Seer of Philippi

A E Grady

Thoughts on Thoughts

Recently, some of my grandchildren stayed with me for a few days. It was a fantastic time full of energy, excitement, and exhaustion. My schedule shifted to ensure that there was time to be with these future leaders. My concern became their well-being. My thoughts were all on them and how can I make their time with me meaningful. I really didn’t have time for my own thoughts. This is not a complaint but a fact.

When I wrote The Seer of Philippi one of the things I tried to express in the book was that the slave girl had no private time or thoughts. She had no independent actions from when she was a young child until she was freed from the demon’s hold. She was imprisoned in her mind, and her actions were controlled by others.

While enjoying time with my grandchildren is not a drudgery or slavery, it does change my focus. I am not primary in all that I do. As I sit with a cup of hot tea, listening to the birds sing, I ponder all sorts of ideas. I am reminded that we need to take advantage of this free time.

You may be thinking I’m not a slave, I have my own thoughts, I can do what I want – but can you really? Are you working? Whether for someone who sets your schedule and makes the assignments for the day. Or work for yourself with customers and suppliers making up your daily to-do list and deadlines. Is there a child or a spouse in your life? Well, they certainly put demands on your plans.

Is this bad? No, of course not; it is part of life. How we choose to respond to these opportunities is up to us. We can choose to be angry about the requirements put on us by others or be thankful for their presence in our life. We can choose to ignore their needs and take care of ourselves, but that can lead to consequences we don’t want. The loss of a job, a broken friendship, or a family relationship that becomes a challenge to mend.

I choose to enjoy the moments – whether busy caring for my family, working to accomplish a goal, or sipping my favorite tea. These moments are precious to me, and they help me find inspiration for more stories.

A E Grady

Turning From One Season to the Next

I recently heard the song Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds. It is from the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 where King Solomon wrote:

1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 

2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 

3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. 

4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 

5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 

6 A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 

7 A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. 

8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. 

Indeed, I am not as wise as Solomon, so I take his advice to help me through my life’s trying and challenging times. His words remind us that everything changes – just like the seasons.

I finished writing In Paul’s Wake, the Seer of Philippi during the past year. The book explores the lead character’s seasons – from her life as a child, to her life as a seer, and then her true life.

I have seen many seasons of change, but if I had focused only on the tough times, I never could have written the book (or function in life). Equally, I can’t focus only on the best times. There must be balance in life. A way to move through the bad and good incidents that make up every person’s life.

As King Solomon states in verse 11, Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

I trust that He has everything in His hands, and all things will work out.