Why My Progress is Slow

^{I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.}

John 15:5 (NRSV)

This blog, Faithful in Health, has been little more than the germ of an idea for far too long now. Although, I wish that statement would be followed by the assertion, “But now, I’m ready to roll!” it is not—for the reasons below.

In trying to answer a simple and straightforward question asked via social media by a friend this morning—which company do I use when sourcing certain key natural ingredients—I found myself writing a lengthy reply…only to have it vanish right before I was ready to post it, of course.

I write slowly as a matter of course for several reasons. 

1.     I like to have a bit of knowledge before I speak. This sounds easy enough, but when applied to something as time-consuming as maintaining a blog, one can get bogged down very quickly.

2.        To have that background knowledge, I must first conduct the necessary research. 

Sounds simple enough, right? If the premise of this blog is a blend of two areas of interest—faith (in God) and health (natural, holistic)—how difficult can the writing be? Ha, if you only knew the lengths to which some of us on the planet over-think anything before opening our mouths to share our opinions as ones that could possibly be valid.

Case in point, over the past several years I’ve transitioned from one willing (and eager) to eat the Standard American Diet on a regular basis—basically, to use much-processed foods to fuel this body from one task to the next—to one far more discerning, who better understands the power of real, whole foods to fuel this body for the moment and for the long term.

A few epiphanies along the way, generally followed by flurries of intense learning / research, have solidified this outlook. Then, just about when I feel enthusiastic enough to share my knowledge something happens to derail the process. 

3.    One tenet of my writing is that it is sincere, honest, even bald. Since I desire to know the Whys behind just about any topic worthy of discussion, you will NOT find clickbait on this site. (At least not written by me. I expect it to be the basis of peripheral advertisements which are necessary, and are not necessarily evil. Blogging is not free.)

As such, readers will find questions embedded within discourse, likely revealing the vast quantity of knowledge yet-to-be-gained by this inadequate, ever-inquiring mind.
 

3a. Ever notice the plethora of numbers-based titles around you? “Six reasons why…,” “Ten methods of…,” and “21 uses for…” crowd advertisements, pop-up windows, and marginalia. Ever since I “discovered” blogging, oh, about eight years ago (in late 2008, early 2009, I’ve been inundated with advice urging me to write such titles. They create curiosity and practically promise quick learning opportunities; however, they do not delve into the deeper reasons, the Whys—the meat of any topic. (Ha! I just noticed that, how meat is embedded into our cultural lexicon as being the important part of any meal. It needn’t be, I’ve learned. But, that’s another topic for another day.)

3b. Even those without clickbait, I’m talking about the good, informative, well-written blogs—there are several out there that I have found, many I have yet to find—are written, generally, for readers in a rush (see item #4, below). As such, each provides information on a very specific, focused topic. Since such focus leaves out much important information, links are provided to take readers to related information…and one gets as endlessly lost as with the clickbait-type articles.

Such titles are, in my opinion, often flags for click-bait. These non-substantive articles lure readers into what may turn into hours of pursuing one topic after another, endlessly lured on—until the phone rings or one glances at the clock, only to rue the time now lost.

4.      To include reasoning requires length, yet readers haven’t time (or inclination) for length.

This is my ever-circular conundrum: the desire to be concise without forfeiting substance. In the early 21^st Century society appears driven by a 140-character mentality. We want knowledge quickly. Yet, we also want knowledge upon which we can rely. To know which sources to trust requires the background knowledge of what drives each source. That background knowledge is more than a 140-character storehouse of information.

5.      Reasoning requires research. 

Research, done as I wish to have it done, requires an investment of time, energy, thought, and finances. If I’m to present an authoritative opinion on any topic, I need to have a. found the information, b. taken thorough notes, including resource citations, c. purchased the ingredients for each recipe—which includes trying similar ingredients from multiple sources and trying each of these, d. followed recipes, made the products and tried them, e. again, making copious notes, f. identified or developed my favored recipe(s)—noting specifics of brands/types of ingredients used, and g. reached a point from which I felt comfortable writing authoritatively on the topic.

6.      Case-in-point: my friend’s question. She asked about my source for Essential Oils. I shared the name of the company. She asked for contact information and I went in search of that referral link I have…somewhere, that would garner her a discount on her first purchase and award me a credit for future use. In the process…

In the process of searching (Yes, it would help to have a better filing system; note to self duly created.), In the process of searching I stumbled across a blog that included all that I would wish to include. The author has done the research, tested her recipes on family (to whom she gives credit), and thoughtful, thorough posts about the topic. Thank you, thank you Ms. Rebecca of the blog A Beautiful Ruckus <dot> com!

Her 2014 post comparing Essential Oils offered by five different companies, found here, is excellent! Well written and thoughtfully presented, it includes not only information I had already found but also so much more. It reminded me of why I have been slow to write and why, if friends are going to continue to ask me for resources, I need to educate myself—sooner rather than later.

The best result of that experience was being able to give my friend good information. Secondly, it goaded me into writing this…and thinking about all those projects I have been meaning to do but which I’ve allowed myself to postpone. Finally, it gave me the push I needed to follow through with just one of those threads I’ve been meaning to chase. (Stay tuned for adventures in home crafted shampooing!)

I firmly believe that the Lord placed us on this earth with the tools necessary to survive and thrive. Having been raised in the “living better through chemistry” years, though, I’ve bought into much misinformation (some deliberate), along with many others. Raised by an organic gardener as well as a scientist, with an emphasis on social justice and less on church sermons than church community, this inquiring mind has come to trust more deeply in Him than ever before, and to appreciate the diversity of resources with which He provided all living creatures. 

Blessings,

Cynthia

29 November 2016

Battling Insect Pests—Sweet-Eating Ants

¹⁹See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions,and over all the power of the enemy;  
and nothing will hurt you.

Luke 10:19  (NRSV)

I grew up in a drafty old New England farmhouse. The kitchen was situated at the back of the house, adjacent to the back porch—whose swinging door was quite serviceable, but did not seal like most doors today. The breadbox sat on a little side table Formica-topped, once a children’s table, I believe), and every summer the table legs were set into empty cans—tuna cans were used most often. Then, a bit of water in each can, and voilà! Instant moats excluded ants from getting into the baked goods for the season. In that house we periodically battled sweet-eating ants and big, black carpenter ants. The favorite solution for an active pile of ants (generally found just outside the back stairs, where cracks decorated the turning platform[1]) was boiling water. One whistling tea kettle—and swarms were exterminated in an instant.

The farmhouse in which I now reside has ants—little, sweet-eating ants—entering from both the garage and the front porch. The counters offer no locations for moats. When they first appeared, in the late winter, marching up towards the hearth, I found my store of ant bait stations and ant bait. True to the box’s instructions, the bait lured a steady river of ants for about a day…and then the stream dwindled and stopped. Now, though, I’m thinking these ants are either immune to the baits or…what, I do not know. Yes, they love the bait stations—not enough to swarm them, but enough to maintain a fairly steady, trickling stream of customers.

Lord, help me. How to eradicate the last of these pests without resorting to poisonous pesticides? The recent AARP Bulletin recommends spraying vinegar along baseboards[2] to deter ants without resorting to toxic chemicals. I filled a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar yesterday evening. Now, the house smells like salad dressing…and the ants have not been deterred.

I wonder about the mint wasp spray I have somewhere out in the garage. Wasp bodies are somewhat similar to those of ants. Might it prove toxic to them as well?

I’m open to suggestions at this point. How do you manage ants in your home?

Thanking readers in advance for great suggestions, I bid you adieu.

---

[1] The “turning platform” was a slowly breaking-up cement area behind the house, adjacent to the garage. Today it would be called a “driveway.”

[2] “Bugged by Bugs?” Deals, Discounts, Etc. column, AARP Bulletin, 2016 June, p. 14

Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell, book review

Shaw, Liane. Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell. Second Story Press, 2016. 272 pages. Trade paper $12.95, 978-1927583-95-1.  E-book 978-1927583-99-9.

Release date: April 2016 in Canada. September 2016 in the US.

Beautifully written and carefully told, Liane Shaw’s Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell effectively portrays the voices of its two first-person narrators. Frederick—a white, male high school junior with Asperger’s Syndrome, narrates much of the first half of the novel . His unlikely friend, Angel—an overweight, Hispanic female high school sophomore new to the school because her family has moved, yet again, narrates much of the latter half of Shaw’s story. Their differences earn both young adults opportunities to suffer at the hands of school bullies. Angel, who encounters Frederick in a corner of the school library while he’s engaged in an IM conversation using the name Kaleidoscope, actively pursues his friendship—beginning by calling him Kal. This confuses Frederick because not only does this nickname imply the violation of his personal space—Angel must have read over his shoulder to see his screen name, but also Kal is not his name. Over time Angel endears herself to him, provides countless social behavior lessons as his self-appointed socialization tutor, and confides in him. Confidences require listening with little talking, making Frederick well-suited to the position of confidante. Unfortunately, one such confidence comes with an oath, thrice repeated, to not tell just before Angel runs away. Her absence stretches beyond the projected several hours—planned to be just enough time to upset her parents—into days. Since Frederick was the last person seen with her, Chapter One opens at the police station where he is being questioned about Angel’s whereabouts. His interior monologue reveals much more to readers than do his verbal responses as Frederick puzzles through the unfamiliar social situation and the requirements of being a friend and of keeping one’s word. When Angel’s mother tearfully appears on the evening news, Frederick concludes that he must find his friend. His search and its aftermath introduce several firsts in his life: the first lies he’s told his mother, his first solo adventure out of town, the first time he has skipped school and the first time he has gone to any lengths for a friend.

Strong narration and powerful storytelling pull readers through the teens’ misadventures, making the novel hard to put down. Issues of self-respect and self-esteem are central to the novel, and issues of family, friendships and bullying are prominent. Appealing to both male and female readers in grades 7 through 12, and an excellent choice for character studies—even into junior college, the novel could also be useful in teacher education classes as future educators learn to work with diverse populations. Buy this book for your local library, and two copies for the secondary school libraries in your area. Include this title on summer reading lists…and let readers be reminded of how powerful an experience reading can provide. (Note: For summer reading, U.S. residents should be able to access the e-book now; the September release date for the U.S. applies to print books.) Highly recommended!

 Full disclosure: I received a free, advance reading copy of this book from Second Story Press in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Love One Another

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.

Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another."

John 13:34 (NRSV)

This morning’s sermon at North Nashville’s Metropolitan Interdenominational Church, titled How’s your Love Life?, challenged the congregation to follow Jesus’ new commandment. The Senior Servant reminded us that this verse appears between a passage about betrayal and one about denial, and he spoke of Christ’s love as being pure. Both the Word and my pastor’s words reminded me of my human frailty, of my inability to love all wholly and unconditionally. It’s not for want of trying, but in every phase of life I’ve been faced with one individual or another whose presence and demeanor, perhaps the way he or she conducted him- or herself around me, left me feeling judgmental—and righteous in that judgement, even though none of us is fit to judge the other. In recent years, sometimes when I’ve wrestled with this aspect of my personality, I’ve discussed it with my mother-in-law—a very wise woman from Memphis, Tennessee, who has seen more in her lifetime that I might hope ever to see. “We all as filthy rags,” she tells me. “It’s in the bible. None of us is fit to judge.” When stumbling over judgmental feelings, I frequently hold her up before myself as an example of how to live, and then I strive to be better.

In church today, our pastor—home after a week of appearances and activities at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session focused on drug policy (Metropolitan Church’s interest being the ways in which drug policies influence the rates of HIV infection)—left us with three points to consider, all central to his work during this past week. (1) Do no harm. Although a given in harm reduction work, policy makers often lose sight of this principle in favor of appeasing constituents and appearing tough on crime. (2) Glorify the Lord. As a tireless faith leader, our pastor gently yet firmly reminds policy makers and others of what is right in the eyes of the Lord. (3) Love radically. That’s a hard one. As a radically-inclusive congregation we seek to be “inclusive of all and alienating to none,” and we are an interesting mix of humanity. While I can welcome you, or anyone, into the church—it’s outside, in my own life, that I stumble.

Lord, give me the strength and discernment to love more fully, more purely, than my human heart would have me love. Amen.

Thrive, book review

Chayne, Kamea. Thrive: An Environmentally Conscious Lifestyle Guide to Better Health and True Wealth. Purpose Prints, 2016. 242 pages. Paperback $16.99, 978-0997132021. 

The dedication to Chayne’s book may tell prospective readers more about Thrive than will this review, for it beautifully distills the book’s essence into what I read as the author’s wish for humanity. “To exist is to be at one point in time. To live is to experience every passing moment with your five senses and your mind open. To Thrive is to think beyond what is best for each of us right now and to act upon what is best for our world for the future. And that is the rarest thing of all. It is our collective selflessness that can give us a chance to create a forever.” The Table of Contents presents a tantalizing menu of upcoming chapters, exciting the sentient reader into turning all of the book’s the pages. Promising “an evidence-based summary of how you can begin to life a healthier, happier life right away,” Chayne’s Thrive delivers from the first page. As one who already considers what I eat, how I interact and why I shop used over new, this reader was impressed by the multitude of ideas presented in every section, and by the simplicity with which each was explained and presented as actionable.

Due out in May, 2016, Thrive belongs on library shelves, in a multitude of gift boxes (with recyclable or reusable wrapping, of course) and on book discussion group lists around the globe. The simplicity of Chayne’s presentation, paired with the wealth of resources from which her conclusions are drawn, makes the work suitable for classroom use wherein a chapter is studied for content and craft and can be the basis of lessons on writing, argumentation, or research—lessons with the potential to reach beyond the narrow purview of classroom goals and objectives. Do yourself a favor and put Thrive on your reading list today.

 Full disclosure: I received a free, advance reading copy of this book from Purpose Prints in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Rejoice

This is the day the Lord has made, 

let us rejoice and be glad in it.   

Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)

 

In my experience, the words “the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad” are so uplifting that the phrase has the power to reframe my outlook from glum to joyful. One of the older women in my life—an octogenarian who has a quarter-century on me—and I spent much time together last fall and winter; for the purposes of this entry, I’ll call her Mabel. Now, Mabel loved to sit out on the porch, or even indoors next to a window, and look out over God’s creation. We shared an awe of the natural world, of the fabulous creations before us. Even lying in bed with little visible to her, Mabel would notice and comment on the wind wafting through branches outside the bedroom window. But, Mabel had some aggravating aches and pains, and a bucketful of terrors left over from horrendous experiences decades ago that continued to haunt her. Some days she would be profoundly depressed and would wish aloud for the Lord to take her home. On those days, I tried to draw her attention to some aspect of the natural world—the sky or clouds therein, busy wildlife, greenery—and gently remind her, “This is the day the Lord has made— “ and she would invariably complete the verse for me, “let us rejoice and be glad in it.” After that, she would accept my invitation to enjoy the creation surrounding us.  Now that I do not see her as frequently, I miss sitting with one who was willing to marvel at a leaf with me. I miss sharing the beauty of allowing God to feed my soul through His gifts.