Grounded

 

morning sunlight about 7:15 AM 

This morning dawned partly sunny/partly cloudy. We need rain...a good soaking rain. Everything is dry and there are water bans (no watering lawns) in parts of our county and the one to the north of us. The humidity levels are oppressive. 

I still prefer this over the bitter cold and ice of January and February though.

I was out of the house by 7:15 for my morning walk. I couldn't get up to a cardio level due to the oppressive humidity and high temps. It's just not good to power walk or really do anything in this heat and humidity. So I turned on the New Heights podcast to begin to listen to Taylor's 2 hour message while I walked. I was able to hear the first 40 min of it and it's awesome. (if you're a Swifty fan like my family).  It led me to pray for her to continue to be a good role model for the younger generations. Her music was allowed to be listened to in our home, much to my 2 daughters' happiness because of how clean most of her lyrics are and how authentic and beautiful her music is.  Plus, she shines her light and sometimes speaks about God in her life. I don't know where she stands in regards to a personal relationship with Jesus, but that's not for me to judge or figure out. I just love her music and her style and  how real she is. After a time, I silenced the podcast to listen to later when I doing chores around the house. 

I turned into the next part of our neighborhood heading north: 

our neighborhood street heading north
into the next neighborhood

That then led me to note all the American flags in our neighborhood. We live in a northern suburb of Albany, NY (the Capital). There's a lot of wealthy families in our public school district along wiht a lot of diversity. My neighborhood consists of black people (from the Caribbean as well as roots in Africa), Asian countries are represented (Specifically India, China, Korea, Pakistan and those are just the neighbors I actually know); Caucasian people (A lot of Irish, Dutch, British, French, and German roots here).  I know of at least 2 other evangelical Christian families that live in my neighborhood as well as Muslim, Hindu, and atheist families. I also know several Catholic families. I love the diversity of our neighborhood. One family, whose son was one of my preK special students, became citizens of America recently.  They are very happy.  

historic cemetery in our neighborhood

several homes have small flags displayed on their mailboxes
or in their gardens or hanging from their porch. I hang ours out from our front porch
 on national holidays like Flag Day/Presidents Day/Memorial Day/Veterans Day
and for the entire month of July 

What I don't like is the rise of Christian Nationalism I'm seeing displayed and hearing about from church friends, neighbors, relatives and the general media. It makes me sad that some of my Christ -following friends appear to support our current President and basically worship Him vs worshipping God/our Savior. It's ok to support your political party...but  when it takes the place of your focus being on God......well.....what I've been seeing makes me sad. I pray for our nation. 

And then I thank my God that my true citizenship is in heaven. I know where I'm going when I die. 

And I thank Him for the firm foundation I had growing up. I'm thankful for our church where all of us have grown spiritually and relationally and where we worship alongside all different kinds of people from all different backgrounds. Yet we are one in Christ. 

I'm thankful that when I came across this little plant, it reminded me that my foundation has to be grounded in the Word of God. That I cannot stand without the support of God and His guidance/instruction/promises/comfort. 

Little tree being supported in order to grow well. 

My center is in Christ and supporting me are God the Father and the Holy Spirit who brings guidance to my life. Just like this little tree has a center that is firmly planted but needs the support of the stakes to stand upright.

Who are you grounded in?  Are you putting your trust and hope in a human who is  pretending to be leading this nation or are you putting your hope and trust in God, the One who made us all?