Gossip, Gossip Everywhere

"Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered." ...Proverbs 11:13


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So for awhile I freely read articles written by/about folks all angry-wild regarding President Trump's election. 

I felt uncomfortable doing this but, truthfully, all the spinning-eyed screaming fascinated me. I've been around a long time, but had never seen this before. (Please tell me you get that.)

Then one afternoon in my discomfort it's as though my conscience quipped, "You know you're reading gossip, right?"

Huh? Goody-two-shoes me?

So I looked up the definition of gossip--

1. Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature.

2. A person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or 

facts.

3. a conversation involving malicious chatter or rumors about 

other people.

4. Gossiper: someone who enjoys talking idly, especially about the affairs of others; to go 

about tattling.

Oh my.

Now (I felt) it's not like I was spreading what I read. Sheesh, I kept most of it to myself or, ok, discussed it with Tom only (that doesn't count, does it? heh). 

No, but I was more-hungrily-than-I'll-confess reading what others were spreading. Like one who dines, who partakes in what gossipers had cooked up, sitting there at the table beside them, nibbling away, silently--but listening with both ears.

Gulp.

Now, this is what I experienced, how I felt and I'm sure some of you are thinking up sometimes-it's-fine exceptions. That's ok--you do as you feel led.

Anyway, since then I've cut waaay back on similar 'news articles' and have, sadly, stepped away from friends (unfollowed, like at Facebook) 'involved with malicious chatter.' Well, occasionally I check on them because, hey! 1.) I still care about them and 2.) I hope they've moved on to better, more vital Life things. I peek to see if they're at least praying for our President (and others) rather than wishing the whole kit and caboodle, ill will.

And some, whew, have ceased their hysteria and switched to a calmer mode of discontent where strong walls fold down and God can speak more clearly.

And that's what I long for us all--God's point of view honored and gossip abandoned for a finer truth, even one whose dead-center appears hard to grasp, but where peace abides inside--anyway--no matter the upheaval 'round us.

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."   ... Ephesians 4:29



“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” 
― Henry Thomas Buckle



The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body."   ... Proverbs 18:8  (And personally, I don't want those kinds of morsels down in my inner parts. Who knows what trouble they'll cause down there?)


"It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret."   ... Ephesians 5:12



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Tom and I so enjoyed Reverie, a show about people longing to escape their present lives into a virtual world they could create exactly as they wished.

Rather timely content, I'm thinking.

Yet week after week they showed us the flaws of that, why escapism isn't a good permanent choice and why some dreams just cannot be.

Really, such a perfect summer show, for me especially, when the humidity had me wishing, longing for somewhere else much cooler where I could actually spend time outside. 😉

Check it out here or On Demand, Hulu,  Amazon, etc.


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Oh, and recently I wanted a piece of glass to top this 'book table' beneath the window--

-- and found such a great price for one at Store Supply Warehouse, a place I'd never heard of. But I saw, like, a bazillion positive ratings there, so took a chance.

Wow. The glass (I ordered a shelf in a nearly perfect size) arrived quickly, in one piece and I'll definitely use this company again in my quest to make this little house more of what I like.

Just thought I'd mention this store. Take a look at what they have, here.


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