Welcome to my blog. The title of the blog comes from my continuous amazement at how the world as I knew it changed while I wasn’t looking. While I was trying to understand the “normal” in a third world country where bathrooms and heat in the wintertime were optional, my home country became unrecognizable to me. Oh, most of the time, it was visually recognizable with buildings, highways, houses, etc. still maintaining the same form as before. Occasionally, I would get a jolt such as the first time I needed a ‘calling card’ to make a call on the cell phone I purchased at the airport. It was a bit disorienting.  However, while technology zoomed ahead at lightening speed, its impact still carries an impact from time to time: 16 year olds NOT pulling at the bit to get their drivers license with some showing no interest at all. Going uptown on the weekend to gather with friends no longer is appealing; texting and gaming and Facebook has taken the place of face to face interactions.😣

I suppose the biggest and most troubling change has struck me this year. Christianity being practiced and seems most popular is not the same. It does not the Christainity I believe and am committed to and do my best to live. When did become the norm that churches need policies regarding ‘Conceal and Carry’ laws? Then again, one might say, when did become the norm for someone to walk into a bible study, chat with the members and then pull out a gun and shoot those who had just demonstrated hospitality to the stranger at the gate? However, the unanswerable question I am still pondering is ‘How can it be acceptable to Christians for a Religious University President to pull out a gun when speaking to the student body and announce that it was necessary to have a license to ‘conceal and carry’ in order to be ready to shoot them as they come through the door…Before they shoot us.’ What happened to ” love God and love your neighbor as you love yourself,” “love your enemy”, “turn the other cheek” as foundational beliefs for Christians? Humility is also a biggie.  Servanthood as well. Commitment to Christ as a way of life, even with the risks. Are we not acting as the world acts through hating, fearing, and killing? I pray that my certainty of these truths are never put to the test, but, for now, I am holding out on the old normal a while longer…lend a hand or a heart or an ear where ever it is needed to whomever needs it; work for justice for everyone, even if you don’t think them worthy or they make different choices than you do; pray to see everyone else through God’s eyes…  And realize that without a relationship with our Creator, nothing will change. Maybe just maybe the radicalness of the old normal will catch on again. 🙏🏻⛪️