Busy times leave no time for writing.
It's better to be busy even if I won't remember what I've done if I don't write about it.
Not one bit of Halloween observance on my part.
Just prayer and presence. And lots of gratitude.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Perfect Timing for a Soul Reset
I knew this was coming. I was enjoying the Rev. Desi Sharp's sermon series based on the book Soul Reset. The book and her sermons include suggested actions to take, and many have helped me get out of my comfort zone.
I'm not sure I'm ready for this week's.
The spiritual discipline is fasting. I felt certain it would include food. When it showed up Sunday night, in time to prepare for Monday's discipline, I saw the first one would be social media.
Knowing I'd be fishing with my husband the next day, I saw little chance I would stay off social media.
Truth is, I don’t see me fasting from food or social media for a whole day any time soon. Perhaps I’ll consider giving up a favorite food and some habitual aspect of social for the week. I’ll definitely need to pray about this!! (I also need to listen to the Goodrich UMC livestream for Desi’s sermon. Maybe she says something to make fasting seem more doable!!)
The next day was an even bigger surprise and challenge. I had known food would be one of the fast focuses one day. Words caught me by surprise!
As it turned out, I partially fasted from social media Monday, considering that Gene and I fished at Leeper and my first mention of it on Facebook was Tuesday morning. (My social media presence Monday involved reading, maybe commenting and sharing things posted by others.) I suppose it helped that I didn’t catch anything and Gene only caught three. It also helps that my phone’s storage is close to capacity, without room for many more photos until I push some to other places.
Still, awareness and prayers regarding spiritual disciplines and fasting were also factors that kept me from taking and posting selfies or photos of nature’s fall beauty, even when instead of the sunshine I faithfully awaited, we received rain. And kept on fishing!!
I'm not sure I'm ready for this week's.
The spiritual discipline is fasting. I felt certain it would include food. When it showed up Sunday night, in time to prepare for Monday's discipline, I saw the first one would be social media.
Knowing I'd be fishing with my husband the next day, I saw little chance I would stay off social media.
Truth is, I don’t see me fasting from food or social media for a whole day any time soon. Perhaps I’ll consider giving up a favorite food and some habitual aspect of social for the week. I’ll definitely need to pray about this!! (I also need to listen to the Goodrich UMC livestream for Desi’s sermon. Maybe she says something to make fasting seem more doable!!)
The next day was an even bigger surprise and challenge. I had known food would be one of the fast focuses one day. Words caught me by surprise!
As it turned out, I partially fasted from social media Monday, considering that Gene and I fished at Leeper and my first mention of it on Facebook was Tuesday morning. (My social media presence Monday involved reading, maybe commenting and sharing things posted by others.) I suppose it helped that I didn’t catch anything and Gene only caught three. It also helps that my phone’s storage is close to capacity, without room for many more photos until I push some to other places.
Still, awareness and prayers regarding spiritual disciplines and fasting were also factors that kept me from taking and posting selfies or photos of nature’s fall beauty, even when instead of the sunshine I faithfully awaited, we received rain. And kept on fishing!!
I pray to be
willing to fully practice each of these disciplines. I just don’t think
it will be this week. And a big part of my SOUL RESET is to know that’s
ok. I don’t have to do this perfectly, today or ever. The goal is to
grow closer and closer to Christ, to live lightly and freely with Him.
Amen!
Maybe the body knows
I just reread the "Rest" post and amazed to think that was the day before we got our vaccinations for flu, shingles and tetanus. Little did I know!!!!
Maybe God was resting me up for how my body dealt with the shots.
After getting the shots, I had a couple of nights of not being able to sleep because of body aches, congestion and varying body temp. Fortunately, these were temporary.
Another interesting thing is that my post about my first-ever flu and shingles vaccinations brought an amazing number of comments (26) on Facebook.
People can really relate, and many shared their experiences and strength, as well as their best hopes for me. I'm grateful I could report I made it through and feel much better now. And it's good to know I'm not a flu threat to others now.
Maybe God was resting me up for how my body dealt with the shots.
After getting the shots, I had a couple of nights of not being able to sleep because of body aches, congestion and varying body temp. Fortunately, these were temporary.
Another interesting thing is that my post about my first-ever flu and shingles vaccinations brought an amazing number of comments (26) on Facebook.
"I got my first-ever flu and shingles vaccines yesterday, along with tetanus. Is this really better than getting the flu or shingles??? Of course I know it is, because the duration of discomfort will be much shorter. And I’m less likely to make others sick. The way I felt last night was no fun at all. The aches seem to be subsiding now."
People can really relate, and many shared their experiences and strength, as well as their best hopes for me. I'm grateful I could report I made it through and feel much better now. And it's good to know I'm not a flu threat to others now.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Rest
Spending half the day in bed was not on my to-do list.
I don't know whether I was just tired or if this was what my body needed to help fight a cold.
It took more faith to rest than it would have to get up and stay busy.
I'm grateful for Bible reading plans, devotionals and sermon series that assure me it is OK to rest.
I think the key today is that rest was preceded by intentional prayer and sharing with another.
It seemed clear each time I was going to do something other than go back to sleep that nothing else was more important at that moment.
And later in the afternoon, it seemed clear it was time to get up and get busy.
Most of the things I on my to-do list are still there, undone. My tendency is to let that become a source of great anxiety. Right now, rather than anxiety, I feel curiosity about how this is going to go. I choose eager anticipation to see how God will work.
I'm still finding my way with the Shepherd. I'm grateful to feel safe in His care tonight.
I don't know whether I was just tired or if this was what my body needed to help fight a cold.
It took more faith to rest than it would have to get up and stay busy.
I'm grateful for Bible reading plans, devotionals and sermon series that assure me it is OK to rest.
I think the key today is that rest was preceded by intentional prayer and sharing with another.
It seemed clear each time I was going to do something other than go back to sleep that nothing else was more important at that moment.
And later in the afternoon, it seemed clear it was time to get up and get busy.
Most of the things I on my to-do list are still there, undone. My tendency is to let that become a source of great anxiety. Right now, rather than anxiety, I feel curiosity about how this is going to go. I choose eager anticipation to see how God will work.
I'm still finding my way with the Shepherd. I'm grateful to feel safe in His care tonight.
Monday, October 7, 2019
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