Why Things Are ~ Donald B. Kraybill

"We forget to ask why things are the way they are... Children quickly learn common cultural values and take them for granted. Cereal becomes the "right" breakfast food. Socialization - learning the ways of our culture - shapes the assumptions by which we live. We take our way of life for granted. We assume the way things are is the way we ought to be. Eating cereal for breakfast, day after day, makes it seem unquestionably right. We internalize the values and norms paraded on the screen and billboard as simply "the way life is"... The values, beliefs, and norms of our society become so ingrained in our mind that we no longer see the alternatives.

~ Donald B. Kraybill

More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Kraybill

Artwork from Arthur Rackham

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Rackham

Commitment ~Arthur Gish

"Simplicity also involves commitment. To be committed one does not need to be famous or accomplish great feats. Faithfulness in small things is the basis of great achievements. Many are unfaithful not because they are unconcerned about big issues and causes, but because they neglect little things. Those who cannot be trusted in little things can also not be trusted in larger things.

Follow the little light that G_d has already given, but do not expect more light until you follow what you have."

~Arthur Gish

More at  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Gish

Artwork from Valeriane Leblond

 https://www.valeriane-leblond.eu/home.html

Pending Storm ~ Gert

"Honestly, it reminds me of raising kids – and family struggles. How many times we’ve begged and pleaded, tried one method or another, and continued to find a child (or several of them) uncooperative and determined to win the draw. Some of us tiptoe around our kids, doing whatever we can not to “set them off” so they won’t be upset with us. Sometimes we ignore a pending storm, hoping if we ignore it, it will simply go away.  Sometimes we try to confront the problem, but find the way we handled it only made things worse. There’s a way to handle kids in that pouting or belligerent mode, and that’s to “reset” them. I used to do this with our kids, and I’ve done it with foster kids. Most times, it works like a charm......... Sometimes we as adults could stand some “resetting” ourselves. Even our marriages can benefit from this! To reset is to simply shut things down and wait until all the wires and sparks are completely cooled off. When there are no sparks, there won’t be heat.  If there’s no heat, there won’t be a fire. When the fire is out, it’s safe to resume."

~ Gert

More at https://mywindowsill.com/

Artwork from Gustave Baumann

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Baumann

Never Said a Word~ Arthur Gish

"The highest power we can imagine is the calm, the sublime. Anyone who has experienced the power of Quaker worship knows the power of silence. Dominic is reported to have visited Francis of Assisi and during their whole visitt they never said a word to each other.

Simplicity is to know G_d. It is the fulfilment that decaying societies and materialism can never satisfy or destroy. The longing for the infinite can be fulfilled only in relation to the infinite. Simplicity is to recognize mystery. People complicate things to deny mystery. Much activity, complexity and intellectualization are an attempt to escape from G_d. Simple faith is to live in a relation to G_d rather than to speculate about Him."

 ~ Arthur Gish

More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Gish

Artwork from Kim Herringe

https://kimherringe.com.au/lino-printing/after-dark-reduction-linocut/

Throw Away your Status ~ Arthur Gish

"Throw away your status hang-ups. Forget about being respectable in society's eyes. Much of your money now is probably spent to give you respectability. Don't be embarrassed to do things that save money.

Begin to drop out of the rat-race. Think of those things you despise most in the establishment and begin to remove yourself from them. Don't support them or contribute to them any longer."

 ~ Arthur Gish

More at  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Gish

Artwork from Fran Caldwell
https://www.ebsqart.com/Artist/Fran-Caldwell/16233/

The Longest Journey ~ Arthur Gish

"It is said that the longest journey begins with one step. So it is with simplicity. There is no one place to begin, but as good a place as any is to simplify our desires. Both our emotional needs for things and our actual physical needs can be simplified.  Learn to know the difference between real emotional needs and addictions. The complexity of our lives is directly related to our material desires. Most of our real needs are of the spirit, such as meaning, purpose, and friendship. By simplifying our material desires our lives will become less burdensome..."

~ Arthur Gish

More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Gish

Artwork From Evelyn Dunbar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Dunbar

For Good or Bad ~ Matthew Landis

"Social media is also more decentralized than TV or radio. The individual sitting in his living room can amplify his voice, for good or bad. When two people are talking together in person they are communicating directly with each other without any type of interface. With social media, there’s an application (such as a web app or a phone app) that’s mediating or brokering our communication, which then has the ability to shape what we say..... The ability to amplify a message is one of the ways that social media can be beneficial. Posting a positive message that reaches all around the world is a huge opportunity. On the other hand, many people take the same opportunity to distribute negative or harmful messages.... One important thing to remember when considering involvement in social media is to act on social media like you act in person. Providing of course that you are acting right in person. Be consistent between who you are in person and who you are on social media. If you don’t talk about yourself all the time in person, don’t do it on social media."

~ Matthew Landis 

More at

http://anabaptistperspectives.org/2018/06/25/mennonites-social-media/

Artwork from Carl Larsson 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Larsson

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Goodness of Creation ~ Arthur Gish

"The best way to affirm the goodness of creation is to use it properly  and give all people equal access and rightful stewardship responsibilities to it.  This means good stewardship of what has been given to us, conservation, and non-exploitation. One treats the environment with respect and therefore does not waste or pollute it. It means taking care of what we have and not accumulating more than we can take care of. An affirmation of the goodness of creation leads to passionate concern for economic and social justice."

 ~ Arthur Gish

More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Gish

Artwork from R S Badmin
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Roy_Badmin

So Simple ~ Monica

 "The sky was clear and blue, and the sun sparkled on all three inches of pool water. Off in the distance I could hear the hum of an air conditioner, and much closer, the song of birds. The air smelled fresh and clean. My brain was parked in neutral. I was having that elusive experience that is a complete moment of peace.

I had the presence of mind to ask myself, how did I obtain this moment? How can I have more?

One thing I noticed was that in my peaceful moment, I was engaging almost all of my senses. Everything I saw, heard, touched, and smelled was calm and pleasing. The other thing I noticed was that I was completely engaged in the moment. There were no thoughts of what needed to be done or what happened yesterday. It was full immersion in the present. What a blessing it is to focus on being and not doing, to celebrate and give praise to what life is at that very moment. Oh, it's so simple and yet so rare!

So here is another lesson I learned on obtaining a more peaceful life. Take time to live in the moment. Engage all of your senses in that moment. Most importantly, plan for peaceful moments, and if you can't plan, then be on the look out for random moments of being still that you can cultivate into quiet moments of joy."

~ Monica

More of this outstanding blogg at 
 http://www.blueskiesandshooflypies.com/

Artwork Rom Welsh-Canadian artist Valeriane Leblond
http://www.valeriane-leblond.eu/home.html

Fresh Sunrise ~ Monica

"Renewal is among the greatest gifts bestowed on us, whether we're worthy of it or not. I can't think of anything better than second chances, new beginnings, and a fresh sunrise each day. "

~ Monica

More at the outstanding blog http://www.blueskiesandshooflypies.com/

Artwork from Dora Carrington https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dora_Carrington

Tough Times ~ Monica

"Have you noticed that empathy-producing experiences are great vehicles to channel our love? You can form an immediate kinship with someone who has walked in your shoes, and intuitively know the best way to support them. Believe me, if I ever encounter a mother of small children who is laid up with a broken ankle, I would be able to name ten needs off the top of my head and how to fill them. Also, if your dog ever got sprayed in the head by a skunk at six in the morning while you were trying to pull him out from under a pallet where the skunk was hiding, come talk to me. Tough times not only soften our hearts, but show us how to serve. A true gift will express appreciation, lighten a load, or add value to another person. What a relief that I don't have to shop for it. What a joy to know that we are here to be needed and purposeful, a shining light on the journey."

~ Monica

More at the outstanding blog http://www.blueskiesandshooflypies.com/

Not sure about the artwork, but it may be Alkliso Farrell
http://www.drawdrawdraw.com/

Day- Brightener ~ Monica

 " Wouldn't it be refreshing to discover that you had been a blessing to someone, regardless of their preconceived notions? If meeting you bypassed their own ideas of what they imagined you might believe or what things about them you might hold in disapproval? My prayer is that those who meet me will ignore the externals and material distractions of this world so they can see a pure heart who wants to know and love them. I want to be an unexpected delight and day-brightener to others! "

~ Monica

More at the wonderful blog http://www.blueskiesandshooflypies.com/

Artwork from Aijung Kim  http://aijungkim.com/home.html

Believe in Them as Human ~ Rudy Henry Wiebe

"Understand is not the word; you are right, you can never really 'understand' about someone, anyone, even yourself. It is best to believe in them as human; feel that they are alive like you and need warmth, concern." 

~ Rudy Henry Wiebe

More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Wiebe

Artwork from Vasily Nikolaevich Masiutin http://eng.printsmuseum.ru/artist/view/11/

Small Gifts ~ 'Andrew'

"The slow, steady work of putting my hands in the ground, the mystery of what happens underneath the soil, the curious surprise of discovering a bright red tomato on the vine…these things are conditioning me, forming me into a particular type of person. I’m learning to see the bits of divinity dripping from these small gifts, wonderful and awesome in their complexity. I believe Richard Rohr when he says that God is constantly trying to give away parts of God’s self–we just fail to develop the patience to learn how to look for it."

~ 'Andrew' from Oakleaf Mennonite Farm

More at https://oakleafmennonitefarm.wordpress.com/2013/06/30/learning-to-pay-attention/

Artwork from Stephen Noble http://www.stevennoble.com/main.php

How are You? ~ Hannah Heinzekehr

"There are a myriad of ways someone can answer the simple question: How are you? Often this question is sort of asked as part of a basic exchange of pleasantries or as an aside while two aquaintances pass in the hall. Sometimes I even find myself asking the question without even really listening and/or waiting to hear the answer, which is perhaps part of the problem in and of itself..... Ask someone how they are and 95% of the time (I’m not being scientific here, but you get the point) they’ll reply with some variation on the theme of, “I’m good! Busy, but good,” or “Crazy busy! But it’s all good stuff."...Somehow busyness has become a middle class marker of a good life. It means that your time is put to good use, you are in demand and you are by no means underworked. If it’s your boss asking, it makes it clear that you are working hard for the money. Or perhaps it shores up our sense of self and helps us to feel popular and in the know...

But what happens when we are busy, even with good things, and we lose our sense of connectedness to this very core of our being? What happens when we simply become what we do and our whole sense of self-worth is wrapped up in those things rather than the core of who we are? What happens then when there is nothing left to do? Or maybe the very idea of there being nothing left to do is far-fetched enough that it’s not even worth considering. So I commit myself to two things:

• No longer asking “How are you?” as a throw away question. When I ask, I want to be have the time and energy to invest in listening to and fleshing out the answer that comes.

• No longer answering that question with “busy” as my default answer. I want to stop making busyness a mark of prestige, popularity and/or personhood."

~ Hannah Heinzekehr

More at http://www.femonite.com/ (Well worth regular visits)

Artwork from Richard Scarry (You knew that didn't you?) 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Scarry

That Kind of Thing ~ Rhoda Janzen

“When you're young, faith is often a matter of rules. What you should do and shouldn't do, that kind of thing. But as you get older, you realize that faith is really a matter of relationship - with God, with the people around you, with the members of your community.”

~  Rhoda Janzen

More at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhoda_Janzen

Artwork from Don Swartzentruber
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Swartzentruber

The Job you Really Want ~ Monica

"I often think of being a parent as getting this job you really want. You've watched others do the job, you know what you would do, or what you would do differently. You aren't sure what your strengths would be on the job, or what will be your weaknesses. You only know that you've seen some people who are great at it, some who are not, and you can do better than the worst and aspire to be the best.
When you are hired, everyone asks how you like your new job. You answer, "I love it!" because you do, and you've only been there a week. A couple years go by, things start getting intense. You have a bad week, and no one asks how you like your new job anymore. They just tell you how lucky you are to have it. Little by little you figure out your strengths, and the things you just never seem to get right. Yet, you can't delegate your weaknesses, and you can never resign. There is no Human Resources office. Trust me, I would have called for back up by now."

~ Monica

More at (you will want more than one visit!) http://www.blueskiesandshooflypies.com/

Artwork from Cathie Bleck http://www.cathiebleck.com/

We are of the Same Stuff ~ Oakleaf Mennonite Farm

"Maybe it is the connection between our bodies and the soil. Scripture tells us that this tie is more than intimate.  We are made from earth, it says.  We are of the same stuff. So when we work in the soil and get it under our nails and all over our clothes, there is good reason that we recognize the link.  It’s not imaginary, it’s really there. When we tend the garden, we are tending to another part of ourselves and when we grow food for the sake of others we are loving them as God loves us – creating for them, providing for them, for our neighbors, our brothers and sisters."

~ Oakleaf Mennonite Farm

More at https://oakleafmennonitefarm.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/something-holy-an-ash-wednesday-reflection/

Artwork from Rob Barnes http://www.robbarnesart.co.uk/

Agrarian Adventure ~ 'The Jones Family'

"Just like most of you, I am passionate about education.  Not just the type that happens in a desk or at a kitchen table, but also the kind that comes by observing creation.  No matter where we come from, what we believe, or who we think we are, we are impacted by and make an impact on the environment in which we live..... However, some struggle to make this green connection.  Urban lifestyles, limited resources, and a lack of knowledge stop many from finding an agricultural teaching model.  Today, with an increase in urban and small scale gardening opportunities, every homeschooler (or public school parent) can include a significant portion of agrarian adventure in their child’s life."

~ The Jones Family

More at  https://modernexodus.wordpress.com
Picture from http://blog.freshharvestga.com

Our to-do Lists ~ Monica

"There is a selfishness inherent in busyness. When the preoccupation with our to-do lists and the constant focus on our own interests take over, can we spare time to look outside of our families, our house, our own little worlds and extend love to others? I struggle with finding a balance when duelling priorities come knocking at the door.......Part of finding balance, I think, is noticing what you can do and finding some satisfaction in knowing that there is something you often do well. It makes up for the chronically un-swept porch or leftovers that went to waste. There's no perfection this side of eternity, but there are certain things that you do well. It's the heavy weight on your scale..'LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.' Psalms 39:4"

~ Monica

More at http://www.blueskiesandshooflypies.com/

Artwork from Sarah Kirby http://www.leicesterprintworkshop.com/studio/artists/sarah_kirby_1/