splinter

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10) 

I woke up this morning with a sore and irritated finger, forgetting that yesterday I'd gotten a splinter while doing fall garden clean-up.

It was such a small splinter, but quickly had worked its way deeper, turning the area around it pink - with skin already tightly closed over it. It had been so long since I had a splinter that I wasn't sure how to go about removing it. My husband said, "Tweezers."

I opened the skin with a gentle prick from a safety pin, but that wasn't quite enough - it needed to be opened more to free the splinter for the tweezer's grasp.

How like the irritation and inflammation that seemingly small sins generate in my attitude and heart! Will I confess them (opening my covering skin)? Will I trust God with the tweezers to let Him pull them out?

life is short

Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.
Henri Frederic Amiel


I love the contrast of the bright, autumn leaf on those dead and trampled beneath. The photo expresses my question, "Where did the summer go?" Tonight my soon-to-turn-60-year old husband wondered aloud how many more summers he will have.

This year has been full of reminders that life is short. I want to soak up every moment I can with the people I love. I need to keep short accounts and tell people that I love and appreciate them.

Though I still find myself too slow to love and reluctant to be kind, I am trying to build new habits. Gladdening the hearts of others - without expectations - brings joy.

Life is short. What do I want people to remember - that I was in a hurry to love, or simply in a hurry?

positively, Mose

Positively, Mose.

That's how he always signs his e-mails.

It's good to surround yourself with people who are positive, who look for the best in themselves - and in you.

He just turned 60 in July and on August 31, embarked on a 1,500-mile bike ride from Astoria, OR to Newport Beach, CA. A lot of people talk about wanting to do something - but it's just that -  talk. Mose is all action, putting feet to pedals and pressing on to the goal, the finish line.

That's how I want to live life. Putting talk into action.

What's that dream - and what's in my way?

There are seven days in the week, and someday isn't one of them. Let's go!

grateful

Source: Uploaded by user via Susan on Pinterest

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Slowing down this morning to scribe verses from Ephesians... Connecting a co-worker with another to give her project success... Pressing on with something I'm not very good at (and finishing)... Dinner at the Chinese buffet with my husband in hopes that hot & sour soup will clear my sinuses... Receiving an e-mail from the college bookstore manager letting me know that she can provide free access cards to all 28 of my students... Working on my class assignment schedule and looking forward to meeting this new set of students... Cat sleeping on couch...Typing this entry to the sound of humming refrigerator...

I will be grateful for this day.

come weary

It took its toll on me, the pace. Uncharacteristically tired, I pressed on with the 3-1/2 mile walk with a friend and got up early the next morning for a 70-minute run. Then on to music rehearsal and to visit my parents, followed by a wonderful dinner with husband, stepson and daughter-in-law.

At least that's what I tell myself - it was the pace.

It was the pace that caused the sneezing and stuffiness and aches. I haven't been sick in I can't remember how long. Even when my pre-school age nephews coughed in my face, I was immune, invincible.

The truth is, I'm weary. Tired of the dilemma - what to do about the strained-beyond-measure relationship? The stress has gone from mind to body and I'm just flat worn out.

And life is short. Four weeks ago a friend committed suicide. Less than two weeks ago a co-worker was seriously injured in a car crash that could have killed him. So this rift, this seems-like-it's-insurmountable chasm, feels ever-more-urgent to resolve.

But there is an invitation... Jesus says, "Come to Me weary." In this busy, self-sufficient, I'm-in-control world, there is One who says, "Rest. It's OK. Let Me figure it out."

It's a beautiful offer.

I intend to accept.

let it be

It all started with a falling out. Words were said, anger burned, then stilled to glacial silence.

And it was all too painful to write about, so I got out my colored pencils and drew. And drew some more.

Colored pencils were not enough so I bought some watercolor pencils and brushes and sturdy watercolor paper and drew some more and added paint. The sweep of brush across paper and the cutting and gluing and writing exposed what narrative could not easily express.

There was time away at the cabin without Internet. Time to go deeper and slow down enough to ink the treasured words from soul to the watercolored page, letter by letter.

I have everything I need. He restores my soul. I fear no evil. You comfort.

From our shopping excursion to Nifty Things came the inspiration from the Beatles, Let it Be.

It became a play on words.

Let it be. (Leave it alone.)

Let it be. (My hope and prayer... Oh God, restore.)

There will be an answer.

Let it be.

consensus

CONSENSUS

con·sen·sus noun, often attributive

 \kən-ˈsen(t)-səs\

1

a : general agreement : unanimity

b : the judgment arrived at by most of       

those concerned consensus was

to go ahead>

2

: group solidarity in sentiment and belief

The CONSENSUS?

It needed to be said.

WHY

do I feel so

BAD?