When the thoughts just aren’t there

There were days not too long ago when my thoughts tumbled down like water gushing from broken pipes. I couldn’t write fast enough. Almost mindlessly, my fingers danced across the keyboard, capturing the moments and ideas as they fled across my brain. Prolific posts vomited onto my blog, poems to the group I belong to, and nostalgia splattered here and there into Word documents when the ‘Net wasn’t available.

Suddenly, the thoughts tangled, the digits paused for just a moment too long, and the words stopped altogether. Now, the ideas just aren’t there.

The Maine 3-Pick

The State of Maine is known for many things. The natural beauty is legendary, but some of the goods it produces are famous far and wide, too. Here are nine choices that Mainers generally recognize as symbols of “home.”

  1. Red Snappers. These are bright, red, hot dogs served in buns that are split so that when the dog is in place, the finished sandwich can sit on a plate face up, not face sideways. 
  2. Moxie. This so-called soda is described by some as a cross between root beer and urine. It’s definitely an acquired taste, though I don’t believe it’s necessary to drink urine for the comparison. Not all Mainers drink Moxie, but it is uniquely a Maine beverage. 
  3. Steamer Clams. Fried clams are for wimps. The best way to eat clams is steamed and slid straight from the shell to the gullet. 
  4. Whoopie Pies. Other states have tried to claim that they’ve originated this sweet treat, but no one beats a Maine whoopie pie, a rounded, hand-held, chocolate cake sandwich with vanilla icing. That’s the traditional flavor. True connoisseurs have discovered variations that included pumpkin chocolate chip cookie with vanilla icing, chocolate cake sandwich with peanut butter-flavored icing, and whatever else they may fancy. 
  5. Humpty Dumpty Potato Chips. I can’t say as these have a special place in my heart, necessarily, but I know a number of fellow Mainers that won’t buy any other brand. Commitment to Maine-made brands is commendable, I guess, but Dill Pickle-flavored chips at twice the price of every other company? 
  6. Lobster Rolls. Now here is a Maine food I can get behind. Or into. I can consume it, is what I mean. Not every “lobster shack” makes a quality roll, but there are great ones to be found all over Maine. 
  7. Ployes. Now to be honest, I never knew what ploye was until just now, when I used Google and a colleague to help educate me on the topic. The former gave me textbook and the latter gave me human interest. Ploye is basically buckwheat pancake, but rather than being eaten with syrup, jam is added, or brown sugar, butter, or whatever else strikes you. He recommended I try it. I probably will. 
  8. Fiddleheads. These are a rite of spring in Maine, when citizens desperate for signs of life after winter’s doldrums, go to the swamps and seek the weeds that resemble the heads of fiddles, literally. Fiddleheads. They boil them, butter ‘em, salt ‘em, and eat ‘em. I’ve been told they’re tasty. I’ve been told I haven’t been treated to properly prepared ones. To me, they just taste like weeds. I’ve tasted weeds before.
  9. Potatoes. I realize that Idaho produces lots of these, but Maine does, too, especially up in The County (Aroostook for folks from Away). I certainly hope that Humpty Dumpty makes their chips from Maine potatoes, but either way, Maine’s potato growers (or is it “potatoe” growers? Perhaps I should ask Dan Quayle) do a fine job, and I enjoy Maine’s produce. We also grow blueberries, which ought to be on this list, but aren’t. 

At any rate, there’s the List of Nine. If you could pick just THREE of these, which ones would you choose?

Perspective

Bill MacDonald

Just now ·

On my drive home from work yesterday, I took a little detour to the Horseback Road. Got to have a little roadside chat, with a mask on my face, with dear neighbors I’ve known all my life. They were making good use of the warming weather to do some yardwork, with the help of two teens from up the road (KevinandAmy Booker–good to see your boys helping out!).

Then I proceeded to the homestead, where I enjoyed a brief visit with the folks. It was good to see them, get caught up, and pray with them before heading home.

I won’t hide it; I’m feeling the stress of the present situation, not because I’m out of work, but because so many of my friends and loved ones are. I know so many of you that are self-employed and not considered by our state government as “essential” to the pandemic economy, yet you know how vital it is to be back at work to remain solvent professionally and personally. I pray for you. I wonder how you’re doing.

And like countless other families, I marvel at Laurel‘s ability to maneuver through each day with the boys always with her. As other parents know, even at ages 12 and 14, they are just as demanding of her attention in many ways as they were at 2 and 4! It’s draining. We are all drained in so many ways. You, me, us.

I have days when I am full of trust in God’s lovingkindness. You know those Jeremiah 29:11 days, when I remember that He knows the plans he has for us, to prosper us and not to harm us? Yeah. I have those days. And then I have my Job days, when I want to cover my head in ashes and clothe myself in sackcloth and sit in the dust.

Well, yesterday was a sackcloth and ashes day. When Governor Mills announced that it would take all summer to reopen our state for business, I lost my temper. I also lost my perspective. As I sit here writing this, I still heartily disagree with her plan, and I believe she’s wrong. However, I’ve been reminded that “the king makes his plans, but the Lord orders his steps.” So, it’s not the plans of man/woman in which I should trust, but in the wisdom of God. And if I need to know what that wisdom is, I have a Book full of it that I can read anytime. His arm is not weak, his reach is not short, nor is he caught off guard by my present circumstances.

By the grace, love, and mercy of God, this too, shall pass. He will see his people through this trial. We can fight the authorities that abrogate our civil liberties, but we must take care not to make it personal, for our eternal home is of greater value than our present one, and it is for the eternal home that we strive. To God be the glory.

Finding Fotos

For a few minutes this morning I scoured my FB page for pictures of my kids that I’ve taken during this coronavirus quarantine period. I found myriad photos of my older boy and brief videos of both sons, but only one snapshot of my younger boy, and it wasn’t a closeup.

When they were little, the kids loved having their pictures taken. I have hundreds of photos of each of them. It’s very different from my own childhood. There are almost no pictures of me as a boy. As the youngest of five, my parents revealed to me as I entered my teenage years that they had grown so tired of taking pictures of their kids that they took a few obligatory snapshots of me as an infant, and then essentially put the camera away. The only other pics of me from childhood were school photos or whole-family pictures, and those were pretty rare. That made me quite determined that my kids would have a photo history of childhood.

As they’ve aged, however, they’ve grown to dislike the ever-present presence of the camera lens. Younger boy, in particular, lacks interest in his image being captured and displayed. I try to honor his wishes, but more often than not, I take the picture. Then I don’t share it. Hence my problem this morning finding a photo of him on FB.

One of the parents from the school is putting together a video of as many of the children from school as possible to encourage the teachers and staff during this enforced separation called, “COVID 19.” The teachers and staff already made one for us–it was very moving. In preparation for Teacher Appreciation Week, this effort involves parents sending her photos of their kids holding messages for their teachers. I didn’t have that; I barely had photos of both boys from the last six weeks. Eh. Better than nothing, I hope.

Where YOU Are

Where YOU Are Apr 1

Where You Are

Where you are it may be spring
With all its greening, blooms, and beauty.

Where you are it may be spring
But winter clings with snow, brown grass, gray trees.

Where you are it may be fall
Brilliant hues of red, orange, yellow leaves.

Where you are it may be stressful
News, work, and life awry.

Where you are it may be calm
Despite it all, grounded in peace.

We each respond to where we are
According to what we believe

About the ultimate meaning of life
And about Who holds the key.

Blocks

Blocks

What’s a block to you?

Is it a distance that measures street to street in a city?
Or is it a cube of wood used as a toy?
Perhaps a chunk of material, no discernible or particular shape,
Or defense in sport to prevent offense to move.
It could be housing for the incarcerated, a portion of time,
A section of cheese, or lack of writing ideas.
Half an insult, maybe, paired with head?
Part of an engine, working or dead.
Noun, verb, or adjective, the grammarian in me
Asks today what “block” is to thee.

Half-century journey begins

I turned 49 yesterday, so that means that my fiftieth year on this earth has begun. What will I accomplish in my half-century year?

It is easy to become lost in the memories created over the last forty-nine years of my life; it is a journey I often tread, alone and with others. But that is not where I want to dwell today. I want to consider what opportunities lie before me in this half-century journey year.

A young man named Caleb is adrift. He was my student a year ago, and was making positive progress toward graduating from high school and choosing better paths in life. Even after he left my program, he followed those paths for a time, but the negative influences in his life returned and overwhelmed the positive ones, and his progress was stunted once again. Given the legal requirements of my work, I’ve waited the requisite time before reconnecting with him, and now that we’re in touch again, I want to see how the Lord might use me to bring Caleb ashore. If you’re the praying kind, I’d appreciate your help in that way.

Dear Lydia

I woke up a day or two ago with these thoughts on my mind, and initially they were directed to you, dear Lydia. However, as the morning progressed, I realized that they apply to so many people in my life that it would have to be an open letter, as it were, rather than one shared only with you. Still, I’m not much good if I don’t have a theme to guide me, so I titled this, “Dear Lydia.” Please bear with me.

Dear Lydia (& Other Dear Ones),

As I ponder the circumstances of your senior year coming to a close in such an unusual way from what you had anticipated, I’ve spent many hours contemplating the emotions and thoughts that must be coursing through your heart and mind. Even so, I can’t help but contemplate the many other vagaries of life that have entered your world in the last year. Your sister’s unexpected move out of state, your grandmother’s passing into glory, and now, this global panic over a deadly virus that has all public gathering places closed until further notice.

What excitement we shared last October when our relatives visited from Wisconsin! Watching you compete in a cross-country race, enjoying lunch in Belfast, and playing whiffle ball at the park in Bangor–so much fun! The everyday nature of life steamed ahead. You applied for college, traveled to compete for a scholarship, went to your cousin’s wedding–and then it all screeched to a halt.

COVID-19, the coronavirus, has brought about so-called “unprecedented” lifestyle changes in America. Colleges and schools are closed, with teachers providing learning materials for students to complete at home, or they’re teaching classes online. Graduation ceremonies have been canceled. Only essential businesses remain open, those which provide for material or emergency needs. In three weeks’ time, the world’s strongest economy with only 3.4% unemployment, has seen 18 million people lose their jobs because of COVID-19. Social distancing has becoming the catch phrase of the year, used to indicate the need to keep a certain amount of space between persons to avoid spreading the disease. Another word, one that used to be used primarily in prisons and jails but has found its way into the American lexicon in recent years due to mass shootings, now applies to the entire country: We are in lockdown.

Dear One, you might be tempted to feel as though your world has been turned on its head, and I must admit that I’d be tempted right along with you, but we mustn’t. I’ve a number of reasons why (and yes, I plan to share them with you).

This situation is not unprecedented. Deadly diseases have shut down our country before. In the late 1800s, smallpox killed many and disrupted social and economic interactions. I have a radio talk show I enjoy on my drives home from work, and I often agree with the host, but last week I wanted to reach through the speakers to set him straight about something: President Woodrow Wilson didn’t shut down America during the Spanish Flu outbreak, but he should have, at least in part. Wilson’s willingness to censor the citizenry from the knowledge that public gatherings were a primary means of spreading the deadly outbreak certainly caused greater harm than good. Eventually, Wilson caught the flu and nearly died from it. Also, in the 1930s through the 1950s, polio often caused communities to shut down, creating ghost-town-like atmospheres not unlike what have been observed during the COVID-19 crisis. Lastly, other pandemics have occurred in history that have crippled trade and societies. This is precedented, even though we are not accustomed to it.

What has been disrupted? Our expectations! On what are our expectations based? Previous experience of others and the idea that we should receive similar treatment? This is something that makes me pause. A lot. Because it makes me wonder if I’m expecting…no, that’s not the word for it…it makes me wonder if I think I deserve something to be a certain way. But what do I know about what I deserve?

I’m going to leave that there for a moment, because you’re smart, and I think you can get the drift of where I’m going. I’ll get there either way, but think on it. A pastor I knew several years ago told me once that one of the major reasons that people have conflict comes from “unmet expectations.” He said that when communication breaks down, expectations don’t get expressed, and then they go unmet. Conflict arises, and it doesn’t get repaired until they go back to the root of failed communication and see where their expectations of each other weren’t met.

I can only imagine that you might have unmet expectations regarding the end of your senior year. However, if you do, I urge you to consider this: In this life, you, as a child of the King, are promised that He is with you, that He is sufficient for all your needs, and that He knows the plans He has for you, to prosper you and not to harm you. Nothing can separate you from His love in Christ Jesus our Lord. You are promised suffering and trials for the sake of Christ. Like the Apostle Paul, you can consider all this world’s gain as loss for the sake of the glory of God. Has God failed you? Has God not lived up to your expectations?

We deserve condemnation, but God has given us mercy. In His mercy, He has given us His Son, who has conquered death–He is risen! Alleluia!–will He not also graciously give us all else we need for life and godliness by His Spirit?

So, what does COVID-19 have on us? Fear? “Perfect love casts out fear.” We take the necessary precautions, of course, but has this disease stolen Christ from us? NO! Romans 8 tells us that clearly. This condition is difficult. The storm here in Maine this week was difficult. Losing power has been difficult. Dealing with downed trees has been difficult. Not congregating with fellow believers and friends has been difficult. Not being allowed to see family has been difficult. The Quarantine has been difficult. There is no question about that! But Dear Christian Siblings, it is time that we stop bemoaning the loss of this world’s comforts and trappings, and start rejoicing in our Savior. This world needs to see that He is worth knowing, especially in a time such as this.