  It also reminds me of what we need to be - rather than what we may seem to be.  The Apostle Paul wrote that "God our Savior...desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth," 1 Timothy 2:4.  When it comes to the assurance of salvation, how much better it is to be rather than to seem to be.

To be, or not to be -- that is the question.

A Stack of Wood

         This stack of wood sits beside a small house (reconstruction) on the Hoskins Homestead (ca 1778), which is part of the site of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (1781) in Greensboro, NC, that we recently visited.

         No doubt, these pieces of wood are destined to be fed into the fireplace inside the house to keep the occupants warm and to cook their food.  But, there are times when wood is used for less worthy things.

         In ancient times, carvers would take a piece of wood and fashion it into an idol that people bowed down to and worshipped.  Perhaps, that still happens today in some cultures.  But, back in the day when the Bible was written, the custom was rampant and God was not pleased!  

         "My people inquire of a piece of wood and their walking staff gives them oracles," Hosea 4:12.  This verse would be almost laughable if it weren't true.  If you think about what the statement means, it's very disturbing if not downright horrifying!  

        How can a person expect to get an answer from a piece of wood or a walking stick?  And if they did receive something resembling an answer, where do you think it came from?  Certainly not from God!  That only leaves Satan and his host to whisper false answers in a person's ear.  It's called deception, something the enemy has honed to a sharp edge.

        "What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, the molded image, a teacher of lies..." Habakkuk 2:18.

        An excellent description of a carved idol is found in Isaiah 44:9-20.  It begins with a woodsman cutting down a tree.  He burns half of the wood, warming himself and roasting the meat and baking the bread he eats.  Verse 17, "And the rest of it he makes into a god, his carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, prays to it and says, 'Deliver me, for you are my god!'"

        The prophet writes, "Shall I fall down before a block of wood?  He feeds on ashes."

        The Psalmist also talks about idols as being, "The work of men's hands.  They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths," 135:16-17.

        The very first and second commandments God gave to His people through Moses, read, "You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself a carved image...you shall not bow down to them nor serve them..."

        The prophet Samuel said, "Serve the Lord with all your heart.  And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing," 12:20-21.

        When we read these verses about idols, we usually stand a bit taller and smugly say, "Oh, those misguided people!  I would never worship a silly piece of wood or a statue of silver.  At least I'm not guilty of that sin!"

        Hmmm...  We might need to think about that one before we claim we don't worship idols.  Sure, it may not be a block of wood or stone, but just what is the spiritual definition of an idol?

        An idol can be anything that takes the place of God as the most important focus and priority in our life.  Author Jennifer Slattery writes about idolatry, calling it an "ancient yet modern sin."  Some of the idols she lists on her website are:  Self, Success, Relationships, Wealth, Health, Food, and Comfort.  I would add to that list, Entertainment (video games, TV and movies, cell phones).

        Hey, I'm guilty too.  How many times have I binge-watched an eight-episode show on Netflix?  Then I ask myself, how often do I spend such a chunk of time in Bible study, prayer and praise, or doing something for others in the name of Jesus?

        Consider how many "empty things, which cannot profit or deliver" we have in our lives.  Whatever we feed grows -- whatever we starve begins to die.

        Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living."  We need to ask ourselves some serious questions and make sure that we are not "feeding on ashes."

Mama's Birthday

 

February 11, 1919 - December 6, 2012

              When this picture of my mother was taken, she was around 25-years old.  At that moment, she was already a survivor.  Yet, you can see in her face that she was happy – with most of her life still ahead of her.  Going through hard times can often cause us to appreciate better times much more.

             Mama was born 103 years ago in 1919, shortly after WWI, and in the middle of the Spanish flu pandemic (its dates: Feb 1918-April 1920).  She was a pre-teen in a poor farming family during the Great Depression, and a newlywed when WWII began. 

We think our times are rough now, but I tend to think the early to mid-1940s must have been an especially difficult and frightening time in which to live.

             As a child, Mama grew up in what we might call poverty, but she didn’t even realize she was poor because everyone she knew lived in the same condition.  Her family lived on a farm and so they did have food to eat.  She was the youngest of five children and always wore hand-me-down clothes.  Her parents were hard-working people, struggling to make ends meet, but still cared for their children and took them to church.

Holding her prized possession - a doll from her sister

            Mama was the epitome of the Proverbs 31 virtuous wife – and I might add, Mother.  She was totally trustworthy and devoted to her family.  She was the hardest working woman I’ve ever known – and she never complained about it.  She was a wonderful cook, seamstress, gardener, and flower arranger.  That woman could stick a twig into her special soil and it would root into a beautiful plant.  I don’t know how she did it!

            Oh, how Mama loved her children!  Me, my younger sister Ava and much younger brother Clark were all nurtured with love and tenderness.  Mama sewed almost all of our clothes, and attempted to get us to eat healthy (I was a very picky eater – sorry Mama!).  She also took us to church each Sunday, even before Daddy was saved (when I was nine years old).  She leaves behind a wonderful legacy that continues through our generations.  And I am happy to know that I will see her again (:

            I thank God for every remembrance of my dear Mother, and wholeheartedly say, “Her children rise up and call her blessed…many daughters have done well, but you excel them all…a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised,” Proverbs 31:28-30.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Mama!!!

Her favorite color was always pink (:

What Fear?

WHAT FEAR?

     God lovingly says to us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you…” Isaiah 41:10.

       I chose this out-of-focus picture of my granddaughter because it gives the impression that she has heard a sound behind her and, with a twinge of fear and uncertainty in her face, she’s glancing back to see what caused that sound.

      How often in our day-to-day routine do we experience a twinge of fear when the sounds of life rumble behind us and we turn to see what sort of danger might be creeping up on us?

     How often do the “what ifs?” that circle around us cause us to go into full-blown fear mode?

     If we’re honest, we’ll probably admit, “Far too often!”

      Where does all this fear come from?  Well, the Bible makes it clear where it doesn’t come from: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind,” 2 Timothy 1:7.  So, where does fear come from?

       The thing is, Fear has a name and it’s called, “the Enemy.”  The Enemy, AKA Satan and his minions, dearly love to inject fear into our lives.  If they can cause ripples of fear to skitter up your backbone, or full-blown fear to make your heart pound, they consider it a victory – a job well-done.  You can almost hear them cackling in the background.

      Frankly, I don’t like the sound of that.  How about you? 

      Negative “What ifs?” are tools the enemy wants to use to throw a wrench into the “sound mind” God wants us to enjoy.  We can foil his nasty attempts to rattle us by turning the negatives into positives.  Consider positive “What ifs?” to replace those that cause fear.  What if tomorrow I feel empowered and confident and my day turns out to be wonderful?  What if I'm able to make a new friend at that new school/new job/new church - and it ends up being a great relationship?  What if - fill in the blank with something that sounds good to you.

      I really like what Sarah Young wrote in Jesus Calling: “The future is a phantom, seeking to spook you.  Laugh at the future.  Stay close to Jesus.”
 
     The answer to being fearful is found in Psalm 34:4: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”  Now, that’s something I like the sound of!
 
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