Yeah, I know...weird.
But stranger still is the fact that, in my very limited reading in each book, a common theme emerged.
From "Spiritual Leadership"...
"The true leader is concerned primarily with the welfare of others, not with his own comfort or prestige. He shows sympathy for the problems of others, but his sympathy fortifies and stimulates; it does not soften and make weak. A spiritual leader will always direct the confidence of others to the Lord. He sees in each emergency a new opportunity for helpfulness..."
"D.E. Hoste spoke about the secrets of Hudson Taylor, whom Hoste had followed in leadership of the China Inland Mission: 'Another secret of his influence among us lay in his great sympathy and thoughtful consideration for the welfare and comfort of those about him...He manifested great tenderness and patience toward the failures and shortcomings of his brethren, and was thus able in many cases to help them reach a higher plane of devotion'."
And, succinctly, from "Snog":
"Love does not dominate...
Love cultivates."
Every day gives us opportunities to lead and to love. Perhaps they are simply two sides of the same coin.
My prayer is that each of us will lead well and love much in the new year.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Love and Leadership
So my Christmas Day reading consisted of two highly disparate pieces of literature...
"Spiritual Leadership" by J. Oswald Sanders, and
"Snog: A Puppy's Guide to Love" by Rachael Hale.
MERRY Christmas
It's Christmas Day 2007.
How on earth did this year go by SO fast?
My mind still hasn't wrapped itself around the fact that the Christmas festivities are already a thing of the past, not to mention that 2007 is pretty much a done deal.
Yesterday morning, as Jim and I had our family Christmas with the kids, I realized how good it is to have days of celebration. I love the significance of Christmas being the celebration of Christ's coming, of course, but, beyond that, it's good just to CELEBRATE - to set aside routine, to set aside the press of everyday, and to just make MERRY with one another. I thought about the festivals and celebrations that God insisted upon for the Old Testament Israelites. These were important times of sacrifice, remembrance and focus, but often they involved gatherings, feasting and much rejoicing, too. Maybe now I understand a little better why this was important on so many levels.
We've had a good Christmas - a really MERRY Christmas. Our day together as a family was fun and pleasant, then the gatherings with Jim's and my families were good times to reconnect, enjoy holiday traditions and laugh and make new memories together. I know that in some families, gatherings AREN'T met with eager anticipation, so we consider ourselves VERY fortunate to be able to look forward to these times.
Cami and I were talking the other day about how much will be changing in our family in the next decade. It's a very exciting era ahead for the Clay family as our kids discover themselves more, go into and out of high school and maybe college, enter the workforce, explore their faith, etc.
A lot of life is going to happen in the next 365 days (or one-tenth of that decade I just mentioned), and before we know it, Christmas 2008 will be upon us. What's ahead excites me - and I know that's the Lord working in me. I'm excited to enjoy my family and tackle the challenges, to make merry whenever the opportunity arises and to rejoice in the salvation of the One we celebrate at Christmas-time.
To you and yours, from me and mine:
Here's to a very MERRY Christmas and coming year.
How on earth did this year go by SO fast?
My mind still hasn't wrapped itself around the fact that the Christmas festivities are already a thing of the past, not to mention that 2007 is pretty much a done deal.
Yesterday morning, as Jim and I had our family Christmas with the kids, I realized how good it is to have days of celebration. I love the significance of Christmas being the celebration of Christ's coming, of course, but, beyond that, it's good just to CELEBRATE - to set aside routine, to set aside the press of everyday, and to just make MERRY with one another. I thought about the festivals and celebrations that God insisted upon for the Old Testament Israelites. These were important times of sacrifice, remembrance and focus, but often they involved gatherings, feasting and much rejoicing, too. Maybe now I understand a little better why this was important on so many levels.
We've had a good Christmas - a really MERRY Christmas. Our day together as a family was fun and pleasant, then the gatherings with Jim's and my families were good times to reconnect, enjoy holiday traditions and laugh and make new memories together. I know that in some families, gatherings AREN'T met with eager anticipation, so we consider ourselves VERY fortunate to be able to look forward to these times.
Cami and I were talking the other day about how much will be changing in our family in the next decade. It's a very exciting era ahead for the Clay family as our kids discover themselves more, go into and out of high school and maybe college, enter the workforce, explore their faith, etc.
A lot of life is going to happen in the next 365 days (or one-tenth of that decade I just mentioned), and before we know it, Christmas 2008 will be upon us. What's ahead excites me - and I know that's the Lord working in me. I'm excited to enjoy my family and tackle the challenges, to make merry whenever the opportunity arises and to rejoice in the salvation of the One we celebrate at Christmas-time.
To you and yours, from me and mine:
Here's to a very MERRY Christmas and coming year.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The Word Became Flesh
More musing on the Incarnation.
The Word Became Flesh
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling among men like us:
The hurried, the harried, the complacent, the oblivious.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling in a place like ours:
Needy, desperate even, and with so few expecting redemption.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling a thing of perfection:
The mundane and miraculous infused with holiness.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling accessible:
He was seen, heard, touched - watched, listened to, embraced.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling consummately human:
He wept real tears, felt real anger and compassion, was bound with real restraints and nailed to a very real cross.
The Word became flesh
so that blood could be spilled -
the blood without which there would be no reconcile.
The Word became flesh
to SHOW us life.
The Word became flesh
to GIVE us life.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling among us.
We beheld His glory,
the glory of the One and Only,
Who came from the Father
full of grace and truth.
MLC 12-20-07
John 1:14
The Word Became Flesh
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling among men like us:
The hurried, the harried, the complacent, the oblivious.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling in a place like ours:
Needy, desperate even, and with so few expecting redemption.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling a thing of perfection:
The mundane and miraculous infused with holiness.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling accessible:
He was seen, heard, touched - watched, listened to, embraced.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling consummately human:
He wept real tears, felt real anger and compassion, was bound with real restraints and nailed to a very real cross.
The Word became flesh
so that blood could be spilled -
the blood without which there would be no reconcile.
The Word became flesh
to SHOW us life.
The Word became flesh
to GIVE us life.
The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling among us.
We beheld His glory,
the glory of the One and Only,
Who came from the Father
full of grace and truth.
MLC 12-20-07
John 1:14
Sixteen
My firstborn turned 16 last Saturday.
My 6 lb. 4 oz. teeny-tiny newborn of 16 years, 5 days and 6 hours ago has become a bright, beautiful, vivacious young woman. She is compassionate, fun-loving and outgoing, and has a joie de vivre that shines unmistakably. She is a communicator, observer and verbal processor. Her circle of friends and acquaintances is wide and varied and delightful. The Lord has stretched her introverted mother (me) extensively through her fundamental bent of "the more the merrier". :) This sixteen-year-old of mine is a thinker: she wants to know what she stands for and why, and then, to walk the talk. She's not one to back down from worthwhile challenges and tackles the things she knows she must or that which will improve her skills. She loves to drive. She has a song for every occasion. She's a good listener. She's strong without seeming like she has something to prove; confident without being cocky. She loves road trips and football, hanging out with friends, talking and texting on her cell phone, eating out, dancing, playing Guitar Hero, listening to music, writing, taking pictures, analyzing stuff of all kinds, and getting gorgeous and girlie for formals. She is perceptive, insightful, a hard worker and a delight.
Cami, you are a bright light in our lives. I've learned so much from you about loving.
Besties, right?
Love you, Mom
My 6 lb. 4 oz. teeny-tiny newborn of 16 years, 5 days and 6 hours ago has become a bright, beautiful, vivacious young woman. She is compassionate, fun-loving and outgoing, and has a joie de vivre that shines unmistakably. She is a communicator, observer and verbal processor. Her circle of friends and acquaintances is wide and varied and delightful. The Lord has stretched her introverted mother (me) extensively through her fundamental bent of "the more the merrier". :) This sixteen-year-old of mine is a thinker: she wants to know what she stands for and why, and then, to walk the talk. She's not one to back down from worthwhile challenges and tackles the things she knows she must or that which will improve her skills. She loves to drive. She has a song for every occasion. She's a good listener. She's strong without seeming like she has something to prove; confident without being cocky. She loves road trips and football, hanging out with friends, talking and texting on her cell phone, eating out, dancing, playing Guitar Hero, listening to music, writing, taking pictures, analyzing stuff of all kinds, and getting gorgeous and girlie for formals. She is perceptive, insightful, a hard worker and a delight.
Cami, you are a bright light in our lives. I've learned so much from you about loving.
Besties, right?
Love you, Mom
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Twelve
My baby turned twelve today.
My sleepy 7 lb. 3 oz. newborn of 12 years and 12 hours ago has grown into a 5 foot 7 inch (and growing) pre-teen. At this moment, he's sitting on the other side of the room playing a new computer game he got for his birthday. The kid knows about a hundred times as much about computers as I do. His hands and feet indicate that he's going to be a six-footer, at least. He plays trombone in the school band and has a fantastic anatomical anomaly with his hands that allows him to do a trick that has Cami's high school friends jealous. He hugged every member of the family this morning when we surrounded him for gift-opening at 6:20 AM. He keeps us all laughing with his wittiness and can crack his knuckles and put away pizza like no one I've ever seen. He reads books, draws comics, goes cheerfully to school, helps me bake, and has irrepressible joy for anything he delights in. He cheered on the Cougar football team in the middle of the crowd at Qwest Field in September, performed with the school band onstage in December, maneuvers through the crowd of 250+ 6th graders at school every day, and went on all manner of rides at Disney World in May. He's learning to play electric and bass guitars, talks to people at church and orders his own food at restaurants. He wore a Santa hat to school today and his Cougars shirt on "Rivalry Day" despite being in the huge minority to those in Husky garb. He signed up for chess club, all on his own, and goes every Monday after school. His best non-family friend is Logan, and they hang out together at school every day. He's trying to decide whether to take jazz band or woodshop next year in 7th grade. Yeah, he's talking about next year...at school...no hesitation, no complaints.
Nate, you've taught me so much about living. I love, love, love you.
You've come a long way, baby.
My sleepy 7 lb. 3 oz. newborn of 12 years and 12 hours ago has grown into a 5 foot 7 inch (and growing) pre-teen. At this moment, he's sitting on the other side of the room playing a new computer game he got for his birthday. The kid knows about a hundred times as much about computers as I do. His hands and feet indicate that he's going to be a six-footer, at least. He plays trombone in the school band and has a fantastic anatomical anomaly with his hands that allows him to do a trick that has Cami's high school friends jealous. He hugged every member of the family this morning when we surrounded him for gift-opening at 6:20 AM. He keeps us all laughing with his wittiness and can crack his knuckles and put away pizza like no one I've ever seen. He reads books, draws comics, goes cheerfully to school, helps me bake, and has irrepressible joy for anything he delights in. He cheered on the Cougar football team in the middle of the crowd at Qwest Field in September, performed with the school band onstage in December, maneuvers through the crowd of 250+ 6th graders at school every day, and went on all manner of rides at Disney World in May. He's learning to play electric and bass guitars, talks to people at church and orders his own food at restaurants. He wore a Santa hat to school today and his Cougars shirt on "Rivalry Day" despite being in the huge minority to those in Husky garb. He signed up for chess club, all on his own, and goes every Monday after school. His best non-family friend is Logan, and they hang out together at school every day. He's trying to decide whether to take jazz band or woodshop next year in 7th grade. Yeah, he's talking about next year...at school...no hesitation, no complaints.
Nate, you've taught me so much about living. I love, love, love you.
You've come a long way, baby.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
He Came
My apologies for failing to keep you posted on "30 Days of Gratefulness". Suffice it to say, it was a fruitful time for our church and for me, personally. I hope your Thanksgiving season was colored with many remembrances of God's gracious hand.
With Thanksgiving now past, I couldn't help but take a sneak peek at one of my favorite Christmas Scriptures - John 1:1-18 ("In the beginning was the Word..."). It got me thinking about the phenomenal nature of the Incarnation; not just Christ's ability to become flesh and blood, but His willingness to do so. I thought for some time about what it must have been like to leave heaven's glory for the life (and death) Christ would experience on earth.
I thought, and then I wrote.
He Came
He came
To dust and sweat,
To anger, tears, and unspeakable pain.
He came
To calluses,
Aching feet,
And blazing sun,
To the filth of a stable and of sinful souls,
To chaos
And clamor,
To a world devoid of hope.
He came
To HIS creation.
He came
To HIS people.
He came
To that which was HIS OWN,
Yet they did not –
Would not –
Receive Him.
He came
To discomfort,
To rude shelters and rhythms,
To humanness.
To ornery,
Self-centered,
Unknowingly desperate people.
He came
From His Father’s side,
From unspeakable glory,
From light,
From praise,
From prostrated hosts
Of brothers and sisters;
The generations of His inheritance
And His fellow heirs:
Those not deserving glory
But having gained it
Through Him.
He came
Not to condemn
But to save,
Not to throw away the keys
But to loose the shackles
And free sin’s prisoners.
To redeem a traitorous, rebellious race
And to make them His family,
His ambassadors,
His friends.
He came
Willingly
And without complaint;
Without argument,
Without reticence,
Without regret,
Without looking back,
While keeping His eyes firmly fixed on His Father.
He came
TO sinners.
He came
FOR sinners.
He endured
The indignities,
The injustice,
The inconvenience,
The sacrifice.
He came
So that I might LIVE,
Truly live.
I hope you'll take some time this Christmas to consider Christ, who came to earth, and to consider why He did. May this be another blessed season of remembrance for you and your household.
Blessings,
Megan
With Thanksgiving now past, I couldn't help but take a sneak peek at one of my favorite Christmas Scriptures - John 1:1-18 ("In the beginning was the Word..."). It got me thinking about the phenomenal nature of the Incarnation; not just Christ's ability to become flesh and blood, but His willingness to do so. I thought for some time about what it must have been like to leave heaven's glory for the life (and death) Christ would experience on earth.
I thought, and then I wrote.
He Came
He came
To dust and sweat,
To anger, tears, and unspeakable pain.
He came
To calluses,
Aching feet,
And blazing sun,
To the filth of a stable and of sinful souls,
To chaos
And clamor,
To a world devoid of hope.
He came
To HIS creation.
He came
To HIS people.
He came
To that which was HIS OWN,
Yet they did not –
Would not –
Receive Him.
He came
To discomfort,
To rude shelters and rhythms,
To humanness.
To ornery,
Self-centered,
Unknowingly desperate people.
He came
From His Father’s side,
From unspeakable glory,
From light,
From praise,
From prostrated hosts
Of brothers and sisters;
The generations of His inheritance
And His fellow heirs:
Those not deserving glory
But having gained it
Through Him.
He came
Not to condemn
But to save,
Not to throw away the keys
But to loose the shackles
And free sin’s prisoners.
To redeem a traitorous, rebellious race
And to make them His family,
His ambassadors,
His friends.
He came
Willingly
And without complaint;
Without argument,
Without reticence,
Without regret,
Without looking back,
While keeping His eyes firmly fixed on His Father.
He came
TO sinners.
He came
FOR sinners.
He endured
The indignities,
The injustice,
The inconvenience,
The sacrifice.
He came
So that I might LIVE,
Truly live.
I hope you'll take some time this Christmas to consider Christ, who came to earth, and to consider why He did. May this be another blessed season of remembrance for you and your household.
Blessings,
Megan
Monday, November 5, 2007
30 Days of Gratefulness
I'd like to explain a little about the "30 Days of Gratefulness" emphasis at my church that will, hopefully, help give context to any posts I may make on the subject. Being a part-time staffer at the church, it's been extremely exciting to watch this focus develop and blossom.
As the staff pondered the Thanksgiving season, we began to recognize that, although giving thanks to God is an extremely biblical concept, we'd hardly begun to scratch the surface of this subject over the years. We realized that, often, we urge people to THINK about what they're thankful for, but haven't encouraged or given sufficient opportunities for them to EXPRESS their thankfulness.
And so we're embarking on the grand adventure of challenging our congregation to recognize the goodness of God and praise Him, to report the goodness of God to those around us near or far, and to reflect God's love by freely sharing the goodness we've received from Him. We're urging our church family to declare God's praise privately in their hearts, and publicly in their words and actions - not to bring attention to themselves, but to the One who alone deserves it.
This is going to be a very exciting month. I'll keep you posted.
As the staff pondered the Thanksgiving season, we began to recognize that, although giving thanks to God is an extremely biblical concept, we'd hardly begun to scratch the surface of this subject over the years. We realized that, often, we urge people to THINK about what they're thankful for, but haven't encouraged or given sufficient opportunities for them to EXPRESS their thankfulness.
And so we're embarking on the grand adventure of challenging our congregation to recognize the goodness of God and praise Him, to report the goodness of God to those around us near or far, and to reflect God's love by freely sharing the goodness we've received from Him. We're urging our church family to declare God's praise privately in their hearts, and publicly in their words and actions - not to bring attention to themselves, but to the One who alone deserves it.
This is going to be a very exciting month. I'll keep you posted.
I'm Back
It's been WAY too long since my last post and I've been missing the time I spend mulling/writing oh so much. Life has just been really full. The delightfully good kind of full.
In my last post, I vowed to spend more time contemplating, philosophizing and writing. Well, we all know how THAT turned out! So I guess I'll just take it a day at a time and see what happens. Getting a blog post out on a regular basis happens to be one of the least of my "worries", even though it's most often a highly enjoyable proposition for me.
I'm very excited about a special focus at church this month that we're calling "30 Days of Gratefulness". I HOPE to pass along some thoughts that come out of this emphasis.
Thanks for not giving up on my blog, although you've had every reason to do so. Hopefully we'll be keeping in touch, blog-style, really soon.
In my last post, I vowed to spend more time contemplating, philosophizing and writing. Well, we all know how THAT turned out! So I guess I'll just take it a day at a time and see what happens. Getting a blog post out on a regular basis happens to be one of the least of my "worries", even though it's most often a highly enjoyable proposition for me.
I'm very excited about a special focus at church this month that we're calling "30 Days of Gratefulness". I HOPE to pass along some thoughts that come out of this emphasis.
Thanks for not giving up on my blog, although you've had every reason to do so. Hopefully we'll be keeping in touch, blog-style, really soon.
Monday, October 1, 2007
A Lot of Living (and not much writing)
I can't believe my calendar.
Every day since school started, my calendar has had SOMETHING on it. At least one item, but more often two, three, or even FIVE.
I'm not a fan of this kind of busyness. And our family has A LOT LESS going on than most. How ever do people do it?
Needless to say, I feel like I've been doing a lot of living and not a lot of writing. It's OK - I know it's a phase of life and I don't regret or resent it at all. A lack of writing, for me, though, is representative of a lack of time to think and process...my writing tends to flow from my musing. I guess that writing is a bit of a healthy hobby for me: what golf or scrapbooking or tinkering with cars may provide for someone else, musing and writing provides for me.
So I guess I've just talked myself into leaving a little time for pondering, for "doodling" with my words, so to speak. Maybe in cutting short the "living", I'm really making time for the kind of living I need to do. The kind that keeps me fresh and contemplative and grateful.
Thanks. I feel much better now.
Every day since school started, my calendar has had SOMETHING on it. At least one item, but more often two, three, or even FIVE.
I'm not a fan of this kind of busyness. And our family has A LOT LESS going on than most. How ever do people do it?
Needless to say, I feel like I've been doing a lot of living and not a lot of writing. It's OK - I know it's a phase of life and I don't regret or resent it at all. A lack of writing, for me, though, is representative of a lack of time to think and process...my writing tends to flow from my musing. I guess that writing is a bit of a healthy hobby for me: what golf or scrapbooking or tinkering with cars may provide for someone else, musing and writing provides for me.
So I guess I've just talked myself into leaving a little time for pondering, for "doodling" with my words, so to speak. Maybe in cutting short the "living", I'm really making time for the kind of living I need to do. The kind that keeps me fresh and contemplative and grateful.
Thanks. I feel much better now.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Let's Talk Football
Please excuse the inconsequentiality of what I'm about to write, but I just HAVE to say it.
I LOVE FOOTBALL.
If I could be a wide receiver, I would. But because it's not generally accepted practice for thirty-something females to play this position, let alone this sport, I'm relegated to watching. And what a glorious relegation it is!
The imprints of games, plays and players are burned on my retinas (only my kids will know what I'm referring to): Kellen Winslow's block, 5 laterals by the Golden Bears, Dwight Clark's catch against the dreaded Cowboys, Boise State's 07 Bowl win, the Super Bowl in which the zebras defeated my beloved Hawks, Doug Flutie's Hail Mary for Boston College, Mack Strong's thirty plus yard ramble in the 06 playoffs, my nephew running for 160-some yards in a high school game...ahhhhh. I just love it.
I think that, as a group, the linebackers are my favorites. Mike Singletary. Lawrence Taylor. Junior Seau. And now Lofa Tatupu of the Seahawks. These guys are amazing. Athletic. Fast. Sneaky and strong, not to mention authoritative. If anybody thinks football is a sport for fat, dumb guys, guess again. These guys have to be smart and in unbelievable shape.
So, last weekend couldn't have been better for football in the Northwest. The sun was shining and all our teams played in one city in a span of two days with awesome results.
Game 2 of the Jake Locker era for the Dawgs - another impressive win, breaking Boise State's 14 or so game winning streak. Reality check tomorrow, however...#10 ranked Ohio State. Hmmm. Guess we'll find out if UW is for real or not.
Cougs at Qwest Field and I WAS THERE for a resounding win over San Diego State. Not only resounding, but record-setting. Cougs QB Alex Brink had a school record 38 completions for 469 yards. I'm not kidding you. And we got to see a whole bunch of TD's in the end zone where we were sitting, in addition to a stellar trombone performance by my nephew in the marching band.
Last but not least, the Hawks over Tampa Bay on Sunday. After a rather questionable start, the offense and defense finally got going. Shawn Alexander finally cranked it up and started heading UP the field instead of across it...now if only he could do that EVERY time!!! Lofa and company never seemed to tire out and laid a punishing string of hits on the Bucs. After the game, I wanted to write a post entitled "Things That Make Me Happy, vol. 2" with exactly one item in it - SEAHAWKS DEFENSE.
So if you didn't know it before, you know it now, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool football fan. If you really need to call to me on Saturday or Sunday afternoon between 1 and 4 PM, please do it only on commercial breaks or at halftime. :) Other than that I'm happy to talk football with you ANY TIME. (I especially love analyzing Holmgren's 3rd down play calling).
Are you ready for some football?
I LOVE FOOTBALL.
If I could be a wide receiver, I would. But because it's not generally accepted practice for thirty-something females to play this position, let alone this sport, I'm relegated to watching. And what a glorious relegation it is!
The imprints of games, plays and players are burned on my retinas (only my kids will know what I'm referring to): Kellen Winslow's block, 5 laterals by the Golden Bears, Dwight Clark's catch against the dreaded Cowboys, Boise State's 07 Bowl win, the Super Bowl in which the zebras defeated my beloved Hawks, Doug Flutie's Hail Mary for Boston College, Mack Strong's thirty plus yard ramble in the 06 playoffs, my nephew running for 160-some yards in a high school game...ahhhhh. I just love it.
I think that, as a group, the linebackers are my favorites. Mike Singletary. Lawrence Taylor. Junior Seau. And now Lofa Tatupu of the Seahawks. These guys are amazing. Athletic. Fast. Sneaky and strong, not to mention authoritative. If anybody thinks football is a sport for fat, dumb guys, guess again. These guys have to be smart and in unbelievable shape.
So, last weekend couldn't have been better for football in the Northwest. The sun was shining and all our teams played in one city in a span of two days with awesome results.
Game 2 of the Jake Locker era for the Dawgs - another impressive win, breaking Boise State's 14 or so game winning streak. Reality check tomorrow, however...#10 ranked Ohio State. Hmmm. Guess we'll find out if UW is for real or not.
Cougs at Qwest Field and I WAS THERE for a resounding win over San Diego State. Not only resounding, but record-setting. Cougs QB Alex Brink had a school record 38 completions for 469 yards. I'm not kidding you. And we got to see a whole bunch of TD's in the end zone where we were sitting, in addition to a stellar trombone performance by my nephew in the marching band.
Last but not least, the Hawks over Tampa Bay on Sunday. After a rather questionable start, the offense and defense finally got going. Shawn Alexander finally cranked it up and started heading UP the field instead of across it...now if only he could do that EVERY time!!! Lofa and company never seemed to tire out and laid a punishing string of hits on the Bucs. After the game, I wanted to write a post entitled "Things That Make Me Happy, vol. 2" with exactly one item in it - SEAHAWKS DEFENSE.
So if you didn't know it before, you know it now, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool football fan. If you really need to call to me on Saturday or Sunday afternoon between 1 and 4 PM, please do it only on commercial breaks or at halftime. :) Other than that I'm happy to talk football with you ANY TIME. (I especially love analyzing Holmgren's 3rd down play calling).
Are you ready for some football?
Sunday, August 19, 2007
A Good Day
I'm working to redefine my understanding of "a good day".
I'm accustomed to thinking that a good day is an easy day. A conflict-free day. A day without stress or heavy decision-making or tears (mine or others'). A day with happy people, happy events, and a happy feeling inside of me. A day when I "feel blessed".
Oh, there's nothing wrong with these kind of days. They are good days, indeed. But I've been realizing that there are a lot of other kinds of "good days" - a lot of which don't look and feel so obviously GOOD. I don't want to defer to a blind "Pollyanna" outlook on life - I know well the reality of days that pierce your heart and mind, of days that seem to drain the very life out of you. But I also know that in the midst of those FEELINGS, I often miss the very real "goodness" that's happening. For instance...
Kids quarrel and fight when they're learning how to relate to others and how to assert themselves. While the fighting is tiresome to all, my kids are learning how NOT to be doormats. They're learning to eliminate some unhealthy ways of relating to others. So when we walk through this together, it's a good day.
Teenagers want to go out with their friends and while the decision-making and boundary-setting is taxing to the parents, my kids are taking steps toward being independent of us, as we want them to be one day. They're learning why we have boundaries and how to set them. Baby steps toward healthy independence make a good day (even if three of those steps are forward and two are back!).
People in all kinds of settings from marriage to work to extended families have misunderstandings and differing opinions that lead to difficult conversations. But when those conversations occur, though stretching and even painful, we're gaining knowledge of another. We're learning the value of OUR experiences and opinions, as well as the value of THEIRS. Knowing myself and knowing another, and extending grace to both, is part of a good day.
All of these, and more, are truly GOOD days. They may be hard days, but they're good. They're good as we stretch and are stretched, as we mold and are molded, more and more into the image of our Creator. People grow; people change. People learn and develop - more often than not by trial and error. What makes me think that this process will be "happy", linear, and effortless?! The process is none of the aforementioned, at least not all the time, but it is still good.
Have a GOOD day.
I'm accustomed to thinking that a good day is an easy day. A conflict-free day. A day without stress or heavy decision-making or tears (mine or others'). A day with happy people, happy events, and a happy feeling inside of me. A day when I "feel blessed".
Oh, there's nothing wrong with these kind of days. They are good days, indeed. But I've been realizing that there are a lot of other kinds of "good days" - a lot of which don't look and feel so obviously GOOD. I don't want to defer to a blind "Pollyanna" outlook on life - I know well the reality of days that pierce your heart and mind, of days that seem to drain the very life out of you. But I also know that in the midst of those FEELINGS, I often miss the very real "goodness" that's happening. For instance...
Kids quarrel and fight when they're learning how to relate to others and how to assert themselves. While the fighting is tiresome to all, my kids are learning how NOT to be doormats. They're learning to eliminate some unhealthy ways of relating to others. So when we walk through this together, it's a good day.
Teenagers want to go out with their friends and while the decision-making and boundary-setting is taxing to the parents, my kids are taking steps toward being independent of us, as we want them to be one day. They're learning why we have boundaries and how to set them. Baby steps toward healthy independence make a good day (even if three of those steps are forward and two are back!).
People in all kinds of settings from marriage to work to extended families have misunderstandings and differing opinions that lead to difficult conversations. But when those conversations occur, though stretching and even painful, we're gaining knowledge of another. We're learning the value of OUR experiences and opinions, as well as the value of THEIRS. Knowing myself and knowing another, and extending grace to both, is part of a good day.
All of these, and more, are truly GOOD days. They may be hard days, but they're good. They're good as we stretch and are stretched, as we mold and are molded, more and more into the image of our Creator. People grow; people change. People learn and develop - more often than not by trial and error. What makes me think that this process will be "happy", linear, and effortless?! The process is none of the aforementioned, at least not all the time, but it is still good.
Have a GOOD day.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Things That Make Me Happy
It's not uncommon when my daughter and I are together to hear one of us take note of some object, person or event and say "That makes me happy". Please don't think we're really shallow and that we depend on "stuff" for our happiness. Our words are just a way of expressing that something has brought us a little delight.
The things that make us happy are many and varied, and I'm glad we share these aloud. Not only does it help us know a little more about each other's hearts, it also keeps us on the lookout for those easily overlooked moments of joy in life.
So, every now and then in my blog, you're bound to see an installment of "Things That Make Me Happy". If you're not already in the habit of noticing and savoring these moments in your life, I hope this post encourages you to begin TODAY!
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, vol. 1
My Red Shirt
I've had my red blouse for several years, and whenever I put it on, I just feel good. It makes me happy every time I wear it (or even think about wearing it). Everyone should have a shirt like that!
The Goat Who Worshiped Me
My friend and I and our boys were petting some farm animals at a farm/park the other day. This one goat had stuck its head through the fence, so naturally, I squatted down to give it a proper petting. As soon as I started scratching this friendly goat's chin, it closed its eyes and leaned its head into my hand with a look of pure ecstasy on its face. It just rested there against my touch as long as I would keep showing affection. It was surprisingly gratifying, even though the recipient was a goat, to be another creature's dream-come-true. :)
Jim's Chicken and Veggies on the Grill
Oh, there is just NOTHING better than when my husband grills teriyaki chicken and all manner of veggies on the grill for the fam. He's a master BBQ'er and I savor EVERY bite of this meal.
The Unlikely Passenger
I was following a car at dusk yesterday; I had seen the driver's face, but saw only the silhouette of the passenger's back. I followed the car for several miles before the passenger turned in profile and I realized that the husky rider in the back seat was really a gigantic dog! I laughed and laughed that I had gone so far without recognizing that outline for what it was.
Other things that have made me happy in the last few days:
Green, red and yellow peppers in the colander,
A photo of a young lady with an wonderfully warm and cheerful face,
Reading yet another book about Mt. Everest,
Singing in church, and
Eating Hot Tamales,
just to name a few.
At immense risk of sounding totally and completely dorky, I sincerely hope and pray that whatever your day is like today, you will keep all your senses open to the "happy" moments along the way. Really.
The things that make us happy are many and varied, and I'm glad we share these aloud. Not only does it help us know a little more about each other's hearts, it also keeps us on the lookout for those easily overlooked moments of joy in life.
So, every now and then in my blog, you're bound to see an installment of "Things That Make Me Happy". If you're not already in the habit of noticing and savoring these moments in your life, I hope this post encourages you to begin TODAY!
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, vol. 1
My Red Shirt
I've had my red blouse for several years, and whenever I put it on, I just feel good. It makes me happy every time I wear it (or even think about wearing it). Everyone should have a shirt like that!
The Goat Who Worshiped Me
My friend and I and our boys were petting some farm animals at a farm/park the other day. This one goat had stuck its head through the fence, so naturally, I squatted down to give it a proper petting. As soon as I started scratching this friendly goat's chin, it closed its eyes and leaned its head into my hand with a look of pure ecstasy on its face. It just rested there against my touch as long as I would keep showing affection. It was surprisingly gratifying, even though the recipient was a goat, to be another creature's dream-come-true. :)
Jim's Chicken and Veggies on the Grill
Oh, there is just NOTHING better than when my husband grills teriyaki chicken and all manner of veggies on the grill for the fam. He's a master BBQ'er and I savor EVERY bite of this meal.
The Unlikely Passenger
I was following a car at dusk yesterday; I had seen the driver's face, but saw only the silhouette of the passenger's back. I followed the car for several miles before the passenger turned in profile and I realized that the husky rider in the back seat was really a gigantic dog! I laughed and laughed that I had gone so far without recognizing that outline for what it was.
Other things that have made me happy in the last few days:
Green, red and yellow peppers in the colander,
A photo of a young lady with an wonderfully warm and cheerful face,
Reading yet another book about Mt. Everest,
Singing in church, and
Eating Hot Tamales,
just to name a few.
At immense risk of sounding totally and completely dorky, I sincerely hope and pray that whatever your day is like today, you will keep all your senses open to the "happy" moments along the way. Really.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
60
I started counting during my morning walk today. I was enjoying the impressive neighborhood "garden show" along my favorite walking route, and suddenly, it wasn't enough just to look and savor; I had to know just how many kinds of plants I was seeing. I needed to quantify this. (Don't ask me why, it's just how my brain works!)
And so I counted.
60.
60 types of cultivated plants in the space of one-half city block.
60 shapes. 60 textures. 60 shades of green. 60 trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering things of all kinds. 60 didn't even include different varieties of the same plant.
I was genuinely astounded.
To think that the wonderful climate of the Northwest can sustain such a variety of flora in one small space amazed me. But I was even more amazed at the mind and power of the loving God who created these, not only to be useful contributors to our environment, but to be a feast for the human eye and signposts pointing us to Him. I was humbled in pondering that this is but one MINISCULE demonstration of His ingenuity, creativity, resourcefulness and wisdom.
I finished the rest of my walk looking differently at the beautiful morning around me. I heard the birds more. Enjoyed the blue sky more. Took note of the many shades of hydrangeas more. Pardon me for sounding extremely corny, but it's exactly what I did. And later this afternoon, Psalm 100 completed the happy contemplation of my 60 morning glimpses of God:
"Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
IT IS HE WHO MADE US, AND WE ARE HIS..."
Amen and amen. :)
And so I counted.
60.
60 types of cultivated plants in the space of one-half city block.
60 shapes. 60 textures. 60 shades of green. 60 trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering things of all kinds. 60 didn't even include different varieties of the same plant.
I was genuinely astounded.
To think that the wonderful climate of the Northwest can sustain such a variety of flora in one small space amazed me. But I was even more amazed at the mind and power of the loving God who created these, not only to be useful contributors to our environment, but to be a feast for the human eye and signposts pointing us to Him. I was humbled in pondering that this is but one MINISCULE demonstration of His ingenuity, creativity, resourcefulness and wisdom.
I finished the rest of my walk looking differently at the beautiful morning around me. I heard the birds more. Enjoyed the blue sky more. Took note of the many shades of hydrangeas more. Pardon me for sounding extremely corny, but it's exactly what I did. And later this afternoon, Psalm 100 completed the happy contemplation of my 60 morning glimpses of God:
"Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
IT IS HE WHO MADE US, AND WE ARE HIS..."
Amen and amen. :)
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Learning
Thanks to those of you who responded to my last post by sharing what you're learning. There's some pretty big stuff there.
To be honest, I've been dragging my feet a little about sharing what I'm learning. My sandwich recipe (thanks to Sue) is not so hard to pass along (wheat or whole-grain toast, dijon or regular mustard, avocado slices, turkey, fresh spinach, cheese of your choice, tomato, salt and pepper, and serve open-faced). Yummmmm. I can also easily tell you that "abseil" is pronounced "ob-zile" (go figure) and is a mountain-climbing term meaning "a method of descending a very steep cliff by means of a rope secured at the summit". And without too much trouble, I can share a challenging verse from my study of the biblical Book of Proverbs (chapter 20:5 "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out").
But that's where the simple part ends.
All the things mentioned in the comments resonate with me right now: living without fear of regrets, extending grace, waiting with patience and perseverance, and getting to know God because He's God. Yet, I'm realizing that so much of my "summer school" this year has been intensely personal and not fit for consumption in such a public forum as this. It will suffice to say, however, that I have no doubt about the graciousness of my God and His unfathomable love for me. A love immense enough to mold and shape and trim and start again when necessary. He never gives up, even when there is oh, so much for me to learn.
A number of years ago, I came across the following poem in a fantastic book that I think every Christian should read. The book is entitled "Spiritual Leadership", author J. Oswald Sanders. The poem itself is untitled and the author is unknown. Too bad that he or she doesn't get credit for this gem. I've returned to this literary piece many times to help bring perspective on the learning God is facilitating in my life and what He has ahead for me. I know this little poem can't explain everything, but it sure makes me think and hope it does the same for you.
When God wants to drill a man
And thrill a man
And skill a man,
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world should be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out -
God knows what He's about!
Although some may find these words to be cruel or discouraging, I have lived them, and understand. The "trial shapes of clay that only God understands"...it's true. So often we're in transition, can't fathom the finished product, and hope that this "trial shape" isn't it. How awesome to know that God does know the next stage as well as the necessity of the transitional one(s). The idea of God inducing us to "try His splendor out" - a truly inspired picture. He does invite us or put us in positions that compel us to do so. So often I think my Lord is crying out for me to let Him show His splendor. And He does. And I am never disappointed.
I know this has been a long, long post. So good for you if you've made it this far. My daughter said yesterday "We should keep learning and growing until we die." May her tribe increase! Keep learning, keep growing. Keep enjoying the sandwich recipes and other incidental moments of learning that add color to the tapestry of life. Keep letting the Lord have His way with you, or try His splendor out for the first time, if you haven't already.
Happy learning.
To be honest, I've been dragging my feet a little about sharing what I'm learning. My sandwich recipe (thanks to Sue) is not so hard to pass along (wheat or whole-grain toast, dijon or regular mustard, avocado slices, turkey, fresh spinach, cheese of your choice, tomato, salt and pepper, and serve open-faced). Yummmmm. I can also easily tell you that "abseil" is pronounced "ob-zile" (go figure) and is a mountain-climbing term meaning "a method of descending a very steep cliff by means of a rope secured at the summit". And without too much trouble, I can share a challenging verse from my study of the biblical Book of Proverbs (chapter 20:5 "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out").
But that's where the simple part ends.
All the things mentioned in the comments resonate with me right now: living without fear of regrets, extending grace, waiting with patience and perseverance, and getting to know God because He's God. Yet, I'm realizing that so much of my "summer school" this year has been intensely personal and not fit for consumption in such a public forum as this. It will suffice to say, however, that I have no doubt about the graciousness of my God and His unfathomable love for me. A love immense enough to mold and shape and trim and start again when necessary. He never gives up, even when there is oh, so much for me to learn.
A number of years ago, I came across the following poem in a fantastic book that I think every Christian should read. The book is entitled "Spiritual Leadership", author J. Oswald Sanders. The poem itself is untitled and the author is unknown. Too bad that he or she doesn't get credit for this gem. I've returned to this literary piece many times to help bring perspective on the learning God is facilitating in my life and what He has ahead for me. I know this little poem can't explain everything, but it sure makes me think and hope it does the same for you.
When God wants to drill a man
And thrill a man
And skill a man,
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world should be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out -
God knows what He's about!
Although some may find these words to be cruel or discouraging, I have lived them, and understand. The "trial shapes of clay that only God understands"...it's true. So often we're in transition, can't fathom the finished product, and hope that this "trial shape" isn't it. How awesome to know that God does know the next stage as well as the necessity of the transitional one(s). The idea of God inducing us to "try His splendor out" - a truly inspired picture. He does invite us or put us in positions that compel us to do so. So often I think my Lord is crying out for me to let Him show His splendor. And He does. And I am never disappointed.
I know this has been a long, long post. So good for you if you've made it this far. My daughter said yesterday "We should keep learning and growing until we die." May her tribe increase! Keep learning, keep growing. Keep enjoying the sandwich recipes and other incidental moments of learning that add color to the tapestry of life. Keep letting the Lord have His way with you, or try His splendor out for the first time, if you haven't already.
Happy learning.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
What Have You Been Learning?
When I was out for this morning's walk, a question came to mind that I wanted to pose: "What Have You Been Learning?". I'm eager to hear your responses to this.
I love being exposed to learning and learners, and especially to a category of people I call "voracious learners". I had one such exposure last night at a gathering of my husband's family. This gal is quite possibly one of the best conversationalists of the voracious learner ilk that I know. She asks lots of questions and can then quickly process that information and connect it to life (she must have a VERY orderly "sock drawer"!). She's 40- or 50-something in age and has a wonderfully adventuresome spirit. After retiring from teaching 6 years ago, she attended classes at the vo-tech to learn some new skills - just for the fun of it. Before sustaining a severe leg injury while snow-skiing, she kayaked regularly. And she still dreams of trekking to Base Camp at Mt. Everest. What a hoot! If her leg gets healthy, I don't doubt that she'll give it a try. But the biggest thing I took away from the time with her last night was her true passion for discovery and learning of the kind that makes life just a little bit richer.
So, on my walk I started pondering what I've been learning lately. The items on this list ranged from some deep spiritual truths to something as simple as a delicious sandwich recipe. (This morning, I also learned the meanings of the words "overweening" and "abseil". I love my dictionary!) If you have a chance, please share some things that you're learning, and in a day or two, I'll share some of mine.
Happy Wednesday.
I love being exposed to learning and learners, and especially to a category of people I call "voracious learners". I had one such exposure last night at a gathering of my husband's family. This gal is quite possibly one of the best conversationalists of the voracious learner ilk that I know. She asks lots of questions and can then quickly process that information and connect it to life (she must have a VERY orderly "sock drawer"!). She's 40- or 50-something in age and has a wonderfully adventuresome spirit. After retiring from teaching 6 years ago, she attended classes at the vo-tech to learn some new skills - just for the fun of it. Before sustaining a severe leg injury while snow-skiing, she kayaked regularly. And she still dreams of trekking to Base Camp at Mt. Everest. What a hoot! If her leg gets healthy, I don't doubt that she'll give it a try. But the biggest thing I took away from the time with her last night was her true passion for discovery and learning of the kind that makes life just a little bit richer.
So, on my walk I started pondering what I've been learning lately. The items on this list ranged from some deep spiritual truths to something as simple as a delicious sandwich recipe. (This morning, I also learned the meanings of the words "overweening" and "abseil". I love my dictionary!) If you have a chance, please share some things that you're learning, and in a day or two, I'll share some of mine.
Happy Wednesday.
Monday, July 9, 2007
The Sock Drawer
The time has come to explain “The Sock Drawer”…
One day a few years ago, my precocious teenage nieces, nephews and daughter were mercilessly, if good-naturedly, harassing us older folks (me in particular) whose minds seem to no longer be as quick as theirs. The youngsters firmly believed that age had left the oldsters forgetful, and quite possibly, empty-headed, with the accompanying inability to concoct witty, intelligent and speedy responses. The wisdom I was about to pour forth to explain this misperception was, in my estimation, a truly inspired moment. I do believe that my teenaged antagonists, however, saw it as a timely demonstration of their point. Regardless of the perspective, the infamous Sock Drawer analogy was born.
I’d like to take a brief time-out here for a disclaimer. Please keep in mind that the Sock Drawer is an ANALOGY; it is not a representation of my ACTUAL SOCK DRAWER. Thank you.
“Our brains are like sock drawers,” I began. (I can only imagine what the youngsters were thinking at this point.) “When you’re young, like you, not a whole lot has gone into the sock drawer yet. It’s not THAT hard to reach in and come out with a matched pair. When you’re older, like me, A LOT of socks have gone in that drawer and it’s MUCH HARDER to find the two that go together.”
Considering the blank stares and smirks I was receiving in response to this brilliant dissertation, I assumed further explanation was in order.
“You see, the socks are the pieces of information that come into your brain. When you’re young, you haven’t stored up a lot of these. Therefore, when you want to retrieve the appropriate information, it’s no harder than reaching into a relatively empty sock drawer, matching up the pertinent pieces and coming up with a “pair”; a witty, intelligent, or somewhat speedy response. As you get older, the number of pieces of information increases dramatically, making the retrieval MUCH more difficult, and making those of us in this position look dull, slow, or possibly hard-of-hearing, when that is not really the case at all. What may appear to you as an empty brain is actually the result of a VERY FULL brain. Really.”
Of course the first response to this was from one of my very organized nieces, who asked incredulously, “You don’t match up your socks when you put them in the drawer?!”
This is why I made my disclaimer early on - like I said, the sock drawer is an ANALOGY. Of course I pair up my real socks when I put them in the drawer. Life, however, rarely gives us our information in such a tidy fashion. We don’t open up the dryer of ideas, pair them off and stack them neatly in the drawer. Our information comes at different times, gets ceremoniously or unceremoniously dumped into the drawer, and then may need to be retrieved at the most inopportune moment. 40 or 60 or 80 years of accumulated “socks” tends to make that retrieval more and more difficult, right?
Eventually, the teens got the picture, although, to this day, I’m not sure they’ve embraced it the way I have. I guess they’ll have to reserve judgment for another 15 years or so. :) Regardless, since the day that The Sock Drawer was born, many, many comments, observations and experiences have been deemed “Sock Drawer Moments” by my family members. I’ve never been sure how to interpret their smiles as they make that declaration, however.
I still stand by my analogy, unusual though it may be, perhaps mostly for the connection that this silly moment has brought me with my children, nieces and nephews over the years. When it came time to create my blog of musings and random thoughts on life, my daughter and I agreed that “Notes from the Sock Drawer” would be a very fitting name indeed. And maybe, just maybe, my ramblings will add a few memorable socks to your drawer along the way.
One day a few years ago, my precocious teenage nieces, nephews and daughter were mercilessly, if good-naturedly, harassing us older folks (me in particular) whose minds seem to no longer be as quick as theirs. The youngsters firmly believed that age had left the oldsters forgetful, and quite possibly, empty-headed, with the accompanying inability to concoct witty, intelligent and speedy responses. The wisdom I was about to pour forth to explain this misperception was, in my estimation, a truly inspired moment. I do believe that my teenaged antagonists, however, saw it as a timely demonstration of their point. Regardless of the perspective, the infamous Sock Drawer analogy was born.
I’d like to take a brief time-out here for a disclaimer. Please keep in mind that the Sock Drawer is an ANALOGY; it is not a representation of my ACTUAL SOCK DRAWER. Thank you.
“Our brains are like sock drawers,” I began. (I can only imagine what the youngsters were thinking at this point.) “When you’re young, like you, not a whole lot has gone into the sock drawer yet. It’s not THAT hard to reach in and come out with a matched pair. When you’re older, like me, A LOT of socks have gone in that drawer and it’s MUCH HARDER to find the two that go together.”
Considering the blank stares and smirks I was receiving in response to this brilliant dissertation, I assumed further explanation was in order.
“You see, the socks are the pieces of information that come into your brain. When you’re young, you haven’t stored up a lot of these. Therefore, when you want to retrieve the appropriate information, it’s no harder than reaching into a relatively empty sock drawer, matching up the pertinent pieces and coming up with a “pair”; a witty, intelligent, or somewhat speedy response. As you get older, the number of pieces of information increases dramatically, making the retrieval MUCH more difficult, and making those of us in this position look dull, slow, or possibly hard-of-hearing, when that is not really the case at all. What may appear to you as an empty brain is actually the result of a VERY FULL brain. Really.”
Of course the first response to this was from one of my very organized nieces, who asked incredulously, “You don’t match up your socks when you put them in the drawer?!”
This is why I made my disclaimer early on - like I said, the sock drawer is an ANALOGY. Of course I pair up my real socks when I put them in the drawer. Life, however, rarely gives us our information in such a tidy fashion. We don’t open up the dryer of ideas, pair them off and stack them neatly in the drawer. Our information comes at different times, gets ceremoniously or unceremoniously dumped into the drawer, and then may need to be retrieved at the most inopportune moment. 40 or 60 or 80 years of accumulated “socks” tends to make that retrieval more and more difficult, right?
Eventually, the teens got the picture, although, to this day, I’m not sure they’ve embraced it the way I have. I guess they’ll have to reserve judgment for another 15 years or so. :) Regardless, since the day that The Sock Drawer was born, many, many comments, observations and experiences have been deemed “Sock Drawer Moments” by my family members. I’ve never been sure how to interpret their smiles as they make that declaration, however.
I still stand by my analogy, unusual though it may be, perhaps mostly for the connection that this silly moment has brought me with my children, nieces and nephews over the years. When it came time to create my blog of musings and random thoughts on life, my daughter and I agreed that “Notes from the Sock Drawer” would be a very fitting name indeed. And maybe, just maybe, my ramblings will add a few memorable socks to your drawer along the way.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Normalcy
OK, so I promised you an explanation of the sock drawer, but it will just have to wait temporarily. I wanted instead to comment on a much-needed dose of normalcy I had today.
My friend/cousin-in-law and I got together today. Our friendship has really been forged as we've walked and talked with each other through some significant challenges over this last year.
But today, all the challenges (and our propensity to analyze them) were set aside for what I would consider an interlude of glorious normalcy. We chatted and managed our teens and tweens kids. I showed her my latest batch of homemade cards. She showed me how to cook a really delicious dish for lunch. I shared with her a book of gorgeous mountaineering photos I'd been enjoying. She filled me in on her book club's long-awaited Chinese dinner. We compared notes on nail polish, where our newly teenage boys might be employed next summer, and much more.
Ahhhhhh.
Like it says on my profile, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool introvert...a thinker and philosophizer who is most naturally revived in complete silence. And yet the Lord has brought people into my life, each with their own special niche, who draw me into the richness and joyousness of sharing together. Today made me realize how blessed I am to have been drawn into this world, and to realize that I also have something to contribute.
We really aren't meant to be islands. We need the normalcy of interacting with others over everyday things as well as philosophy and analyses. I feel today as if I've drawn in a very deep breath of pristine air.
If life is pressing in on you, I encourage you to find some moments of glorious, joyful normalcy too. Stop mulling over the difficulties for a few minutes or hours - do something, however small, that helps you "breathe". And the next time you see me drawn or weary, please return this advice. :)
My friend/cousin-in-law and I got together today. Our friendship has really been forged as we've walked and talked with each other through some significant challenges over this last year.
But today, all the challenges (and our propensity to analyze them) were set aside for what I would consider an interlude of glorious normalcy. We chatted and managed our teens and tweens kids. I showed her my latest batch of homemade cards. She showed me how to cook a really delicious dish for lunch. I shared with her a book of gorgeous mountaineering photos I'd been enjoying. She filled me in on her book club's long-awaited Chinese dinner. We compared notes on nail polish, where our newly teenage boys might be employed next summer, and much more.
Ahhhhhh.
Like it says on my profile, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool introvert...a thinker and philosophizer who is most naturally revived in complete silence. And yet the Lord has brought people into my life, each with their own special niche, who draw me into the richness and joyousness of sharing together. Today made me realize how blessed I am to have been drawn into this world, and to realize that I also have something to contribute.
We really aren't meant to be islands. We need the normalcy of interacting with others over everyday things as well as philosophy and analyses. I feel today as if I've drawn in a very deep breath of pristine air.
If life is pressing in on you, I encourage you to find some moments of glorious, joyful normalcy too. Stop mulling over the difficulties for a few minutes or hours - do something, however small, that helps you "breathe". And the next time you see me drawn or weary, please return this advice. :)
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Prologue
I love to write. I have since I was a little girl. And now with the wonders of technology, I can subject untold numbers of people to my musings. :) Musings are what you can most expect to find in "Notes from the Sock Drawer".
So, welcome to my great adventure in blogging. Thank you in advance for your patience with my technological incompetence...I'm sure I'll learn the bells and whistles of blogging as I go.
And in case you're wondering what a sock drawer has to do with anything, I'll explain on my next post.
So, welcome to my great adventure in blogging. Thank you in advance for your patience with my technological incompetence...I'm sure I'll learn the bells and whistles of blogging as I go.
And in case you're wondering what a sock drawer has to do with anything, I'll explain on my next post.
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