dar334

Fresh coffee started, teeth brushed, hair in a knot at the top of my head, comfy clothes donned, Quiet Room vacuumed …… and Saturday begins at the House That Built Me.

Next up is Folgers in my cup, two calcium logs and two vitamin D3 in hand, the Lenten Devotional opened. The humming of the furnace and dehumidifier along with the sound of water filling the washing machine set the scene as I open to Day 28. There are two scripture readings for today, starting with Matthew 20:20-28. Jesus Teaches About Serving Others. Here Matthew tells us the mother of Zebedee’s sons asks Jesus to have her two sons sit at the right and left of him in his kingdom. Jesus tells her it is not up to him to grant her wish. I then went to the study note and learned that Zebedee’s sons were James and John. I noted that in my notebook. We are then directed to Mark 10:35-45. Mark tells us that James and John were the ones who asked to be seated at his right and left in the kingdom. I stopped a moment to note in my notebook this difference in the two gospels, Matthew tells us it was the mother and Mark tells us it was James and John themselves that asked the favor, I planned to ask Joe about it tomorrow.

When I went to the study note in Mark, it was suggested that the difference in the two was possibly because the mother and the sons were in agreement in requesting the seating arrangements. At this point I thought of our grandson instructing his little sister to use the context clues. The moral of this ponder is to try and find the answer to your question on your own before asking. Sometimes you just need the patience to figure it out for yourself instead of taking the easy route by asking somebody else. More than likely you will glean additional useful information by seeking the answer out for yourself. Although I considered putting this ponder in black and white, I had decided against it, it could be used against me in the future.

But then ……………

After my cup was filled again, laundry switched to the dryer and a new load started, I found myself pondering from the reading that follows the scripture lessons. The writer confirms that Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. He then goes on to tell us that when he typed the word “servanthood” in his word processing program, a red squiggly line appear underneath it. At this point I wanted to scream “I KNOW RIGHT?!”, I have even written about that same thing happening when titles of books in the Bible have that same red squiggly line under them in my Microsoft program or on my Apple device because they weren’t recognized. The writer then goes on to say, and I quote, “It is a visual reminder of just how foreign a word it is to my computer, just as it is a foreign concept to our culture.” A right click on that squiggly red line and “Add To Dictionary” can solve the problem on our devices. Too bad there isn’t an easy fix when it comes to culture.

Can I get an “Amen.”?

Until next time,

-dar