RevGals Friday Five

Jan over at RevGals offers this Friday Five:

I am currently reading a book entitled Stairway of Surprise: Six Steps to a Creative Life by Michael Lipson. His premise is a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "I shall mount to paradise by the stairway of surprise." Lipson's book is about practicing or developing six inner functions--thinking, doing, feeling, loving, opening, and thanking.

So these categories of attention are a jumping off point for today's Friday Five:

Pick five of the six actions and write about how you are practicing them today or recently. For a bonus, write about the sixth one you originally didn't choose!

What or how are you

1. thinking? I am thinking about my homily for Sunday. It is my goal to preach without a text as often as possible this summer. I also need tom preach shorter reflections that take in to consideration that our children will be with for the entire service. For me this is an opportunity to engage the kids at the sermon time. So, I'm thinking about how to do that.

2. doing? Drinking coffee, listening to the birds as they wake up, sing, enjoy the bird feeder, and chuckle at my cat who is intrigued by the birds as they land on the deck railing and jostle for a position on the feeder.

3. feeling? Achey. I need a massage. I have started to exercise again, yoga, core work, weights, walking and bike riding. But, I still need a massage.

4. loving? This beautiful morning, where I live, my new call, my family.

5. opening? Meeting new people, learning new ways, growing to love new people and build new relationships.

6. thanking? God. Life has been very difficult, but I feel so blessed right now.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Comments

So delightful to hear the words: blessed, new call, new ways, love new people, build new relationships...celebration indeed.
Robin said…
It is so lovely to hear this new peace in your voice.
Jan said…
You are living awake and alive in the presence of God. Since I too have started exercising more, I am impressed with all your healthful activities. I hope you get that massage!
Sounds good all around!
angela said…
Oh, how kind of you to think about the children in your church when doing homilies. I've tried to nicely explain to our pastor and lay liturgists that it is too long for any child--and my children are always there for the whole service--to do sermon, then the creed and then follow it with the prayers of the people which tend to be long--they just cannot listen that long.

Bless you--you were able to take the ff lightly and I could not see a way I could do it right now...you have such hope and I can hope moving will prove that way for me too.
altar ego said…
What Robin said! That exactly what I thought as I read your thoughts/feelings, etc. I know it's been a rough road to where you are now, and I am grateful for you that you are living into and experience relief from that difficulty.

I love "preaching" with kids. I sometimes think the adults listen better to the message when they don't think it's for them!
Lisa :-] said…
So glad to hear that things are going well for you.
Your FF sounded very hopeful and peaceful. Our animals can bring such joy. I hope you get that massage. And me too as I have been exercising more because of a broken shoulder.

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