Where I am

I shared a piece last year about this time, of a piece I wrote entitled “I am From”.  It was inspired by my friend Sylvia over at Christian Homekeeper.  At the time, I thought I should write a second one titled “Where I Am”, and am finally getting around to it.  I hope you enjoy it.

I am in small town Alabama.  I am in the laundromat once a week, in seemingly endless days that flow one into the next.

I am in a four room duplex, kitchen windowsill lined with mason jars, azaleas in full bloom out front, and a barking dog staked under budding pecan trees wrapped in ferns.

I am in dreamland, missing past days and gathering ideas in mental preparation for the future when I will again bask in the warmth of the sun and enjoy the bounty of my own garden.

I am older now and growing gray.

I am a Hedges, yet, still very  Engblade and Schappert, combined with Lewis, Davis, and Durrett.

I am a child of God.  Learning to lean, learning to wait, and learning to rest in Him.

I am filled with joy, that often spills out in cleansing tears.

I am Roman Catholic, stained glass windows, incense and bells; daily Readings and confession; the Eucharist, the Liturgy, and the Communion of the Saints.  I’ve taken up my cross, put on Christ and am clothed in His righteousness.

I am “using it up, wearing it out, making it do, or doing without”.

I am a Gypsy, en route from Idaho to PEI; from PEI to Alabama, and from here to God knows where and when.  I’ve seen better days, but I’ve definitely seen worse.  I am both despised and loved, judged and shown mercy, shunned and welcomed.  I have everything I need, and much of what I want, yet still, I find myself discontent, wanting more.

I am prone to impromptu game nights, uncontrollable laughter and biweekly weigh-ins at my sister’s place.  I am in great company on frequent drives to the city and Saturday garden workdays at the farm.

I am listening to one of five Pandora stations, depending on my mood.  I am singing along; either reminiscing or learning something new.  I am on facebook, wordpress, and the message board.  I’m all about my grandbabies, my family, my blog, and my invisible friends, with occasional drama and basement hideouts during severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings.

I am becoming increasingly aware that I am part of a bigger picture, though for now I am in this little duplex, in Small Town, AL, with big dreams and a growing faith in my Great Provider.

Baltimore Catechism 1st lesson

I addressed some of this in my answer to challenges posed to me by a dear Protestant friend.  It now occurs to me there is so much I could add to that post, things I wish I’d have addressed there.  I love the readability and the contextual flow of these questions, like one leads to the next.  I had planned to take them a couple or three at a time, but I like it much better taking the whole lesson first in context, then breaking it down if need be.

1. Q. Who made the world?

A. God made the world.

(see Genesis 1 and 2, Psalm 8, Psalm 19, Proverbs 3:19, Romans 1:20—for starters)

2. Q. Who is God?

A. God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.

(in addition to verses above, see Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 43:15)

3. Q. What is man?

A. Man is a creature composed of body and soul, and made to the image and likeness of God.

(see Genesis Psalm 8, Isaiah 10:18, Matthew 10:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:23)

4. Q. Is this likeness in the body or in the soul?

A. This likeness is chiefly in the soul.

5. Q. How is the soul like to God?

A. The soul is like God because it is a spirit that will never die, and has understanding and free will.

6. Q. Why did God make you?

A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.

7. Q. Of which must we take more care, our soul or our body?

A. We must take more care of our soul than of our body.

8. Q. Why must we take more care of our soul than of our body?

A. We must take more care of our soul than of our body, because in losing our soul we lose God and everlasting happiness.

9. Q. What must we do to save our souls?

A. To save our souls we must worship God by faith, hope, and charity; that is, we must believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him with all our heart.

See Who is Our Redeemer, What Shall we Do, and How Shall we Know?   for my already recorded thoughts and Scriptures on #9 and #10.

10. Q. How shall we know the things which we are to believe?

A. We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic Church, through which God speaks to us.

11. Q. Where shall we find the chief truths which the Church teaches?

A. We shall find the chief truths which the Church teaches in the Apostles’ Creed.

12. Q. Say the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into hell: the third day He arose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.