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Out of Sorts

Out of Sorts

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Out of Sorts--a pile of puzzle pieces

 

Out of Sorts-Kristy HorinePlease welcome my friend Kristy Robinson Horine as today’s guest writer. Kristy and I met at Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, where she serves on staff. Kristy makes her life in Paris, Kentucky with her husband, Eric, and is mother to four children – Hanson, Anna, Emily, and Sadie. Her professional and creative work has been published in newspapers, magazines and anthologies in Kentucky and beyond. She offers encouragement for each day through her book, In a Season of Mondays: A 30-Day Devotional Journal.

I knew before I came into the kitchen, I was in trouble. My daily responsibilities took longer than anticipated. I still had to put away groceries and unload the dishwasher before I could start supper. My day had not gone as planned, and I was out of sorts.

To be out of sorts means to be jumbled together or mixed up.

Sometimes, being out of sorts happens the moment our feet hit the floor in the mornings. There is no rhyme or reason for the feeling. It just happens.

Sometimes, being out of sorts happens because of other people’s decisions:

  • A child volunteers to bring cookies to an event but doesn’t tell us until the night before.
  • A co-worker drops the ball, and we are left to pick up the pieces.
  • Another driver gets distracted and crashes into our car.

Other times, being out of sorts happens because of the decisions we make:

  • We forget to unload the dishwasher at the right time.
  • We say yes to too many things.
  • We don’t communicate well, causing chaos and conflict.

Whether being out of sorts comes from within us or from others, we can still choose to act in a way that pleases God.

We find clues in one of my favorite passages in the Bible.

“Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:1-4 World English Bible).

Learning from this passage, we can easily get back on track, even though we find ourselves out of sorts. We can:

  • Listen to those who have been there.
  • Look at our situation with accuracy.
  • Lead others to know the truth.

What are ways you find yourself out of sorts? Can you listen, look, and lead to put things right?

Kristy Horine book--In a Season of MondaysSubscribe to receive Diana’s weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.” On September 9, 2023, one name will be randomly selected from Diana’s mailing list to also receive a free copy of Kristy’s In a Season of Mondays. If your name is already on the mailing list, you are automatically entered. Please encourage your friends to subscribe.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment.

Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Keep Your Ear to the Ground

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Keep Your Ear to the Ground--bison grazing

Stampedes of cattle, horses, or bison occur frequently in old Western movies. The herds can often be heard before they can be seen. A few movies teach that if you keep your ear to the ground, you detect the stampede’s vibrations.

That also holds true for:

  • People
  • Trains and other vehicles

If you keep your ear to the ground, you stay alert to what is going on around you.

You listen for what is happening or may happen. That helps you keep up with:

  • Current events
  • Changes
  • Opportunities

You benefit if you stay well-informed.

For example, you learn quickly of

  • Job openings
  • Special events
  • Investment options
  • Trends

If you keep your ear to the ground, you may also learn the latest gossip.

Of course, gossip may or may not be true. You usually benefit if you stay away from busybodies. Even if what they say is true, it is often unkind and unnecessary.

To stay informed, keep your eyes peeled and your ear to the ground.

To learn about the best life, focus on the one who created you and can guide you through all life’s changes. At the end of the road, that’s all that matters.

“The Master told me, ‘Go, post a lookout. Have him report whatever he spots. When he sees horses and wagons in battle formation, lines of donkeys and columns of camels, Tell him to keep his ear to the ground, note every whisper, every rumor.’” (Isaiah 21:6-7 MSG)

Thanks to Lindy Pierce for the suggestion.

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There Now

There Now

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There Now--little girl kissing the head of a little boy in a rockerWhen I needed comfort as a child, I could go to several relatives. They often responded with, “There now. Don’t cry. Everything will be okay.” I felt better immediately. Everything usually was okay.

My troubles included such tragedies as:

  • Bee stings
  • Poison ivy
  • Falls
  • Childhood quarrels

For bigger problems, they doubled their comfort. “There, there now” gave an extra word for extra cheer.

A few problems lasted longer than usual. For those, they reminded me everything would come out in the wash.

I learned from their comfort how to comfort others.

There now soothes or reassures someone having a tough time.

It helps a hurting person:

The need for comfort does not stop as an adult.

Troubles may differ, but they remain as real.

  • Health crises
  • Relationship woes
  • Financial stresses
  • Work demands

Ways to cheer one another include:

  • Prayers
  • Notes
  • Calls
  • Visits
  • Texts
  • Hugs, if appropriate

Listening is more important than talking. Availability is more important than activity.

Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones (Isaiah 49:13 NIV).

Thanks to Rita Smalley for the suggestion.

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Take the Cotton Out of Your Ears and Put It in Your Mouth

Take the Cotton Out of Your Ears and Put It in Your Mouth

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Take the Cotton Out of Your Ears and Put It in Your Mouth--cotton balls in an earA friend’s mother-in-law used to tell family members, “Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth.” Many of us have probably heard the same or similar expressions.

Take the cotton out of your ears and put it in your mouth means to stop talking and start listening.

When we talk all the time, we fail to hear what others say. Their words go in one ear and out the other.

God gave us two ears and one mouth. That tells us something important, don’t you think? If we listen more than talk, we have fewer conflicts and greater cooperation.

We learn more when we listen.            

If we listen closely, all ears, we hear – not just noise or words, but also what the other person means.

We regret less when we listen.

If we wait to talk until we hear the other person’s point of view, we have fewer problems. We avoid putting our foot in our mouth.

The next time we want to talk too much rather than listen, let’s remember how God created us– one mouth, two ears.

“You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen” (Isaiah 42:20 NIV).

Thanks to Brad Palmer for the suggestion and to Travis Gosser for the photo.

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Wise as an Owl

Wise as an Owl

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Wise as an Owl--snowy owl on a logI had never seen a snowy owl until this one showed up near our house. Northern Canada is home to snowy owls, not central Kentucky. Yet, this one decided to stop for a visit.

As a result, people traveled here from several states. They wanted to see and take pictures of our unusual guest.

All owls, including our lovely visitor, remind us to be wise as an owl.

Wise as an owl means very wise.

We use our brains. That includes:

  • Learning new information
  • Using that information well (We can be sharp as a tack yet not wise.)
  • Sharing our information, so others can also grow wise as an owl

Wise as an owl does not mean having all the answers.

No one but God knows everything. Therefore, a wise person:

Remember a word to the wise can come from unusual places:

Watch. Listen. Always remain ready to learn.

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning” (Proverbs 9:9 NIV).

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Save Your Breath

Save Your Breath

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Save Your Breath-two little boysSometimes you need to save your breath.

You know that no one will listen to what you say.

  • Talking will do no good.
  • Explaining will not help.
  • Arguing will probably make things worse.

A person not listening to you can be a good thing.

  • You may not have anything useful to say.
  • Your ideas may be wrong.
  • You don’t like to admit it, but you don’t always have the right answers.

A person not listening to you can also be a bad thing.

Most of the time, a person will listen.

That person may not like what you have to say. However, he or she will listen. Therefore:

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6 NIV).

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Thanks to Joy Hamilton Hale and Mackenzie Smith for the cute photo.

The Other Side of the Coin

The Other Side of the Coin

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The Other Side of the CoinI’m not always right.

I wish I were, but I’m not. Therefore, I need to look at life from other points of view. I need to consider ideas other than my own — the other side of the coin.

By looking at the other side of the coin, I give myself the opportunity to grow. I may learn I was wrong. If not, I strengthen my original belief. I gain from either of those possibilities.

We don’t have to agree with others to remain friends.

Rather, we learn to disagree agreeably. My husband and I share many of the same values and beliefs. We also disagree on several issues. We have learned to accept that reality. Occasionally we begin a sentence with, “I know you’re going to disagree with this, but …”

I wonder:

  • How many wars could have been prevented by looking at the other side’s opinions?
  • How many couples could have avoided divorce by focusing on one another’s feelings?
  • How many friendships could have been preserved by listening more than talking?

Not everything in life revolves around us and our outlook.

Let’s not be hardheaded. Rather, let’s check out the other side of the coin. In the process we:

  • Stretch our minds.
  • Enrich our resources,
  • Share one another’s burdens and joys, whether we agree or not.

When we look at the other side of the coin, we gain another viewpoint. We choose whether to accept or reject that viewpoint. Let’s use wisdom as we choose.

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5 NIV).

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How Are You?

How Are You?

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How are YouWe often say, “How are you?” as a greeting, not a true question. It sounds like we want to know a person’s physical or emotional health. We usually don’t. Instead, we say it the same way we say:

  • Hi
  • Hello
  • Hey
  • Good morning (afternoon, evening)

Sometimes we alter “How are you?” to “How ya doin’?” (How are you doing?)

We expect people to answer, “Fine. How are you?” or “Fine. How about you?”

We don’t mean to be uncaring. Like most habits, we never think about our actions.

Next time we ask, “How are you?” why not pause long enough for a real response? As Piper did in this picture:

  • Stop what we are doing.
  • Look at the person.
  • Listen carefully.

We might be surprised at what we learn.

This tradition may never change. However, we all benefit by caring for one another. When we take time to listen, we show respect and concern. Our world can certainly use more of that.

“The wise man learns by listening” (Proverbs 21:11 TLB).

Thanks to Karen Atwood for the photo.

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I’m All Ears

I’m All Ears

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I'm All EarsThis little rabbit nibbled grass near our back door. He lifted those ears as soon as he heard us behind him. His body went down, but his ears went up! “I’m all ears” he seemed to say. “I hear your every move and sound.”

He stopped:

  • Eating
  • Twitching his nose
  • Hopping
  • Looking around.

We had his full attention.

We can learn a lot from that kind of focus. Don’t you wish people would listen to one another so well? How often do we try to talk to someone, but we don’t give or receive full attention? While one person talks, the other person’s attention strays to:

  • The television
  • A cell phone
  • A computer screen
  • Another person
  • A book
  • Work
  • Anywhere but on the person talking

What does that say to the person trying to be heard?

  • I’m too busy.
  • You’re not important.
  • Leave me alone.
  • Someone or something else matters more than you.
  • I don’t care what you have to say.

Let’s listen to one another—really listen, with our ears, with our eyes, and with our body language. Like our rabbit friend, let’s send the message, “I’m all ears. I want to hear what you have to say.”

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19 NIV).

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