Might as Well Enjoy Life!

When I got home from work yesterday, I had a long mental list of things I really needed to get done... plus a few things I really *wanted* to do. There was no way I could complete all the tasks on either list, much less all of both lists.

I went inside, let Luna out to pee, headed to the kitchen and made a quick "must-do" list on my whiteboard. On top of it all, I was feeling pressure (all from myself) to meet up with a running group... yeah, the one from the duck post with all the people who leave me in their dust, heh... but I wanted to run.

I folded some laundry, put a load on to wash, put a few items up... most of my laundry lives folded on top of the washer and dryer, confession confession, ha... then went outside to water my plants. Luna came along; she is great outside company. *smile*

Sometime whilst watering my veggies-to-be, I conceded to myself that running would not fit into the game plan for the evening. At least not with the group at promptly 5:30. I decided to haul out the electic weed eater and attack the grass on my side of the duplex where I live. Trying to coordinate setting up a lawn-mowing moment between the neighbor and the landlord is proving to be most unfruitful... and the grass around my sidewalk was becoming increasingly unattractive.

Weed-eating was such a freeing experience! Might sound silly, but the weather was perfect, I got some exercise in, and I love the smell of freshly-cut grass. I ate as many weeds as I could... as far as my extension cord would reach, anyway... and until I angered the residents of a particular ant pile. It looked good, too!

I was feeling good. I was feeling productive. Leaning over, I gave Luna a good back-scratching... the kind that frees loads of pre-shed fur that blows happily away in the breeze and does not land in my house for me to sweet up. Nice.

As I was scratching Luna, a cool breeze passed over my face and through my hair, and I had a moment on epiphany. WHY NOT ENJOY LIFE?? I mean really, why not?

I could mentally deride myself for not completing my to-do list, or I could get done what I am realistically able to get done, enjoy myself along the way, and be... HAPPY!

I had a great afternoon. I also washed many of the dishes piled in my sink (not all of them, no, but a lot, which was a good accomplishment as I've been putting that off) and got a lot of laundry washed, dried and folded... and a few pieces put away. *mischievous grin here*

Now, this morning my cell phone alarm clock did not go off. Wait, no, it went off... but was silent. Which, consequently, did not wake me up. I was awakened by a sound from outside, around 7:20.

I am supposed to be at work at 7:00. Oops...

However, I did not stress. I texted my boss, "Running late, be there asap," got dressed, fed the kids, let Luna out to pee, and headed to work. My boss is cool most of the time. As long as I let him know I'm on my way, it's not the end of the world.

I did get ready as quickly as I could, but I was calm and felt peaceful. No reason to stress; I couldn't change the fact that I'd overslept. Onward!

I even stopped for a JAVA MONSTER drink on the way in, and took a picture of the sky because it was so beautiful!

I got to my desk...

And was greeted by my screen-sweetie, my dear, beautiful Mariska... ahhhh.... *huge grin!*

And it's been a good day. Life is good, when I LET it be good. I like that!

Prayer of St. Francis

A good friend read the blog I posted yesterday and emailed me, sharing that the blog made her think of this prayer. I read it and was excited! THIS is my prayer too! Here is the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/pray0027.htm

Comfort

Took a lunch break earlier. Ate, read some in a great book by Carlton Pearson about the extravagant inclusiveness of God's love. Got up, threw some trash away, started to pack my things to get back to my desk when... I felt that little "tug." The little tug where God whispers, "Stay just a little longer... I have something to share with you."

So, I sat back down and re-opened the book I was reading. Great book; I could go on and on about it... and I read a few sentences before... I heard humming.

There was a girl seated at the other table in the small break room. She had work spread out on the large table and iPod earbuds in her ears. And she was softly... hummming.

God said, "Listen."

"Relax."

I lowered my head and stared at the tabletop, noticing how comforting that simple sound of humming felt. Relaxing. Calming. Almost soothing. Very quiet; I couldn't even make out the melody... but it was so nice. Like a mother humming to her baby.

I thought, "Comforting."

Comforting.

Then, BAZINGA, in speaks God. :) *insert big smiles* "You are called to comfort."

For years, I have felt called to "minister" to hurting women. But "minister" is such a broad term and such a... such a "church word." Today, I had that defined for me a little more specifically. How wonderful!

I am called to comfort.

I am called to bear shoulders that absorb tears, arms that give hugs and, most importantly, EARS THAT LISTEN.

I am called to... keep doing what I do, but to also pay more attention. Be more INTENTIONAL about it, maybe. Keep my head up, my eyes open, my heart tender so I can... NOTICE more. Wow. That feels great. *insert more big smiles*

I am not going to allow myself to mentally expound upon what God spoke to my heart... analyze it, amend it, arrange it, interpret it... I'm going to just take what He said and... sit still.

I am called to comfort.

One verse comes to mind... that verse in the New Testament about comforting others with the comfort with which we have already been comforted... comfort comfort comfort, haha... I don't know it word for word but I get a sense of it. It's nice.

I love God. He is so sweet.

Be comforted today.

Be still and know that He is God and, as my grandmother used to say, "It'll all work out."

It will. :)

By the Lake

Yesterday, I met with a group of runners at Varsity Sports in Baton Rouge to run an "Easy 5" - from Varsity to the LSU Parade Grounds, around, and back to start. These people are FARRRRRRRRR better runners than I am. Add that to the fact that I've been pretty lazy this winter, and it is easy to see why I quickly ended up last in line and far behind everyone else.

But that was okay. I really didn't mind. For ME, the distance I had run was pretty darn good, and I felt good about that.

I slowed to a walk and made my way over to the edge of University Lake. The last time I sat out there, God spoke to me. I thought maybe He would again.

The last time I sat out at the lake (also taking a break from a run, haha...) God spoke to me about His will. When I was younger, knowing "God's will for my life" was a big, glamorous, exciting, WOW kind of thing. Like, learning the secret plan... learning the big picture of all the exciting, very important things God had in store for me. That day, I felt God saying His will for my life didn't have to be one huge, big-picture type of thing. His will can be for this week, this day, this moment. It doesn't have to be so huge and mysterious. It doesn't have to be overwhelming. God's will is simple.

I left the lake that day with peace and a smile.

Yesterday, I sat down on the cold ground and looked at my surroundings. The lake, the sky, the clouds, the birds. Clearing my mind; I didn't want to put words in God's mouth. *soft laugh* You know what I mean.

I was watching this little boy and this man feed bread to some geese. It started with 2 big geese. Then more geese came. Then a bunch of ducks swam ashore. Then a bunch of smaller birds swam ashore. Then group after group of ducks and pigeons and other birds flew in, skidded a landing on the water, and waddled with all the little duck-speed they could muster, over to the bread-givers. It was really amazing to me... I couldn't count all these moving creatures, but I know there were over 50 birds there once they stopped arriving.

I thought, "They're coming because they heard that's where the good stuff is." And I felt like God was saying, GO WHERE THE GOOD STUFF IS!

The birds were not shy, either, about coming up to these large humans seeking bread. They knew what they wanted, and fear was not an issue. And I felt like God was saying, DON'T BE AFRAID!

I watched for awhile longer and walked away smiling. God has good stuff. We need to go get it! And not be afraid.

That makes me feel anticipatory and excited! Maybe not today, maybe not next week or even next month, but good stuff will become available and I (and YOU!) need to pursue it with fearless abandon.

Have a great day. :)