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Sometimes Facebook Memories are wonderful, like when they remind you of awesome people and fun times. Sometimes they make you wonder. For instance, when you scroll down to other events on the same date but years earlier, and you encounter memories with previously awesome people who became awful-to-you people who are no longer in your life, and thus the previously fun memories are forever tainted. And it becomes the very last straw tossed onto a heart that is already pensive, heavy, and teetering. And rather than wallow and whine, you look for words that will lift you out of it all. Here are some that are helping me. I hope they lift you as well.             Hi! You made it all the way down to the bottom. Thanks for reading and being here. It means a lot to me.
Searching and finding these quotes helped me tremendously. I hope they made you think and smile. Now go be the love. :)
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 Photo credit: geralt via Pixabay I know the article’s title was supposed to grab my attention, and it definitely did. I was incensed! I scanned through article to start planning my response. Since I retain what I read off of paper better than on screen, I printed it and set it aside to read in depth later. “They will pay for writing this, oh yes they will,” I mumbled under my breath. And then, life happened, as it always does. And it was late the next day before I could get back to it. When I finally sat down with it I was ready for combat. But, as I began to read the first paragraph, a thought went through my head--“Is this worth it?” “Is this worth it? OF COURSE it is! THEY need to know how wrong THEY are! There is a whole other side to the story THEY are not considering!” But as fired up as I still was, the more I thought about it, I had to decide that it really wasn’t worth it. By the time I read the article, considered a response, wrote it, edited it, then checked back again and again to see if anyone had commented further on this atrocity, it would have cost far more in terms of time and energy spent than I was really willing to put into it--time and energy that could be spent on things that are far more important to me, like my family, or writing the things I’m truly called to write about. As I’ve read other places, you don’t have to show up to every battle you’re invited to. You especially don’t have to if they don’t fit your purpose or passion. I’m not saying that responding to the article would have been a bad thing. It’s good to discuss and speak the truth in love (although, admittedly, love wasn’t my primary motivation here). But why choose what’s good when I can choose what’s better? Let those who share this purpose and passion fight this battle, because if I’m fighting their battle, I’m not fighting my own. Are they going to fight my battles for me? I’m thinking, ummm…no. And that’s what Love does: It focuses on what’s important here and now. Instead of spending the evening crafting the perfect response, my youngest son and I crafted a perfect time together, which involved chicken strips, movies, and milkshakes--all of which are tons better than aggravating articles. No one who scrolled the article’s comments would have missed mine, but my son and I would have missed an opportunity together. So the next time I see an incensing headline I will wonder if that is incense worth burning. Maybe I’ll even save myself some ink and printer paper. Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe.
 Photo Credit: cgcolman via Pixabay One thing that struck me about this USA TODAY article, Faith Groups Provide the Bulk of Disaster Recovery, in Coordination With FEMA, is not only the amount of help that faith-based organizations are offering, but the variety of ways they are doing it. From this article, there is no shortage of ways people of faith are offering boots-and-hip-waders-on-the-ground support for victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, as they have been doing long before now. They are not all bringing bottled water. The various parts of The Body are finding unmet needs and filling them. Some store and deliver diapers. Some bring chainsaws. Some help with insurance and aid forms, some offer ears to listen and shoulders to cry on. All offer the best they can. From my own personal knowledge, people of faith living states away, are offering what they can. Some offer money and donations. Some offer their businesses as collection centers. Some offer their expertise as linemen, traveling south to help get power back as quickly as possible. Each group, each person, is finding specific needs and areas and helping fill them as best they can. It’s a beautiful picture. I’ve seen the bands of rain from the hurricanes swirling over the cities and states. I’ve seen the water, mud, debris, destruction they left behind. Then I picture these various people and organizations moving in, spreading out, planting their feet in the mud, their goods and services flowing out and over the damage. If this could be viewed from a satellite, it would be a web of light and life covering death and destruction. It would be a blanket of love, hugging a hurting world. Because you cannot have movement of hands and feet without movement of hearts. With a movement that size, you cannot write an article long enough to fit in all the good that’s going on. But I hope they try, because people loving other people is news we all need to hear. Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe.
 photo credit: MabelAmber via Pixabay I highly recommend a book called Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown. I’m listening to it for the second time, but probably not the last. Not only is it immensely helpful but it’s read by the author himself, who is British and has the cool accent. McKeown says, “Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. It doesn’t mean just doing less for the sake of less, either. It is about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at our highest point of contribution by doing only what is essential.” I’ve greatly considered what my highest point of contribution would be. I’ve come to the conclusion that outside of loving on my family and friends, my highest contribution is communicating through writing and speaking. This is my calling, and what I can best offer the world with my one and only life. In order to maximize my highest contribution, I must minimize, even eliminate, other things that are not essential. This Saturday, my church is hosting its annual Great Giveaway. Church members and attenders gather used clothing and household items and give them away to the local community. Between those who donate items, sort them, carry them into the building, display them, work the tables, make and serve lunch, give haircuts, take family photos, and provide information for other local service providers, there are a LOT of people involved in this act of love to the community. Outside of donating some items, I have never worked this event. The same is true for many other church events. I have felt a little guilty about that. But not anymore. There are many servants in my congregation. To my knowledge I am the only working writer. Those servants love with their hearts and hands at events like the Great Giveaway. I love with my heart and hands through my keyboard with skits, movies, children’s books, blog posts. It’s all love, it just looks different for each one. And, essentially, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Now if I could just type with a cool British accent. Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe.
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Applying nature's principles and systems to personal and cultural development.About CommentsI love to read comments and know how my work is helping you. Please respond with your first AND last names. Anonymous comments will not be read and may be deleted.
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