Thoughts on a Friday morning

This particular phrase: “grow where you’re planted” is one that I often hear.  It’s a sweet and, might I say cliché, phrase used to inspire or uplift a person.  Sometimes, though, this concept is a challenging one to accept. At least this is true of me:

I grew up in the desert. And as many people from the High Desert of California can attest to, the most commonly held goal here is to move away. I actually have moved away, twice. Yet, I’ve been re-“planted” here again without a definite idea of how long I’ll stay.

This phase of life has been one with many dark days, I don’t want to make it sound perfect and sugar-coated.  But I’ve been trying diligently to turn my focus to the things I enjoy about the desert: its strange beauty. The sunrises and sunsets. The healthy church I am blessed to attend. The many, quality people I do life with here. The graciousness of my family in allowing me to live with them again. Free rent:). And some time to recover from a rather traumatic end-of-college experience.

I have absolutely no idea what is coming up in my future, but fostering a contented spirit is something that seems appropriate in any season of life…

Just some of my thoughts this Friday morning.

Happy weekend to you! :)

CT

I don't have anything important or profound to say about the unthinkable tragedy in Connecticut on Friday. That afternoon I just stood, staring at the news broadcast with unrestrained tears pouring down my face. The families in that community have been heavily on my heart this weekend. 

P.S. I have been out of town for a week, and will continue to be away from my computer, etc. until next week. I just wanted to check in for a quick "hello!"

Steeped

Have you ever let a cup of tea steep for too long? I have. The result is bitter, foul tasting, and altogether unpleasant. I have been thinking recently that life’s difficulties are so numerous that life becomes saturated with them. This season has been yet another time of learning how to take my anxious, sorrow filled heart to the only One who can soothe the ache. From the personal, internal struggles to the many heavy problems my extended family is facing I am learning a new type of surrender. And I find that through this time I have not only been steeping in heartache, but also in peace and joy. I hope the result of my experience is not bitter, foul tasting, and altogether unpleasant but rather, sweet, humble, and ultimately joyful.
How fitting that this is one of my favorite verses:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.


James 1:2-6