Friday, June 19, 2009

Friday Five: Life is a Verb

Thanks to Jan from RevGalBlogPals for another great Friday Five...

Digh, Patti. Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful,
and Live Intentionally. Guilford, CT: Skirt!, 2008.


Jennifer recommended this book, which I got because I always value Jennifer's reading suggestions. The author of Life is a Verb, Patti Digh worked her book around these topics concerning life as a verb:
  • Say yes.
  • Be generous.
  • Speak up.
  • Love more.
  • Trust yourself.
  • Slow down.
As I read and pondered about living more intentionally, I also have wondered what this Friday Five should be. This book has been the jumping off point for this Friday.

1. What awakens you to the present moment?
Silence. Solitude. A growing awareness of God in every moment and the preciousness of life. There are moments when I catch myself watching closely my girls growing up and I realize how fleeting this life is. How quickly they seem to be changing, maturing and growing. I often wonder how many other parents wish at one point or another that they could stop the hands of time from ticking away the moments so quickly.

2. What are 5 things you see out your window right now?
The most brilliant green grass that I have seen in a long, long time - especially in June (thanks to all the rain, which is not always appreciated!) Children playing and laughing in the sunshine. One of the most glorious of all God's creation - a tree. Beautiful sun-kissed and rain-quenched red roses. A squirrel scurrying quickly (aren't they always!?!) through the yard.

3. Which verbs describe your experience of God?
growing, evolving, sprinting, inspiring, animating, invigorating, energizing, breathing, resting, depending, giving up - control to Him that is...I could go on and on and on...

4. From the book on p. 197:
Who were you when you were 13? Where did that kid go?
She grew up...too fast. But God was there with me every step of the way, even when I wasn't aware of Him. I thank God for that and more, much, much more.

5. From the book on p. 88:
If your work were the answer to a question, what would the question be?
The question...
What is the most wonderful and the most awful thing that you do, the thing that brings so much joy and so much sadness, frustration, and tiredness and the thing that you would NOT trade for anything in the world?
The answer...
My work as a pastor, teacher, preacher, counselor and most of all servant of my Lord.


Bonus idea for you here or on your own--from the book on p. 149:
"Go outside. Walk slowly forward. Open your hand and let something fall into it from the sky. It might be an idea, it might be an object. Name it. Set it aside. Walk forward. Open your hand and let something fall into it from the sky. Name it. Set it aside. Repeat. . . ."

I am on vacation next week and I will do this then and post my results! What an awesome idea, thanks!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

εχω χαρα!!!

Yes, even though Greek has begun and at times over the last several weeks, I have felt completely overwhelmed, I must say that I am enjoying Greek. I also freely admit that it has definitely been a humbling experience. Memory don't fail me now!

Tonight, I am appreciating the abundance of blessing in my life - looking across the room and seeing my DH sleeping on the couch - listening to his peaceful, even breathing. He totally deserves this BTW because he has been up since 3:30 a.m.! I do not tell him enough just how wonderful he is and how thankful I am to God for him! There is no way that I could live out this call that God has placed in my (really our) life without his love, encouragement and support. No doubt about it, he is my biggest fan, but there is so much more. I am so grateful that he is the best daddy that our two beautiful daughters could ever have. He is so caring and involved in their lives it seriously brings tears to my eyes.

I am thankful for the joy that comes in knowing that both girls are upstairs sleeping in their beds healthy, safe and sound. I have continued to witness just how fragile life can be and how absolutely necessary it is to live in the moment and to find joy, even in those moments where there is anything but joy to be found.

So goodnight sweet world for tomorrow waits on the other side of a good night's rest. Sleep tight.