Marilyn's Mussings

What most of us know about leprosy is that it was a really bad skin disease. The previously incurable disease wreaked havoc so long ago it's hard for us to wrap our heads around it today. During Bible times, it was completely incurable and effected more than skin but also blood and bones. The body and life of a leper literally rotted away. A leper was considered unclean and was isolated physically, socially and emotionally. We know now that leprosy spreads by airborne respiratory droplets. Sound familiar? As I studied this passage for Sunday, my head and my heart went soaring to the many accounts of loved ones in hospitals fighting Covid-19. Like leprosy, it also is a cruel disease that has demanded its victims fight and even die alone. They too are isolated physically, socially and emotionally. In Mark 1:40-45, we see that Jesus was busy in His earthly ministry and getting a lot of attention. So much so that He got the attention of a leper. While the leper should have ...

Miley Geelene Wallace Vail was born January 18, 1928. She was named after her grandmother who was named Miley decades before Miley Cirus was born! She was a lifelong learner. Her strong will served her well. She taught herself to cook, sew, crochet, freeze and can. After we all left home she ordered a mannequin and determined to learn how to be a ventriloquist. She loved to laugh and sing and play table games. She went to scrabble tournaments across the country after we became no competition for her. Because Daddy was in the Air Force, we traveled. Mother embraced every location we lived in or traveled through. She learned what was there and made sure we saw it. After Daddy died she traveled across the country with us to visit her grandchildren. There was always more she wanted to see. Mother loved her family and she loved her church. She served in almost every capacity. She taught Sunday School to adults and children. She served in the nursery. She sang in the choir. She was WMU di...

My friend Miriam is an excellent seamstress. One Spring she was busy working on a soft blue one piece outfit for her newest grandson. His big brother was close by and asked "MeMe, what are you doing?" "I'm making an Easter outfit for your new baby brother." Recognizing the very real and normal possibility that he might be jealous of this new little person in his life, she went on to reassure him that she would also be making him an Easter outfit. With long legs, a horrified look, and a bit of a quiver in his voice he said "like that?!" We all laughed as she retold that story but it came back to my mind this week after having some intentional conversation around the table. I was one of six ladies, all different ages, all different stages in life. We all agreed that as believers we want desperately to be in God's will. For the most part our struggle is not choosing between good and bad. We for sure recognize that choice. But what abo...

Last weekend we were able to visit our daughter and her family in Louisiana. Theirs is a busy life full of the activities of four children ages 3 months to 7 years. I love my time with them. Their 7 year old, Jonathan, is my first grandchild. He is a typical first child and all boy. I'm not sure there is anything he thinks he cannot do. "I'll do it Nana!" or "I can do it Nana!" filter our every conversation. His tremendously strong will has served him well and, yes, there are so many things he can do - all by himself! However, there really are some things his seven year old self cannot do and there are some things that he could do better with some help and instruction. God has His hand on him and I know He will use every dab of who he is to make Jonathan the man He wants him to be.   Sunday came, he opted for missing children's worship and sat by me in "big church." He sang, he completed his handout from Bible study, and as the hour ...

The exponential growth of communication through technology is astounding. Yet when 37 year old  Joyce Vincent was found dead in her London apartment more than two years after she is thought to have died, no one knew. Her body was found in her well heated apartment, surrounded by unopened Christmas presents. Her television was on and her mail was in a pile inside the door. What a mockery the sights from the television must have been. What a lie the gifts told.  Is it possible for the postmodern world we live in to give the appearance of life long after death?  And how many people do we come in contact with who are in danger of slipping into the roll of spectator in their own life?  It's a paradox. Tweets reveal the most intimate details of life while more and more people are dealing with the crushing emotion of loneliness. There is a disconnect. People are looking for real relationships. And God has made us for relationships! With Jesus Christ first and forem...

On Monday I left my house to begin my full scheduled day with what felt like a thousand things running through my mind. I was praying for my grandson who had a high fever, thinking about the direction I would take with my Wednesday morning Bible study, wondering where I was at with my Alzheimer's mother, while trying to solve the puzzle of who in the world I would vote for for president.  I also had my favorite Christian radio station on but, I must admit I was pretty unaware it until the coverage faltered a little.  I clicked the down button on my steering wheel to my next favorite station and the exact same song was playing on that station as well. I clicked back and forth wondering if I had hit the wrong button.  I had not.  "Okay God," I thought, "I am listening." And I did. The bombardment of thoughts and pressure were lifted gently off my shoulders as I listened to Casting Crowns deliver this living word to me from my Abba Father.  "Just B...

One of the things we have enjoyed since moving to Birmingham is the tremendous variety in dining experiences. One of our sure favorites is Cheesecake Factory on Saturdays. Soup of the day is creamy chicken artichoke soup and we are regular patrons. A dear friend introduced me to the soup and I was skeptical. But this soup has changed my life! Our kids think my passion for this soup is funny and upon learning about how often we eat it, my son-in-law asked "Do your parents still have teeth?" They have not yet had the soup. It is seriously delicious! Last saturday we got the soup to go. We had both had a busy day, each with our own mother. I was so hungry and happily drove home with my special soup. I was looking forward to taking my shoes off, resting my mind and sitting comfortably with my yummy soup and an icy glass of water. As my husband and I opened our little containers I suspected that something did not smell right. I was tired and hungry so I b...

Yesterday, a friend said to me "Everyone has their own box of rocks." That stuck with me for the rest of the day and I woke up this morning with that box of rocks still on my mind. What a great analogy for painful life experiences. Life beats us all up. No matter who you are, if you live very long, the rocks are coming. And they contribute significantly to who we become. What are we to do with that box of rocks we have collected? Some of those who have been hurt by rocks hold them close to their chest and thrust those same rocks at anyone who comes near. Some bury their head so far into their rocks they become almost unrecognizable. Their most glaringly apparent attribute is the markings of the rocks. Some hold onto the rocks with a death grip. The rocks become a trophy that cannot be pried from their fist. Still, we look at others and wonder if they ever had any rocks thrown at them. Where is their box? In Jeremiah 17:5-10, God gives us a comparison o...

We went to church with our daughter and her family this morning. When we got there, we walked to the expectant mother's parking place located close to the door, where we found our little family. Jonathan, who considers everything a race was out of the car and holding his daddy's hand as they walked toward the building. Samuel was being assisted by his mommy in getting out of his car seat and Grandpa stopped to help. Not seeing how I might be needed, I decided to step into the foyer. As I turned to go that way, I heard Samuel yell "ME NANA!" and I stopped immediately. I turned just in time to catch Samuel as he jumped into my arms! I would have stopped anywhere, anytime, or anything for that little fellow. All he had to do was let me know that he wanted that from me. After we left the boys in their classes and headed toward the sanctuary, my heart was tender toward the Lord and ready for worship. In my heart I cried "ME JESUS!" I know that all I ...

My daddy died nine years ago today. He was a great big man with an even bigger heart and he loved me. He loved me unconditionally. He was my human picture of God's unconditional love. I thank God for giving me Lewis Vail for my daddy. His death caught us all by surprise. Eleven years earlier he had a massive heart attack not before but after walking in the hospital door. God spared his life. Five years later his surgeon found his chest cavity full of cancer. He removed nothing, sewed him up and gave us no hope. Yet he went into remission and the cancer never returned in his lifetime. God spared his life again. Fast forward six years. In October of 2003 Daddy got bronchitis. He couldn't shake it. Our fear was that the cancer was back but every test, and there were many, showed the contrary. No cancer. The night before he died there were visitors. Daddy loved people and he enjoyed every minute. While he enjoyed the fellowship, it was getting harder for him to breat...