Not-So-Random Act of Kindness

If you've been on the Mighty Mac lately,

you might have been on the receiving end of a

random act of kindness.

Years ago, I was the recipient of an act of kindness while crossing the Bridge.

The vehicle in front of me...
paid my toll.

I was stunned...and thankful.

Since then,
whenever I cross the Straits of Mackinac,
I enjoy doing the same.

Paying the toll for the vehicle behind me.

Whether you are in Michigan, or in San Fran, try it.

You'll have a smile, and so will the car behind you.

Pass it on...

Until next time, dear friends, Lord willing.

Sherry

Wi-Fi at Waldon Pond? What if?

This is a question I've been pondering (no pun intended) for the last couple days.

Earlier in the week, I made a decision to move even further away from civilization.
Quite frankly, what I was seeing in society wasn't too civilized.

Since we no longer have any TV viewing of any kind,
I assumed the next step would be Internet.
So...
I made a Pro/Con list,
seeing if "deactivating" my Facebook account might be the proper route.

The list read something like this:

Pro:
More time with nature.

Con:
Will miss connecting with family and friends.

Pro:

See less negative information/gossip.

Con:

Will miss connecting with family and friends.

And so on...

Bottom line, I felt I needed solitude.

My thoughts wandered to Henry David Thoreau as he began his 2-year journey at
Walden Pond back in early July of 1845.
Young Thoreau felt he needed solitude when he built his 10 x 15 cabin,
to write and live rent free on his buddy, Ralph Waldo's, land.
However, Thoreau liked visitors.
Ralph W. Emerson visited almost daily that first year.
(Word has it, he was also checking on his land and pond...)

Thoreau liked visiting.
He even wrote a chapter in his book about "Visitors".
As he said: 
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.

So, you ask...would Henry David Thoreau have plugged in?

Would he have kept his social network of the day going?

You bet.

This past week, with urgings from friends and relatives,

and even husband,

I prayed about my decision to get off Facebook.

And in doing so, received some very interesting insights from God.

I realize now that Facebook takes me to a new level.

I'm not afraid to use it as my ministry.

To lift up.

To spread the word of God.

I was willing to give it up.

But in turning away from Facebook, I would lose that connection.

I would lose, perhaps the chance to witness to someone.

I like the written word. I love the written word.
I always have, and will to the day I die.

I need to be connected.

"Secluded" does not equal solitude.

We must be here for each other, especially in these troubled times. 

Like family should…FB family.

And... I have the BEST Facebook friends in the world.
Hands down.
Some are relatives, some are old friends, some new friends. 
But all have a face.
Facebook is just that…putting a face, to a book.
The book of life.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Thank you Lord ~ for giving me the clarity in this decision.

Until tomorrow...God willing,



Good Deed for the Day

Over the weekend, I had noticed one of the wild turkeys didn't quite trot the same due to a perfectly tied "bow" on his right leg.  There was a sash made from the top of a feeding bag that had somehow looped and fastened to its leg. 

I had wondered if he could "shake it off". 

However, I had failed to mention it to Russ. 

It seems I didn't have to, because he noticed on his own.

Yesterday, Russ made a snare and patiently waited for the big fella to step in.

Once he did, there was some squawkin', but Russ got the sash untied and rescued the bird's leg from a painful bondage.

Russ said "He thought he was a gonner..but settled down eventually and was grateful for his freedom once I could get the tight tie cut off..."

Small task, with a big outcome ~ a wild turkey who knows the hands of kindness.