Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)

A song popped up into my memories recently that I had encountered somewhere along my musical wanderings. One line in particular piqued my curiosity: “Then in manner of fashion I’d frown.” The song is titled,
“Alice Blue Gown“
In my sweet little Alice blue gown,
When I first wander'd down into town
I was both proud and shy,
As i felt ev'ry eye,
But in ev'ry shop window I'd primp, passing by
Then in a manner of fashion I'd frown
And the world seemed to smile all around,
Till it wilted I wore it,
I'll always adore it,
My sweet little Alice blue gown."

When, I wondered, is it fashionable to frown? My searches brought me only definitions of ‘fashion’ and ‘frown.’ Fashion, of course, being a popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior. Frowning is a facial expression or look characterized by such a furrowing of one's brows: a frown of disapproval.
We are ardently counseled to turn those frowns upside down; let a smile be your umbrella. Smilers never lose, and frowners never win. If we are not ‘fashionable’, what then? Who wishes to be unfashionable, dated, unstylish, untrendy, unpopular, square, or uncool? But no clues could I find that explained that line in the song.
Further research brought no answer. Perhaps the authors of the musical, “Irene” - words by Joseph McCarthy, music by Harry Tierney - needed a good rhyme. Anyway, I found that Alice blue is a pale tint of azure that was favored by Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt and which sparked a fashion sensation in the United States. Edith Day was an American actress best known for her roles in musicals, and she became a major star playing the title role in the 1919 Broadway musical “Irene.” It is set in New York City's Upper West Side and focuses on Irene O'Dare, a humble but ambitious, hardworking Irish girl, who is introduced to Long Island's high society. (1)
The old “rags to riches” theme; the lowly moving up in society. Should we counsel our children to emulate, to join the popular crowd? Author Alexandra Robbins thinks not! Many kids she talked to felt that their lowly social status meant they weren't worth much. The result was Robbins' new book, "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth:” (2)
Many of the differences that lead people to exclude the “Geek” students in school are the same characteristics or skills that other people will value, admire or respect about those students in adulthood and outside of the school atmosphere. Is there something adults can do to discourage the “push for popularity” mindset?
First of all, parents should never emphasize popularity. They should never push their child to make more friends if the child is happy with his or her current social life. Robbins notes, “The in-crowd at most schools often falls into the "perceived popular" category. It turns out that students in this group are more likely to engage in risky behavior. They are often less likely to do well in school. They are more likely to conform, because they're more likely to feel pressure from their group to conform.”
Best to follow Paul’s advice: “Do not be conformed to this world” - the world of fashion, popularity, conformity and risky behavior.

(1)“Irene.”from a book by James Montgomery, lyrics by Joseph McCarthy, and music by Harry Tierney. cf: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_(musical)
Listen to a recording of Edith Day singing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhmso6QmTiQ
(2) Alexandra Robbins: "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School" (Hyperion, 2011)
http://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/stories/the-geeks-shall-inherit-the-earth

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Paul wrote, “Watch your life and doctrine closely.” 1 Timothy 4:16, NIV

Henny Penny, my black hen;
She lays eggs for gentlemen.
Sometimes nine and sometimes ten
Henny Penny, my black hen.
Old nursery rhyme

Unlike the hen in the nursery rhyme, our black bantam hen prefers that the fruit of her labors do not go to feed gentlemen, or ladies, either, for that matter. So she hid her nest away where aforesaid nest robbers could not find her. However, the date of her last regular appearance was duly noted on the calendar, and twenty-one days later - the length of incubation for hen’s eggs - I was anticipating her reappearance with chicks.
Some of the other residents of the barn knocked over a few bales from the hay stack, and Lo! I spy a hen looking out at me from a crevice between the bales thus exposed to view. A quick check showed that chicks were indeed hatching. There were five at that time, with more eggs to go.
I left her for a time to finish her work. Cheeper(s) by the dozen - almost! She finally came out with eleven chicks. And I am positive she was smiling.
I am always amazed at the vitality of newly hatched chicks. Once the entire clutch of eggs has hatched, mama hen has them on the go. She will typically hunt for food almost immediately, as she has been fasting since the first egg started to hatch. At first, they stay pretty much under mama’s feathers, and she guards them well. Soon, however, it is scratch and cluck, a special mama hen cluck, that means, “Dinner is served.” The chicks dive after the choice bit of food she has uncovered.
This is the time I most enjoy, watching as they learn about the world around them. I put out a chick water bottle for them to drink, and sat back to watch. They cocked their heads, and examined this new intruder into their world, but did not recognize it for what it was - a source of water. Finally, mama hen went to the waterer, dipped in her beak, and tipped back her head. Quick as scat, eleven little chicks were around that waterer, dipping and tipping!
While chicks are drawn to mama hen’s cluck, it is her actions that model proper behavior and relationships to things in the world around them.
Lest we forget, our own little ones, children and grandchildren, learn quickly from what we do, both good and bad. Our words may inform, but our actions demonstrate what really matters. We need to “model the message” in our culture that runs so contrary to Christian beliefs. We are to be living examples, not only to youth, but to the world as a whole. Read Paul's letters to Timothy, and “be diligent in these matters.”
August 8, 2004

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Roosters
* Scripture: Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” Ephesians 5:25, NKJV

It’s time to have a little talk about -
Roosters!
The males of domestic fowl, roosters, do far more than sit on the barn roof, crow at dawn, and preen their feathers. They are a very active presence in the flock.
I’ve been observing about twenty chickens as they roam the barnyard area, pretty much free to do whatever chickens do. This is a mixed flock, including small bantams and larger ‘heavy’ breeds, so I think the sample size is large and diverse enough that the behaviors I will describe apply to roosters in general.
Yes, roosters do crow, at any time throughout the day, and they also cackle, cluck, and sing various chicken songs.
Roosters will often try out a nest before entrusting it to their favorite hen companion, and then stand guard duty while the hen lays her egg. Both then announce their pride over the freshly laid egg with gusto - a raucous cackling and sing-song ode to joy.
I once watched as two hens with chicks got into a territorial spat. A rooster quickly intervened, and sent them on their way, a peacekeeper, no less! Roosters can also be very protective and aggressive, especially if something threatens one of the flock.
I got to thinking about the positive attributes of the rooster in chicken society as I observed a rooster find a tasty morsel under the bird feeder, and then allow the hen to come over and pick it up, rather than eat it himself.
Now that rooster doesn’t even read, let alone read the Bible! Yet that bird, in a natural state, embodied many of the things that the Bible tells us we should do to emulate Christ. To paraphrase Jesus, talking about parents giving gifts to children, in Matthew 7:11, If even a rooster can do these things, how much more will the Heavenly Father do good things for you!
(Note that the Golden Rule is given in the following verse, Mt. 7:12, concerning doing for others as you would have them do for you.)
We sometimes hear the excuse that people who are rough and rowdy are just being ‘natural’. The next time that someone pulls that line on you, just tell them that even a rooster does better than that.
Take time to read Ephesians chapters 5 and 6, as well as Peter’s advice on the matter, 1 Peter, chapter 3.
Living together in harmony is sometimes a tough challenge. We need all the help we can get, even from a rooster.
April 24, 2005

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Pressure Relief Valve
* Scripture: Jesus said, "But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement” Matthew 5:22a, NRS

Power! Energy! For centuries, people have depended upon wind and water as the force to grind their grain and turn their machinery. There is a problem with natural sources of power, however. Wind and water don’t always occur where you need them, and in the necessary quantities. Too little of either will not power the equipment; too much can be destructive.
Enter the steam engine. Now, power could be produced anywhere, and in the amount needed to get the work done. Essentially a genie in a bottle, except that the genie sometimes burst the bonds of its confinement with an explosion of the boiler. Pressure relief valves were often difficult to adjust, and sometimes failed. One little flaw in the boiler structure can also lead to massive destruction of the engine.
Our human engine is like that sometimes, also. Fueled by pent-up anger, people sometimes seem to explode in a burst of very destructive behavior. Road rage is a constant headline in the news. Fights and confrontations break out at athletic events. Multiple killings at schools, businesses, and even in courts of law leave us in stunned disbelief.
It’s not a new phenomena, however. Genesis 4:8 describes how Cain slew Able in a fit of anger. The problem remains. The solution is elusive. Often, everything seems to be going well, until . . . BOOM!
Anger is a reality. Paul associates anger with bitterness, wrath, clamor, evil speaking and malice in his letter to the Ephesians (4: 31). Jesus counsels that anyone who is angry with his brother (or sister) will be subject to judgment.
Obviously, we need to find a ‘pressure relief valve,’ lest anger lead us to sin. The best remedy seems to be steeping oneself in ‘attitude adjustment’ practices. Paul advises prayer on the matter, (1 Timothy 2:8) and Jesus recommends reconciliation with the ones with whom you have a dispute (Matthew 5:24). It probably wouldn’t hurt if we read the Sermon on the Mount frequently, especially in trying times, to remind us to change our outlook toward others. (Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7; Luke 6:20-49. ) Note that Matthew chapter 6 includes the model prayer, including petitions for forgiveness for both ourselves and others.
Remember that we are to love God and our neighbors, including our enemies and those who curse and spitefully use us. (Mt. 5:44)
We need to be both listeners and sharers; communications is the essence of community. In so doing, we build that pressure relief valve that will help keep us from disaster.
March 20, 2005