Think!

Think!

I saw that word written on a poster hanging in a classroom.  It made me think about the number of times we say that word during the course of a day.  Let's see if we can list some of them.

*Come on! Think!

*I'll think about that.

*I can't think anymore.

*Why didn't you think before you acted?

*You never think of the consequences.

*Go think about what you just did.

*Did you honestly think that was the best choice?

*Think before you speak!

* I think you are one special person.

And so on.

We use that word many times a day.  Think is a verb.  It is an active voice verb.  An invisible action is taking place when we think.  Actually, there might be some visible signs we are thinking.  Our faces may frown a bit.  We may look into the distance.  We may walk away to be alone for a moment.

If another person tells us they will think about something we have shared, we trust they will actually do that work.  And it is work to think.  We have to clear our minds and concentrate on one specific thing.

Our actions are a result of our thinking--or lack of it.  Sometimes we act and then think.  The result of this behavior may place us in a bit of hot water.  We must spend time teaching our children the value of thinking before acting.  One of the best ways to teach our children this skill is to model it for them.  They need to see adults working through choices.  They must be taught to look at all sides of issues before making a final choice.  This requires deep thinking.  Adults must reward children when they show signs of thinking before acting.

There is a catch to telling children to think about something they said or did.  They may not possess the skills to know how to think about their actions.  Adults need to provide direction for them.  Maybe they used a word that is unacceptable.  Talk about the word and why it is not acceptable.  Ask the child to think about how they might select another, better word.  This gives them something to actually think about.  The same applies to behaviors.  What other choices were available?  How might they have made a different decision?  What other behavior could they have chosen?

Adults don't always practice what they preach.  Trust me.  Kids watch.  They imitate.  If we want them to think, we must show them how we engage in thinking.  We must allow them to see us struggle with decisions.

That poster made me think.  It made me wish for do-overs when my thinking was flawed.  It reminded me that I can live a better life by giving a little thought to my words and actions.  

Now I think it is time to end this!  Happy thinking!

A Packet of Seeds--Such Promise

A Packet of Seeds--Such Promise

I want you to imagine you are holding a packet full of flower seeds.  The seeds inside the packet are not pretty.  In fact, they are rather ugly.  As long as they remain locked inside that packet, they will never reach their potential.  However, they do contain a promise.  They were developed for a specific purpose.  Once they are taken from the packet and placed in their proper spot, the magic will begin.

For these seeds to shower us with their blessings, they must be planted, watered, fertilized.  They must have the proper amount of sunlight to send their roots into the ground, and their stems into the light.  When they produce flowers,  we are awed that from such simple came such beauty.  For a time they bless our lives, and then the day comes when it is time for them to leave us.  Maybe we take a few pictures to remember them.  Maybe we made a lovely bouquet from their gift.  They lived their life, and now they are a memory.

So it is with us.

We are wrapped in a package.  Inside our souls is the promise of beauty and joy.  We have a function and a purpose.  We don't come with a picture of who and what we will be. But we arrive full of promise.  At some point in our existence we will open the package of us.  Just as the planted seeds will give beauty, so will we.  Each of us will grow toward the beauty inside that simply must get out.

It will happen because somewhere along the way someone will have seen the good in us.  Someone will have given encouragement.  Someone will have shown love and concern.  And because of that, we blossom and shine.  It doesn't matter what our vocation.  What matters is we were set free to achieve our purpose.  We were taken out of the package and sown.

When we believe we are in the midst of our becoming, we will reach out to others.  That reaching to others brings wonderful opportunities.  We can encourage, plant seeds of kindess, offer the gift of listening, share our own story.  Often we are unaware that we have touched another.  But the truth is we all touch people each and every day.

Look at the time you spend with others as a time to connect.  Understand that you maybe the only positive person they see that day.  Open yourself and spill your goodness into the world.  Just as the seeds bring such beauty once they are planted, know that you bring beauty, too.  The beauty you bring has the potential to change a life.

That is a true miracle.

Competition--Positive or Negative?

Competition--Positive or Negative?

When you think of the word competition, what comes into your mind?  Do you think about sporting events?  I would venture a guess that many people equate competition with sports.  Two teams meet with the outcome being one is victorious.  Scores are kept.  Observers select sides and cheer for their team.  Everyone knows this is a competition.  Positive or negative?

Competition is present at the work place, also.  Moving up the corporate ladder means people often compete for positions.  Maybe a person accepts extra assignments with the hope that those in control of their fate will notice their effort.  This person is willing to accept the criticism of the group in order to advance.  Is this a negative thing?  Certainly some people see it that way.  However, it could be these people would rather be critical of others than take the chance of moving outside their comfort zone.

Siblings experience competition within the family structure.  It is not unusual to hear brothers and sisters speak of their siblings as a parent's favorite.  Sometimes this is couched in laughter, but the message is loud and clear.  They honestly believe that one child is loved more than the others.  Truthfully, some children are easy.  They are agreeable and accept direction from parents.  Others are more demanding or quarrelsome.  Naturally those who exhibit these traits and others like these, find themselves in hot water more often than the compliant child.  It probably does appear that the parent loves one more than the other.  These feelings have the potential to divide families.

The business world is alive with competition.  It drives the market.  One fast food chain competes with another by advertising its products in the most appealing light possible.  Furniture stores offer no financing for years and years in an attempt to bring customers into their store.  Grocery stores give coupons to anyone shopping in their aisles.  Even banks get into the mix.  Competition is everywhere.  The consumer makes decisions on what to purchase based on comparison shopping.  Is this positive or negative?

States compete with one another for vacation dollars.  The sunshine states compete for retirees and their second homes.  We could go on and on with this, couldn't we?  And I haven't even touched on the way countries compete with one another.

Is it possible that competition has both a negative and positive definition?  Competition has been part of the human experience since the beginning.  I bet cave men tried to out-do their fellow tribesmen by bringing in the biggest kill or building the best fire.  It is just the way we are wired.  However, it is also possible that we can take this too far.  If we deliberately mow another person down to achieve our own goals, that might be viewed as a very negative behavior.

There is no end to this discussion.  Using competition in a responsible way can be very positive.  Often I find myself competing with myself.  I look at my past accomplishments and believe that I can do better.  That serves me well.  It means I realize that there is room for growth, and I am willing to take the necessary steps to make that growth happen.  When I compete with another person, I never grow.  I believe the reason I do not progress is because my eyes are on another's accomplishments and not on my potential.

A little something to think about on a cold winter afternoon!

Busy to Quiet--

Busy to Quiet--

Yesterday was such a productive day.  I attended a meeting and learned about a mission in Kentucky that is enabling children to go to school, that is providing health care, that is giving information and support to young moms.  This is a very small list of the ways this mission is supporting people who need help.  During the dvd I had to choke back tears.  Why was I so touched by that fim?  Maybe it is because I have been to that area on mission trips.  I have seen firsthand how desperate the need is.  Yet, even though the need for education, health care, housing, jobs is great, the people are the most gracious I have encountered on my life journey.

Perhaps I was remembering the people who touched my life while I was helping with a roof.  Or maybe I was thinking about the family who sold their hope chest to provide soda for the teens who were working on their house.  It could be that I was remembering the sweet faces of those people who accepted our help and welcomed us into their space.  Or maybe it was the family that provided the most delicious meal to my crew straight from their garden.  Such sweet memories.  Was the emotional tug a reminder that I can help again?

Following the meeting I met with a woman who turned over some books to me.  She spent time explaining procedures to me.  She walked me through the process I will  use.  I was very grateful.  I had no idea it was this involved.  But, it will be good for me to learn a new skill.  She was very patient and did a fine job of instructing me.  I am sure we will visit many times in the future.  I already have tons of questions!

Then I met a friend for coffee.  What a joy she is.  She is experiencing a few health challenges and trying to hook up with the best doctor to help her.  She will do that.  She is intelligent and determined.  Another part of that visit was seeing her art studio.  She is an accomplished artist.  It was fun to see the place where creation happens.  I told her that I must have been in the bathroom when the gift of art was passed out!  She said I have other gifts.  I suppose that is so, but they are not what I would have wanted.  Should have stayed in line!  However, we must never compare ourselves with others.  We always come out on the short end of the stick!

After our time together, I visited a second hand store.  I need a table for the end of my sofa.  As I wandered through the store, I saw a few tables that might work.  But there was a problem.  I needed to know how tall, how deep and how wide the space is.  Did I come prepared with those dimensions?  That would have been way too easy.   All my organized friends would have been prepared.  Even when I do try to be like them,  I fail.  Some of us simply are scattered.  On the next trip I will have all the information ready--and maybe even a tape measure.  Ya think?

Today arrived.  I have done nothing.  When I say nothing, that is exactly what I mean.  Nothing.  Didn't wash dishes or clothes.  Didn't sweep a floor.  Didn't dust any furniture.  Didn't fold any clothes.  Didn't talk to anyone.  Didn't do one thing.   My husband told me I don't have to do something profound every day.  He said to enjoy the rest.  But, I feel like a day has been wasted if I don't put at least 50 miles on my car.  However, the day isn't over.  There is still time to get dressed and hit the road.

To be creative in any medium sometimes requires down time.  People often ask me about my next book.  Will it be ready for purchase soon?   My goal is to finish it within the next month.  I am so appreciative of those folks who ask.  They keep me writing.  The thing is this.  I cannot force the thoughts to come.  There are times when I sit and stare at the computer keyboard and nothing moves from the head to my fingers.  Those are frustrating times.  Yet, they are part of the process.  What doesn't happen one day, often happens the next.  So I use the down time to allow my thoughts to wander around in my head.  I spend time thinking and observing and simply being.

While yesterday was full, today has been quiet.  It is part of the rhythm of life.  However, I feel a tug to get up and out.  The need for speed is rushing through my veins.  My heart is beginning to beat a little faster.  Yep--it is time to start the day.  Even if it is getting dark outside.

Lifting Spirits in Winter?

Lifting Spirits in Winter?

Let's lift our spirits!  Let's do this to keep our sanity during the long, cold months of winter.  Yes, let's!

Lifting our spirits is as easy as pie.  And who doesn't like pie!  Honestly, I love chocolate pie.  We tried to make one once.  Did all the things the right way, we thought.  So how in the world did it turn out so wrong?  The chocolate was lumpy--really lumpy.  That was the only time we tried.  But I am off topic!

So, how can we lift our spirits and survive winter?  Well, we could buy a new car.  Or redo a room in our house.  We could remodel our bathroom.  But wait.  We just did that.  We could move furniture around to create a more open space.  Did that, too.  We could give ourselves a microderm abrasion to remove all the dead skin cells from our face.  I like doing that.  The list of things we could do is long.  But none of them  brings much of a lift in spirit.

Something that always works for my spirit is to meet a friend for coffee or lunch and visit.  Isn't that so simple?  That human touch is the best thing in the world for making me feel better.  I love listening to the stories my friends share.  When I listen, I cease to think about myself.  How refreshing that is!  Thinking about myself is not terribly interesting.  Anyday.  Anytime.  But, listening to them share what is happening in their lives brings me joy.

You see, we are all on a journey.  Each journey is unique.  Each person's story is different from mine.  Sometimes I receive an answer to a question simply by listening to how someone else solved a challenge in their life.   Listening to their story means I must give my full attention to what they are saying.  I commit to memory important things they share so that I can ask about them at a later time.  I want them to know that I care about them.

Laughing together over some goofy thing we have done is another way to lift dreary spirits.  It changes our mood.  The more we laugh, the better we feel.  And when we walk away from our time together,  that laughter we shared often returns to tickle us again.  I love the kind of laughter that takes my breath away.  I love the memory of laughter shared with a friend.  We should make it a goal to share a good laugh with someone each and every day.

It is winter.  Winter is long and hard.  It can be quite distressing.  Even challenging.  However, we have the power to lift ourselves out of the gloom and doom.  We can do that by picking up the phone and calling a friend.  We can send an email or a text.  We can make plans to meet at a coffee shop or restaurant.  We can move out of our regular schedule and into the light of a friend's grace.

Be well.

Seeing Value in All

Seeing Value in All--

I want to share something I recently read.  It made a huge impact on me.  Perhaps it will cause you to rethink, also.

"Jesus saw value where others saw only flaws."  This is a quote from the book Why Did Jesus, Moses,
the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? written by Brian D. McLaren.  This quote speaks to my heart in a profound way.

Times were hard for most people in his day.  Poverty was everywhere.  The rich and powerful showed no concern for the ordinary people who were simply trying to make a living and a life with what little they had.  In some ways it is a mirror of today.  People without a job worry about how they will meet the needs of their families.  Government programs designed to aid those with the most need disappear.  What are people to do?

Requests for donations at food pantries are at an all time high.  More and more folks find themselves in lines for meals--grateful that there are caring people to help them.  Clothing distribution centers provide free clothing for all ages.  During the holiday season organizations and churches run gloves, hat and scarf drives so that everyone is protected from the cold.  And on and on it goes.  Good people aware of the needs of others and grateful for the opportunity to help.

Modeling my life after the life of Jesus means I will see value in all people.  That means everyone.  No one left out.  No doubt he was aware of human flaws.  Yet, his ministry was about raising people up.  He spoke to everyone.  He ate with everyone.  He talked with everyone.  He walked with anyone who wanted to join him.  He wept over the sorrow of others.  He loved.  And he was an enemy of the government because of his charitable life.  Isn't that sad?

Taking a stand for others who need help may bring criticism.  Maybe others won't understand.  Honestly, that really doesn't matter at all.  What matters is that we are willing to take the first step in making sure others are treated as people with value.   Being poor or needy doesn't mean people are lazy or want a hand out.  Yes, I am sure there are those who fall into that category.  But, I believe most people desire to take care of themselves.  They simply need a hand up from those of us who have it to give.  A hand up!  That makes my heart sing.  It isn't about us.  It is about watching another human regain their pride and belief in themselves.  What better act of charity is there?

It may not always be easy to see value in another.  But, it is the way to the greatest peace we will know.  It is the way Jesus lived his life.  It is the way I want to live mine.

Getting to a Better Place

Getting to a Better Place--

What do I need to do to take myself to a better place in this new year?  That is a question facing each one of us.  It is a question with a basketful of possibe responses.

The first step might be to examine our present place.  I am sure you realize that I am not writing about geography.  On second thought, maybe we should examine our location.  With all this cold and snow,  a change of scenery could be just what is needed for our sanity.  I love my home and my roommate, however................!

The first place for me to think about is that round globe that sets on my shoulders.   That globe of stuff is my window to the world.  Everything I see, think, feel, smell, hear comes at me through that computer that never stops.  It is always churning away with information to store and retrieve.  It teaches me about my world but only through my eyes.  And therein, lies a challenge.

I am only one very small dot in a very large matrix.  All those other dots belong to other people who are having similar but different responses to the exact same situations as I.  When I really think about that, I realize that my perceptions might be wrong.  Yes, I said I might see things through a lens that is slightly blurred.   So might they.  This calls for moving to a better place.

Correcting a blurred lens requires a change.  It is common to see things through our own life experiences.  But, what if we were able to see beyond ourselves?  That requires a shift in our lens.   This shift could mean that we really try to understand life from a different point of view.  This shift is not easy.  There is comfort in our personal point of view.  And there is security.   Any effort made to move to a better place will certainly bring confusion as we reach for the best place.  Is it worth the effort?

That is a personal question that each of us must wrestle with.  A thought-- just because we have held certain beliefs for years and years does not make those beliefs gospel.  Taking a hard second look at our own spot may require change.  I do know about this.  It is slow and painful.  But, once the better place is our new residence, we experience an openess to the world and all the people in it.

A better place could mean a new relationship.  Or working on a persent one.  It could mean letting go of a toxic situation in order to find peace.  It could mean refusing to allow negative thoughts about others to reside within us.  It could mean taking that first step to try that thing we have been putting off due to fear of failure.  It could mean embracing life with real gusto.  It could mean laughing more.  It could mean trying to spend less.  It could mean cherishing those relationships that bring us such joy.  It could mean supporting another person as they move to their better place.  It could be becoming that encourager that the world needs.  It could mean anything that you want it to mean.

This much I do know about moving to a better place.  It is a journey.  It is not a destination.  We may reach certain points and feel a sense of arrival.   But, really, life is totally about the journey.

What is your better place?  What is mine?  May our journey be full of discovery.

Cabin Fever, Anyone?

Cabin Fever, Anyone?

A week ago we were serving dinner at Safe Harbor.  The food was good, the people were friendly and kind, the evening was very rewarding.  It was close to the end of the serving time when I began to feel less than the best.  Felt a bit tired.  Recognized that a cough was making its ugly appearance.  We hurried home.

That marked the beginning of a miserable week.  Finally made a trip to the doctor.  He diagnosed it as the flu.  Now I must confess something.  Before I do, let me say that it was my intention to take care of things.  But each time I was in town on an errand run or meeting a friend, I would forget.  Why didn't I make that list and check it twice?

Yes, I forgot to get the shot.  I don't know if failure to get the shot resulted in me getting the flu, or if I would have gotten it anyway.  At this point it doesn't really matter.  What does matter is I am anxious to return to that wonderful feeling of good health.  A low grade fever, a constant cough,  headaches and achy body have been my constant companions.  The cough has been the worse part of the total package.  It has kept me from sleep.  My new bed is the family room sofa.  It is just the right size.  It has become my bed of choice.  Stacked with pillows and blankets it has been my special spot this past week.  I am hoping all of that is coming to an end.

Not much to do when one feels so yucky.  I did, however, find myself wandering from room to room taking inventory of how things needed to change.  You see, I find real creative release in keeping our home nest as comfortable and inviting as it can be.  Once I had the inventory done, I went to work thinking about new placement of furniture and art pieces.  Didn't do any physical work until days later.

On the first day of feeling more like a human, I began the physical part.  Well, maybe I wasn't the one who actually did the moving!  He is so good at things like this.  How much fun to realize that a piece of furniture that was for sale now has a home in our house!  Love it when that happens.  We spent an afternoon slowly moving things sometimes only inches.  Yes, he is a patient man.  The end result is a room that is much more pleasing.  Besides, there was nothing else to do--well, there is the unfinished part of the basement that looks like a total disaster.  I need a few more days of rest before we tackle that.

Being inside because of illness and now because of weather hasn't been all bad.  Usually by now I would be leaving scratch marks on walls--you get my drift.  This time I have found things that need to be done that I am actually willing to do.  We have a couple of days left before the weather breaks. It will be good to see what we can accomplish during this indoor time.  Cabin fever has been less of a challenge so far.  However, I can see that my tolerance for being inside is coming to an end.   I hope the storms and cabin fever end about the same time.  That would be a good thing for our marriage!

So, how is your fever coming along?  It isn't because we dislike our homes that we find ourselves sick with this terrible affliction.  It is because we can't leave.  We don't like to be held hostage by anything especially the weather.  We like the freedom to get in our buggy and hit the road  We like to drive through all the drive thru's of choice and fill ourselves with junk.  We like to feel the road beneath us.  We like to be in motion.  And now we can't.

Don't know how you will fill your time, but I will fill mine with a bit of cleaning, and bit of tv, and bit of writing, a bit of rest.  I want to be up to the task of getting in the car and driving away listening to my favorite radio station once that day arrives.  I think I best get more than a bit of rest.  That first day out maybe quite an experience!

A Winter Message

A Winter Message--

It silently floats to the frozen ground.  Each flake nestles against the ones that came before forming a blanket of gentleness.  All is quiet.  All is peaceful.  A few deer tracks form a path across the patio.  In the light of morning bites out of evergreens will be visible.  Part of the winter process.

Pristine white will be everywhere when daylight comes.  No ugly around.  Only beauty as far as the eye can see.  Snow will rest on tree branches, on roofs, on evergreens.  Everything covered with sparkles.  And I thought sparkles were for the holidays!  Should the sun make its way through the clouds, the dazzling white will force us to run for sunglasses.  Without them we won't be able to take it all in.  We not only want to take it all in personally, but we also want to record it for the future.  We want to bring the video out a year from now and remark about how this was the worst yet most beautiful winter event in many years.

For awhile the challenges of life on planet earth will disappear under this heavy white blanket.  For a small bit of time we may forget that under the beauty is the brown.  That life has really not changed for many people.  Perhaps that is the way it should be.  We need beauty to help us see how things can be.  We need beauty to lead the way.  Beauty brings hope.  Hope fosters action.  Action means life changes.  Changes can mean progress toward making life better for everyone.  Yes, I love what the snow can mean.

In the morning I will put on warm clothes and walk through our yard.  I want to breathe in the look and feel of the earth dressed in Sunday best.  I want to experience nature before she forces everyone inside. It won't last forever.  Eventually, the sun will shine, the temperatures will warm and the snow will melt.  And I will look at the pictures and remember.

Yes, it brings hardship for people.  Yes, it means travelers often find themselves stranded.  That has happened to me several times.  But, it is winter.  We might remind ourselves that nature controls our movements during this season.  We might work on patience.  With ourselves and others.

When tomorrow arrives, how will you see the snow?  As a bother? A challenge? A headache?  Beautiful?  Will you grumble and complain about the mess you see?  Will you walk to your mailbox to retrieve the newspaper only to find nothing?  Will you think to put out seeds for the birds?  Will you check on your neighbor?  Will you make snow ice cream?  Will you marvel at the way something as simple as snow can transform the world for just a moment in time?

You will do what you will do.  So will I.  Whatever that looks like--may we all slow down our minds enough to take it all in.

Back Again

Back Again--

Life is beginning to settle back into routine.  By Monday it will all be over.  Most decorations will be stored in places we are sure we will remember.  But we don't.  Christmas tree lights will be thrown into boxes in heaps.  We always intend to do that differently, too.  Special dishes will be packed away until next season.  Gifts will be returned or stored.  Golf shoes for next summer.  Books to read anytime.  Coffee cards--always the right size and color.  Yes, life will begin to look normal again.

Children will head back to school.  Teachers will groan with the load of homework to grade once the next semester begins.  They know there is much material to cover, and time will be short.  Life will fall into a rhythm that works.  Sports will fill evenings.  And homework around the kitchen table is a given.
Yes, it is all good.

The best thing is this--we have been given the gift of another year.  Some of us may not make it through the entire year, but whatever part we do enjoy, let's make it a celebration of life at its best.  Let's spend time with people we love.  Let's spend time sharing all of life.  Let's recognize that nothing is forever so we need to make that extra effort to cherish all moments.  Let's do at least one new thing this coming year.  It doesn't have to be something dangerous.  It can be as simple as reconnecting with someone we once upon a time enjoyed.  Or it could be something dangerous like jumping out of an airplane.  That sounds dangerous to me.

The point is to move beyond our usual circle of life and embrace new.  I like new.  It always looks so pretty and smells so good.  Like that new car smell.  Doesn't matter that someone in the garage took a can of good smelling spray and did a job on the inside of the car.  What matters is it catches our attention.  What might catch your attention in this coming year?  What will catch mine?

I don't know what to expect from this new year.  I do know that I expect to be around to share it with you.  To relish the warm sun, the glistening snow, the bright stars in the heavens.  To enjoy beautiful music.  To celebrate new life.  To comfort.  To grow into a better person.

Yes,  this new year has much to give.  It is up to us to take.  Rather than take small portions,  let's grab handfuls of new!  I'm getting excited just thinking about what might come my way!  How about you?