Unexpectedly Fun Times

Out of all of my busy days leading up to Christmas, this one was going to be the worst.  I do most of my household stuff like banking, grocery shopping, and laundry on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Obviously, that wasn't going to happen next week.  So I wanted to take care of those things today.  Along with that, I had to go to five different stores for various things.  As much as I tried to consolidate, what I needed just couldn't be found in one place.  Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to any of it.  But then Jeff decided to go with me.  He said he could take a little time off of work to help me with the running around.  Just like that, it turned into an adventure.  We hadn't taken time to walk this morning because we wanted to get an early start, but as we raced from one place to another, I mentioned that we were getting in our exercise after all!  Parking, hurrying through the wind and cold, maneuvering through the stores - it was actually fun because he was with me.  And things went so smoothly!  There were no lines, we found what we needed, and we were home in record time.  I can't help but think it was the positive attitude brought on by enjoying our time together that resulted in such a successful morning.  Today, I found God in my husband and best friend, Jeff, who turned a dreaded morning into such a fun experience.

Sunrise Cross

I'm lucky to be within walking distance of my church, and I pass it every morning on my walk.  Today,  as I approached it the sky behind it stopped me in my tracks.  It highlighted the cross on the roof so beautifully that I had to photograph it.  I took some pictures and then just stood there taking it in for a moment.  The place where my faith has grown so much was inspiring me once again just by being there at that moment.  I found God today in my beloved church's cross at sunrise.

Winter Beauty

I shuffled through a pile of leaves on my walk today, enjoying the fact that they were still around.  But as I was walking past the big, beautiful tree I wrote about a few weeks, ago, I realized the sidewalk was clear of it's leaves.  I don't know if they blew away or someone swept them away, but it made me a little sad that they were gone.  I looked up at it's bare branches silhouetted against the sky and caught my breath at it's awesome beauty even in winter.  All the bright, showy leaves are gone but what's left is a different kind of beauty.  Both grace and mystery have been revealed in the lines and twists of it's branches.  God made it to be beautiful in all seasons - just like us.  We age and we change, but there is a beauty revealed in the lines on our faces, the wisdom in our eyes, and, hopefully, a peace that shines through from our hearts as we go through the winter of our lives.  Today, I found God - again - in the awesome winter beauty of that glorious tree.

She Meets No Strangers

I had just started checking out at Harris Teeter today with a huge pile of groceries for our Christmas festivities when a woman got into line behind me with just a small basket of stuff.  I smiled at her a couple of times trying to silently apologize for her having to wait so long behind me, but she didn't seem the least bit perturbed.  When I was finally almost done, she said, "You look like you're going to be making some good food!".  I said that I hoped to because I had family coming in for Christmas.  She proceeded to carry on a conversation about family, food, and the holidays while my stuff was being bagged, and I had such a good time talking with her.  When I was just about ready to walk away, she said, "Make sure you take time for yourself, you know how it can get this time of year."  I thanked her and wished her the same.  I walked to my car feeling really good, and it was all because of her friendly conversation.  I was driving away before I realized I hadn't gotten her name, and I'm regretful of that.  She was one of those people that my mom used to say "doesn't meet any strangers".  I'd like to be more like that.  I always try to be friendly to anyone I meet, but I rarely go beyond the usual niceties.  She took the time to have a real conversation, and it brightened my day.  I wish I could tell her what a positive effect she had on me.  I found God today in one of those amazing people that meets no strangers.

Early Christmas Gift

It's officially holiday crunch time for me.  This last week before Christmas is when I do the bulk of the baking, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc., along with all of my normal day-to-day chores.  I was running around non-stop today, checking items off my list and continually adding new ones; my mind always on the next thing to do.  Then the doorbell rang, and all I could think was, "What now?".  I went to the door and saw a couple of packages.  My first thought was that it was gifts that I had ordered that would need to be wrapped.  But no... it was a gift for me and Jeff from his aunt.  Wow, what perfect timing.  I'm always spouting off about how Christmas is about more than gifts, and I truly believe that.  I try to put more focus on family time than presents.  But getting that gift at just that time today made me realize that we were thought of.  That's really the best part of getting a gift or a card - realizing that someone took some time out of their day and thought of you.  I needed that little nudge to remind me why I do all of this.  Today, I found God in an early Christmas gift that showed up at just the right time.

Vulnerable

I've been pondering the past couple of days about how people move on.  How do you start doing routine things again?  And when?  Whether it's moving past a horrific tragedy like the people of Newtown, or moving past any of the losses and letdowns that we all suffer at different times.  Father Tom gave a very inspiring sermon today, and one of the things he said was, "It is only when you allow yourself to be vulnerable that you have the option of feeling anything besides fear."  For some reason the word "vulnerable" jumped out at me.  Literally, I saw the word in giant letters in front of my eyes, and I think it was God telling me something.  In dealing with hurt both big and small, the only way to move on is to be vulnerable.  You want to protect yourself and your loved ones both physically and emotionally; you want to lock your heart away so you'll never be hurt.  But then how do you live, and how do you love?  The only way to move on is to put yourself out there - to be vulnerable.  When you fling open the door, yes, there is the chance that hurt and pain will come in.  But if you don't open the door, how will good come in?  How will God come in?  And happiness, love, joy....  Do you let them stay locked out because of your fear?  So the answer for me to the question "How do I move on?" past any of life's stumbling blocks literally jumped out at me from Father Tom's sermon - be vulnerable.  I found God today in that one word "vulnerable" when He flashed it in giant letters before my eyes.  Kinda hard to miss that one :) .

God's Light

It's the day after and I feel I should be doing something, but I don't know what to do.  Does anyone?  On my walk this morning, I prayed.  I prayed fervently for all who were lost, and all who were suffering.  I willed my heart to go out and find them, and let them know how I hurt for them.  How so many of us hurt for them and are grieving with them and praying for them.  There was a light fog hanging about and it seemed to match the pall hanging over the day.  But there was also a brief colorful sunrise shooting bright pink and orange streaks across the sky.  There were some Christmas lights shining, and candles glowing in windows.  And I thought how the light always comes through.  People have always lit candles for the lost.  I saw where someone suggested turning on porch lights to show their sorrow and offer support.  We turn to the light in our darkest hours, and surely yesterday was one of our darkest hours.  God is in that light.  God is the light.  And all we can do is try to reflect it in an effort to light up the dark.  I found Him today in the light all around me from sunrise to candles, from porch lights to Christmas lights, and I pray for His help to reflect it.