The Nobody and Somebody Everybody Knows
The Band Perry wedding
By Karen ‘Girl’ Friday
I leaned toward my husband with a revelation, “these people think we are somebody.”
A somebody event. The marriage ceremony of two somebodies of fame. My husband had the honor of officiating the wedding. As the pastor’s wife and a family friend, I was invited to attend. Although they tried to maintain privacy, word leaked to the press and on social media.
We made our way down the street to the small chapel—dressed in a tux and long gown—where a crowd had gathered outside. Fans were being kept behind police barriers marking how close they could come to the area.
I noticed a lady snapping our picture with her cell phone and soon realized many people were taking our picture with phones and cameras. The fandom wonder of, “Who are these guests arriving? Are they somebody?”
September 18, 2014 at 8:49 am | Uncategorized
Spotlight Surrender
© 2014 by Karen Friday
The beaming light was blinding. Illuminating me to the audience, but keeping me from seeing them.
Funny thing about spotlights—they are spots of light. Lighting a spot for one. The one in the spot at the time. Only so much presence can fit into a beam of light.
It’s likely we have desired to be in the presence of a person we admire or who is famous. Attending an event or performance, having our picture taken with the person, or backstage passes—as one of their fans—giving us a momentary glimpse of them. What they are like in person—up close.
Up close and personal. The platform I desire for my ministry in speaking and writing. Momentary glimpses of me through my audible voice and my writing voice—in words penned and shared.
September 11, 2014 at 9:14 am | Uncategorized
The Nose Snubbing Club
By Karen ‘Girl’ Friday
If we would spend more time conducting surprise inspections—on our own barracks—we could measure ourselves against the standard of scripture instead of gauging by comparison.
It wasn’t a military barrack inspected by a drill sergeant, but winning the cabin inspection at camp for the cleanest barracks was a huge honor. Especially for neat freaks.
I like things in order. A place for everything and everything in its proper place. According to Karen’s standard. I am not at peace when the beds are not made, clothes and shoes are not put away, and the bathroom or kitchen is dirty. I admit, I have snubbed my nose at a few unkept houses along the way. Even my own.
September 4, 2014 at 8:51 am | Uncategorized
God Picked the Crayon
A coloring book story.
The choice of crayon colors is vast. Sky blue, aqua blue, navy blue…which blue do I choose? True green, lime green, yellow green, and green yellow. Yellow with green added and green with yellow added? I’m not a crayon connoisseur.
I’m not an artist by any stretch of the imagination. My stick figures don’t even look right. The art of coloring gives un-artsy people a way to add individual flare to a picture an artist has beautifully drawn. Our coloring style.
Me and my daughter, Megan, are fond of coloring. A fondness starting when we were both little girls. We colored together during her younger years, teen and college days, and we love coloring today.
As she grew older, Megan became protective of her coloring hobby. When children were visiting our home, Megan had a separate stack of coloring books and crayons the kids were allowed to use. Not her good ones. She didn’t want any of her artwork destroyed and there was the dreaded, “Uh oh, the crayon broke.”
August 28, 2014 at 8:01 am | Uncategorized
Prime Time by the Shoreline
By Karen Friday
Sometimes I’m too emotionally exhausted to put on my armor—much less fight the battle. The battle belongs to the Lord. It’s not my battle.
In Exodus 14, we read about a battle. The people of Israel are being led by Moses out of slavery in Egypt. A place of physical and emotional bondage. “Exodus” in the Greek is “a going out.” Traveling through the wilderness, the Israelites discover the Egyptian ruler, Pharaoh, and his army are in pursuit of them. It’s a battle they are too exhausted to fight.
“And they said to Moses,…are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt?…it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Exodus 14:11-12
“It would have been better” attitude usually comes on the heels of the enemies pursuit—when we are up against unbelievable barriers—with no foreseeable way to escape or win the battle.
August 21, 2014 at 8:31 am | Uncategorized
Honest to Goodness!
© 2014 by Karen Friday
Honestly, it’s hard to be honest about honesty!
Honesty is a hard commodity to find these days. Maybe that’s the problem, we are looking for a commodity—a product of sorts. Honesty is a character trait. Something we consumers can’t buy no matter what the price. People can be bought—but that isn’t honest—is it?
It seems honesty isn’t important anymore. In our world at large. In society. In the communities where we live, work, worship, and play.
Trying to find honesty as if something has been hidden from us—truth and sincerity. We are looking and calling, “Come out, come out wherever you are!” We look underneath—the dotted line. On top—to those in positions of leadership. Behind—the doors of opportunity and relationship. Honesty can only be found in—in people.
“Honest to God.” That’s the truth. Honesty is from the very character of God. It’s the only reason honesty can be found in us. The goodness of God, found in Christ, then imparted to us and in us.
August 14, 2014 at 11:34 am | Uncategorized
Fairy Tale Wishes
By Karen Friday
A princess. A handsome prince. A maiden lovely in form and beauty. A knight in shining armor. Fairy dust. A magical land—where wishes really do come true.
I’m a dreamer—dreaming that started long, long ago as a child—the dream of fairy tale wishes. Little girl wishes became big girl wishes.
A girl with insecurities magnifying the need for dream-wishing. In school. In social circles. In life. I wish I looked like her…I wish he would pick me…I wish I had that talent…I wish things were different…I wish…
A wish for the sprinkling of fairy dust—magically transforming me into the fairest in the land.
Once upon a time, in the land of fourth grade, a little girl made a wish. The wish for a magic wand to change her to princess status.
August 6, 2014 at 10:07 am | Uncategorized
Big Heads and Spiritual Arthritis—A Diagnosis
© 2014 by Karen Friday
“I hope the baby grows into his head!”
I’ve seen newborn babies with large heads. Heads that outdo the body. The percentage of head size to body size is a little off. As they grow, their bodies normally catch up with their head.
Full grown people can have a big-head. The head that declares, “I am in control, I can do it by myself, I know what’s best for me…for you…in this situation.”
We all fall prey to having a big, fat head! Swollen with pride and “me” thoughts and “I know” thoughts.
Prideful thoughts convincing us how we can make it on our own, we don’t need anyone else. Big-headed thoughts persuading—we deserve to go to the top and to be served.
It’s the same big-headedness first seen—in one of the first scenes of the Bible. Adam and Eve in the Garden. The big-headedness of the desire to be wise—like God—and on their own. The boastful pride of life (Genesis 3, I John 2:16).
July 31, 2014 at 8:56 am | Uncategorized
America’s Driveway in the Foothills of Virginia
My family heritage has roots in “small town America.”
America Maxfield, my maternal grandmother, lived in a small town in the foothills of Virginia. When my twin sister and I were seven, we lived with our grandparents for a few years along with our mother. Moving from our birthplace of El Paso, Texas, to a small town in the southwest mountains of Virginia, Big Stone Gap. Our mother grew up in Big Stone Gap—and so would we—and a younger sister who came along a few years later.
My grandfather bought and sold scrap metal at a junk yard he owned—visible from their house and nestled at the bottom of the hill. A long, curvy, uphill driveway lead to their home.
Childhood memories are filled with the trek up and down the driveway by foot or bicycle—building calf muscles on the uphill trips. Catching the school bus or going to the junk yard to see my grandfather. My grandmother always seemed to be doing something in the kitchen and had snacks ready when we came in from playing.
Memories—in small town America.
July 24, 2014 at 8:36 am | Uncategorized
From the Sides of My Heart!
By Karen ‘Girl’ Friday
“Thank you so much from the sides of my heart!” “I am sorry from the top of my heart.” Ever wonder why we say, “…from the bottom of my heart?”
The thought conveys the heart as the center of emotions and feelings. Saying “from the bottom of my heart,” relays we are sincere in our promise, apology, or gratefulness.
“I love you…from the bottom of my heart.” This is how I feel, from the core of my emotions, for someone. Someone I have poured my life into the last seven years. What I believe Christ meant when he admonished us to make disciples. To come along side of others in life with love and authentic relationship. Through the good places and the rough places. Encouraging, praying, and speaking the truth in love.
Jesus led by example in the authenticity of discipleship.
July 17, 2014 at 10:53 am | Uncategorized