Faith
WHEN IS IT THE RIGHT TIME?
WHEN IS IT THE RIGHT TIME?
When our children were younger we decided to attend Saturday evening Mass to avoid the crowds. We’d sit near the back of the church. Behind us was a doctor from our community who attended weekly with his wife. I’m not sure we were the best family to have settled in front of them, but I am sure we did add some humor to their lives. Most of the time, the kids napped over one of our shoulders.
In order to keep our youngest busy, we carried a small bag of Cheerios with us. As you may have already guessed from where this story is going, that a bag spilled. Of course, we had cheerios everywhere like confetti after a party. It was not a pretty sight and one that still is vividly fixed in my mind. They were under pews and in the aisle. It was near the end of the service and people were quietly praying. An “a-oh” was sounded by the smaller child. Our 5 year old leaned over to me and whispered “should I pick them up NOW? or just wait?”
And so ….
Life is like the cheerio story, sometimes we spill. We make mistakes. We have to make a decision about a job and pick the wrong one! The car breaks down; we take it to some place and it turns out to be the wrong place for a repair. Do we keep the car and have it fixed? So many of our life decisions make us wonder “when is it the right time?” Are we making the best choice? The solution is simple. Just pick up the pieces, clean up the mess, and go forward.
Mini miracles may happen when we fix our sights upward toward the heaven and ask for direction. Almost instantly we get a direction to call someone or a complete stranger makes a comment that focuses us elsewhere. Being open-minded is good. It allows us to grow and question things we otherwise might miss. I personally recognize that God created everything, including me. He does have a plan for me and you. We need to be open and willing to hear about it. Taking time in silence and prayer is most helpful.
Someone gave me a small devotional book this past November. JESUS CALLING; Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young. It is a great little book. I do not read it day by day, but will often sit and dwell on a few days at a time. The scriptures that apply are listed so one can go to the bible for your own insights.
Life has taught me to take one day at a time. I recognized this a long time ago when my mother and dad were both very ill. I could not prevent things from happening and I could not fixate on the problems. I was very busy keeping things status quo for myself, them, and my small children.
Often the answer of how to handle things become crystal clear after a good nights sleep. Sharing the issue with a reliable person may also help to resolve the problem because of added information from them.
Selecting the right time to sell our home, change doctors, get a new car or job may be problematic. Solutions come in many packages, “all problems are temporary” and many decisions are not!
Who would you like to know?
Life is strange and the people who make an impact on us may have lived generations ago. I am not talking about the Babylonians, the Phoenicians, or the Indigenous Australian folks, but instead about the people around you. Are they stars from Hollywood, icons in your field of endeavor, or just the simple minded people that somehow left an indelible mark on your life?
Often I’d like to be a fly on the wall at the Golden Globes or Star Studded event. I wouldn’t want to participate, but just watch how everyone is interacting. Some people appear so fictitious that they could be out of a story book, while others seemingly enjoy themselves. What are we to learn from those present and those past?
I’d love being on tour of several college campus’. There I would want to interact and meet the students. It would be great to learn what they are interested in and their stories. People fascinate me. When I have traveled, my best conversations with people were spontaneous. In Edinburgh, Scotland many years ago I recall talking with young adults at a bus sign. They were on their way the local University and chatty. In a few minutes, I felt so welcomed to their town. I hope I encouraged them to continue with the pursuit of their dreams. Do you know what your dreams are now? Are they different every year? Perhaps that is why people make new year resolutions.
What are you doing right now? Are you literally on a break? Perhaps you are just finishing your workout and stopped to read a few blogs? Are you in the midst of writing a book, repainting the kitchen, or an executive meeting? The things we do everyday become so commonplace and we take them for granted. What do you take for granted?
Be sure you embrace your identity! Find the things you love to do and do them. Hug your loved ones and accept their choices. That is always hard! In the process, focus on who are the people you want to meet. Engage, connect, and embrace one another.
Love freely given without anything in return.
Life is too short and once someone is gone, it is too late. I do think though that hugs go way beyond life when they are given freely and with love as shown in this picture. We try to wrap our arms around so many things in this day and age and sometimes we need to just step back and absorb all the good things in life. Think about the people you’d like to meet and reach out to them.
Catch your Mini Miracles everyday and see how they will grow into wonderful surprises.
Father, forgive them. . .
This morning as I was standing in the shower, the temperature of the water changed and the pressure was less. I realized that my husband was also using the water. Normally, I would have yelled across the house to let him know I was showering, but since I know he couldn’t hear me, I hesitated. Instead a few other thoughts came to mind.
I thought, wow, how selfish I was to think he’d have to be the one to shut the water off. Secondly, I knew it was not an intentional thing. My husband has a heart of gold. He’d go out of his way for me. Plus it was simply a temporary inconvenience for me.
The next thought that flooded my mind was how grateful I was to have a warm home and the ability to shower whenever I wanted. I had heard a man from a poor town in Africa share. He was a grown man when he came to the USA. Someone had invited him to stay with a congregation of priests and study. He had never seen running water and didn’t even know such a luxury existed. He was surprised to learn all one had to do was turn a knob and water would gush out.
I can’t imagine what that would be like after not having water available to him. Even the water he had had to drink was contaminated. He lost a brother to drinking that same water. The difference was that he received one full meal a day from a missionary society that provided lunch at school. It was why he had stayed in school. Namely, he was so hungry that school seemed like the answer.
And then the words of our Lord, while he hung on the Cross rang out in my head. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
Now, I am not a Bible scholar. In all honesty, I should be reading and studying scripture more than I do. It was odd that in a few minutes I 
had totally changed my mind and heart about the situation. This was indeed a mini miracle!!! I have been praying for patience and a kinder, gentler attitude.
Often we are always am feeling rushed and do far too much. I hear that from so many people! We have expectations that we place on ourselves and those we love. We get easily annoyed and become horrible to live with on a daily level. I do think the Lord nudged me into thinking through my actions this morning.
Have a great day and “Delight in Living!”
The Old, The New …
Our family is excited about the Cubs and I am no different. There are “the old and the new” when it comes to FANS. Well, I guess I am the former, but I join the youth of today. All the fun that our sport clubs provide as entertainment for us is wonderful.
I can’t help but notice that we have a young team. A team that is not easily intimidated or frightened away by superstitions, past records, or competition. Congratulations and THANK GOODNESS for our youth. They bring us the vision of new and exciting things in way of learning. They are the teachers, the scientists, the motivation for the older among us to cheer on. I can’t imagine all the openings to careers and opportunities that are ahead for them.
I see so many people in my office who deal with anxiety. It doesn’t only apply to the more mature people, it also pertains to the youth too. We begin to store up fears and question our abilities to succeed. There are times we all do worry and it is usually when we start projecting into the future. Anxiety and fear can become great motivators to change. Right now I am really paying attention to my diet and my overall health. I want to be here for many more years and be healthy to enjoy the next generations.
What if such and such happens? What if my car breaks down? If the test comes back poorly what will I
do to fix things? How do we get the money for the repairs? What, how, when, and if are all dangerous for anxiety ridden people. We must stay in the PRESENT MOMENT. You and I both know that when something happens, the solution will also appear. It is the essence of having faith in the midst of trials.
I went grocery shopping earlier today and found this great Cubbie ball shaped character sitting on the table at the grocery store. I had to buy him as a souvenir. He just looks so joyful! I am hoping it will remind me to stay in the present moment and to enjoy the times that are wonderful.
May your day be filled with great joy and much health. Stay prayer filled and look for all the mini miracles around you. I am waiting for a few to drop on me. “Delight in Living”
Just Be Yourself
It is so hard to be ourselves. We tell one another “just be yourself!” But it seems to take a lifetime to know ourselves well. It is the advice we pass on to adults who are going for an interview or a student studying, but somehow it is hard to be genuine. We see others and try to duplicate them. It may be the joker in the classroom that everyone loves. It can be the little actress who gets all the teachers to pay attention. It can be the room mother who has it all together.
We are all fine just as we are!
A competitive spirit can be good or bad.
Is there an unwritten formula that makes us want to conform? Why is it we all strive to be like the successful people? We jump on the bandwagon for new products even though we have a cabinet of things that work well. Shampoo seems to jump into the hands of any teenager! Buy and try! We wear the color of the season to be with the “in-crowd.” We buy the latest gadgets, because they are supposedly better than what we are using.
Well I am not there! I don’t like to replace the things that work well for me. This theory has come to me over the last 10 years especially. If it works then don’t mess with success. Often the new products are not made, as well as, the older ones. They may look brighter and shinier, but the parts are not replaceable so the whole unit has to be disposed of rather than repairing it. I am thinking of appliances, fans, and on/off switches. In the past one just replaced the broken knob or switch.
I was recently forced to throw out a fan that was molded into a unit. It wasn’t able to be fixed or to be cleaned. So many of the older appliances have lasted forever. I have a toaster that is 48 years old and still excellent. Like so many of the newer gadgets not all parts are equal. The coffee pots that make single servings using pods are not universal. Not all pods fit and of course, the prices have risen on the pods.
So back to the “just be yourself” mentality. As people we are all gifted so uniquely. I worked with a man years ago, who was so easy going. He was an excellent worker, but always so adaptable to changes. He made everyone around him pleasant. Our attitudes are contagious and so if we can be less rushed and more peaceful it helps everyone around us. I think of him often when I feel rushed thinking of how he always had time for others.
So how does this photo tie into this? Well Rosy is an American Bulldog and we have always had Boxers. Even all these stuffed animals are Boxer look-alikes. Of course, Rosy doesn’t know it or she might be jealous of when the kids are playing with their stuffed animals. She does want to be number one when we have people over. She waits for her time to be petted and adored. Animals want to be appreciated and we are no different. She reminds me to embrace myself and others.
In the office, I try to adhere to a schedule, but I try to give people extra time whenever possible. I think it is because I hate to be rushed through offices like a cattle call myself. I also dislike waiting and feel aggravated when I make an appointment and have to wait 40 minutes in the waiting room. That is just who I am and I have learned to like myself for being on time and expecting others to do the same. It is about knowing our own likes and dislikes. I have learned sometimes waiting is just part of life, but I don’t have to like it.
Talents are part of each person. Some people are musicians, bankers, caretakers, artists, seamstresses, drivers, electricians, plumbers, or hold other talents. There is a sweet woman who has had many setbacks in her life that I see. She has learned to speak up for herself, but is aggressive because no one has directed her in the skills of diplomacy. She doesn’t know when it is appropriate to say something. That is a learned gift as well. Our dispositions can be tamed and we can make adjustments, but it has to come from within ourselves.
What are your gifts? Who are you? Are you comfortable with your way of thinking? How do you process life? Do you need confirmation from others? Are you a bull in a china shop? All of these questions are great to journal on today.
Enjoy today. Delight in Living and be grateful for you and those you love. See the mini miracles in the interactions around you. Today I was in line at Hobby Lobby for wrapping paper. A clerk saw I only had a few things and offered to check me out. That was so appreciated. A mini miracle that made my morning schedule work better. Praise God.
New Insights
Well every now and then, one comes up with some great insight. It doesn’t have to be profound, just meaningful in itself. So yesterday I discussed the idea of “wholesome”. Today I watched a short recording of our 10 month old grandchild eating breakfast. These are the good times when everyone is healthy and the smallest efforts go so far. Learning to feed oneself is a big step. It is something that will continue forever. I am not thinking of just feeding ourselves literally food.
So how do we feed ourselves as we get older? Do we search out like-minded friends? Do we learn that the profession we entered is stimulating and just perfect? Do we learn that some foods agree with us and others don’t? Just how do we stimulate our minds and keep learning?
These are all good journaling questions? So they are also on the Journaling Aids page of this blog. So let’s try to answer some of these questions.
Feeding ourselves continues to be a challenge throughout our lives. We are always teaching ourselves basic things. Learning to dress ourselves. We learn to button, zipper, tie, and velcro our clothes. We coordinate colors and styles to fit us and our personalities. We learn to walk and sit and navigate in small areas like on an airplane. We facilitate seatbelts and our own boundaries on a bus or theater.
As we enter into the community as a student, we learn to follow rules. We meet the firemen, the police, the teachers, the tradesmen, the librarian, and other relevant people. We ask questions and stumble along to fit in to the acceptable norm of our environment. We learn the rules and the importance of them. Along the way, we try to meet friends. That never ends. Our friendships make us better people. God gave us connections to keep us safe and accountable.
I have been reading a few good books. One is by Jon Acuff called DO OVER; Rescue Monday, Reinvent Your Work, and Never Get Stuck. I highly recommend it to anyone in transition or thinks they should change their profession or job. It is thought provoking and helps a person stay focused. It may help you answer questions regarding what you do and what you’d like to do. (It is the recommended book on our main page, please check it over, I am still reading it and savoring its messages).
Back to learning to eat! As we get older, we learn the foods that agree with us and those that do not fuel us well. Our desire to stay healthy and part of society keeps us focused on being productive and energized.
Don’t get stuck, keep reinventing yourself. It is okay to change hobbies, to run more, to read more, to take on new habits and forms of enjoyment. It is okay to travel and volunteer. Embrace life and “Delight in Living!”
The Wholesome Lifestyle
The wholesome lifestyle, just what is that? I can tell you what it isn’t. It isn’t trying to beat your neighbor by purchasing a better car, yet the commercials would like us to think that!
It’s not about compromising your values about life! If you have an elderly parent living with you, it may show others your priorities. Or if there is a family nearby who needs shopping done for them, it isn’t healthy for you to ignore them.
A new cool dress on a hot summer day.
It isn’t about swearing or rudely yelling at the neighborhood kids. Yet I recall hearing a neighbor do that when my son was younger. The man was very self centered and unkind. I later learned that he had dropped his daughter on her head several years before, because of a bad temper.
It isn’t cheating on your income taxes to get ahead. It isn’t stealing paper clips from the office you work at to save a few pennies. It isn’t being self centered!
So here are a few things that contribute to a wholesome lifestyle!
1-It’s about teaching children to compete fairly. Playing family games. Setting a good example. Teaching ourselves and our children to be a good winners or losers.
2-It’s about being the best version of yourself (Matthew Kelly’s books are all based on this premise). It’s giving some of our time to those around us. When was the last time you asked if you could pick something up at the store for your neighbor?
3-It’s about learning to have a good attitude. When your own yard is full of leaves, but you help someone else do their yard with a smile.
4-It’s all about being thankful for the ability to walk into any store and get food when we want it. We don’t have to deal with flooded homes, war torn homes, or poverty. We all have the opportunity to earn and spend.
5-Manners are never lost. Being grateful and letting people know how much you appreciate them is part of living well.
6-Learning to accept what we have and be appreciative. It may mean having clean clothes, food on the table, and running water. The ability to see a doctor or get immunizations for our families is an marvelous opportunity.
7-It is humbling to be on the receiving end. I bought something at a garage sale earlier this summer. It was a toy for a grandchild and it was really cumbersome to carry home. A younger neighbor offered to carry it for me down the block. It was so appreciated as I needed the help.
8- Going out of your way to show kindness is good. When my daughter was unable to lift anything over 5 pounds after surgery 6 years ago, a friend from her church came in the morning to help her with the baby until I arrived. Giving and receiving gifts of time are wholesome values.
9-Passing on clothes from one family to another helps us not to waste. When my children were small, the family across the street had children. She was pass on clothes for my daughter and I would pass on boys items for her son. We both benefited on saving money and helping each other.
10-It is about reading and keeping up-to-date with magazines and books. Education is something that no one can take away from us.
11-It is about going to church, school events, or community runs and being part of a larger family.
We don’t have to have everything new. We don’t need to match. We don’t have to be clones of one another like the Jr. High kids seem to think! We need to be caring and compassionate; accepting and nurturing to one another. Despite our differences, we need to reach out and accept that we all want to be healthy and needed. We need to follow the basic 10 commandments and the laws. Be kind!
I just heard a Podcast featuring **Derrick Tennant share about his “obstacle” becoming his “opportunity.” We all have “obstacles” in our life that can move us and other people forward.
Enjoy your week and “Delight in Living!”
* Matthew Kelly at www.dynamiccatholic.com
**Check our Derrick Michael Tennants page @ www.derrickmichaeltennant.com
Have You Hit a Brick Wall?
Have you ever tried to accomplish something and half way through you quit? Could this be a new job? Do you start diets and quit half way through? Are you trying a new style and just can’t get it to work for you? Are you reluctant to start a new job or investigate something new? do you have personal appointments you just don’t make and keep putting off?
Up Against a Wall?
Looking to other people for guidance and help more than often works to resolve problems. We all need to see what is happening around us. I am blessed with family, friends, clients and patients that set an example for me. They embark on an idea or adventure and I watch how they pull it off. Sometimes they may fail, but they pick themselves up and go again.
Many times success happens because we are being held to a higher standard or accountable by a boss, a spouse, or the need for something to improve. That something is money, health, or relationships. It is one of the reasons God has given us free will; we need to decide for ourselves to change. Our faith lifts us high above the problems if we turn to God for strength.
We are also given spouses, children, bosses, and family to love. They hold us to a higher standard and expect things of us. They know our abilities and desires.
Who holds you accountable? Are you alone or just don’t care? Are you depressed? Or just confused and don’t know where to turn? So many things in life are trial and error. We need to respect ourselves and just jump in.
Fear is the number one thing that makes us hesitant to act or ask questions. We think of all the reasons why we shouldn’t take a step forward. Perhaps we don’t know who to contact so we do nothing. Instead just start asking people and looking to your affiliations for help. Or we don’t think we have enough money to go forward. Well, again there may be different things you can do that don’t cost money. Perhaps we are fearful that we will jeopardize what we already have and that isn’t true either.
Time is another brick wall. We think “Oh there isn’t enough time!” I find that sometimes I don’t make the time either. I am always taking care of other people. I have people to see or I can’t get in to see someone during my free time. We all have excuses and we need to dump them. I just did that! I just made 5 appointments I have been putting off! You can do it too!
Well even brick or concrete walls are vulnerable. It may take time to break them down. It may mean learning to navigate around it. You can still “Delight in Living!” Just take your umbrella down and let the mini miracles fall on you.
Thanks for Water
We all take so much for granted to be able to get up on turn on the shower each morning or whenever we have the need. Water is the most refreshing thing; it wakes up our organs and jump starts our bodies. Our bodies crave the replenishment of it.
The Mayo site tells us that our bodies are 60% water. * Just watch the average wrestler trying to make weight. They can sweat it off, spit it out, and stop all liquids to bring them down in weight quickly. Of course, dehydration can drain your energy and/or make one tired so immediately after weigh in, these wrestlers indulge! Perhaps not the best idea here, but one that happens.
People love living near the water. Families enjoy the many clear water lakes and swimming pools. They have cottages and summer homes for recreating on water. It is a place of peace and quiet, as well as, a place to swim, fish, and just listen. For some people the idea of being near a body of water allows them to pray.
As I child I spent time on a farm in Indiana. We also attended many Indiana State Fairs with my cousins. It was always hot and trying to find a place in the shade under a tree was a challenge. There a bottle of water was the only option. I remember feeling parched and exhausted.
On the farm, we were always playing at the pump trying to cool off. We learned to prime the pump and would relish in the cold water gushing out. The animals were drawn to us for the water too. We’d splash it on our arms and face to get refreshed. We’d rinse off the sand we were playing in. How fortunate we were to have those wells providing for us!
In recent years, the benefits of accumulating rain water into rain barrels has become easier. We have a rain barrel. The rain from our gutters accumulates in a heavy duty container. It allows us to use this God given resource for flowers and plantings throughout the summer. We rinse off our hands after gardening. In Fall, the barrel is washed out and pulled inside until next Spring. I usually keep a gallon container to use for my indoor plants throughout the winter season.
Water is indeed refreshing. In one song I know, “Come to the Water“, the verses are clear. Here are a few of them. “O let all who thirst, let them come to the water.” “And let all who seek, come to the water.” “Let all who toil, let them come to the water.” **
Water is indeed purifying and cleansing to our bodies and minds. We think nothing of turning on a faucet and letting the water run. We wash our dishes without thinking of not having water. We throw out standing water from our outdoor flower pots to avoid mosquitoes from breeding. We need it to stay well.
It is nourishing for our us to seek this resource. We pray while sitting in nature, in the mountains, and streams. Nature brings out a spirituality even in those who are not church goers. The sounds of running streams are a calling card for animals. Taking a walk in the rain or watching children jump in the puddles tells the greater story of simple joys.
Water fills and fuels our basic needs. Like the earth, wind, and fire, it brings us closer to our maker, who put these resources here for us. However, we all know how detrimental it can be with too much of any of these. Just look at all the devastation in Haiti and the countries in the path of Hurricane Matthew. The overwhelming winds and rains have hurt property and killed people. The long lasting effects will be felt for many.
Anything in moderation serves us well. A simple conclusion that carries forward into everything in life. Moderation in how much we eat is wise. Exercising without over extending our bodies is a great idea. Working to provide for our families without being a work alcoholic is ideal. It is our overindulgence in any area that brings us down to our knees and weakens our lifestyle.
So here’s to a great day. Enjoy all the God given gifts you have and the opportunities to explore and learn. Look for those Mini Miracles as they rain down in water and through people around you today. “Delight in Living!”
*(http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating)
**http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mattmaher/cometothewater.html
***NBCNews.com
Life is . . .
Life is a series of adventures; some are monumental moments like graduation and others are simply small daily joys. I couldn’t help, but watch a family that was a few pews ahead of me today. The grandfather was beside two grown daughters and their children which ranged from a baby to teenagers. Grandpa proudly introduced himself and was attentive to the whole group. The daughters were preoccupied with tending to the littler children.
This small child is being entertained by an old cat.
Children and animals are intrigued with one another. Why is it we lose our joys in the small things as we grow up? Do we get so immersed in the larger problems that we lose sight of the important things in life? And why is that?
As kids we love cartoons, deal with the mosquito bites, and sleep so soundly. We enjoy our friends and go with the flow at home. We don’t get overwhelmed with trying to do so many things well, that we lose enjoyment in a few things.
As we get older, we don’t make time to watch cartoons (unless we have small children to sit with) or time to color. That is one of the reasons, the new craze of coloring has taken off. It gives us permission to sit and unwind. Cartoons, playing hopscotch, and running after lightning bugs used to be fun and kept our metabolisms burning naturally. We rode our bikes around after dinner and talked to the neighbors on the front porch. We knew one another.
I have decided that I will consciously rejoice in the successes of everyone around me. I mean to go out of my way to endorse those on Facebook, Congratulate those at church and the community for their achievements. Although in my head I am happy for others, it takes only an extra few minutes to call someone or acknowledge their joys. 
This week I intentionally stopped at a neighbors as I saw her sweeping her driveway. It is the 2nd time this year that I have seen her outside and it is the end of September. People just don’t hang out in our area like they once did. I am going to connect more!!! At one time, we saw each other daily as our small children engaged in playing. Now we grown children we seldom connect. What a shame! How are you doing in this area? Are your kids still young? Are you finding you do or don’t connect?
Today I met one of the new Deacons at our church. I saw that all the hard work he and his wife had put into his studying and time learning was now very exciting as he was ordained to serve the community. He was truly excited and humbled by the new position. It would have been easy to walk around him after the service and say nothing, but I thought about all the effort that had gone into this decision and education. He is also setting the bar high for all the young people by his example.
All achievements whether it is raising children, playing with the family, working at a job, or cutting the grass add up to a life of happiness and fulfillment. Life is ongoing and sets the way for the next generation. Taking joy in our health and the many blessings that come our way is the most important thing we can do.
IF YOU HAVE TIME, PLEASE CHECK OUT –Scottish Saints and Sea Horses! on U-Tube with Fr Roderick, he makes the mini moments alive and so worthwhile with his travels.
Enjoy your week, your families, pets, and neighbors. Take time to Delight in Living!