The other night I met with my spiritual direction group. Are you wondering what that is? We meet once a month for the soul purpose of pursuing God. Our time together usually has some or all of the following elements: Reading of scripture, quietly or together, silence, reflection, sharing and praying. Occasionally we also include other poetic literature and a song or two. Last week in addition to scripture we reflected on the following questions. They were written by Dan Allender and sent out in a Mars Hill Grad School e-mail.
We are nearly a month into this new year, but before the memories of 2008 completely fade, take a look at these questions. What would your answers be? I'd love to hear from you. Post a comment, don't be shy!
Reflections on 2008:
What loss most surprised you?
Whose face brought you the greatest gift of God’s presence?
When did you let yourself laugh to the point of tears?
What small kindness touched you most this year?
What one unfinished desire will you take from 2008 into 2009?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Spreading the Cheer!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Needing some space....
Today I gave myself space. That doesn't happen often enough. I had a morning meeting and then worked on cleaning one of the closets at church. (Part of my volunteer work.) I still have work to do there, but it looks a little better for now.
My husband invited me to join him for lunch and then to go purchase new tennis shoes. I know that sounds kind of strange, but I need some. I've been hitting the treadmill like a crazy woman and my shoes aren't giving the support I need. It doesn't really matter, though, because I turned him down. I'll get the shoes later, and if you are feeling bad for my husband, he's okay. We were eating dinner together AND I was even planning to cook tonight.
I also called my piano teacher and forfeited my piano lesson. I don't like missing a lesson when we can get one in, but I had something in mind that I wanted to do today. I was longing to work on my songs. That is the kind of stuff that can get squeezed out if you don't make it happen. So, shortly after lunch I packed up a couple of my notebooks, a rhyming dictionary, a thesaurus, and my Bible and headed for Bread Co. If I had stayed at home, it wouldn't have happened....too many distractions.
Bread Co makes for a wonderful writing venue. When the lunch crowd has left, I can stretch out in a booth without feeling guilty. They play instrumental jazz, which is perfect for one like myself who gets bemused by song lyrics (especially if you are trying to write your own). Unlike other coffee shops, you can continue to fill your cup the whole time you are sitting there. It's nice! One price, twenty cups......okay, I only had three.
So what did I do with my space? I made a commitment to myself to finish 5 particular songs I have started, and then I worked on 2 of those five. None are complete at this point, but writing is rewriting as they say!
My husband invited me to join him for lunch and then to go purchase new tennis shoes. I know that sounds kind of strange, but I need some. I've been hitting the treadmill like a crazy woman and my shoes aren't giving the support I need. It doesn't really matter, though, because I turned him down. I'll get the shoes later, and if you are feeling bad for my husband, he's okay. We were eating dinner together AND I was even planning to cook tonight.
I also called my piano teacher and forfeited my piano lesson. I don't like missing a lesson when we can get one in, but I had something in mind that I wanted to do today. I was longing to work on my songs. That is the kind of stuff that can get squeezed out if you don't make it happen. So, shortly after lunch I packed up a couple of my notebooks, a rhyming dictionary, a thesaurus, and my Bible and headed for Bread Co. If I had stayed at home, it wouldn't have happened....too many distractions.
Bread Co makes for a wonderful writing venue. When the lunch crowd has left, I can stretch out in a booth without feeling guilty. They play instrumental jazz, which is perfect for one like myself who gets bemused by song lyrics (especially if you are trying to write your own). Unlike other coffee shops, you can continue to fill your cup the whole time you are sitting there. It's nice! One price, twenty cups......okay, I only had three.
So what did I do with my space? I made a commitment to myself to finish 5 particular songs I have started, and then I worked on 2 of those five. None are complete at this point, but writing is rewriting as they say!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It's Not Magic, It Just Makes Sense
I made a great discovery yesterday. I was cleaning, wiping down the stove, counters, etc. in the kitchen. We have one of the those smoothtop ranges. I love it for the most part. There are no drip-pans that need to be scrubbed and scoured due to the collection of crumbs or boiled-over pot crud. Pots do still boil over occasionally, though and sometimes leave a burnt-on film on the glass surface. One must be careful when cleaning the glass-top, because it can scratch easily. There is a product on the market usually including the word "magic" in the title for cleaning this type of range. It is a white, liguidy, chalky substance that you apply, leave on for a awhile, and then put some muscle into to get the job done. It works fairly-well, but often there is still some residue that just won't budge.
Yesterday I was using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to wipe down the fridge, the dishwasher, the back of the stove, etc.. (Why is the word "magic" always included in these products?) I have used these before for wall marks and other things, and I think they really do include a little magic. I may be inclined to believe it more now than ever. I wiped it across the smoothtop surface, and those stubborn bits of burnt-on whatever just wiped right off like shaving cream under a razor! I was stunned! My immediate thought was, "You have got to be kidding me! All that white, chalky, scrubbing I have been doing for years and it could be this easy?" Who would have guessed?
Isn't this the way a lot of us live? Our lives are full of burnt-on residue. It could be a habit we can't seem to overcome or a job that doesn't satisfy for some reason, or perhaps many reasons. Is it a relationship that is not healthy, or a goal that hangs out there somewhere, just beyond our reach? Maybe it is your spiritual life....it's feels so flat and dry.
We keep trying the same things to remedy the situation and to finally get the rest of the layers of stuff off. It works, sort of, but not completely and we find ourselves giving up and not trying at all or scrubbing the same spot over and over with the same result.
We forget that there is more than one way to________________. You fill in the blank and remember this.......there might be a better way. Yes, Mr. Clean took me by surprise. It was an unexpected discovery, yet a discovery just the same. I didn't intend to try something new, but I saw the lesson to be learned. If whatever it is I am trying isn't working to make the change I desire or need, it is time to think outside the confines of my very small box and find another option. We can keep scrubbing the smoothtop with the same old formula and motion, receiving the same results, or we can find a new solution.
Yesterday I was using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to wipe down the fridge, the dishwasher, the back of the stove, etc.. (Why is the word "magic" always included in these products?) I have used these before for wall marks and other things, and I think they really do include a little magic. I may be inclined to believe it more now than ever. I wiped it across the smoothtop surface, and those stubborn bits of burnt-on whatever just wiped right off like shaving cream under a razor! I was stunned! My immediate thought was, "You have got to be kidding me! All that white, chalky, scrubbing I have been doing for years and it could be this easy?" Who would have guessed?
Isn't this the way a lot of us live? Our lives are full of burnt-on residue. It could be a habit we can't seem to overcome or a job that doesn't satisfy for some reason, or perhaps many reasons. Is it a relationship that is not healthy, or a goal that hangs out there somewhere, just beyond our reach? Maybe it is your spiritual life....it's feels so flat and dry.
We keep trying the same things to remedy the situation and to finally get the rest of the layers of stuff off. It works, sort of, but not completely and we find ourselves giving up and not trying at all or scrubbing the same spot over and over with the same result.
We forget that there is more than one way to________________. You fill in the blank and remember this.......there might be a better way. Yes, Mr. Clean took me by surprise. It was an unexpected discovery, yet a discovery just the same. I didn't intend to try something new, but I saw the lesson to be learned. If whatever it is I am trying isn't working to make the change I desire or need, it is time to think outside the confines of my very small box and find another option. We can keep scrubbing the smoothtop with the same old formula and motion, receiving the same results, or we can find a new solution.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
What is man.....?
"Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God."
R. C. Sproul
Check out the "Awe Factor" video at
http://www.crazylovebook.com/
"The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." Psalm 19: 1-4
Monday, January 5, 2009
A Head Full
It has been a whirlwind of days. We did all the usual preparing for and celebrating of Christmas with family and friends. A daughter graduated from college, a son came home from studying abroad. We traveled back and forth across the state. My sister and her husband came for our traditional New Year's visit. During part of the time of preparation and celebrating I was sick, so it called for extra strength I didn't really have.
Now it is regroup time, but the decorations are still up and my energy is low. My youngest is ready to head back to college, and has the living and dining rooms filled with all his belongings. Since he studied abroad in the fall, and is moving into an apartment rather than a dorm, there is an overabundance of stuff. When I look at it combined with my own over-the-top Christmas decor I feel it is a good representation of what my head feels like right now. It is overwhelming!
New Year's resolutions? Who has time to think about that? I am longing for some space, some quiet, but I am not sure how to find it in the moment. Sorry to invite you inside this head. I wish I had something profound to say....I do not. Maybe when the mind is a little less congested.
Now it is regroup time, but the decorations are still up and my energy is low. My youngest is ready to head back to college, and has the living and dining rooms filled with all his belongings. Since he studied abroad in the fall, and is moving into an apartment rather than a dorm, there is an overabundance of stuff. When I look at it combined with my own over-the-top Christmas decor I feel it is a good representation of what my head feels like right now. It is overwhelming!
New Year's resolutions? Who has time to think about that? I am longing for some space, some quiet, but I am not sure how to find it in the moment. Sorry to invite you inside this head. I wish I had something profound to say....I do not. Maybe when the mind is a little less congested.
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