Musings From A Rolling Eyed Turtle

I’ve been intrigued of late by the phase “hidden in plain sight”.   I looked it up on the internet to see how it is defined.   The commonly described meanings are as follows: Be unnoticeable by staying visible in a setting that masks presence. Seems to be hidden while also simultaneously remaining completely visible by anyone, that is, anyone who knows how or where to look. It basically means so obvious that you don't see it, or pay any attention to it, or it doesn't even cross your mind. God Himself hides things in plain sight.   Jesus said:   “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”   (Matt 11:25) It seems that God also hides things from those that you would think would know how or where to look:   “ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God...

“One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.”   (Ecc 4:6) That’s how the verse reads in the New American Standard Bible.   Other versions are slightly different.   I’m not going to try to suggest which version appears to have the best translation.   I simply want to look at some of the word pictures the verse creates. A hand full can have positive connotations.   When we need something and we open our hand to receive it, and we receive what we need, a hand full is wonderful thing.   The contrast is being empty handed or having only enough to fit in the palm of our hands.   Fists tend to suggest demand or even aggression.   But perhaps more so, a fist full can also present a picture that our fingers have tightly closed over what is in our hands.   That can portray selfishness. So why mention the word pictures?   Allow me to paint a bit further… We should look to the Lord to m...

Disorder:  a disturbance in physical or mental health or functions; malady or dysfunction... I once heard a story about a man who, no matter where he went in a large building, always started at the same fixed reference point.   The reference point was a landmark located outside the front door of the building.   If he went to an office, he started at the reference point.   If he had to go to another office within the building, he would never go directly to that office but would go outside the building to his reference point and then go back into the building to the office he wanted to go to.   If he was unsure where an office was, he always asked for directions to that office but the directions had to include starting from his fixed reference point. While I’m certainly not a trained mental health care professional, it seems this person has some of the classic symptoms of a disorder.   And while his behavior may seem bizarre to us, it could actual...

Sometimes we get caught up in the big words and that certainly has its place.   But, sometimes I think I appreciate the little words even more.   These are one or two or three letters words that can have big meaning and big impact. Take the word “I”.   It is a pronoun that often is used to identify the one who might be communicating.   The communication could be something like “I love you” or “I forgive you” or “I will do that.”   Meaning and impact from a word with just one letter! Take the word “no”.   It can put a stop to things. For example, you could have what you think is a really great idea but if you receive a no, your great idea comes to a screeching halt.   Meaning and impact from a word with just two letters! Take the word “yes”.   It can set things in motion.   For example, perhaps you are in love with that certain special person and you ask that question and they say yes.   Big things are set into motion and yo...