A reminiscing Simmer, a forward look in a deep rolling boil
Ah, the wonderful world of hindsight, I know it well. I really am a "Blunt Oregon Girl", born and raised in Southern Oregon but have lived in Northern California for many years.
I have been a "learn by doing" woman almost all my life. This is the esteemed School of Hard Knocks, sometimes the American Way. I have a top "degree' in this. One and a half years of college with no degree, plenty of simple jobs through my adult years and living by the seat of my pants and a member of the working poor for 40+ years.
As I approach my 70th birthday in November 2022, I am digging through my many years of writings, to ruefully, bluntly and yet tenderly share some of the very difficult lessons I learned while fleeing my Christian roots for 35 years. I met Jesus Christ in childhood, alongside my Mom. Two searing events knocked me off my center: the 1966 overnight death of my Mom when I was nearly 14 (a massive cerebral hemorrhage) and in 1968, my middle older brother Tommy was killed in Vietnam. Both those losses completely overwhelmed me and I wandered for over three decades in rebellion and sorrow. Fortunately for my Eternity, I finally returned to God in 2002, broken, emotionally battered and impoverished. God is incredibly merciful and He continues to guide my path, slowly and steadily. I have not had much stability in my temperament, I am a restless type. While I am also a slow plodder, Holy Spirit is nudging me out of endless thinking and into doing. Before I leave this world, I have some pithy and gnarly things to share about my generation and the rampant effects of "doing our own thing." Not good...but fortunately, God does forgive and He guides us in repairing the damage in our own lives and to help others with sharing of useful information.
The sexual revolution that began in earnest in the 1960's, drew in large numbers of my own Baby Boomer generation. We had legitimate "beefs" with the "Establishment" and quite loudly let them know we were displeased. This included the War in Vietnam, the "military-industrial complex" and the Civil Rights movement. However, we could not have known some of the very bitter seeds we were planting, especially in the flocking to "sexual freedom" and all the attendant miseries it has caused decades later. Sex, drugs and rock and roll combined in a nasty stew and I will spend the rest of my life in humble repentance for my part in this conflagration. My Substack posts will contain many of my stumblings through the sexual revolution and my return not only to my Christian roots but to my Conservative roots as well. I will included ongoing takes on the current chaos of 2022.
I present my learnings bluntly but not without irony, as I myself was to blame and put no finger-pointing at others except to say "examine your heart and seek God." (Mirror, see Wendy!)
Blessings for now,
Wendy (heretofore known as WW) 7-19-2022