My Great Big Idea

OK, so I've realized how I am going to make my millions in this life....

I am going to write a book called "The Purpose Driven Cart"!

It will explore the basic principles and etiquette of using a shopping cart in busy shopping areas. It will transform lives and, as we apply the principles, we will make other shoppers so happy!

A sneak peak at a couple of chapters..."Keep movin', movin', movin," (resisting the urge to come to a complete stop in the middle of the isle when other shoppers are behind you), and "Be a Pacesetter" (learning to stay at a pace that is faster than molassas in January).

My favorite place for applying this book would be Costco, but you can pick the store of your choice - Ikea, Safeway, Sam's Club, really, the places are limitless.

Our Second Visitor

We just said goodbye to our second visitor to come for a rest and renewal time at our house. It was a wonderful time of quiet, friendship, conversation, exercise and fun! I hope our guest went home refreshed...I know we feel fully blessed to have had her here!

In the weeks leading up to her arrival, I feel like God gave me a picture and a rhythm for how the few days would unfold. It came to me on a walk down to our beach that the theme of our visitors time (for this year) would be "Gifts from the Sea". I feel so refreshed with every visit to our beach whatever season. I feel like God has met me there time and time again and taught me 4 things over and over (much like the faithfulness of the tides).

Those 4 topics became the focus of each day that our guest was with us.

Day 1 - Listen
The goal for this day was to rest, be quiet and listen. Our guest got to walk, sleep, write in a journal, read or anything else that involved no noise and was conducive to her ability to listen. We often arrive places so frantic from the chaos of packing and leaving that I though this was a great way to stop and really rest. The picture from the ocean is that of finding a shell, picking it up and putting it to our ear. We have to become quiet and still to listen for the sound of the ocean resonating inside.


Day 2 - Trust and Seek
This was a day of conversation, asking questions, talking about what we heard in our listening, and discerning where God is at work in our life. The picture is that of coming to the beach and finding treasures - shells, rocks, sea glass - there. We do not scramble and dig and greedily grab for these things; we look for them on the surface and pick them up. We are invited to trust that the ocean will deposit what it wishes for us and then we are to come and seek it out. In the same way, we trust that God will lay out His gifts for us but we are also to look for them - not trying to make something happen, but picking up what He chooses.


Day 3 - Delight
This was a day of, well....delight. We used all our senses in ways that brought delight to our bodies. Sometimes I think we get so efficiency minded that we forget to really delight and enjoy and take in life through our sense. We are sometimes, as CS Lewis says, "half-hearted creatures". So this day we moved and stretched our bodies, we savored good food, we walked on the warm sand, we swung on the swings with my kids, we laughed at a funny movie, and we went to be tired but smiling! We took it all in with our whole hearts and bodies.


Day 4 - Forget the Shell
Our guest left this day, so we did not get to fully participate in this day, but it would have been a day to worship. "Forget the Shell" is an Amy Carmichael poem that reminds us that when we go to the beach, the shells and trinkets are nice, but pale in comparison to the ocean. In the same way, all the gifts, conversations and even our own lives pale in comparison to the grandeur and majesty of our Creator.

I wrote some prayers for each day which I will post in the next few days. All in all, it was a wonderful time and I am hoping that God will bring many more pilgrims, guests and/or visitors through our doors.

A Tale of Two Walks

It was a talkative time, it was a silent time...that is the extent to which I will try to emulate Mr. Charles Dickens. However, like Dickens classic work which contrasts two cities within one city, so I feel compelled to tell the story of the juxtaposition of two walks I took this week.

Both were with friends - beautiful women; smart, strong, determined, spiritually curious, deep, wise, earthy. Both are reading common books which are catalysts for new questions in life and of the Spirit. I love both of them.

Although we walked the exact same path to the same destination, the walks could not have been more different!

In one, my role was that of listener (and counselor). There were many words - stories of life, a hard marriage coming to an end, children, grace, forgiveness, The Creator. I listened to words and gave encouragement with words.

The second walk contained no words except a prayer at the outset. Done in silence, my role was that of leader. Leading someone along a path toward listening to the Spirit; leading them to a physical place conducive to finding and hearing God. I gave no encouragement; just silent prayers that God would take my feeble act of leading and take over my job. I lead to eventually and hopefully be replaced by a much better Guide.

Although I enjoyed both walks, I realized I am more comfortable in the first position. I am trained in my world to have my ears filled with noise and my mouth filled with words. In that position, I am more in control and can manage more.

During the second walk, I had to relinquish all false pretenses of influence. I cannot conjure up an experience with God but can only hope that the Wildest Member of the Trinity shows up. I don't decide on the agenda of topics discussed nor can I keep anyone's mind focused and on subject. I must leave the one I lead completely in the hands of Jesus, who is not always as direct as I think He should be!

On the first walk, I am needed. I am wise; I am held in high esteem. On the second, I could be replaced by a map; I am not important. I am still probably wise though it is a counterintuitive wisdom that makes no claims to greatness. In the first walk I am mingling in the center; in the second I push my friend to the True Center and chose the periphery.

Lord, I know both walks are needed - listening and leading. Help me learn that ebb and flow. But in both, may my feet only move down paths on which You lead because my heart has first listened to You. Amen.

Listen

Coming home from my brother's wedding, I came across a photograph in a magazine. It was so simple - a spiral shell laying on a background of white. Under the picture, in black, was the word LISTEN. Stuck by its beauty and poignancy, I drew the picture into my journal. It reminded me of how children, when they see a shell, know to stop, hold their breath and listen.

LISTEN. It is not easy to do.

LISTEN. When my world seems overwhelmed by noise and activity.

LISTEN. When my mind seems filled with even more uproar and clamor.

LISTEN. When I feel the need to tell "my side of the story".

LISTEN. Beyond the words that are being spoken.

LISTEN. Choose moments of waiting instead of efficiency.

LISTEN. For His voice.

"Speak, Lord, for Thy servant is listening...."

And here is this blog's wordle!
Love it!!

Check out this cool website called Wordle.  I made this
from my blog "Story Formed" (at Wordpress)
Very fun for those of us who like words!!!