The Blind Man and the Elephant
Posted on | July 1, 2009 | 1 Comment
(no, it’s not a political thing, really)
So, yesterday, a pair of uniformed young lads knocked on my door to tell me of another “testimony” of Jesus Christ. Our conversation ended with them asking me “Oh. Well. Then, is there anything else we can do for you, ma’am?” I can only wonder if they would actually ask their elders the questions I posed to them. And wonder if either of them had caught our germs.
But anyway, their visit jogged my memory of this poem. Kinda made me think of how some are so limited in their ability or desire to know Him better and yet feel it safe to come to conclusions about God. “Some” can include me: often I forget how Truly Great He Is. It’s too easy for me to think there is no way out of a serious circumstance when in fact God is more than able to change it (or even change me!).
THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT
John Godfrey Saxe
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, “Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”
The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
” ‘Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
Moral:
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!
Vacation Days
Posted on | July 1, 2009 | No Comments
It has been slow around here, hasn’t it? So sorry, to be honest, Facebook has been a time leech for me. Figures, doesn’t it? But also, we’ve been in vacation mode for the previous two weeks. And this week? Well, we’re recovering from said vacation.
Briefly: my MIL came to visit us here in Austin for one week and we all drove back to California and spent a week at my SIL’s in Carlsbad. We had loads of fun and were blessed to enjoy lots of time with friends and family. But “lots” is never really enough when they live so far away, is it? We miss them lots already. I’ll get the photos sorted out and will share them here in the next few days.
UP!
Posted on | June 19, 2009 | 2 Comments
Got to stay up late last night to see this. What a sweet, bittersweet, wonderful movie!
All the more wonderful to have seen it with my hubby, with whom I am celebrating 17 years of marriage tomorrow.
Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage? I think not; that places a heavy burden on one half.
It’s not a two-way street because a man and woman but travel together in the same direction.
Like I heard a pastor once describe it, when it’s a good relationship, it’s the closest thing to heaven on this earth.
Heaven is above and beyond what I can imagine? Then it will be so incredibly amazing.
I love you, Loye! That 17 years has been too short.
Boys Of the Future
Posted on | June 12, 2009 | No Comments
J: Mom, when I grow up, it’ll be the FUture!
R (friend of NM): J, you don’t know if you’ll even make it to the future.
NM: I bet I’ll make it! It’ll be the future when I’m an adult.
Oh Dear
Posted on | June 11, 2009 | No Comments
~ Clearly, it’s been slow here at In That Number. So sorry. Real life and—to be honest—Farm Town game on Face Book take up a bit of my online time.
~ Part of why it is slow here is that I still have no camera. This is very sad to me! I have a camera on my phone but you know that’s hardly the same. Please pray we find the charger! Thanks.
~ We are looking forward to a visit from my MIL this Monday night. She’ll be here all week then on Saturday we’re driving out to California and spending a week there.
~ Our plans during her visit include a trip to a cave (hopefully gold panning, too), a trip to Fredricksburg (hopefully getting peaches, too), some time in the water and some hiking.
~ Our plans won’t include a trip to Houston for now. I don’t know that I want to drive 3.5 hours there in the morning and 3.5 hours back in the evening.
~ Our women’s bible study group is great. The fellowship has been encouraging and it’s been interesting to see how different ladies at different points in their Walk fellowship together. God is good!
~ I am trying to get over a little flu bug. I think for most who have it, there is some intestinal stuff involved but for me it was mostly fatigue and achy-ness. I’ve not had as much sleep as I should have lately and that’s a big factor when it comes to germs getting a hold of me. They did, this time, but I’m fighting back with naps and juice.
~ I started a crochet project. I needed to! I have to do something with the pattern I bought long, long ago. It’s been years since I’ve done it but came back to me. Fun so far and if I had the camera, I’d share what I’ve done with you. Pray I find that charger!
~ I miss the camera.
Snippets
Posted on | June 5, 2009 | 5 Comments
~ Today: the boys were fighting over what cleaning they want to do. Yes, that’s a blessing! I should get them to clean more often, shouldn’t I?
~ Hubby has his Father’s Day present early. It’s a new kettle barbecue. But guess what? Guess what? Guess what? It’s charcoal. I’ve waited years for this day! Tonight: flank steak with amazing marinade. It will be good, whether it wants to be or not.
~ The puppeh doesn’t like smoke, she tries to hide from it. She’s never seen it before.
~ My youngest, in spite of congestion, has been a really chipper guy. It’s also possible he’s a pyro.
~ My oldest has been such a great guy to be around all week. So sweet! He’s been a huge help with everything. And he has a healthy respect for fire.
~ NM and I went to a pool last night with a few other families from church. I am so blessed to know and fellowship with them.
~ Tomorrow, we have a potluck and my house for the women’s ministry. I love these: it’s an excuse to deep-clean *some* of the house. I gave up on some rooms for now. Good thing they have doors.
~ The boys are going to have some bonding time during the potluck. I’m sure they won’t call it that. They’ll call it “Going to see the movie UP with Abba and getting to eat out afterwards.”
~ Hubby wants us all to go swimming in the afternoon. I sure hope there will be time for a nap first. Hehe. I mean, hint, hint.
~ In just over a week: my MIL comes to visit. We’re trying to think of things to do. I’m hoping Hamilton Pool is on the list; NM wants to go to Houston so we can see NASA again.
~ Speaking of stuff to do: I have no way of recording it all. No, the camera is fine but the charger is missing. I would appreciate prayers; I hate missing the chance to photograph the boys at least once a week. It’s been over a week.
~ Opted out of a digital piano for now. Since both hubby and I were hemming and hawing over it, we decided to wait until the next sale. Maybe I’ll learn how to play guitar in the mean time. I bet it builds knitting muscles.
~ I haven’t knitted in almost a week! That’s sad, isn’t it?
NO!
Posted on | June 3, 2009 | No Comments
I had a fancy post for you but I opted out. Too fancy. Instead:
~ Spicy tamarind candy: ew. Take spicy away, please. That or remind me to read the label.
~ Growing up: NO. It is not allowed around here. J is not allowed to tell me no more Jojo at bedtime. Nor is he allowed to ask me for cups with no lids when he drinks from them. NO WAY! Stay little forever is the rule!
~ Running out of time: not allowed. I have to get a lot of stuff done before Saturday. But why is that so much of it has to be done at the last minute like floors and bathroom and flowers and stuff?
~ Not allowed to have no side dish for my roast pork loin. Why can’t I figure out what to make with it? When in doubt: rice.
~ Forgetting to say thank you? Forget it! Must always take time to say thank you around the kids, around the hubby, and mostly, to God who’s responsible to begin with. Thank you, Lord!
The Mystery Machine
Posted on | May 27, 2009 | 4 Comments
I just had to share this find with you. Sighted while we waited in a Target parking lot.
Just keepin’ Austin weird!
Memorial Day Shenanigans
Posted on | May 26, 2009 | No Comments
Boy, are we all tired! More photos here.
I got up really late. Please don’t ask me what time it was, the only sign was that the sun was glaring right at me. “Get up, lazy bones!” it seemed to be saying. It didn’t know that I was up really late finishing up some knitting, so I have an excuse.
Hubby made us all breakfast which was great. He’s been making eggs with bits of corn tortillas scrambled along with the cheese and I actually like them that way. Normally, I really, really don’t like eggs. But these were yummy!
We decided to go hiking around Town Lake instead of Barton Creek. It was pretty crowded, owing to the fact that we were hitting the tail end of the big triathlon of the year (a friend from church was in it). We were not taking part in the triathlon. Just in case you were wondering.
Our walk was wonderful. It wasn’t that hot at all and the crowds weren’t so bad that we were elbowing each other. J wasn’t too excited because he wanted to hike a different path. Eventually, he gave in and decided to enjoy himself. Sprocket was great, she was focused on the walk. I’m guessing this was due to the sheer number of people and dogs (too many to say hi to each one) and the large number of bicyclists (she’s really scared of those). Hubby threw her in the water twice to help her cool off and was paid with a scowl from a bystander. Oh well! She didn’t have a hot dog. Heh. J had gotten a blister so we had to head back. Hubby carried him half way back to the car on his shoulders. J didn’t like that to begin with, but it didn’t take him long to realize the benefits of that form of travel.
We went home then had lunch. After the food settled we went for a swim. Yep, “we”! I even went in (it took much prodding though). The kids had a blast. Never a question about that, though.
Hubby tried to fix the bbq but that thing decided to break on us. So steak was pan-fried but no less delicious. All in all a great day. We’re hoping most of our Saturdays this summer will be just as fun (and tiring)!
Friday’s Fun
Posted on | May 23, 2009 | 4 Comments
Let me just start off with: I got to spend a lot of time at Super Target today. Call me what you will, but I enjoy browsing the shelves, putting things in my card, wandering, oggling, taking stuff out of my cart, telling J not to wander off, oggling, etc…it’s a sickness but one I know I share with a lot of you. Right? Please right?
Later on in the afternoon, we joined friends at a park. J’s classmate was having a birthday party and we were happy to be invited. The NM got to play basketball and soccer with the older boys while J had a blast running around and squirting his friends with a water pistol. He was indiscriminate: everyone there was a victim of his decent aim. Of course, if you go by how wet his shirt was, his friends were pretty good shots as well.
Pictures? Sadly, no. I didn’t pull out the camera. I was enjoying listening to adult conversation (though my part of the conversation was probably less than adult at times). It was great. My knitting even stayed in my purse, if you can believe it (was tempted but managed to resist). And even Sprocket got to come along and bark when the kids ran past her, laughing.
Good times 
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1Jo 1:4
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