Tag Archives: mittonmusings

You Are A Miracle: Reflections on Existence and Purpose

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I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but: You. Are. A. Miracle. A scientifically bonafide miracle. I know this because many, many moons ago when I was in university, my anatomy professor gave a very sobering lecture about human reproduction. Did you know that the percentage of actual, “normal” human beings born is 34%. That’s before birth. Thirty four out of 100 “good eggs” develop to 40 ish weeks. Then there is that tumultuous day that we celebrate every year called your birth day. If you make it through that, there is about a 31% chance you come out relatively ready to face the world… and from there… well, let’s just say, if you have survived this long and are reading this post: You are a miracle!

You. Are. A.Miracle.

I was musing about this at a baby shower held in honour of my beloved daughter-in-law. She is about three weeks out from giving us our first grand baby! We are excited, of course, but becoming a grandparent for the first time makes you reflect on mortality, your own legacy, and well, the miracle of life itself. It’s fragile. It’s vulnerable. It’s oh so special. Yet, most of us take it for granted. We shop for cute little onesies at Walmart and complain about the cost of diapers. The world is overpopulated. We can all agree that there are some people who should just simply not be parents. Others who deserve to be and can not. People have suffered and are suffering. This broken world is not what God designed. It begs the question: Should we be concerned at each individual life and focus on its tenuous existence?

My own views on mortality and life are complicated and not for debate today. I’ve had my share of death and understand the significance of life. I’m discovering rural farmers have a view of life that, shall we say, is practical and perhaps more matter of fact. Philosophers will have a different view. Christian worldview with belief in a Creator God? Their discussion will different from the atheist’s. As I said, it’s simply another muse I’m putting out there for reflection. A potential for thought and discussion. Go where you wish with it. Let’s just say, I don’t think God makes mistakes. He has a plan and your life is a significant part of it.

We are each a significant part of God’s Plan

Christmas is quickly approaching and I cannot help but think of Mary. Unwed teenager, pregnant, but she claims not by her betrothed. First time mom gives birth in barn. Believe me, I have a barn, it would not be my first choice. You tube worthy story, for sure. Yet, here too, God had a plan, and Mary’s life was a significant part of it. Why have baby Jesus come to Earth as a vulnerable baby? Helpless and fragile? Utterly human and at risk for all that humanity has to offer. Would not have been my choice either… but then again, I’m not God, am I?

And so we have come full circle back to my original thought: You are a miracle. Significantly created and planned for by the ultimate Creator. Designed and destined for greatness… or at least some role in His ultimate plan for humankind. He knows we are but dust. And yet, He loves us beyond measure. Perhaps this is why He gives us babies…. and grand babies. To remind us that we are miracles designed just the way He planned for just the role He planned. I hope this thought makes you smile today… because you are worthy.

Discovering Truth: Lessons from Apples and AI

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Golly! The month of September is quickly coming to an end and the seasons are about to change again! Seriously, the older I get, the faster time flies! Can I get an “amen?”! Sweater weather is creeping up on us, but we are making the most of the warm, sunny days we have left. We visited a local apple orchard this weekend for a quick pick – 20 lbs of apples later and I am wondering when I am going to get a chance to do something with them all. Apple crisp coming up.

Photo by Tijana Drndarski on Pexels.com

Fall is apples to me… despite the popular pumpkin vibe, I decorated my front porch with apples this year. Had to gather a few imitation ones from the dollar store (surprisingly not in the fall section. “Crafts” is where they are housed, should you care to gather fake fruit in the future.) Imitation apples, not only to keep them from spoiling, but also to keep the squirrels from stealing them… although I did find one down in the garden. I’m not sure if it was an attempted robbery or simply a roll away fruiting.

Speaking of fake apples… have you heard about the big A.I. (artificial intelligence) scam streaming across Canada’s social media? Purple apples engineered in Saskatchewan. A deep royal hue and supposedly tasting of cinnamon and all things lusciously fall. Fake. Not real. Apple aficionados duped by computer generated photos of fake news. The computer wizards win again.

A.I. Generated picture of “Purple Apples” (Photo via CTV News)

Which brings me around to my muse of the week: Truth. It’s a big and deep and wide subject. It goes beyond a few non-harmful photos of purple apples. It’s life choices and life changing. The difference between truth and deceit is not as simple as little white lies and fake news. Sometimes truth or “untrue” can lead us down a path of endless hurt. Ask anyone involved in unfaithful marriages or children of divorce.

It’s hard to stand up for truth. The end of September marks The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, originally and still colloquially known as Orange Shirt Day in Canada. It’s a day of memorial to recognize the atrocities and multi-generational effects of the Canadian Indian residential school system. A day for truth to be told. Like many black marks in history, these Canadian atrocities were often done “in the name of Jesus”. Nothing could be farther from the Truth.

Which allows me thoughts of “What is truth?” “Who is the right way?” ” Am I narrow minded and bigoted if I say there is only One way to truth?” Big questions with difficult answers. As a follower of Jesus, I believe that the Bible is my guide to ultimate Truth. Obviously, not everyone feels the same way. I feel for the powers that be in politics that have to weed through the fake news and A. I. generated (or simply socially generated) opinions of the masses. It is hard to seek truth when decisions of consequence are on the line… or someone’s life is on the line. Even Pilate had trouble with truth:

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”

John 18:37-38

So, what’s a person to do? When truth is so tricky? Admittedly, it’s going to be tough. Purple apples are pretty cool. Discernment, wisdom and a whole lot of digging, will lead you to the truth. The Bible tells us that if we seek, we’ll find. It’s all I can encourage you to do. Test the waters. Ask. Seek, make mistakes, try again. Aim for integrity and honour. Ask God. I think the One who made real apples will show you the fake ones, and warn you that despite what others may say… the real thing is way better than the fraud. And I am sure my apple crisp will prove it.

The Expert Master Gardener: A Reflection on Life and Lavender

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Welcome back to another week of Livin’ the Dream! It’s been a full week of activity… the hubby and I celebrated another wedding anniversary year of not killing each other, and we hosted our friends for a grand gathering and Bar-B-Que at Itsnotta Farm. One of our kids moved into a new place today, and we found a fabulous little nook off the lake to watch sunsets together (aren’t we romantic?) All around, a good time.

On with the muse for this week, though… enough about me. At said Bar-B-Que, I was touring around a friend and showing off my albeit colourful, but disaster of a flower garden. I have a variety of flowers there, but the goldenrod (aka giant ragweed) is about to take over and give my daughter-in-law a severe case of the sneezes. As the friend and I chatted about this and that that I would like to do in the garden, what I want to swap out, what I love etc. etc. it occurred to me how much I really do recognize in the flower world. I know quite a few plants by name and how tall they get, and where they like to be, and when they are in their prime. I’m not sure how I acquired such knowledge over the years… but it’s somewhere in there rattling around in my brain. Huh! I was impressed with even myself.

One of the many varieties of lavender!

Now, I will openly admit, I am certainly not a horticulturist by any stretch of the imagination. I dabble and dig and hope for the best. I know some common plant names, and googled a few, but certainly don’t know the Latin derivatives nor all their uses. I’m learning though. For our anniversary, the hubby and I visited a working lavender farm for a relaxing afternoon. I love lavender, and it’s been on my list for awhile… even though lavender is not in season at the moment, it was fun to walk through the bee loving “bushes”. Did you know there were several varieties of lavender? Buena vista, lavandin, and edelweiss (a white one!) and 450 some odd other varieties! Of lavender alone, people…

Let’s look back at my golden rod mess… golden rod is a “wild flower” … to me, a weed. Along with cosmos, daisies, buttercups and I’m sure you can name a few others. Tiger lilies are also weeds for me… you can’t kill those things! I found out that one of my favourite wild blue flowers (which grows along the road side but never will transplant to my spaces!) is actually a chicory… like the coffee substitute. A lesson I just learned this week. Now just start to let your mind wander a bit to add flowers to your list from mine. What do you know? Roses. Tropical plants, grasses… it goes on and on. And there is a name for every one! I am sure all the gardening books couldn’t put a dent in the list. Let alone the gardener get it all right.

Oh my beloved, do you see the comparison here? Our Master gardener knows not only every tree, flower and blade of grass, but He knows YOU! Every hair on your head, every wrinkle and every scar. He knows your name and why you are here. And He knows all of us. From the beginning of time to the end – God knows us all! I cannot begin to imagine. I have trouble enough keeping my own kids and pets straight… not to mention cousins and extended relatives. Yet, God knows every minute detail about you and me… and cares about it! Like an expert, He tends the hearts of each of us, like a flower farmer tends his rows of lavender. He knows the conditions necessary for us to flourish, and the things that choke us out and cause us not to flower and bloom where we are planted.

I don’t know about you, but this is so encouraging to me. God’s got this. He knows me better than I know myself! Which can be a little frightening, I suppose. Yet, the awesomeness of it, seems to outweigh the fear for me. A deep muse which I don’t understand, but captivates me nonetheless.

So, next time you drive by a field of wildflowers, or pull those “weeds” from your flowerbed, be reminded that there is a Master gardener, who’s got it all figured out!