Women of Faith 2011

Present Tense

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted the warm days,
and the great outdoors.

It was summer, but it was fall I wanted,
the colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.

It was fall, but it was winter I wanted,
the beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.

It was winter, but it was spring I wanted,
the warmth and the blossoming of nature.

I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted,
the freedom and respect.

I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted, to be mature, and sophisticated.

I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted, the youth and the free spirit.

I was retired, but it was middle age I wanted, the presence of mind without limitations.

My life was over, and I never got what I wanted.

- Jason Lehman (14 years old)


This was a poem that Luci Swindoll shared at the conference this year. What an amazing time it was. We heard from so many great speakers and my heart was truly blessed. Dr. Cloud spoke about necessary endings and our "monkeys". Lisa Harper, Sheila Walsh, Angie Smith and Luci Swindoll shared about parts of their lives and how we God gives us far more than we can ever imagine. Natalie Grant was amazing...what a voice! Something every woman should be a part of and experience.

The State of Marriage

So I watched an episode of Grey's Anatomy the other day and it really bothered me.  This was the "White Wedding" episode where Callie and Arizona are planning to get married.  This aspect of the show has really bothered me (not that there aren't other aspects that should bother a person too) as they are a same sex couple.  However, this episode really bothered me in the flippant way it talked about marriage and God.  Below are the 2 segments that I am referring to.  The first is a discussion between Callie and her mom and the second is Bailey's reponse.

I think what bothers me most about this is the way Callie's mom and the church are made out to be the bad guys.  Now, Callie's mom could have phrased it or possibly handled it differently but essentially she took a stance for what is right and yet she is the one who is "wrong".  Bailey said, " the church has not caught up to God yet".  I have to say that this line is the part that really gets me.  Hollywood has glamorized immoral living and is suggesting that those people who believe in certain morals are wrong and living in the dark ages.  What is morally okay?  Where is the line? Is there no area where we can take a stance and be respected for our beliefs instead of looked upon as ignorant or intolerable?

Just some of my thoughts....I so often have a hard time getting what I feel about something into words...this post might be a work in progress...