Blog – Page 8 – Jennifer Grashel

First World Problems

As I sat down to write today, we lost internet.

What on earth do you do in 2020 without internet?!?

Welp.

I had written down (as in typed into an email to myself on my phone … then copied & pasted into a Word document I can edit offline) a couple notes during last night’s Zoom bible study on John 5 & 6. We’re going through a Tony Evans video series on the gospel of John. Chapter 6 starts with the feeding of the five thousand – one of those passages, like the parable of the prodigal son, some of us have studied about five hundred thousand million times. Tony said a phrase that stuck out to me, though. “Thank God for your insufficiency.”

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. ~John 6:11

I mean, we ask God to provide for our needs. We thank God for providing for our needs. We express gratitude to God for what we have, even when we feel like it may be small and meager. But how often do we thank God for our lack because it allows him to be glorified when our needs are met?

And now for a culinary lesson in sufficiency. Abundance even. Last night’s dinner started with leftover corn pudding.

Add leftover veggie saute, more onion because onion, and a spicy black bean burger.

A little cheddar, a little mozzarella, and I’m calling this spicy hilljack poutine.

The other point that jumped out at me was in verse 15.

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. ~John 6:15

We know the Jews were expecting the messiah to be an earthly king. They were expecting him to overthrow all their governmental oppressors and be the new ruler of a new and improved theocracy here on earth forever and ever amen. Without taking the time to go back to the original Greek, Hebrew, whatever … not sure if they thought they were going to use force against the Son of God or the Roman empire, but both of those scenarios sound like the makings of a bad sitcom script.

King by force. How very human of them.

Update on the insufficiency, by the way … we are also without a landline and I’m currently in an online chat via cellphone with our provider. Earthly provider, just to be clear. Any resemblances to The Creator are only in the sense that each individual at the company was created in the image of God. Which, I suppose, is always a good thing to keep in mind when interacting with customer service representatives. They’ve created a ticket, asked the COVID questions in case a service tech needs to enter our home, and promised to restore service by next Wednesday. The standard next Wednesday. Proverbial next Wednesday?

Per the social media others in the area are reporting problems, so I expect my first world problem to be solved long before next Wednesday.

Speaking of first world problems, does anyone have data on an increase in car accidents or dry cleaning bills due to the replacement of straws with these annoying lids? (Note environmentally that disposal practices in some non-US countries are the problem, not the existence of straws.)

I might need to dash elsewhere for wifi to post this, however. I hadn’t planned to leave the house today, but … eh … that may have to happen. Pondering … put on makeup and defrizz my hair to avoid alarming anyone I encounter … or encourage social distancing with my appearance … hmmm …

Oh! Not only was I collecting thoughts and notes to start writing, but I was chasing down the best collection of Emily Dickinson poems to add to my Christmas wishlist. My buddy Mitch mentioned again in his livestream concert last night a line of hers he likes … “The Truth must dazzle gradually”. I’ve been meaning for some time to read more Emily Dickinson. Adding to my wishlist at least puts it in the queue.

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —

~ Emily Dickinson #1129

Peace out, girl scouts. It’s been another typical 2020 day.

It does not dazzle gradually if I walk in this room late in the day.

I like my eggs with a serving of the periodic table.

The proper way to turn graham crackers into crumbs.

Vinegar & Honey

I have so many friends struggling right now.

And the online hatred and mudslinging seem worse than ever.

From the self-righteous.

From the sanctimonious.

From the virtue signalers.

Let me go check the social media to see what I’m supposed to be upset about today.

I wonder if my friends who prattle on know what they’re even saying when they accuse “all” [insert label here] of [insert the favorite trendy sin of the moment here].

I think we’ve all heard you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

I’m pretty sure you reach more sinners … Pharisees … it’s really all the same thing … with grace than condemnation.

What a tangled web we weave when … we go off half-cocked.

I wonder if my friends who prattle on have a clue how it makes me feel when they carelessly throw around their all [label I identify with] are [their favorite trendy sin I’m actually not even guilty of … don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of others that do apply].

“Oh but I didn’t mean you.”

“Yeah you did. Maybe don’t believe everything the media (or your favorite political candidate, entertainment celebrity, pro athlete, etc.) tells you.”

Try having conversations with real people.

Not online tennis matches between basement dwellers.

From my vantage point, it sure looks like those accusing the other side of being ugly are coming off just as ugly.

We’re all more alike than we are different. But media money is made and political power is gained when one group is pitted against another.

Don’t fall for the trap.

Don’t take the bait.

Eh, I’m allergic to balsamic anyway.

This week’s spectacular quarantine baking brought to you by Dizurts in Heath, Ohio.

“There are no mistakes, just happy accidents.”

I Can’t Even

I can’t even.

That’s what the kids say these days.

e.g. …

This situation is so ridiculous I can’t even.

This is so frustrating I can’t even.

I highly recommend making the phrase part of your vocabulary.

There’s something cathartic about it.

Coronavirus. I can’t even.

Political conventions. I can’t even.

Lying politicians. Those I really can’t even.

People who believe – and share on social media – everything they read, see, or hear.

Insert today’s (this hour’s) pet peeve here.

I can’t even.

Sometimes my can’t evenness grows my sense of grace, appreciation, and gratitude.

Sometimes it reinforces my caution in a particular circumstance.

Sometimes it tells me pessimism or cynicism might have actually been realism.

Somewhere on the spectrum of expect the best but prepare for the worst seems healthiest, though.

Where exactly on the spectrum … eh, not sure. There might be a Heisenberg principle of can’t evenness. Maybe I could get it named after me.

Hmmm.

Items of note this week …

If you want to join me for a virtual 5K (anytime now through September 7) benefiting engineering students at THE Ohio State University, it’s only ten dollars to register here. Weather and I hope ragweed levels look favorable a couple days from now. I’m pretty sure going for a walk cures can’t evenness.

A small group of ragamuffins continues to hangout virtually on Wednesday nights. Hit me up if you want the link.

Peace out, my uneven people.

This seems like an appropriate metaphor.

Pretty sure I need to write a children’s book about these guys.

Blueberry scones. Someday I’ll remember to score them before baking.

When birthdays and expiring brownie mix collide.

Righteous Anger, Dude

Have you ever seen the comic strip of Jesus on a skateboard flying over an old church?

Accompanied by the caption “Jesus clears the temple.”

It was a meme before memes were a thing even your grandmother shares on the social media.

I was in a bible study this week looking at John 2, where Jesus famously turns over the tables in the temple. I had been thinking about that passage for a while prior, though.

The story is traditionally used to illustrate a couple of concepts – the greed of the moneychangers and the righteous anger of Jesus.

Greed bad.

Anger also bad unless it’s righteous.

Did anyone else read that last word in Jeff Spicoli’s voice? Just me? Okay.

Anyway. Some go so far in their condemnation of greed they expect everyone in ministry to work for free. To give away creative work, if it’s faith-based, for free.

Seriously, I’ve been told it’s sinful to expect people to pay to see a faith-based movie.

Bivocational ministry works in some situations. But God only put twenty-four hours in our day, seven days in our week, and he told us to rest on one of them.

And you wonder why clergy burnout is a thing.

Righteous anger.

I’ve heard the righteous anger of Jesus used to justify all kinds of anger I’m not sure is actually righteous.

I’ve heard Jesus’ “brood of vipers” insult toward the Pharisees used to justify slinging all kinds of insults at those the slingers perceive to be Pharisees.

(Brood of vipers was a high, profane insult back in the day.)

In some respects, we’re all Pharisees. We’re all vipers.

(Why did it have to be snakes?)

My opinion?

Using Jesus’ example of turning over tables and calling Pharisees vipers seems to me a lazy justification for constantly attacking … insulting … being mean … assigning motives … to large groups of people we’ve slapped a label on … to individuals we’ve slapped a label on … without recognizing individual (or indeed group) viewpoints may be far more nuanced than we’re taking the time to understand.

We’re too quick to believe everything we read, see, and hear. From a lot of sources that aren’t scripture.

We’re too quick to equate labels with sins and virtues.

Read that again. We’re too quick to equate labels with sins and virtues.

We’re too quick to equate someone’s political leanings with how good of a Christian or human they are.

We’re too quick to equate someone’s vote with their support of everything a candidate has ever done in their entire life, publicly or privately.

Good grief, in 2020 it’s come down to ascribing political motives based on whether someone is wearing a face mask in public.

I’ve noticed some people who seem to be angry all the time at something. Not at any one particular thing, although perhaps there’s a theme for them. I scratch my head over the phenomenon. Does their anger make them feel like their life has meaning? Does it just give them something to do so they don’t get bored?

Indeed, there are things in the world worth our righteous anger.

Worth our efforts to combat.

Worth – and I hate this phrase so much – our speaking out.

I don’t know, though. I feel like loving God and loving our neighbor should look more loving and less angry.

Super zoomed in shot of just SOME of the blue jays around the feeder.

… and blueberries are buy one get two again.. I call this a Dagwood pie, btw.

What Is Truth?

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ~John 8:32

It’s so hard to figure out what’s true sometimes.

“There are three types of lies — lies, damn lies, and statistics.”

I always thought it was Mark Twain who said that – and he did often – but he wasn’t the first. Per the interwebs Twain attributed the quote to British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli, but the originator appears to be an anonymous source. I’m so overwhelmed with information at the moment I have neither the patience nor the time to read the entire Wikipedia article, but more power to anyone who does.

By the way, I have learned in the last couple years that Wikipedia is actually the most reliable and accurate source for a number of topics. The more eyes there are on a thing, the more likely it will be corrected correctly.

“Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.” ~Abraham Lincoln

Context is always important. John 8 is full of Jesus teaching in the temple while the dastardly Pharisees try to bait him.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ~John 8:31-32

He goes on to call everyone Sons of Satan even though they call themselves Sons of Abraham.

So there’s that.

I could spend all day every day fact checking things about COVID, politics, racism, science, nutrition, climate change, the price of tea in Djibouti, the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow, and whether the sky is actually in fact blue.

But I am so weary and I value my sanity.

People gravitate toward information sources that confirm what they already believe anyway. Everyone wants to feel smart.

I can barely post a mask selfie without an eventual snide comment.

The positive comments, though, got me to sign up as a mask ambassador, so get your masks and associated cool merch here. You know, support your friendly neighborhood writer caregiver ministry and retreat leading Hollywood mogul.

Or something like that.

For now … that’s all folks. I need to go finish my stoutness exercises and cook some zucchini.

I mixed this up for National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day early last week and eventually got around to baking a few actual cookies.

Zucchini cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. So good.

When the CSA brings green peppers (& zucchini & tomatoes). Why yes, that’s vegetarian sausage in the there.

Living my best life with allergy eyes & frizzy hair.

Yikes and … Socially Distanced Deep Breath

Warning: This week’s pics might make you hungry. I’ve been busy in the test kitchen.

Such is life during summer produce season.

I’m still plotting more zucchini dishes.

As pandemic fatigue continues, today brings news that Ohio’s governor has tested positive for COVID-19.

Well then.

Which begs the question … if we can’t keep the governor virus-free, what hope is there for the rest of us? The Buckeye state will be scratching our heads (but not touching our faces, lol!) and processing the news for a few days.

I have noticed a couple things just lately while out and about.

Serial below-the-nose mask wearers are wandering around public spaces. For those who pull down their mask to speak … you’re doing it wrong. For those who sit at a large gathering with your mask below your nose the entire time … you’re doing it wrong.

Talk through your mask. I’ll hear you just fine. I get that it’s uncomfortable. I get that glasses fog up – I wear readers. I’m constantly pulling them up and down and perching them back on top of my head while in a store so I can read labels and my phone. (And I wipe them down with an antibacterial wipe when I’m back in my car.)

The other phenomenon I noticed is people seem to think mask wearing gives them license to violate the six foot rule.

No. Just no.

It is, in fact, extra important to be wearing a mask if you can’t maintain six feet of distance between you and someone who’s not a member of your quarantine family. I guess that message might be easily misinterpreted and extrapolated.

I get that we’ll all maybe apply the guideline a little loosely at times (and we’ll forget at times), especially when outdoors with a breeze or when not hanging out for long.

Some folks might need reminded, though, that transmission is minimized when both wearing a mask and keeping at least six feet apart.

The world is so weary right now. Everyone take a socially distanced deep breath and … exhale.

I saw a good post this week mentioning Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Does anyone else harbor some guilt or regret over not having read a book a week, completed all craft projects on your want-to-do list, or accomplished all your 2020 goals since March? Take a look at the chart over at that link. If you can’t even keep your house stocked with toilet paper, soap, and antibacterial wipes … there’s no way to give time and attention to living your best life.

Socially distanced deep breath and … exhale.

Okay, great.

Maybe a better question to ask than “How can I get all of this done?” is, “What is God teaching me during this time?”

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. ~2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

A friend mentioned 2 Corinthians 3:18 yesterday. Really you should just go read the whole chapter. I like the NLT for this one.

Everyone hang in there.

Until next week … peace out, girl scouts.

What to do with the last of the almond flour banana blueberry muffins?

And what to do with the last of the berries? Make a pie with a pile of crumb topping as big as your head.

No, I’ve not been channeling my inner Linda Blair. Cream of avocado soup. Recipe needs some tweaking.

Waiting On a Train

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I hope it’s not a train.

Thanks to Pollenpalooza 2020 I’ve been feeling run over by one for a couple days. As in full stop I’m on so much Benadryl I’m barely functional and there’s definitely no chance of me Zooming into anything right now let alone driving there and attending with a mask on.

Many years there is a welcome two weeks-ish break in about July between grass season and ragweed season. It’s not looking good this year. Just another way in which 2020 is relentless.

On a positive (but not corona positive) note, the fruit and veggie crops seem to be doing well.

Quarantine baking blueberries-were-buy-one-get-two edition. Almond flour banana blueberry muffins.

And there are still plenty left to throw on vanilla yogurt & peanut butter granola.

Antioxidants. It’s what’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Hey did you know August 8 is National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day? Our neighbor got a jump on the holiday season and didn’t even have to be sneaky about it.

I have several zucchini pie recipes to make, plus double chocolate zucchini bread, and I keep saying I need to try freezing some (apparently it can be done), so maybe I’ll actually do that this year. I eat zucchini year-round. It’s one of my favorite vegetables.

Last night, with ten or twelve zucchini in the house and upon discovering a lack of crescent roll dough in the fridge (as required by one recipe) I googled “impossible zucchini pie” and made this one. Follow the recipe for the batter, adjust the amounts of veggies as desired or based on what you have on hand, saute the zucchini & onion with garlic powder & oregano before putting in the baking dish, and sprinkle shredded cheese on top of the whole shebang. Consider using a rectangular dish instead of a pie plate. You’re welcome.

So good it’s impossible for there to be any leftovers.

I enjoyed my pie while well medicated and catching a livestream concert in my pjs. Owning pandemic life like a boss, friends.

A bonus, I suppose, of antihistamine fog is being unable to process social media shrieking over politics and pandemics. I can only scroll so far before I get dizzy, and if your post is longer than a couple lines … eh, I do not understand. Ignorance is bliss sometimes. I did read through this article on the school reopening discussion. Lots of good thoughts and questions in that one.

For now, peace out. Imma gonna go cook something involving zucchini …

Yes indeed, the sky is falling. I picked a great time to be sitting in a drive-thru line.

A suspicious package appeared in our yard. We considered calling the authorities. 😉

Flowers and Faith in Humanity

I was attempting to sleep in.

The best laid plans.

There it went again. Apparently the sound of the doorbell wasn’t in my dreams. I suppose I should get up and answer it.

I peeked out the window but didn’t see anyone. Maybe I missed them by not hopping out of bed fast enough. If it was a salesman or Jehovah’s witness, just as well. I wasn’t sure how much grace I’d be able to muster up in my groggy state. Opening the door, it appeared one of the neighbor girls had stopped by.

Quarantine ding dong ditching edition #2.

True to their name, the daylilies lasted about a day.

Today we’re experiencing a major downpour, so I expect there won’t be any flower deliveries. This arrived in my mailbox, though, and I’m super excited …

Last I checked, you can still get a celebratory sale price on Andrew’s entire catalog here.

Let’s see … since we last spoke, a mandatory mask order went into effect in my county, which today turns into a statewide mandate. Our Ohio governor gave a speech last week in which, well … Dad pulled over and said behave or I’ll turn this car around. The coronavirus numbers continue to rise, though, and not enough people have been voluntarily wearing masks. Whether the antimasking be due to junk science, one’s perceived right to yell “fire” in a crowded theater, junk math and junk statistics, or DGAS (an acronym I won’t spell out for you here) … who knows. Probably a combination of all the above.

We’re all familiar with the legit exceptions. And I think many of us are choosing to quarantine with a small inner circle that may include a handful of people outside our household who are also being careful. The attitudes of some, though, just continue to blow me away. A dreary, rainy day like today makes the bones ache. I mean, it’s July and I’m wrapped up in a sweater as I write. People – especially those who call themselves followers of Christ – who seem not to care about anyone other than themselves … that makes my soul ache. This recent post from the Scary Mommy site described my thoughts fairly well.

It probably didn’t help my shaky faith in humanity this week that major – as in record-setting – corruption charges were filed against Ohio’s state speaker of the house and several others. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Period. I have zero specific information, but I can’t say I was shocked by the arrest.

Continuing to chisel away at my hope for truth, justice, and the American way … we watched the four-part Netflix documentary on Jeffrey Epstein a few days ago. Viewer discretion is strongly, strongly, and I mean strongly advised. But if you could use a reminder there is still evil in this world, if you have a heart for girls who are trafficked, or if like me you have ties to central Ohio and West Palm Beach, it’s worth a watch.

Lest we end our time together on a complete Debbie Downer note, let’s look at our daily Brennan Manning.

Keep looking up, friends.

My version of poutine — sweet potato fries, spicy black bean burger, onion, zucchini, cheese.

Outside My Window

I was sitting at home, minding my own business, when I heard it.

A bird chirping rather insistently outside the window.

It sounded like it was saying, “Judy, Judy, Judy, Judy, Judy.” Five times in a row. Sometimes three. I counted.

What, is the ghost of Cary Grant reincarnated as a bird outside my window?

I suppose I should have looked to see what kind of bird it was, but I didn’t.

Apparently Cary Grant never actually said, “Judy, Judy, Judy” in any of his movies, but someone got him to say it in a Q&A once upon a time.

Also if you for some reason I can’t imagine feel the need to say Judy a few more times, watch this. You’re welcome.

So how is your quarantine going?

Early in the pandemic there were reports of reduced air pollution due to fewer commuters on the road. Even the canals in Venice, Italy cleared up because of reduced boat traffic. One thing I’ve noticed is a ton more wildlife outside my window. Birds of several varieties, squirrels, bunnies, chipmunks. I don’t know if it’s thanks to reduced traffic in my little neighborhood (there wasn’t that much to begin with), having more time at home to stare out the window at the yard and birdfeeder, better weather this year for the animal kingdom, or I’m getting old and it’s just what the elderly do – take up birdwatching. And squirrelwatching.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ~Matthew 6:26

When I do curbside pickup at the grocery – or even when shopping in-store for any of umpteen for-some-reason-high-demand items – I keep channeling my inner Forrest Gump and saying it’s like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. What is out of stock? Did my shopper do a good job selecting the produce? Do I need to use the avocado ASAP or can it ripen for another day or two? Are the mushrooms on the verge or are they the fresher ones I prefer? What, if any, substitutions did they make?

The most interesting sub to date was the hard salami from the deli in place of pastrami.

It’s like a box of chocolates. With the possible exception of the coconut ones, all good. And the surprise is half the fun. I look forward with amusement to learning what will be loaded into my car with each curbside order.

Luckily my people also enjoy hard salami.

Quarantine baking neighbor edition. Yummy banana nut muffins.

Extreme Everything

Everyone is mad.

As in angry, but perhaps stark raving isn’t too far off the mark either.

Whatever iota of faith I had left in humanity is hanging by a thread.

Someone mentioned on the SoMe the difficulty of being in the middle on the pandemic issue. One extreme truly believes the whole shebang is an overblown, overhyped hoax. The other extreme believes we’re all gonna die and everything should be shutdown for a long time.

Extremism is rarely a good and beneficial thing. In pandemics, in politics, in religion.

One could argue perhaps the statement applies to food and fashion. To each their own.

I suppose some people are fans of extreme sports.

The vast majority of people are somewhere in the middle on COVID-19. They are neither ignorant conspiracy theorists nor – I’m gonna invoke the deep, booming movie trailer announcer’s voice again here – living … in … fear …

For some reason that phrase makes me think of this line.

Seriously, I’ve had Christians more than once tell me I’m living in fear and all any of us need to do in response to coronavirus is make sure we’re right with the Lord.

Huh?

Pardon me. We pause the writing of the post while I take a moment to mentally inventory my sciency credentials … relationship with Jesus … the brain and boldness with which he gifted me … the ministry work I do …

Nope.

How about the body is made of many parts. Depending on each person’s unique health situation, profession / economic situation, family situation, and the community in which they live … the pandemic precautions they ought to take may vary. And here’s the kicker. Our actions affect each other. Don’t go breathing your [potentially asymptomatic] virus breath on those whose unique situation means they need to be more cautious.

Changing gears a bit, a few resources I’ve been exploring in the ongoing racial relations discussion …

My buddy Craig Brown was interviewed this week by Dr. Michael Brown on his The Line of Fire show. Interview starts at about the 30 min mark.

I’ve watched the movies Just Mercy and Uncle Tom, and I can recommend them both.

Professor Carol M. Swain, PhD appeared recently on PragerU (27 min).

Coleman Hughes brings up some interesting points in a recent interview (35 min). Given the views he shares, I’m surprised he’s still voting for who he says he’s voting for at the end. All an intelligent discussion nonetheless.

Until next week, kids.

Love God.

Love people.

Love your neighbor.

Or, as it says in the Jenn Paraphrase of 1 Hesitations 7 … don’t be a jacka**.

Cheers. Peace. Love. Love. Love.