Pathway Journey

February 23, 2024February 23, 2024

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

The phrase “fifteen minutes of fame” is erroneously attributed to Andy Warhol who reportedly said, “In the future, everyone will be world famous for fifteen minutes.” In today’s world of Tik Tok, Reels, and Shorts, fifteen minutes is way too long.

Psychologists say that some if not many mass shooters who end their own lives by direct suicide or “suicide by cop” may be wanting notoriety. Very sad for a soul to want a moment of fame that ends in so much loss of life, even their own. It speaks to the tragedy of today’s mindset.

And then we have people on social media getting way too close to a wild animal or hanging precariously from a cliff just to capture a video hoping it will go viral so they can cash in on the fame.

February 14, 2024March 1, 2024

And The Truth Is…

Have you heard something said, and realized that you knew the concept but had never put it into words? I have said this in the past, “Someone articulated a truth that I never had the words for.” We hear it and say, “Aha, that’s the truth!”

Some of the worst descriptive words are “this is my truth” or “this is what I feel is the truth.” How arrogant is that! Our feelings or thoughts are not the indicators of truth. Truth is not derived from the receivers but from the Giver.

February 6, 2024February 5, 2024

My Dentist Said I Was Stoic!

Crazy title, right?

After a lengthy dental procedure where my dentist did a root canal, then ground it down for the crown prep, plus filled the neighbor tooth, and ground it down for a crown; he patted me on the shoulder and said, “You’re stoic.” I forgot how long I was in the dental chair, but it was a while. When finished my dentist said it was hard on him and he was amazed that I didn’t move a muscle or make a sound. Perhaps I was afraid to move! Anyway, I was surprised by his comment, thinking maybe it was intended as a compliment.

January 26, 2024March 1, 2024

Looking Into Their Eyes

I have seen some pitiful folks in my time. It is not the ragged clothes I see or their crippled limbs, but their eyes that give me a glimpse of their misery and hopelessness. I believe every person was granted to exist by God; this in itself makes me know that there is dignity in every life.

Many choose to take a path that is not God’s best, but some seem to have it thrust upon them by poverty, abuse, sickness, or where they were born. I have come to know with more awareness and certainty of the dignity of every human being. I know Christ loves them just as He loved the women He saved from a stoning, the demoniac He delivered from legions of demons, and even my wretched soul.

January 4, 2024January 4, 2024

Problems and Such on Social Media

Back in my younger days when I taught high school vocational agriculture (now it is agriscience), we had district ag-teacher meetings about four times a year. I usually left more deflated than encouraged. Talking with my high school ag-teacher and mentor, Mr. Jim Turner, I told him how I felt about the meetings. He laughed and said, “Harry, some of those guys who are bragging about all the things they are doing, are probably not doing half of what you are doing. Just keep your head to the grindstone and don’t let it bother you.” It was great advice, comparison between good or bad is not healthy in either direction.

Today we have social media. Most postings on social media usually fall under one of two categories: how great someone’s life is or the severity of their problems. I am not saying either should not be posted, that is a personal preference and perhaps another discussion for another day.

December 20, 2023December 19, 2023

An Unlikely Story But True

The world lay in the sway of darkness, sin, and death. Man’s journey from Eden was marked by a trail of death and tears with each tomb a reminder of every man’s fate. Death reigned in the world by a cruel master, Satan, whose very name meant “Adversary”. God’s whole creation had been marred by the curse. Pain, tragedy, sickness, weeds, wars, oppressors, and predators ruled the world.

December 12, 2023December 11, 2023

Mary’s Story

Preface Note: This is an excerpt from my book, “Journey of the Messiah: The Awakening.” The book is written in the first person as if Jesus is telling HIs own story. Technically, the book is ‘historical fiction’, yet, I stayed as close as possible to the biblical and historical account. “Mary’s Story” is an excerpt from Chapter Six IMA’S STORY. This excerpt is an imagined conversation with Jesus and His mother describing the circumstances surrounding His virgin birth. In the book, Jesus called His mother by the name Ima, Joseph by the name of Abba, and God the Father by the name “FATHER”. –Harry L. Whitt

December 8, 2023December 7, 2023

God’s Christmas Gift

Christmas is known as a season of gift-giving. We could complain about the commercialization of Christmas, but I doubt it would change anyone’s mind. Of course, as Christians we realize the most important gift associated with Christmas is the gift of Jesus by our Heavenly Father. One of the most quoted scriptures affirms this, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV).

November 29, 2023November 28, 2023

ILLUSION OF PERFECTION

Perfection is like a dog chasing his tail. He may never catch it and if he did it would hurt. Perfection is that thing we sometimes pursue but never reach.

After almost seven decades on this ball of dirt, many things in my life can be described as in the words of an old Scottish man, “Well, that’a do!” I have come to realize some skills I have tried to perfect ended up with the grade of “B” or a “C”. I’ll just need to live with “that’a do.”

Some things look perfect at a distance. We could name celebrities who looked as if they had it all, but then we were shocked when their lives dissolved into ruin.

November 22, 2023November 22, 2023

Thankful for the Ordinary

Most of us are thankful for the big stuff. You know, like, coming out of a horrific accident without a scratch, the birth of a child, etc. All these type things are certainly ‘thanks worthy’ and then some!

But did you thank God when you opened your eyes to a new day? What about going to the bathroom without difficulty? Did you open your faucet to get a drink of water without even a thought of it making you sick or the fact you didn’t have to carry water into your house in a bucket? What about getting more comfortable by pushing a button on a thermostat?