First Things First

For years there have been several things that have eluded me despite my energetic and passionate pursuit. I tend to be a rather goal oriented, action focused individual. I see something I like or want, and then exert a great deal of energy to get it. That is a nice quality to have and it has brought some good fruit in my life. It is not however a framework by which to operate at ALL times. There are certain types of "things" that cannot be attained in that manner. 

I was reflecting on this for some time this afternoon and noted that it is spiritual and emotional states that don't respond well to my mammoth efforts. Higher education? Yeah that worked. Money? Yeah okay. Tranquility? Contentment? Peace? Uhhhh.... not so much. The more energy I threw towards them, the further away they floated from my grasp. Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever wished that the state of being "at ease" or "in perfect peace" was a coffee shop that you could simply sit down in? Ha! Wouldn't that be nice? 

Well in fact... it is! It is an actual place. It is located within you. It is a place you must visit in your spirit. You travel there not in your body, but with your mind. And it is achieved not by reaching towards, but rather by letting go.

Am I making any sense?

First things first. You must let go before you can attain peace. You must release control, before you can rest. WHAT!? That is not how we think right? I hear ya. I tend to think that I can rest when and only when, I have taken control and checked all the things off of my to do list. In reality... I can rest once I come into agreement with the fact that there will always be things on my to do list and that there is great value in resting.  I will contribute more to my life by being rested than by having an empty to do list.

Come on! Let's try it people! This is exciting.

Trust in the Lord

What a day...

I heard something on the radio today that really encouraged me so I thought I would share it. Apparently there is a famous Christian guy named David Wilkerson whom I admittedly have never heard of. I dont really keep track of who is who, but he died in a car crash several days ago and here is what he posted on his blog just hours before he passed away:

“To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, ‘I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.’

And so I was pretty stoked today because I realized... God has it all under control.

Alone... with My Self.

I think partially because I am such a social being and partially because my soul craves connection with God, I find myself drawn to alone times. I've been finding recently, that my life is full of opposites that create a beautiful rhythm if I will listen to the beat.

Work and play, community and solitude, exercise and rest, talking and listening (I totally suck at the listening part, stop laughing friends I'm working on it.) But that is exactly what I mean, if I find the opposite of what I do excessively I can bring balance to my days. With all the recent ways that have been invented to connect, I find a tranquility in being with myself. My Self. I kind of like myself and I figure she deserves my attention. And with all the noise and conversations I just need some wide open spaces at times to hear her think. :) You know what I mean?

Slow Down Therapy {17}

"Take time just to think. Action is good and necessary, but it's fruitful only if we muse, ponder, and mull."

Saturday at the Park

I've been trying to catch up on some much needed R&R this weekend but with such a beautiful day making itself known outside my windows, I couldn't resist strapping on my pack and heading out of doors. So while my remarkable husband made some dinner, I went outside to play.

After sometime rather than the ring of a dinner bell I received an e-mail on my smartphone announcing that supper would be ready soon. So I jumped back in the car and headed home for some delicious tri-tip, beans, and bread. YUM! But not before snapping a few shots.

Slow Down Therapy {18}

"Make time for play --- the things you like to do. Whatever your age, your inner child needs re-creation."

Slow Down Therapy {10}

"Create a place in your home. . . at your work. . . in your heart. . . where you can go for quiet and recollection. You deserve it."

This is my Grandma Virginia's garden.

Oh the magical things that a child discovers in Grandma's garden.

Even a child that's 28 years old.

Slow Down Therapy {04}

"Take nothing for granted: watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbor mow."

Slow Down Therapy {11}

"Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive. Rest isn't a luxury; it's a necessity."