As I rushed here and there grabbing this and that and stuffing them where they needed to go. I knew I had only moments to finish this task that needed to be done. It was difficult to think beyond the simple details of what needed to go and what should stay. It was consuming really and for an instant I saw just how crazy it was; the little things of life shadowing out the important things of life... but I couldn't actually stop to think about it because the time was ticking away.
With one last frantic glace at the clock, I closed the suitcase and headed to the door. My flight would be leaving in just 2 hours and I knew that security would create a zoo, so off I sped.
Thankfully, the airport was only a short drive away and my faculties were now addressing the weaving traffic. It was consuming really, this driving in traffic and for an instant I saw just how crazy it was being on the roller coaster ride of the interstate...but I couldn't actually stop to think about it because if I didn't give the road my attention, I wouldn't make it to the airport in one piece.
With a sigh of relief I turned into the airport parking lot. Jumping out, making a quick assessment that I had emptied out the necessary items that I needed to take with me, I locked the car and briskly headed for the airport entrance. My mind was filled with thoughts of what was next and working through the logic of becoming prepared. It was consuming really this being prepared for the next thing and for an instant I saw how crazy it was being busy planning all the time...but I couldn't stop to think about it because the next thing was upon me already.
I made my way through the door towing the burdens in my luggage and supporting the ones on my mind. I took in the panorama of the busy lines at the check-in and my mind seemed to be alerted to something 'wrong'. What was it? I had no idea consciously. But something was tugging at me, signalling a red flag. I instinctively began to slow all of my processes down in an attempt to figure out what was amiss. Then I saw her, curled up in a corner. She was wearing a ragged red coat. She was obviously crying and I peered around to see if anyone was caring for her; I did not see anyone taking any notice of her.
For a moment I waged a war with myself trying to argue for and against becoming side-tracked. The responsibilities I had should be kept; there were others counting on me... Suddenly, like the zooming in of a camera, I was zooming in on me, untangling the rambling of life with the importance of living. I saw something ugly in that rambling of life, something that was consuming me AWAY from the importance of living.
I let go of my burdens, took a moment to stop and think and walked to that corner where she was.
About Me
- Leigha
- I am a bit of a loon, searching for more depth in life and seeking more color in living.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Journey
I was driving the other day and saw a bumper sticker (I know, not another bumper sticker post!).
It read:
"I had a life... My job ate it"
I thought this funny and sadly a little true in many lives. Then I began thinking on it a bit.
It seems like there are many who 'live for the weekend' - TGIF right? Trudging through the working hours just to get to the 'happy' hours. Sacrificing at the job to bring home a pay check, put food on the table, do a few fun things (maybe if you're lucky). The fulfillment of life turns into what we can get out of the 'off' hours.
Perhaps this whole cultural attitude and lifestyle needs some introspection!
Do we simply work for the benefits (the end - the $) and not for the benefit of the work itself?
What does this say about us?
If we find little to no pleasure, purpose, fulfillment in our work, could something be amiss?
Is it possible to love your work?
How can we engage in something that provides for us and that we love?
Would this change our cultural TGIFing?
Perhaps we should consider what the JOURNEY of life is all about. Is it only those hours when you're not on the job? I wonder if we're missing out by not taking each aspect of our life journey as a vital part in our joy.
Think about it. What if our job brought us joy and freedom to express who God wants us to be? To love and care for those in our midst? What if instead of our jobs hindering our pleasure, we sought to see it and MAKE it pleasure?
Our work should be like a springboard not quicksand. It should be a part of our journey that we seize and make the most of to generate productivity toward our life purpose and fulfillment... a true outlet for serving where we are meant to in being a healthy part of community; a place and time to live His love among those around us.
Hmmm...
It read:
"I had a life... My job ate it"
I thought this funny and sadly a little true in many lives. Then I began thinking on it a bit.
It seems like there are many who 'live for the weekend' - TGIF right? Trudging through the working hours just to get to the 'happy' hours. Sacrificing at the job to bring home a pay check, put food on the table, do a few fun things (maybe if you're lucky). The fulfillment of life turns into what we can get out of the 'off' hours.
Perhaps this whole cultural attitude and lifestyle needs some introspection!
Do we simply work for the benefits (the end - the $) and not for the benefit of the work itself?
What does this say about us?
If we find little to no pleasure, purpose, fulfillment in our work, could something be amiss?
Is it possible to love your work?
How can we engage in something that provides for us and that we love?
Would this change our cultural TGIFing?
Perhaps we should consider what the JOURNEY of life is all about. Is it only those hours when you're not on the job? I wonder if we're missing out by not taking each aspect of our life journey as a vital part in our joy.
Think about it. What if our job brought us joy and freedom to express who God wants us to be? To love and care for those in our midst? What if instead of our jobs hindering our pleasure, we sought to see it and MAKE it pleasure?
Our work should be like a springboard not quicksand. It should be a part of our journey that we seize and make the most of to generate productivity toward our life purpose and fulfillment... a true outlet for serving where we are meant to in being a healthy part of community; a place and time to live His love among those around us.
Hmmm...
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Hair-Brained Ideas
I'm not sure where this term came from, but I sure know all about it's meaning.
I would consider myself a 'queen' of hair-brained ideas. I've gotten myself into all kinds mischief with my 'cockamamee' plans. I don't know how it all started for me - when I was just a kid for sure. I recall many light-bulb moments when the flash of an idea popped into my brain. Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you look at it) I usually found my 'ideas' sensational and acted upon many of them!
Things like turning the old chicken coop at Grandma's into a playhouse!
Shooting bottles that we found with b-b guns - on someone else's property!
Jumping off the roof of the barn into the snowbank!
Making a fort 3 whole fields away from the house instead of in the first group of woods!
Trapping muskrats in Grandpa's pond for money!
Riding a skateboard down the huge hill not far from my house!
The painted bedroom walls that I let all my friends design and paint their names on and then painted a full wall clown face on one as well (that was still there when my parents sold the house - poor people).
At least 1/4 of the things I cook. And certainly 1/2 of my dessert ideas.
Most of my 'decorating' ideas - these mostly are worse because I have questionable decorating sense to begin with, so my hair-brained ideas usually turn out extra questionable - like the swinging chair that swallowed people up and ruined the ceiling!
My wedding dress, turned into a summer dress for daughter #3, oh yeah, still working on that because I've lost patience with it for now.
Oh, did I mention the decorating ideas??? The huge quilt (and I mean HUGE) that I made for our king size bed with leaves of varied sizes, shapes and colors appliqued on the top with shiny GOLD thread!!! I was just recently musing about how I could re-model that to a usable state.
Christmas present ideas! Oh yeah, I could spill the beans on some of those!
On and on and on...
And MH is usually so patient with these. He usually gives me a look (which should alert me to my hair-brained idea issues - but doesn't).
Now, I have one daughter in particular that seems to have some hair-brained idea DNA as well. She planned and constructed a Tepee (yes of the native american style) last year. Not just any ole Tepee, but one of sizable proportions (about 20 ft. diameter and that tall as well). And now, she's planning on constructing a sweat lodge (again, of the native american style).
I say, "GO FOR IT."
Hair-brained ideas are exciting, fun, adventuresome, risky, daring, fulfilling (sometimes), educational (sometimes), memorable, memorable, memorable.... and you learn so much from them!
I guess that's the crazy in me.
I would consider myself a 'queen' of hair-brained ideas. I've gotten myself into all kinds mischief with my 'cockamamee' plans. I don't know how it all started for me - when I was just a kid for sure. I recall many light-bulb moments when the flash of an idea popped into my brain. Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you look at it) I usually found my 'ideas' sensational and acted upon many of them!
Things like turning the old chicken coop at Grandma's into a playhouse!
Shooting bottles that we found with b-b guns - on someone else's property!
Jumping off the roof of the barn into the snowbank!
Making a fort 3 whole fields away from the house instead of in the first group of woods!
Trapping muskrats in Grandpa's pond for money!
Riding a skateboard down the huge hill not far from my house!
The painted bedroom walls that I let all my friends design and paint their names on and then painted a full wall clown face on one as well (that was still there when my parents sold the house - poor people).
At least 1/4 of the things I cook. And certainly 1/2 of my dessert ideas.
Most of my 'decorating' ideas - these mostly are worse because I have questionable decorating sense to begin with, so my hair-brained ideas usually turn out extra questionable - like the swinging chair that swallowed people up and ruined the ceiling!
My wedding dress, turned into a summer dress for daughter #3, oh yeah, still working on that because I've lost patience with it for now.
Oh, did I mention the decorating ideas??? The huge quilt (and I mean HUGE) that I made for our king size bed with leaves of varied sizes, shapes and colors appliqued on the top with shiny GOLD thread!!! I was just recently musing about how I could re-model that to a usable state.
Christmas present ideas! Oh yeah, I could spill the beans on some of those!
On and on and on...
And MH is usually so patient with these. He usually gives me a look (which should alert me to my hair-brained idea issues - but doesn't).
Now, I have one daughter in particular that seems to have some hair-brained idea DNA as well. She planned and constructed a Tepee (yes of the native american style) last year. Not just any ole Tepee, but one of sizable proportions (about 20 ft. diameter and that tall as well). And now, she's planning on constructing a sweat lodge (again, of the native american style).
I say, "GO FOR IT."
Hair-brained ideas are exciting, fun, adventuresome, risky, daring, fulfilling (sometimes), educational (sometimes), memorable, memorable, memorable.... and you learn so much from them!
I guess that's the crazy in me.
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