In ourselves

"Not in the clamor of the crowded street. Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, but in ourselves, are triumph and defeat." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

As a man thinks within himself, so is he. - Proverbs 23:7

Risk

On a more positive note around trying or taking a risk:

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
- Anais Nin

Trying

At the supper table last night it was mentioned that the TV program "The Simpsons" (one of Dan's favorites) has been on the air since 1989. A long time. I admit, I didn't let my kids watch it when they were young; I thought it to be a bad influence. I'm not saying yet that I love watching the episodes (I usually get frustrated!) but as I get older I'm finally realizing more of the wisdom in its sardonic humor. At least I'm trying to realize the wisdom. Like this comment to get us a-thinkin':

"Trying is the first step toward failure."
- Homer Simpson

Unhurried

"An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth."
- Bonnie Friedman (author, b. 1958)

More sleep

I seem to be more interested in posting inspirational quotes these days, but here is a tidbit on physical wellness from the July/August issue of Health magazine:

"Sleeping less than six hours each weeknight makes you four-and-a-half times more likely to develop prediabetes...according to a study presented at a recent American Heart Association conference. Prediabetes, which makes blood sugar regulation difficult, already afflicts 57 million Americans, and 25 percent of them will develop type 2 diabetes. The researchers say sleep may be crucial in helping manage hormones that control blood sugar."

So yah, I'll likely continue to repeatedly (and irritatingly) say, "Kids, you need more sleep!"

The given moment

I have a friend who writes essays around the theme of the hilarity of God. I am prone to agree that God has an interesting sense of humor. Take today for instance. This afternoon I read this quote:

"Christians emphasize the presence of God in all things, but they may tend to forget the envelope that contains it. Persons, actions, events are the medium through which God comes. The given moment is the only place one can meet God." (Christian Mindfulness, by Earnest E. Larkin)

Also today, all day, we had a bat fluttering around in the window of our den, trapped between glass pane and screen. As I watched and photographed him I was both fascinated and freaked out. In those moments I can't say that I was thinking that I was meeting God, nor was I laughing much.

But now I'm wondering if I might consider accepting the bat flutterings of this day as moments of meeting God. It does seem rather humorous. I must admit though that what I just wrote is easier to say now that my heroic husband has rid the window of its bat contents and this given moment is bat-less.

Whatever he says to you

“Whatever he says to you, do it.” – John 2:5

These few words from the gospel of John – from today’s church service passage on the story of Jesus turning water into wine – catch my attention. This week as I let the words roll around within me I thought, What does this directive look like for me today? And I realize, again, how big ‘whatever’ is and often I don’t do what Jesus says to do. And then I feel kind bad and sad and discouraged, like I can never measure up, like I’ll never get it right.

But I’ve learned that thoughts of discouragement are not from God. I appreciate the verse about one who prophesies (speaks for or in the way of Christ) doing so for “strengthening, encouragement, and comfort” (I Cor 13:4). So I keep considering this phrase, asking God to permeate my thinking. And then it occurs to me that in these words Mary spoke to the servants there is a sense of expectation. A curious hope. A heads up that something is about to happen. I am drawn in.

I think – yah, when we listen to and do what Jesus says, unusual stuff can happen. Like in this story where vessels filled with water ordinary have their contents changed into best-wine extraordinary, miracles can be ours as well. Jesus can change our ordinary into extraordinary – like troubles (running out of wine) into pleasant surprises (gallons of best wine), like our discouragement into expectation, ache into comfort, sorrows into joy.

I will choose today to remember that Jesus WANTS to do me good – He cares for me. And it’s not just me. He’s crazy in love with us all. Did you know he’s especially fond of you?

Wanna join me in reminding ourselves of that?

"...casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." - I Peter 5:7

Watch your...

These words came in a forward from my mom, and I think they are worth considering.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Doing it to do it

Am I doing it to do it,

or am I doing it to get it done?

A wise friend mentioned that he asks himself this question, and it is a pertinent one for me to ask myself as well. I’ve been thinking about the importance of presence and living in the present. So, I rather like the perspective the quote below offers, using as example such an ordinary and oft performed activity (especially lately for me with a couple of kids home for the summer and no dishwasher machine – no, I am not a machine…) [from an article on Christian Mindfulness mentioned in previous blog post]:

“Free and loving presence to the present moment is the essence of mindfulness and meditation. You wash the dishes to wash the dishes, intentionally and with as little distraction as possible, not to impress your neighbor or even to provide clean dishes. These motives are extraneous and pertain to the future. You want to stay in the now.”

And another one from Vietnamese Buddhist, Thich Nhat Hanh, found in his book The Miracle of Mindfulness:

"While washing the dishes, you might be thinking about the tea afterwards, and so try to get them out of the way as quickly as possible in order to sit and drink tea. But that means you are incapable of living during the time you are washing the dishes. When you are washing the dishes, washing the dishes must be the most important thing in your life. Just as when you are drinking tea, drinking tea must be the most important thing in your life."

"However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all." - Ecclesiastes 11:8

Rub and polish

"It is good to rub and polish your mind against that of others."

-Michel de Montaigne, essayist (1533-1592)

A change of pace

“My philosophy? Simplicity plus variety.” -Hank Stram

“Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.” – William Cowper

Summer offers many a change of pace: school ceases for a time, families vacation, daily routines vary. I’ve been thinking about how changing our pace brings benefit. Here’s a few relatively easy ideas for change.

In the realm of eating, maybe try eating more slowly and on a smaller plate.

-Studies confirm that just by eating slower, we consume fewer calories — enough to lose 20 pounds a year without doing or eating anything differently. Since it takes almost 20 minutes for our brains to register that we’re full, eating quickly allows us to go past the point of fullness. [More reasons to eat slowly]

-Swap a 12-inch dinner plate for a 9-inch one. According to The 9-inch Diet we’ll cut our meal calories by 35%; Cornell University research says this trick could help us lose 18 pounds a year.

In the realm of energy, renewal can happen with a change of pace in routine, or a change in how we view our daily routine.

-Change the routine. Jesus said, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31) when he and his disciples were overrun with people and activity. Summer often affords us a chance to get away and rest; rejuvenate by being outdoors, alone, or with a few intimate friends; and recreate with a favorite past time.

-Or try viewing routine differently by being more mindful. Mindfulness involves bringing our attention more completely to the moments in our lives: fully, without defense, with acceptance. Some ideas to try:

*eating dessert – my choice is French silk pie, but envision whatever is your choice splurge – in a new way, savoring the flavor, texture, coolness, velvety chocolateness; and in that moment not thinking about anything else, not reading, not doing email or watching TV, not talking.

* being in any of our situations as if we chose it, as if we really believe it is just what is supposed to be, being “present in love to what we are actually doing.” [Quote from Ernest E. Larkin article on Christian Mindfulness. For more, in the days ahead, see a new section called “Connecting bodymindsoulspirit" on my NaturallyYours web site]

I hope you are getting to change your pace and enjoy variety this summer.

"I just keep concentrating on the present moment. I forget the past and preserve myself from worries about the future." - St.Thérèse of Lisieux

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24

So various

The earth was made so various,

that the mind of desultory man,

studious of change and pleased with novelty,

might be indulged.

- William Cowper