Religion

I remember reading a billboard sponsored by a local motor vehicle department that cautioned, “You can be dead right.”

Obviously, the reference was to persons whose “righteous” actions could also be fatal mistakes. When the need to be right supersedes common sense, the results are disastrous and deadly.

Instead of giving way to errant drivers, they kept on going because they had the right-of-way and the other drivers did not. They were right. The others were wrong.

The Dec. 14 issue of the National Catholic Reporter contained a provocative 16-page insert on spirituality.

This is a word that evokes a variety of emotional responses, many of them diametrically opposed. There is fear, disdain, dismissal, avoidance, denial, excitement, acceptance, relief and serenity—to name a few.

I glanced over my husband’s shoulder to see what had him so engrossed. He was rereading one of his perennial favorites, The Artist’s Magazine.

I keep telling him he must put down the magazines and pick up the brushes to be effective, but that’s another column. Sensing a spark of interest, he quickly showed me some amazing works of art. But I noted the title of one article and began my own artistic meanderings.

Ocean View sets women’s retreat

A women’s retreat is set for Jan. 25 and 26 at Ocean View Baptist Church, 7025 Beach Drive, Ocean Isle Beach.

The guest speaker will be Barbara Benton from Helena, Ala., an in-depth Bible teacher, according to a church news release.

Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25, followed by a sit-down dinner at 6:15 p.m. and praise and worship at 7 p.m.

The retreat session is set for 8:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 26 at the church, with a break at 10 a.m.

Call the church at 579-6833 to make a reservation.