In my most recent post, I wrote that our purpose in living is to glorify God. I explained that God is worthy of our praise and that we can glorify him by living in a way that points to him. We can eat the food he created - real, delicious, full of flavor. We can build in ways that create sturdy structures that protect human life while incorporating design principles that speak to the created order. We can care for our animals making sure they are fed and cared for and grow native plants in our gardens that add to the local ecosystem. 
       I’ve been teasing that I’m going to be writing about women’s issues. Is a post about glorifying God just dragging my feet? Am I afraid to start writing about this? Well, yes and no. I’m not dragging my feet. I’ve got a ton going on and it is easy to set aside writing to care for more immediately pressing issues. Yes, I’m a little scared to write about what I’ve read because it is controversial and nuanced. People have deeply held opinions built on misconceptions that are difficult to unravel from the truth. I’m trying to organize my notes and provide accurate, orderly information.
       So why did I take the time to write about our need to glorify God? You might not like this answer, but it is because of Barbie. Yes, that Barbie. In the 2023 Barbie movie, there’s a song called "What Was I Made For?" The song is beautiful, contemplative, and heartbreakingly sad. Sung by Billie Eilish the lyrics state plainly how many women feel. They feel frustrated and lost. America Ferrera’s speech in the film drew millions of comments and views from women saying it expressed exactly how they feel. If you haven’t listened to them you should. If you listened to them and the feelings expressed are completely foreign, that is wonderful. I don’t wish frustration or sadness on any woman but please don’t use your own experience to diminish the experiences of others. Many movies have promoted feminism or the ideals it teaches but Barbie lays it all out for the viewer. Through Barbie, women are expressing how they feel living out third wave feminism. It is a significant cultural moment because many women recognize themselves in the confusion and want an answer to the question, “What was I made for?”

        This you-can-do-it-all attitude is straight out of the philosophy of Simone de Beauvoir (feminist philosopher and author of The Second Sex, 1949). "The modern woman, she argues, is not free, but divided. She cannot escape the demands of the feminine world, even while jockeying to succeed in the masculine world. She has to live both like a man and like a woman, and 'her workload and her fatigue are multiplied as a result.'" (From Abigal Favale, The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory)  Combining this philosophy, biological clocks, and innate desires makes women feel like they should be able to have a career, family, social life, a healthy body, and a clean and well-ordered house, but since that is clearly impossible hopelessness ensues and we're back to looking at what our purpose really is. 
       We’ve all had something in our house of undetermined usefulness. It usually just shows up on the counter one day and you find yourself asking family members, “What is this? Where is it from? Who brought it home?” If you can’t find a purpose for the item it is usually tossed into the trash. There is no point in useless things. That’s why we have to start with finding our purpose. 
       Women have a purpose and it isn’t to get married, have children, bake bread, or look pretty. Many women do get married which is wonderful. I’d give the experience five stars - highly recommend. Having children is incredible - literally forming the next generation - life-changing!  Baking bread is terrific, although I’d rather eat bread than bake it. (I still haven’t attempted a sourdough and I am not interested in trying.) If looking pretty is my purpose I’m in trouble. I CAN look pretty but at least 50% of the time I’m not even trying to. I’m not an object to be viewed. I am a human being with intrinsic value. (Psalm 139:13-16)
       But where does that value come from? It comes from God. God created each of us and he didn’t create us to do everything like Barbie can. He promises to order our steps and be our helper and guide. All we have to do is glorify him and live ordinary lives. “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23
       So today, I would like to offer you hope. The hope of knowing you were made for a purpose. If you don’t know God, I would be happy to introduce you to Him. I want you to feel, to be alive, to be cared for, to know you have value, to know that you have a purpose. You don't have to be everything which is great news because you can't be everything, but you can be loved, wanted, full of hope and joy. 

       One of the many things my students used to tease me about was my use of the word “favorite”. I tend to be fickle in my tastes and don’t really have any one thing that I can say I prefer above all others. I often make choices based on how I’m feeling at the moment. Sometimes my favorite lunch is salad; sometimes it’s guacamole and tortilla chips. Sometimes I want to go out for Italian food while sometimes I am hungry for steak. Sometimes I want to sit down with To Kill a Mockingbird while other times I crave non-fiction like The Devil in the White City. Students would mention a book during class and more often seemed logical I would say, “Oh! That’s my favorite!” I enjoy discussing books with people and sometimes the question, “What’s your favorite book?” is asked. 
       Now here’s the part where I’m going to be very real with you. My least favorite answer to that question is, “The Bible.” I know, I know! It’s the Bible! It’s the literal Word of God. But as an answer to that question, it seems like such a conversation-stopper. I’m excited to talk about being entertained by Pride and Prejudice or To Kill a Mockingbird and this answer comes across as demonstrating spiritual superiority. Maybe it’s not intended that way. I feel terrible about being annoyed by this answer but when I consider my feelings there’s a good explanation for my annoyance. 
       The Bible is a big book. It is 66 books that vary in genre telling a meta-narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. When I was younger I would read it out of a sense of obligation one chapter at a time. The reading was painful because it was confusing and the sense of obligation made it a drudgery. For a while, on the advice of some lesson I heard, I tried to read until I found something to me. This was really hard to do particularly when reading through the law or genealogies. At some point, I gave up and did daily devotionals (sometimes) just to keep from feeling guilty.
       Then around 2012, I had a crisis of faith that drove me to ask, “Is all this really true? Am I wasting my time with all this God stuff or is there something worth clinging to?” I thank God daily that through a series of circumstances, I came upon friends and a congregation of believers who loved me and pointed me to God. They didn’t guilt me or push but they loved me, prayed for me, and left room for God to work. I started wanting to read the Bible because I wanted to see what it said. I hadn’t really considered the meta-narrative before so I wanted to learn about that. I read The Story and found myself riveted. I knew what was going to happen but I still couldn’t put it down! It was so exciting. Later I read The Books of the Bible which is the entire Bible with the chapter and verse numbers removed. You may think, as I did, that those aren’t a big deal, but boy, I was shocked to see how much clearer the text was. It was challenging to search and mark passages so I understand why we have the divisions we have but still deeply appreciated this read-through. 
       For the last several years I’ve been on a quest to read through several different versions and so far I’ve read the KJV, NASB, NLV, HCSB, and the NIV. I'm currently working through the ESV but that’s going to take a while because I’m doing it one study at a time. I’m about a year six months in and I’m only through Psalms and sixteen chapters of Genesis. My reading is challenging as it changes me, exciting as I make connections and understand more about God, and enjoyable as I read along with the millions of others in our time and in ages past who have read and loved the same book. 
       So what does all this have to do with my annoyance at answering “The Bible” when asked to name my favorite book? I think it’s because although it is a book I see it as so much more. It is fair to say that every book I’ve ever read has had some kind of impact on me. The words have made a difference in my life, which is why I love reading so much. In Pride and Prejudice, I see a beautiful love story, a quirky family, and a strong woman who refuses to settle for the life society has foisted upon her. In To Kill a Mockingbird I see the horrors of racism and prejudice through the innocent eyes of a child. I love these stories, but I would not die for the book itself or for the authors. In contrast, the Bible is a book full of ancient truths that are living and active. I would die for this book and its Author. I’ve seen this book change lives and I’ve seen people react in strong opposition to it because they hate its Author. 
       I’m going to start posting the results of the last several years of reading, listening, watching, visiting, and interviewing people about women. Before doing so I want to clearly state that my foundational book, the book I try to consume daily, the book that has changed my life is the Bible. I love it. I would die for the words it contains and it is important to me that you know that because it will be my foundational premise. I look forward to sharing the things that I’ve learned and hearing from you about them.​

​       So here’s the challenge - who are you going to invest in? Are you lonely? Plan a get together. Are you a single mom? Invite your kid’s friends or their moms. Are you empowered and confident? Plan a get together. Here’s my stragety for hosting a great event: 

How to host a Galentine’s Day Party:

1. Date: According to the originator, Leslie Knope, Galentine’s Day is February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day. I host my party the Saturday before to avoid conflicts with school and work. 
2. Place: You can meet up anywhere. I love to host at my house but you could meet up at a coffee shop, restaurant, or anywhere gatherings are possible. 
3. Mood: You want to make sure the gathering is about gratitude for the good relationships around us and for the love we can share with others. We always have brunch and watch a movie. I try to pick something they haven’t seen before so it’s a unique experience. Often I share my favorite books about strong women. I even have historical paper dolls. Who wouldn't want a paper doll with Golda Meir?
4. Food: Waffles are the traditional Galentine’s Day food because, “Why would anyone ever eat anything besides breakfast food?” Of course what kind of food isn’t important but there is a lot of research showing that sharing food is really important to deepen and strengthen relationships. So if at all possible include food. 

So that’s it. Who is going to do this with me? Who is going to help share love and joy with others? If you are a believer in Christ you should have love to pour out and share and this is a great place to start.

       I remember checking out videos from the library and after finishing them removing the video from the VCR and putting them in the rewinder. To this day, I can't hear, "Be kind" without thinking rewind. Today is World Kindness Day according to the Facebook posts and my morning greeting from Alexa. I am tempted to research how long World Kindness Day has been a thing, who started it, and who is celebrating it, but instead, I’m going to refrain from that extraneous research and go with it. 
       On my recent trip to Seneca Falls, New York, I learned a great deal about kindness and the great impact ordinary individuals can have on the world around them. We arrived in Seneca Falls after sunset. The small downtown area was decorated for Christmas, a gentle snow was falling, and the church bells were ringing out “How Firm a Foundation.” I told my sister that I was reminded of Bedford Falls, the town from It’s a Wonderful Life and she immediately agreed. As we were checking in, the hotel clerk gave us a list of area attractions including the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum. He explained that Seneca Falls is the town that Bedford Falls is based on.
       Our days there included a visit to the Women’s Rights Historical Park, Elizabeth Caddy Stanton’s home, William Seward’s home, and Harriet Tubman National Historic Park. In each of these places, we noted the influence of major figures like Anthony, Stanton, Seward, and Tubman, but we also noticed the courage, conviction, and compassion of those whose names will most likely never be included in a national park or museum. 
       There were countless women who stood up for the rights of others. As I previously wrote, the subject of women’s rights can be controversial, but here we are talking about rights such as property ownership and the right to remove themselves and their children from a dangerous and abusive husband. Women who were not destitute or in danger took upon them the fight that the others in those situations didn’t have the ability to fight. 
       William Seward was a remarkable man who served with Lincoln as Secretary of State but was responsible for doing so much more. One act stood out as particularly significant during our visit. He sold land to Harriet Tubman including a home that she and her parents lived in after their escape from enslavement. This was after the Fugitive Slave Act and before the Emancipation Proclamation so his action was in direct defiance of federal law, but he believed that it was the right thing to do.
       Harriet Tubman’s life was full of her kindness to others despite being enslaved and mistreated. Often the word kindness invokes a soft-spoken, gentle manner, but Harriet was kind in a powerful way. She went back into the South thirteen times to rescue her people, ignoring her own safety. She also led troops into combat and freed 750 men, women, and children during a US military action. Retirement was anything but restful. She opened a home for the elderly on her land because the other home for the elderly in Auburn was for whites only. Her home was for everyone. Harriet Tubman exemplified kindness in action. 
​       Our last stop during the trip was at the It’s a Wonderful Life Museum. There we learned the beautiful story behind the movie. Frank Capra stopped in the town after reading the short story which would become the movie. There, while receiving a hair cut from an Italian immigrant, he heard the story of Antonio Varacalli. In 1917, Antonio was a young man working to save up money to bring his family over from war-torn Italy. He watched a woman jump off the bridge in an attempt to commit suicide and jumped in to save her. He succeeded in saving her but lost his life in the process. The town rallied together and collected enough to bring his family to the area. Capra changed the ending of the movie to include the town rallying around George and set the movie in a place that looked like Antonio’s town. 
       Acts of kindness can be small or large. They can be quiet or they can be bold. This “World Kindness Day” rewind your thoughts to some of the people who have influenced your life. How has their influence changed you? As Clarence observed, “Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?” Today, don’t leave a hole. Get in there and influence someone. Maybe a child, maybe the person behind you in line at Starbucks, maybe a future generation.

Capra modeled the bridge in the movie after this bridge in Seneca Falls.

       I’m a huge fan of Far Side by Gary Larson. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s a syndicated comic that was usually one pannel. The figures are distorted and the humor is quirky. One that has stuck with me was titled “Classic Conversation Stoppers.” The panel is divided into four squares and depicts four men talking to guests. Each of the men is saying something that is guaranteed to end a conversation. My favorite is the guy saying, “‘Contagious? Contagious?’ I asked my doctor. ‘Realy contagious,’ he tells me.” Insert awkward pause. Have you ever experienced something like this? You say something and people respond with awkward silence. 
       Last year I created a presentation about World War I to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the war. After completing that I decided to work on a presentation commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment to the Constitution, which grants women the right to vote. I thought World War I had been tricky to investigate, but nothing could have prepared me for the mess that I’ve found during my study of the women’s suffrage movement. 
       In my research, I’ve studied Biblical anthropology - the study of humans as they relate to God, the history of women in the United States and Western Culture, and the philosophical foundations of the feminist movement. Phew! I’ve read about Upity Women of Medieval Times, Wild Women of Michigan, 12 Extraordinary Women of the Bible. I’ve read The Women’s Hour, Roses and Radicals, and (I truly loved this one) Cinderella Ate My Daughter. Relating to business I’m reading Lean In and, as a counterpoint, Lean Out. I’m intrigued and immensely enjoying this research, but all these viewpoints and counterpoints leave my brain a tangled mess. When my thoughts become tangled, I find the best method of unraveling them is talking. I’ve come up with some of my best party planning ideas when talking to the cashier while at the supermarket checkout. (Probably why I’m not interested in curbside pick up or grocery delivery.) 
       In the past few months, I’ve learned that the phrase, “I’m studying the history of women’s rights,” is a classic conversation stopper. People become uncomfortable and shift around looking for an out. One person abruptly stated they had to leave and ran away. I think most people are afraid of getting involved in a controversial conversation because of the tension in our current culture. 
       Viewpoints collide and emotions run deep, but I believe that this is a very important and vital study. I keep typing and deleting as I’m trying to explain further, but I’ll never be able to fit everything I want to say in this post. I’m going to state a few truths I’ve discovered, and leave it at that for now.

• God created man in his image and laid down commands that establish what we call human rights. (E.g. God said, “You shall not kill.” You do not have the right to kill me. I have the right not to be killed.) 
• Media and marketing send out subtle messages that impact us much deeper than we realize. 
• Women and men are both loved by God and designed with unique roles. We sometimes add to God’s expectations for men and women because of the influence of our culture.
• The need to protect women’s rights is going to continue to be a heated debate and it is one that Christians need to become active participants in. (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity - SOGI - laws are trying to eliminate the fixed terms “men” and “women” and instead argue that a person’s identity is fluid. To protect women’s rights, we must be able to say what a woman is. We cannot legally protect a category of people if we cannot identify that category. From Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcey) 

       That’s all I’m going to say about this for now. I can already feel the discomfort and I can hear the, “Well, I don’t know what she means by that,” running through your mind. Feel free to comment below or message me if you want to talk more about this and look for future posts about women’s rights. Wait! Where are you going? I need someone to talk to about this! ​