Waiting room food

The other day (Thursday, December 12) I went with a friend to her scope appointment at the hospital.  While in the main waiting room area, a representative from a local hospital came in and announced that there was food in the ICU waiting room for all folks like us hanging out in the waiting room.  Since we had run into an old friend who was there with another friend for a friend, we were all waiting for my friend to get called back into a room. 

The friend that we knew from another church went with his friend to get some food (which by the way was yummy sandwiches, chips, deviled eggs, etc).

My friend got called back to a room.

Then, I got moved to a smaller waiting room and said goodbye to my friends, the old one and the new one.  It had been good to catch up with the one and get to know the other.

In the new waiting room, there weren't as many people. 

After reading for quite a while, a tall gentleman comes in, looking around and saying 'there's no food in here.'  He sits down declaring that he could eat a large hamburger about now, making a huge hamburger sign with his hands.  Sounded good to me.  He had some pictures with him.  Now I understood why he was so hungry.  He was a patient and just finished with a scope.  I didn't ask which one.

I told him there was food in the ICU waiting room, compliments of a church, but that I didn't know how to get there because someone else had been kind enough to get my plate.   He declined.  He didn't seem to really want to go anywhere.

I noticed he was wearing a star around his neck.  It looked like a Star of David, but a little different.  So, I got up to take a closer look.  I told him I liked his star.  He told me it was a Star of David.  It had colored jewels inside.  Then he proceeded to start talking about the King.  And, he slowly, yet surely, became animated.  Not overly animated, but alive.

He forgot all about his hunger.

Turns out, he's a preacher.  His dad and his grandfather were preachers.  They were gifted with healing.  He talked about Jesus, helping others, taking the Word and food into the projects, offering picnics to kids when his kids were younger, etc.  He shared and shared.  I wondered what the rest of the folks thought about this, but they seemed to be okay with it.  I was a little concerned that I had started something by simply asking about his star.

It was neat listening to his stories.

When he was done, I said something to him about getting his meal later on and he said he didn't even feel hungry any more.   A lady near me said that he just ate. ☺  She knew what was going on.  She had not only been listening, but interacting. 

Yes, there was spiritual food being shared in that waiting room.  And, even though he was the one sharing it, he was also fed by it, as were the rest of us.  We all got filled it.

After his ride came and he left, I overheard some other conversations.  I shouldn't have been worried whether or not I should have started a conversation.  First of all, if I am acting on God's leadings, that is God's issue.  Second of all, the other folks started talking about church and ministry, etc. 

I didn't get the guys' name. 

But I did get two helpings of waiting room food that day.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

In the chair...

Yesterday I was "in the chair."

That is different from being "on the couch."

Yet, not so much in many places.

Yesterday I got my hair cut.  It hasn't been cut in about two years.  I simply haven't gone to get it cut.  I don't cut it often anyway.  It had grown fairly long.  Throughout my life I have had short hair and I have had long hair.  I like it both ways.  There was a time where I even had permed hair, but that was a long time ago.

Hair for me is simply something on my head.  It needs to be easy to fix because I'm not good at doing much with it.  I'm a "wash and go" person.  Literally.  A hairdryer is used only on very cold mornings when there isn't enough time to air-dry the hair.

Somewhere from deep inside, the thought came to me that since I had quite a bit of hair, why not check to see if I could donate it.  So, I checked with a friend who is a stylist.  The requirements were that one needed to have 10 inches of hair that hadn't been colored.  My hair fit those requirements.  She assured me that the white hairs interspersed wouldn't count as "colored". ☺

Donating my hair is something I had thought about before, but never really had enough.  Not until recently.  I haven't had short hair since about 2010 or a year or so before.   I haven't even thought about cutting my hair until fairly recently, though there was one time about a year ago that I was ready "on go" to shave it when a friend was going through cancer.  Her cancer was removed surgically and further treatments weren't needed.  She didn't go through hair loss.  I didn't need to follow through with the deal I had made with myself, to myself.  But I would have.  And, if, that leading ever comes along again..... to stand by someone's side in such a way, you may see me bald.  Bless us all, because I have no idea what my "bowling ball" head will look like.

I was able to schedule my hair appointment and donation for this week, after my friend got back from an extended Thanksgiving break (due to a car accident that left her stranded, but okay).

Originally, I was going to do this on Thursday, but got back with her to get it done yesterday, Tuesday.  Mainly because there are several things going on in my life and in the life of friends and family that day and I feel the need to be available.

So, yesterday was the day.

Admittedly, I was a little nervous. 

(1) I've not had a haircut in a while.
(2) I had never been to this salon location.
(3) I have never donated my hair before.
(4) I knew this was more than a simple hair cut and donation.

Let me explain #4.  My stylist friend is a spiritual friend, a fellow journeyer on the faith journey.  For her, cutting hair and styling hair isn't "just" a job; it's a ministry.  She listens; she prays.  She is a vessel of love and the Holy Spirit while working on her clients.

I wasn't planning on talking much (and I didn't--some, but not lots).  I simply wanted "to be."  That's what I needed. 

She informed me later that she prayed for me while I was in the chair.  Good!  I was praying for her too.  I was soaking it all in.  Observing the interactions in the studio, observing her work, and simply allowing myself to receive; to receive not only the gift and skill of the stylist on the haircut, but also the prayers poured into me. 

It was a fun time.  Relaxing.  Joyful.  Energizing.  I think I even lost a few pounds.  Well, I at least lost 10 inches.  Of hair.  But that probably doesn't weigh much at all.

me "in the chair" with my donation

The donation is going to Wigs for Kids.  (Click on the highlighted name to learn more about this organization.)

My stylist friend is a true example of living out her calling in the world.  She is ministering right where she is supposed to be.  She makes a difference in the lives of many that come through the doors of that salon and sit in her chair.  Through her leadership and through her styling, she is able to shine and share the love and light of Christ.

What an example for all of us, to be light and love in the world where we are.... whether it is through our vocations, in the stores while shopping, on the roads and in the air while traveling, etc. 

Thanks Studio 3 Salon and Spa for making this donation happen and for making this experience a little less scary! (That was a lot of hair!)

Studio 3 Website
Studio 3 Facebook page

Thanks also for showing me what ministry can look like to someone "in the chair."

May you be blessed on your journey today,

Debra

length of hair prior to cut

the "after cut" photo with stylist

Word clouds.... creating one for Advent

I first learned about word clouds a few months ago when at our District Charge Conference the District Administrative Assistant had used one via Wordle for the cover of the charge conference handbook (it contained all the names of the churches in the District).  Then, as I thought back to our Academy's closing week, I realized that the program cover from our 2 Year Academy was also a word cloud with all the "words of the day" from each session in both Spanish and English.  I don't know which format she used, but I am going to guess Wordle because that seems to be the first of the word cloud applications.

Today I wanted to make an Advent word cloud.

I first tried Wordle because I have used it once before.  But Wordle wasn't working for me today.  It seemed I was having some Java issues and after trying to resolve those issues to no avail, I moved on and tried a different word cloud site, Word It Out.

My Advent word cloud looks like this:

 

http://worditout.com/word-cloud/313644/private/3ae50166ca214dc31893633572ed144f

 



If you look closely, you will find "quiet" and "stillness" in the middle of it all.  I had to keep playing with it until the words came up (more or less) like I wanted them too. 

The colors didn't come up in their true color (that would have been cool).  And there isn't much control over which words are big and which words are little. 

However, with some patience and many keystrokes, I decided to go with the above image. 

It goes along with an editorial piece for an upcoming newsletter that will go out on the 15th.  

What words come to mind for you at this time of year?

Are you able to find some quiet and stillness in the middle of it all?

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

Anticipation.... is making me wait.

Anticipation.

The Advent season.

Yes, as I reflected on the word "anticipation", the first thing that came to mind were the ketchup commercials from my childhood.

Do you know the ones?  The glass bottle is held over the food and the red condiment is ever so slowly making its way onto the food.  The song "Anticipation" by Carly Simon is being sung in the background.  Here is one such commercial from the 1970s:

Carly Simon 1971 album "Anticipation":

Anticipation.

Yes, the Advent season is full of anticipation. 

You may not be a ketchup eater.  You may not be able to relate to the anticipation brought to my mind from the past of the ketchup slowly making its way out of the glass bottle to the food while those wanting to eat waited and waited. 

You may not have experienced this waiting with ketchup.  You may not even like ketchup.

It was worth the wait.  Not just because the commercial said so, but because it was good.

But, what does ketchup have to do with Advent you ask?  It's all about the waiting.  Advent is the season of waiting, of preparation, of anticipation.... for the coming of the Christ child.   It's a time to slow down, to reflect, to not hurry through. 

If ketchup is worth waiting for, then imagine waiting during Advent and what that is worth.

Anticipation.

Blessings on your journey through this Advent season,

Debra

 

"Gracious God, I put myself before you in this moment with waiting heart, expectant desire.  Open my eyes that I may see your promise fulfilled; open my ears that I may hear your word whispered to my deepest being.  Amen." (A Guide to Prayer For All God's People, First Sunday in Advent, page 23)

Step by step...taking the first one is often the most difficult.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

I have been thinking about that quote lately.  I looked it up.  It is credited to Lao Tzu, a mystic philosopher of ancient China. 

There can be many ways to reflect upon this quote and many meanings to gain from it.

On the first day of October my plans for the day got changed.  Since I was near Front Runner, an athletic store, I thought to myself 'why not go get a good pair of walking shoes since I've not had a new pair in at least 12-15 years?!?!'  Since I didn't argue with myself, I went straight to the store and tried on a couple of pairs of shoes.  My thought was that if I got a new pair of walking shoes then I could start walking on a regular basis because I would have proper fitting and proper supporting shoes.  My other thinking was, 'hey... it is my birth month and why not?!?'

So, I found a pair of shoes and made a leaping investment.  Figuring out the years that I had not bought a pair of shoes, it seemed very economically sound to me.

At my Taekwondo class that day I mentioned to a friend my new purchase and plan to start walking.  We started walking daily.  We walk a mile to two miles daily.  We walk inside the mall if it's raining.  Otherwise we walk at pocket wilderness, the greenway, portions of the river walk.  Once we walked a track. 

I also walk on my own and with my husband and family at other times.

I'm not attempting to walk a thousand miles.

My original goal was simply to walk.

I knew it would benefit me.  I knew that the added exercise would be good for me.  I knew that time in the woods would also benefit my soul and mind.  Mind, body, soul.  There was no way to lose with this!

Well, I have been losing.  Weight, that is.  And, that is an extra blessing to the walking.  Not unexpected, yet not one of my goals for walking.  However, it fits in with my overall goal getting my weight to a lower number. 

So, I'm walking.  Step by step.  Mile by mile.

Since mid-October I have walked 51.5 miles as of today (per Runkeeper application).  I have walked more than that with basic walking and the times I don't keep track [I started walking October 2 and didn't start using Runkeeper until October 15th.  So, I've actually walked more than this, but who's counting?!?! ☺].   My pace is increasing slightly as I go along.  But, that's not a goal yet.  Not until I start training for some sort of 5K. ☺

This is my story of taking the first step.  Literally.  Into walking, into a healthier me..... physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

It all started that first day back in October when my schedule was turned around and didn't work out the way it was supposed to and I felt the "nudge" to go buy shoes. 

I followed up on that nudge.

What nudge has been pushing gently on you or inside you?  You know the one.... you can hear it, but it's quiet.  It's a small voice.  You almost think you didn't hear it.  Listen again.  Listen carefully.  Then, begin.  Take the step.  Begin the journey.  Whatever it is. 

If you're willing to share what is nudging you, please do.  If you're willing to share your story and your journey, I'd love to listen.

Blessings on your journey... step by step,

Debra

Planning and living into my Year of Jubilee

50.  The Year of Jubilee.

I'm not really sure what I've thought about the big "50" until now.  What do I think about it?  I'm excited.  Though I've not thought a whole lot about it, I started thinking about it as my 49th approached.  I had planned to go hang gliding for my 50th birthday (since it didn't work out earlier in life).  Yet, as my 49th approached, I felt the urge to simply go ahead and do it.  And, I'm so glad I did!  If you haven't figured that out from the three blog postings I put up on my experience. ☺

I had one friend ask -- 'now what?'  Now that I have flown to great heights, what will I do for the 50th?  Great question.

At the very end of October, I collected on my free Starbucks coffee drink.  I didn't go skimpy.  Would you?  I had these thoughts that days: "Thanks Starbucks! Happy free birth drink to me! Love that perk on the rewards card! Alas, today ends the celebration month. But... The year of 49 will continue on with many more adventures! Gearing up for 50 and beyond!!"

I had an Academy friend respond to that, saying: "Time to plan your jubilee."  This put the idea of "Year of Jubilee" in my mind.  It resonated with me and I have been contemplating that.

I found an article in Focus on the Family by Penny Musco of one woman's experience. 

I don't know about a party yet, that's a long way off.  What I may do is implement what a fellow board member did for her 60th this year.  She planned several gatherings and outings and invited folks to join her.  That's a cool idea.  Folks went to the functions they could, they were able to celebrate and fellowship in a variety of settings.  This idea resonates with me more than a party.  I can see activities from dinners to opportunities to serve to maybe a concert (depends on who's in town or close enough) to a road trip to hiking to pottery shopping to.... who really knows?!?!

I have time to think about that. ☺

But it's not just the celebration of turning 50.  I do want to contemplate all that has brought me to this point.  And though it doesn't sting as bad as it used to, there was a time in my life that I honestly didn't think I'd live beyond 33 years old.  That's because one of my dear family members died at that young age and for some reason, it imbedded deep within my psyche and soul that I might not live beyond that age either. 

In these 49 years I have experienced more, traveled more, learned more, done more, dealt with more, seen more, been blessed with more.... than I could ever have imagined.  Maybe I will attempt to create a list at some point..... of all the blessings, all the relationships, all the places, all the experiences.... WHEW! 

I have had my share of difficult and horrific situations in my life.  But there has been TONS of grace and forgiveness extended to me along the way.  I consider all those situations a blessing to be part of who I am today.  Yeah, I know... there's not a whole lot of detail there.  But if you want to know, I'll share.  There are stories about catching a brother on fire, breaking a collarbone, burning a friend's leg on a motorcycle ride, wrecking with my Dad on a motorcycle in a graveyard, marriage, divorce, pregnancy, etc. 

What do I look forward to most in planning my jubilee?  The intentional focus on my relationship with God and others over the past and into the future.

I am free and desire to continue living this life reckless, with abandon. 

What does this mean for my celebration of the year of jubilee?  I don't know.  I hope it means that I continue to love well, to live well, to seek forgiveness when I don't.  I hope that I'm able to risk vulnerability and be transparent enough to show the love and light of the One who created me and has sustained me to this point.

There might be more hang gliding. 

There might even be a 1/2 marathon..... where I walk, not run.  I'm not sure my restored ACL and exercise-induced asthma could handle me running.  However, I won't rule it out.

There will likely be at least one testing for a higher rank in taekwondo... at some point.

I imagine there will be continued learning and growing, beyond my comfort zone.  And, that's good.

My plan is to live the 49th and 50th fully!  Living fully won't mean being on the go all the time either.  There will be times of quiet, silence, solitude.... In fact, it might be time to go on a silent retreat for more than a 1/2 day.  ☺  Or, at least take off to the beach or a cabin somewhere! ☺

Whether my themes will follow the Biblical ones in the article that Cindy followed (release, redemption, restoration) or whether God puts some other themes on me is yet to be seen.  I will take time to contemplate what this special time can mean for me.

Whether you've already celebrated your "Year of Jubilee" or are nowhere near it, it doesn't hurt to think about your life in terms of living into each and every year that you have to celebrate.  

Is there anything specific you hope to learn, experience, share, etc. no matter which number happens to be on this particular year?

Blessings on your journey!

Debra

P.S. As for a cake.... what would it be if I submitted to some sort of celebration?  It would need to be a combination of at least the following three:  motorcycle, hiking, taekwondo.  That would be one wild cake!

A busy, chilly, misty day...fog for focus

Today has been a busy day.  First, there was the Hixson Wildcats Crawl at which my daughter and I were volunteer water station folks.  From there I went to the last session of our Soulfeast study at church, a brunch gathering to finish out the last two chapters of the book by Marjorie Thompson that we've been going through this fall.  Then, it was to the daughter's piano class.  Tomorrow is recital day.  I took a short break before going out to the grocery store.

This morning I opened up the Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young as I was heading out the door.  I chuckled as I read the first line: "As you look at the day before you, you see a twisted, complicated path, with branches going off in all directions.  You wonder who you can possibly find your way through that maze."  As I read further along, these words caught my attention: "As you look again at the path ahead, you notice that a peaceful fog has settled over it, obscuring your view.  You can see only a few steps in front of you, so you turn your attention more fully to Me and begin to enjoy My Presence.  The fog is a protection for you, calling you back to the present moment."

There was a bit of fog today, so this was very appropriate.

I attempted to be present in the moment at each place, enveloped in what I was doing at the time.  There is truly something to the foggy aspect of things and not being able to see that which is further down the road.  It does cause you to focus on the present. 

When driving in dense fog, one tends to become very aware of one's very present surroundings.  I remember driving up the "W road" on Signal Mountain to visit a friend once.  It wasn't foggy in the valley, but when I came to the "W", it became super thick.  It was a dark night and I simply couldn't see anything.  I rolled down my windows and was listening for cars coming down the "W" portion as that was the scariest portion for me to be when I couldn't see.  I had to trust my other facilities and keep moving.

Though I haven't fully kept my attention in the present moment throughout the day, I have been able to at least be more intentional about doing so. 

The last line in the devotional is this: "Someday the fog will no longer be necessary, for you will have learned to keep your focus on Me and on the path just ahead of you."

I went back through my blog posts and found that I had included some quotes from this devotion back in 2011 (November 24).   That title was: Thoughts and quotes from Jesus Calling over the last few days and weeks.

Though I didn't include the last line of the devotional in that blog post, just the fact that it caught my attention then and now again makes me think I haven't quite gotten to the point of the fog no longer being necessary in my life.   That's okay.  Even though fog can be scary at times, it is also quite beautiful, peaceful, and serene.

Just this past week I was able to witness a gorgeous sunrise on the lake in the fog.

If I need the fog to help me stay better focused and to live in the present, I'll live into that.  I do enjoy the clear blue sky days and/or white puffy clouds too that expand across the sky.  Maybe those are days that I'm not needing to focus on the present, but rather days in which I'm to plan and dream.  Hmmm...

Something to contemplate at a later time.  At this present moment I need to bring this to a close and switch gears to planning a lesson. 

How do you stay focused on the present moment? 

How does the fog analogy speak to you?

Blessings on your journey,

Debra