Uphill idealist

Image from Principia Comica Love as action is something that needs to begin in the heart. Sometimes in my on the go tendencies, it is hard for me to stop and contemplate things before I jump in to action. My husband on the other hand is great at being thoughtful and contemplative. I honestly think the difference in how Ian and I process things is one reason we make such a good team. We balance each other out. Over the last 30 days or so, we and a group of online friends have been reading and digesting "40 Days living the Jesus Creed" in community. On Day 30 of the book the topic was titled "Love is...". This quote on page 153 really nailed things for me. "Real love, the love for your neighbor that the Jesus Creed teaches, is what happens between two or more people in concrete reality. That is why what Paul says is so important: "Love is patient (with others);love is kind (to others); love is not envious (of others) or boastful (in front of others) or arrog...

What is Enough? Enough , by Will Samson is a book that asks questions for those who seek contentment in an Age of excess. With all the privilege and possession I have in my life and world, how is it that at times I still feel I'm missing something? It's in reading his book that I find that I'm not the only one asking these kinds of questions. "We were living the model American Christian life. We had nice kids, great jobs, fun cars and still found time and a bit of money for the church. Why wasn't I happy?" (Samson, pg 23) As a result of Samson's honesty, I discovered a sense of freedom to ask my own questions concerning my search for contentment. In all the striving for possessions, what is being lost in the exchange? What is the human cost of consumption? To break it down further, how does unending consumption effect the heart, mind, body and soul of humanity? It was refreshing to hear Sampson's perspective in struggling to resolve the conflicts that...

The Golden Rule can be surmised as this,"Treat others as you want to be treated." Over the last month or so, I've been thinking a great deal about The Golden Rule in relation to my own relationship with God and others. In the book by Scot McKnight , 40 Days living the Jesus Creed, he explains more about the Golden Rule from Jesus' perspective. "I used to think that the Golden Rule was pablum, food for a child. I also thought that when I grew up spiritually, I'd put away pablum and eat meat. The older I get, the more experience I have in the church and with Christians, and the longer I seek to follow the Jesus Creed (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all of your strength and with all of your mind.)..., the more the Golden Rule looks like the real meat and the supposed deep things look like a commentary on the Golden Rule."(McKnight,109) Our challenge as followers of Jesus is to actively an unbiasedly live the Golden Rule with EVERYONE . McK...

The Writer's Almanac is a daily email feed that comes to my email inbox. It's a lovely way to learn about authors of days past, new writers of today and even read or listen to Garrison read (as only Garrison can)a poem to you every day. Listening to Garrison read the poem Durham Wheat reminds me of sitting in my favorite college English class, and having the privilege of my professor sharing writings that touched her heart and expanded my literary vision. Take a moment, and click on the link to hear Garrison read to you too. Let the words wash over you and give you a vision for where and who you are today. Durum wheat by Lisa Martin-Demoor Memory at its finest lacks corroboration —no photographs, no diaries— nothing to pin the past on the present with, to make it stick. Just because you've got this idea of red fields stretching along the tertiary roads of Saskatchewan, like blazing, contained fires — just because somewhere in your memory there's a rust-coloured pulse ...

Image of St. Teresa of Lisieux found at Blue like Elvis . May today there be peace with you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you. There is so much in this prayer that resonates with me lately. In my pressing for for purpose and reaching for 'rightness' in this leg of the journey; trust, awareness, contentment, dancing, praise and love sound like the perfect fit. I needed to reminded that God and all this are there for you,the whole world and me too. Peace to your heart. Here is another quote by wise Teresa: We must be firmly convinced that if we fight courageously and do not allow ourselv...

Even though I'm posting late on Monday, it is still Sleeping with Bread Day. SWB day is the day that I look over the past week of living and access the moments and things that both took away from and gave me life throughout the week. For the sake of the hour I'm writing today, I'd prefer to simplify with a list (and some explanations) of the -'s and +'s of the last seven days. Hmmm... +'s and -'s. Sounds like the idea for a start of a song. Maybe so. - I did a terrible job of working out my work schedule for the last month or so. I added too many extra events (my own fault)and realized very early in the week that it was catching up to me. Why do I insist in filling time so much, or penciling in things without taking into account the investment: personal, physical, timely, and emotional that doing that results in? I need to work on this. + I'm so thankful for two volunteers that have come aboard to help me with the youth work at my church. It's wonder...

Anyone remember the old Peppermint Patty commercials... Today is a brisk NY spring day, as it's only about 43 degrees here. Besides the unusual chill in the air for late May, quality of light is amazing and the shy is clear and blue. Although it a little on the chilly side today, the light and color with it make it an altogether refreshing day - just like a peppermint patty!