This video has gone viral in the past week and many of you may have already seen it, but along the lines of this post, it is one of those videos that I can watch over and over and over again. I laughed so hard, I cried (and for the record, I'm laughing right now)! The ironic part? This video is supposed to be a tutorial on how to curl your hair.
I will never look at my own curling wand the same!
I've been asked (and criticized for) why I choose to "give things up" and exactly how I think it makes me a better person. And my answer has always been the same: it doesn't make me a better person to observe the tradition; I do it because it is a way of identifying myself with Christ's 40 days of self-deprivation. The Lenten season is a time of preparation for Easter and I try to make a conscious effort to spend more time reflecting on Jesus: his suffering, his sacrifice, his death and resurrection. I share this not with arrogance or self-righteousness (Lord knows I am imperfect and always in need of His grace!) but in celebration and remembrance of Christ.
This year, I chose to give up three things that, although seemingly harmless, are personal choices where I am distracted and not at my best. Ultimately, they are paths that do not lead me to Him.
This afternoon, as I was clearing off a table in my office, I picked up an old book and tugged at the folded piece of paper I had been using as a bookmark. I unfolded the paper and smiled; I love how God shows me He is always near. On this paper was a Lenten prayer I had written down almost twenty years ago:
Lenten Prayer: Fast and Feast
Fast from judging others; feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on our oneness.
Fast from the darkness around us; feast on the light of Christ.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on words that purify.
Fast from withholding anger; feast on sharing feelings.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from hostility; feast on letting go.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from suspicion; feast on seeing the good.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on spreading good news.
Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayerful trust.
Fast from talking, feast on listening.
Wishing you all a blessed season!
Oh, Hiiiii....!
Remember me? It's been a month (ONE MONTH!) since my last post, and although I am ridiculously out of touch with many of you and feeling rusty in the ol' blogging arena, it was a much needed, impromptu break. Not gonna lie, as much as I relished this partial disconnect from social media, I have missed this creative outlet of mine and I am encouraged by those of you who have emailed me to check in. Thank you for thinking of me!
So. Where was I? Oh, yes. Florida!
My trip to Florida last month was quick and painless but I did not emerge from those brutal flights unscathed. My journey home involved three flights and measured almost twenty hours from start to finish; I had never been more happy to arrive home on Maui, shower, and crawl into bed to catch up on sleep that did not happen in almost 48 hours. I came home on a Saturday night and by Monday morning, I had chills, aches and a fever. Awesome.
What followed was two weeks of pure torture for us. I say us, because not only did I feel like total and complete pond scum, but my Rock Star husband doted on me and and foot, picked up the slack (and then some) around the house AND was banished to another room for two weeks so that I could rest and recover in our Queen sized bed alone. So, yeah. Two weeks of the flu and a wretched case of laryngitis later, one can only imagine that I wasn't really in a blogging sort of mood. And instead of lambasting myself for failed attempts at a structured blogging schedule, I just let it go and focused on getting well.
Which brings me here, on a Monday evening, exactly one month later. I'm healthy, no longer sleep deprived and I've finally found my work (and life) rhythm again. I'm slowly easing into the pool of creativity that has gathered at my feet over the past few weeks and I'm looking forward to sharing that with all of you!
I'll be back tomorrow with some updates...for now, I'm shutting down for the night to make room for the garbage that is reality TV. There is so much about this particular Monday night show that drives me insane, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't totally entertained by it.
'Fess up. Who else is watching The Bachelor? ;)
