awake at night

I am struggling with the decision regarding the contract I have received to write the book of meditations. The date required for submission of the manuscript is only 4 months away. 365 meditations in 4 months??? I know that I need to feel the material has meaning and that I would be proud for friends and family to read it. I also know that my formal writing process is slow-with lots and lots of rewrites.

On one level I realize that this contract is a gift. Thousands of people are wrestling with terrible, devastating decisions-how to pay their mortgage-how to feed their family-how to care for a loved one. It is mighty self-absorbed of me to even consider this a stress. However I am awake at nights wrestling with this decision. During those awake times I try to get out of my circular thinking and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. God has given me this opportunity to put my thoughts out there-thoughts about living life abundantly, living this new life He has promised. He has given me two friends who have offered to help-one a retired editor-one a retired pastor. Am I listening to this answer?

What keeps you awake at night?
Do you listen for guidance from the Holy Spirit? Are you open to the guidance you hear?

Blessings-Penny

creativity

A recent visit to a neice I see very infrequently was just delightful. It was fun to see her two young boys. It was fun to see the home she has created. And it was wonderful to see her energy. She teaches American History at a large mid western university. As she talked about a course she has created, her face became alive. Her eyes smiled, her voice was animated and her description flowed. One could feel her energy.

We each have places in our lives we can be creative. We can be creative in our homes-cooking a new dish, rearranging a bedroom, painting a wall, playing a new game with our family; at work in simply being geneerous to a co-worker who annoys us; at play in trying a new sport or a new haircut!

In our spiritual lives we can take time for a new prayer-simply asking God to be with us in times of stress.

We are not trapped!

In what small places in your life can you be creative? Can you feel yourself smile both inwardly and outwardly? Can you feel new energy?

Blessings-Penny

Good news and not so good news

I want to share with you that "my publisher" has accepted a proposal for me to write a book of meditations and reflections. On one hand I am delighted-on the other hand I am intimidated. The book will be a daily reflection on things that get in the way of our relationship with God---things that prevent us from living the abundant life God wishes for us. The reflections will focus on our anxieties, our attachments and our addictions.

I am intimidated by the need for 365 reflections by mid February. And even more I am intimidated by the awareness that I may not have 365 meaningful things to say!

However the whole reason for my book on women's recovery from addictions and this blog, is to say we can take chances, we can do things we didn't know we could, we can make changes. I'll keep you posted on how that's working out!!!

What risks do you want to take?

Blessings-Penny

sooth

Our newly adopted lab/golden retriever mix is certainly providing entertainment, energy and dog hair to our home! In looking for something to manage her shedding, I came across a spray-on product that promises "soothing relief for those itchy and irritating spots" on her skin or coat.

I was thinking,wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have a spray-on product for soothing relief of those irritating spots in our lives?

What spot in your life could use some soothing?
How might you provide some soothing? --a deep breath, a phone call to a friend, a whispered prayer?

Blessings-Penny