Some Thoughts

I just cleaned off my desk.  I know that may not sound like a big deal, but it was quite a wonderful accomplishment for me.  I had been working surrounded by piles that kept getting bigger and bigger.  Not only did my desk look sloppy, but it nagged at me constantly.  What if there was something in those piles that was important . . . that I was forgetting?

As it turns out, almost everything in my piles was recyclable.  Just stuff I had been hanging on to for no reason.  It got me thinking, though, about other stuff I am hanging on to.  Old habits that don’t serve me well anymore.  Old ways of doing and being that need some revamping.  Old gripes or pains that need forgiving.  As I clear off my desk, and then look outside to see the many signs of spring, I remember that I began Lent saying that it would be a “springtime for my soul.”  In general, Lent has been just that, but with spring comes spring cleaning, and I think it’s time for that now!

What in your life could use a little spring cleaning?

Yesterday evening, my son and I spent a long time looking at a caterpillar.  It was quite small, and if I had been alone, I probably would have walked right by it without giving it a second thought.  For Ben, though, the caterpillar was the most fascinating creature he had seen all day.  He squealed every time it moved, wanted to touch it (though we had to have a lesson on being gentle), and even tried holding it.  And then, he talked about his encounter with the caterpillar the rest of the night.

I was really taken by Ben’s complete joy in such a simple thing.  The caterpillar did not have flashing lights or fun noises.  It wasn’t made by Fisher Price, nor did it come with special effects.  But watching the caterpillar brought him incredible joy.  It made me think about how often I stop to enjoy the simple things . . . probably not often enough.  Especially when living in today’s world with an uncertain economic future, what a gift it is to be able to pause and give thanks for a caterpillar!  What simple thing brought you joy today?

“‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free . . .” – Joseph Brackett

Just wanted to follow up briefly on my post about Lent a couple weeks ago.  I have been struggling with the idea of giving up something for Lent, as it just is not a meaningful spiritual practice for me.  Heck, I’ve been struggling with the whole notion of Lent as such a somber, serious, sacrificial season, as my vision of God is much more aligned with images of hope, love, and joy.

Then I read a piece by Barbara Brown Taylor where she described Lent as a “springtime for the soul.”  (Yes, this part is going to sound very familiar if you heard my sermon on Sunday!)  I love that image, and have done a lot of thinking about what a springtime for my soul might look like.  It definitely involves giving over to God some of the worries, burdens, and stress that I have been carrying around.  It also involves spending some time with God in stillness and silence each day during Lent.

What does a springtime for your soul look like?  I hope you will give your soul the gift of some springtime renewal this summer.

Want to read my entire sermon on the topic?  Check it out here: http://www.wpctiburon.org/sermons.php?file=20090301_133809_Rethinkin.html

Aren’t birthdays great?  I celebrated mine two weekends ago, and really had a wonderful time.  I managed to have three different birthday dinners, all with people who are very important in my life, and heard from many, many people on Facebook, e-mail, and over the phone that they were thinking of me on my special day.

It’s great that we have birthdays, so we can be reminded about how many people love and care for us.  It’s too bad, though, that they only come once a year!  What about the other days of the year?  What about the days that we are feeling especially stressed, grouchy, lonely, or just plain fed up with the world?  Those are the days that we really need people telling us how much they love us! 

All of the greetings I received on my birthday reminded me how important it is that we tell people regularly how important they are to us.  If one of your friends or family members are having a bad day, try to share with them all the reasons why you love them.  For that matter, even if they aren’t having a bad day – everyone likes to hear how much you care for them.

Finally, may we remember the One who loves us unconditionally – who created us to be the unique and wonderful individuals that we are.  God certainly loves and cares for us each and every day . . . not just on our birthdays!

(An interesting side note – I just reread what I wrote after my birthday last year, and it is strikingly familiar to what I wrote this year.  Geez, I sure am lacking originality.  Or maybe, just maybe, it’s an important message that we need to keep hearing!)http://bethanyn.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/our-relationships/