Sitting in my safe place, I find myself reflecting as I look out the window watching my dog frolick in the new fallen snow. Being a puppy he has never experienced snow before, so I feel joy watching him discover this strange, cold, white stuff. The snow is so deep he must jump up to run through it. With snow covering his snout, he looks back at me like a child hoping to be noticed. My daughter realizes he is outside and finds the same joy as she takes notice of him. She giggles, we make eye contact, smile, and then she takes it a step further. She finds her boots and coat and joins him in the fun. I laugh to myself, sip my tea and enjoy watching them experience such freedom and simplicity... longing sets in deep somewhere in my heart and I reflect deeper.
In my last post, I thought on the heart's tendency to be deceitful and cause pain, but the heart is also a bold place of deep longings and dreams. God-given dreams that he wants to unfold and see emerge for His glory and our good. Sometimes moments like the above can awaken our senses and remind us that we have dreams and longings that have been ignored over the years. Would dreams spring to life if simplicity and freedom marked our lives? Busyness demands every ounce of energy we have and steals away precious time. Once time is gone, it's gone! The reality of how swift time slips away has been scaring me lately.
I ask myself... is the busyness worth it? What am I doing to fill my time? What is stealing my time? I am ready as 2010 approaches. I have already set things up to create new space and time for cultivating deep God-given longings and dreams. I plan to keep writing. Writing is a dream I have had for years and never stopped long enough to consider taking it seriously. I am starting there. I have other dreams too. Photography and painting are two more. Learning ballet, and yet another silly one... getting a tattoo. :O) What about you? Are you looking inside? Are you listening to the deep longings and dreams that God has placed there? They are there for a reason. God has work he wants to do through you and your giftedness. Take time to look at your life and don't let busyness steal it anymore.
OK.... I have been on deep topics lately... I am in deep places. Next post I'll be getting back to fitness! Just a side note... Today I did one of the most challenging work-outs I have ever done... (nothing like a good challenge to tackle stress). If you get a chance go out and get the DVD "Biggest Loser Workout...Cardio Max". No joke, it's tough stuff... you WILL lose weight if you stick with this! My legs are spaghetti today. I LOVE IT!
Until next time...keep dreaming and believing!
~Donna
Monday, December 28, 2009
New Beginnings
Ready or not, a new year is here. 2010 shouts of excitement, new beginnings, discovery and hope for change while 2009 tucks itself away like a beautifully crafted memory book in the deep places of our hearts... there to stay ...forever. I love this time of year. It creates an urgency to re-examine the lives we live. To celebrate the good and rethink the not so good. To look back and to look ahead. To see where we came from, where are headed and adjust our course. You might call it making New Year's Resolutions. I prefer to call it change and growth... what naturally happens when you've lived 42 years and realize half your life is over. (ouch!... sorry anyone 42 and up).
At 42, we're now standing on top of the hill looking down over the other side. Getting to the top of the hill might tempt us to believe our best years are gone, but just because we are half way there certainly doesn't mean it's over for us. Sliding down the other side of the hill may be even more fun than the climb up. You might not struggle with thoughts like this, but I need to confess... I find myself stressing about getting older more often now than ever. Seriously, wondering if I have even hit the beginnings of a mid-life crisis. I am mad at myself when I think it's too late to explore new interests or when I believe getting older holds nothing worthwhile. As I charge straight ahead into 2010 I determine to banish this wrong picture. I determine instead to see with new eyes that the last half of life can be even better than the first. Age alone never makes life bad.
Like anything worth having however, the second half of life promises great returns only through hard work. There are tides in our lives. When we are young the tide is always behind us pushing us ahead no matter what we do or do not do. As we age the tide slowly turns until it is against us. No more free ride. That's what's so scary about aging, however, if we are willing to press into the tide and use it to become stronger we can live the last half of life with energy and vitality. We don't have to let nature run its course. We can do something about it. The great news is that the tide is not that strong unless we sit back and let it have it's way with us.
The key to pushing against the tide is understanding the nature of growth and decay. Everything in our world degenerates without care and attention. It is the same with our physical bodies. With hard work they grow to become stronger or if left sedentary and uncared for will decay and become weaker. Our bodies look to us to choose between them. Our choice to not exercise and to eat garbage without thinking creates decay and weakness. Exercise on the other hand, is the master signaler in the body to set off cycles of strengthening and repair.
Where to start? We are all at different fitness levels so our starting places will be different. The place to start is a notch beyond your current activity level. If you don't exercise at all, start moving. Take a walk to get your body used to movement again. If you run 3 miles regularly, pick it up and run 3 and 1/2 miles, or try to pick up your pace for one of the three miles. Prevent a plateau effect by challenging your body to the next level by trying something new. If you are used to a treadmill, try using a different cardio machine. In fact, I heard once its best to divide a workout into thirds. For example, use the treadmill for a third of the time, a stationary bike for a third and an eliptical machine to finish. In other words, change it up, challenge your muscles to move in a new way. Don't keep doing the same thing. A well-rounded weekly routine should also include not only cardio, but strength training and flexibility training too.
Your week might look like this...
Monday-- Strength train (an hour of using weights to tone muscles... get a "how to" dvd, they are very helpful if you don't know what you are doing).
Tuesday-- Cardio at least 30 minutes (swim, run, walk, treadmill, zumba :O), step... whatever you enjoy... just get the heart and lungs feeling it).
Wednesday-- Strength train and pilates or yoga. (again dvd's are a goldmine for info and how tos).
Thursday-- Cardio
Friday-- Strength and pilates or yoga.
Saturday-- yes saturday! Choose whatever you feel like doing.
Sunday-- Ok... you can rest.
I must mention again a great dvd I recently have been challenged by ..."The Biggest Loser Workout... Cardio Max". It combines strength training and cardio and is one tough workout. I love it. You might try it and tell me what you think.
Also check out your local newspaper! Mine had information about many new fitness classes starting up for the new year.
Lastly, I mentioned a great book I am reading called "Younger Next Year" in previous posts. There is a wealth of information about how to go about pushing against the tide in the second half of life. It is not by a Christian author but I believe what he has to say about the science of our aging bodies is insightful. Pick up a copy to renew your motivation and determination.
We have lived some great years but I believe the best is still ahead! It's our choice. Make it happen.
Love,
Donna
At 42, we're now standing on top of the hill looking down over the other side. Getting to the top of the hill might tempt us to believe our best years are gone, but just because we are half way there certainly doesn't mean it's over for us. Sliding down the other side of the hill may be even more fun than the climb up. You might not struggle with thoughts like this, but I need to confess... I find myself stressing about getting older more often now than ever. Seriously, wondering if I have even hit the beginnings of a mid-life crisis. I am mad at myself when I think it's too late to explore new interests or when I believe getting older holds nothing worthwhile. As I charge straight ahead into 2010 I determine to banish this wrong picture. I determine instead to see with new eyes that the last half of life can be even better than the first. Age alone never makes life bad.
Like anything worth having however, the second half of life promises great returns only through hard work. There are tides in our lives. When we are young the tide is always behind us pushing us ahead no matter what we do or do not do. As we age the tide slowly turns until it is against us. No more free ride. That's what's so scary about aging, however, if we are willing to press into the tide and use it to become stronger we can live the last half of life with energy and vitality. We don't have to let nature run its course. We can do something about it. The great news is that the tide is not that strong unless we sit back and let it have it's way with us.
The key to pushing against the tide is understanding the nature of growth and decay. Everything in our world degenerates without care and attention. It is the same with our physical bodies. With hard work they grow to become stronger or if left sedentary and uncared for will decay and become weaker. Our bodies look to us to choose between them. Our choice to not exercise and to eat garbage without thinking creates decay and weakness. Exercise on the other hand, is the master signaler in the body to set off cycles of strengthening and repair.
Where to start? We are all at different fitness levels so our starting places will be different. The place to start is a notch beyond your current activity level. If you don't exercise at all, start moving. Take a walk to get your body used to movement again. If you run 3 miles regularly, pick it up and run 3 and 1/2 miles, or try to pick up your pace for one of the three miles. Prevent a plateau effect by challenging your body to the next level by trying something new. If you are used to a treadmill, try using a different cardio machine. In fact, I heard once its best to divide a workout into thirds. For example, use the treadmill for a third of the time, a stationary bike for a third and an eliptical machine to finish. In other words, change it up, challenge your muscles to move in a new way. Don't keep doing the same thing. A well-rounded weekly routine should also include not only cardio, but strength training and flexibility training too.
Your week might look like this...
Monday-- Strength train (an hour of using weights to tone muscles... get a "how to" dvd, they are very helpful if you don't know what you are doing).
Tuesday-- Cardio at least 30 minutes (swim, run, walk, treadmill, zumba :O), step... whatever you enjoy... just get the heart and lungs feeling it).
Wednesday-- Strength train and pilates or yoga. (again dvd's are a goldmine for info and how tos).
Thursday-- Cardio
Friday-- Strength and pilates or yoga.
Saturday-- yes saturday! Choose whatever you feel like doing.
Sunday-- Ok... you can rest.
I must mention again a great dvd I recently have been challenged by ..."The Biggest Loser Workout... Cardio Max". It combines strength training and cardio and is one tough workout. I love it. You might try it and tell me what you think.
Also check out your local newspaper! Mine had information about many new fitness classes starting up for the new year.
Lastly, I mentioned a great book I am reading called "Younger Next Year" in previous posts. There is a wealth of information about how to go about pushing against the tide in the second half of life. It is not by a Christian author but I believe what he has to say about the science of our aging bodies is insightful. Pick up a copy to renew your motivation and determination.
We have lived some great years but I believe the best is still ahead! It's our choice. Make it happen.
Love,
Donna
Monday, December 21, 2009
A Matter of the Heart
Driving in the dark, down an empty highway after midnight the powerful reality of what I had done cut deep in my heart. The tears welled up and blurred my vision. My gut was tied up in a hundred knots as I began to think through the consequences of my choices. My mind began to race as I tried hard to trace back to the point when my choices veered off onto the slippery slope. "HOW DID I GET HERE?"
Then just as quickly as I asked the question out loud, truth spoke almost as if I heard an audible voice.
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure... who can understand it?"
Surprisingly, a sense of judgment and condemnation did not come over me, but instead a sense of compassion and intense longing and love as if God was gently revealing not only this amazing truth, but also of his ability to be in control. Driving along the empty highway was just where he wanted me to be at this exact moment in time. A gentle reminder overcame me as I realized the state of my heart. Your heart will deceive you every time if you let it, my love. I long to be the keeper of your heart. Give it back to me once again. It constantly must be bathed in grace and truth. Follow hard after me. You won't be disappointed. No matter how mature you think you might be in your faith, or how badly your mistake, do well to remember the heart is beyond cure... beyond understanding. Keep it with me. Understand my unmerited grace and the agony of the cross my Son gladly bore for you. Just put "that" right there.
As I let "that" go a deep movement of His grace poured out and I felt His jealous love for me fill in the empty places. This is real freedom. He is all I need. I must get up, learn from this and keep looking up when looking in takes me places I should not go.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Lamentations 3:22
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy... I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anythng else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Then just as quickly as I asked the question out loud, truth spoke almost as if I heard an audible voice.
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure... who can understand it?"
Surprisingly, a sense of judgment and condemnation did not come over me, but instead a sense of compassion and intense longing and love as if God was gently revealing not only this amazing truth, but also of his ability to be in control. Driving along the empty highway was just where he wanted me to be at this exact moment in time. A gentle reminder overcame me as I realized the state of my heart. Your heart will deceive you every time if you let it, my love. I long to be the keeper of your heart. Give it back to me once again. It constantly must be bathed in grace and truth. Follow hard after me. You won't be disappointed. No matter how mature you think you might be in your faith, or how badly your mistake, do well to remember the heart is beyond cure... beyond understanding. Keep it with me. Understand my unmerited grace and the agony of the cross my Son gladly bore for you. Just put "that" right there.
As I let "that" go a deep movement of His grace poured out and I felt His jealous love for me fill in the empty places. This is real freedom. He is all I need. I must get up, learn from this and keep looking up when looking in takes me places I should not go.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Lamentations 3:22
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy... I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anythng else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Success Stories
I love fitness success stories...
Here's one of a 42 year old home school mom who left a job as a nurse 15 years earlier to be home with her kids. She loved to teach and plan meaningful activities for her three growing children. She poured her life into developing her children and thrilled herself in the process of influencing them for good. In her down time she read and prepared and cleaned and did and did for her family. Although she loved her busy life serving her family, she began to notice how sedentary her lifestyle was becoming and how truly neglectful she was becoming of her own wellness. She used to be active, in great shape with boundless energy and missed the sense of strength and well-being she had had from earlier days. How long ago that all seemed. Troubling thoughts about the swiftness of time came in like a flood and jolted her into action. The last 15 years were a blur. Where would she be in the NEXT 15 years? The picture she imagined in her mind was not pleasant. A new urgency for change pressed in and did not let up.
Almost immediately, she started walking. She even found a new desire to get off to the gym early enough to lift a few weights before the day's agenda had a chance to demand her full attention. The more consistent she was the more her body craved and then demanded what it desperately needed. She hated missing. Without dieting or going into any specific program she began to see the pounds melt away. Her husband began to notice and admired what he saw. He complimented her and praised her for her new determination. Friends too began to notice and wondered if they should join her in her new found discipline. Eventually she made it down to the same weight she had before kids and was now working out up to 5-6 days a week. Her new routine included good heart-pumping cardio exercise everyday, muscle building, metabolisim increasing strength-training 3 times a week, and relaxing, rejuvinating yoga/pilates 2 times a week for at least one hour a day. She woke one day to find herself in her forties, looking and and feeling better than she ever had. She loved her life, and even more now that she had given herself permission to pursue this new energy-giving balance. A balance she determined she would not just begin with, but continue with for the rest of her life.
Her secret for this new determination from the beginning was to begin her new exercise routine (starting slow at first) with a new self-image. Picturing who she could be from earlier days and keeping that picture in mind until she accomplished the goal. She also filled her mind with truth about herself. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My body was made to function best through movement. I can celebrate who I am and glorify God through being thankful for how strong my body is capable of being. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength! God made me and loves me. I can give more to my family and friends when I am strong energetic and healthy. Exercising is part of my God-given duty to be a good steward of who I am."
You might like to try this too. Draw a picture of you swiftly running with no extra weight dragging you down. You are not huffing and puffing but rather breathing strong and steady taking in the refreshing breeze through your hair and the healing rays of the sun on your face. The adreneline and endorphins awaken a new energy deep inside and even though you are on your last mile you feel you could keep going. Or maybe for you it's going to be walking down your neighborhood trail and because of consistent strength training, you notice longer, leaner muscles as you pass by an unexpected reflection of yourself. Not that our physical appearance is all we think about, but a more beautiful you will emerge when you are healthier, more alive, and energetic and it's OK to enjoy that too.
What's your fitness success story? What better time to start picturing it than today. Rely on God who designed your body with a capability to replace what once was weak and troubling with strength, energy and new life.
Make it Happen!
~Donna
Here's one of a 42 year old home school mom who left a job as a nurse 15 years earlier to be home with her kids. She loved to teach and plan meaningful activities for her three growing children. She poured her life into developing her children and thrilled herself in the process of influencing them for good. In her down time she read and prepared and cleaned and did and did for her family. Although she loved her busy life serving her family, she began to notice how sedentary her lifestyle was becoming and how truly neglectful she was becoming of her own wellness. She used to be active, in great shape with boundless energy and missed the sense of strength and well-being she had had from earlier days. How long ago that all seemed. Troubling thoughts about the swiftness of time came in like a flood and jolted her into action. The last 15 years were a blur. Where would she be in the NEXT 15 years? The picture she imagined in her mind was not pleasant. A new urgency for change pressed in and did not let up.
Almost immediately, she started walking. She even found a new desire to get off to the gym early enough to lift a few weights before the day's agenda had a chance to demand her full attention. The more consistent she was the more her body craved and then demanded what it desperately needed. She hated missing. Without dieting or going into any specific program she began to see the pounds melt away. Her husband began to notice and admired what he saw. He complimented her and praised her for her new determination. Friends too began to notice and wondered if they should join her in her new found discipline. Eventually she made it down to the same weight she had before kids and was now working out up to 5-6 days a week. Her new routine included good heart-pumping cardio exercise everyday, muscle building, metabolisim increasing strength-training 3 times a week, and relaxing, rejuvinating yoga/pilates 2 times a week for at least one hour a day. She woke one day to find herself in her forties, looking and and feeling better than she ever had. She loved her life, and even more now that she had given herself permission to pursue this new energy-giving balance. A balance she determined she would not just begin with, but continue with for the rest of her life.
Her secret for this new determination from the beginning was to begin her new exercise routine (starting slow at first) with a new self-image. Picturing who she could be from earlier days and keeping that picture in mind until she accomplished the goal. She also filled her mind with truth about herself. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My body was made to function best through movement. I can celebrate who I am and glorify God through being thankful for how strong my body is capable of being. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength! God made me and loves me. I can give more to my family and friends when I am strong energetic and healthy. Exercising is part of my God-given duty to be a good steward of who I am."
You might like to try this too. Draw a picture of you swiftly running with no extra weight dragging you down. You are not huffing and puffing but rather breathing strong and steady taking in the refreshing breeze through your hair and the healing rays of the sun on your face. The adreneline and endorphins awaken a new energy deep inside and even though you are on your last mile you feel you could keep going. Or maybe for you it's going to be walking down your neighborhood trail and because of consistent strength training, you notice longer, leaner muscles as you pass by an unexpected reflection of yourself. Not that our physical appearance is all we think about, but a more beautiful you will emerge when you are healthier, more alive, and energetic and it's OK to enjoy that too.
What's your fitness success story? What better time to start picturing it than today. Rely on God who designed your body with a capability to replace what once was weak and troubling with strength, energy and new life.
Make it Happen!
~Donna
Monday, December 7, 2009
Limbic Dance
This time of year always tries to press me into the mold of a harried, stressed out woman who strives for the perfect Christmas celebration for my family. I say "tries" because I am often surprised that, though I do feel stress, I don't seem to mind it as much as I do at other "ordinary" times of the year.
I wonder if it could be that the stress I experience preparing for Christmas is simply more "worth it" because I am anticipating something meaningful to come. Something I long for and need more than I realize and can't always quickly put my finger on. The meaningful something, I finally realize when I ponder long enough, is connection. Connection on a deeper level. Not only my own need for connection, but my desire and ability to create meaningful connections for my family and friends. And ultimately experiencing a deeper connection with God. God, who set things up when he prepared for thousands of years and then ushered in the very first Christmas miracle. He did it all in anticipation of connecting deeply with me and you.
Connecting is the beautiful dance of life... it's what we all long for. Christmas preparation sets the stage for meaningful, memorable connections to happen on Christmas Day. But what about the rest of the year? Do I slow down enough to really connect with others and with God? All of life is meant for making meaningful connections... not just at Christmas.
Meaningful connections are not only important but are extremely vital if we want to thrive, especially in the latter years of life. When our lives are nothing but running and striving we miss out. We reach a healthier balance when we slow down and experience emotions of love, joy, pleasure and play. When we connect with each other.
Reading up in my latest choice health and wellness book..."Younger Next Year"... I was intrigued with the following thoughts about connecting...
Did you know the brain has a magical place where the "connecting emotions" play out. This magical place is called the limbic brain. The limbic brain reads the real world and makes emotions out of it. Little happens in our limbic brain when we look at trees or rocks, but when we look at people, people's faces in particular, something explosive happens in the brain. When we look at people we look with a hungry intensity for connection. Functional MRI scanning shows massive sections of the brain waking up to process the information when we are looking at someones face. The limbic brain is devoted to absorbing and interpreting every nuance of facial expression. When a listener leans in to take interest in what we are saying, when we feel a soft touch of understanding or a smile of acceptance and pleasure, this tuning in emotionally creates a great circle of chemistry and a beautiful limbic dance happens either between two people or between a group of people. It is an extraordinary process and happens every second we spend with people. When we tune into each other we effect each other's moods. We have the power to change each other's moods and the experience feels good... or at least it should. We cannot do without the limbic dance of life.
For so many of us the limbic dance becomes optional or just simply too much work. I admit, sometimes it feels really good, other times it just seems awkward and unpleasant. Regardless of negative experiences I am convinced giving up is not a healthy option. I think so often people just don't know what to do to build meaningful relationships. Do we try to make it too complicated? When I ask myself what I need from friends/family the answer is simple... to be listened to and cared about. If that's what I need then I can also give that out. I don't have to have long complicated answers to people's issues, just a few engaging questions, a shoulder to lean on, ears to hear and a heart that genuinely cares.
I'm convinced being healthy means realizing relationships matter and need to be cultivated. I feel a new urgency to exercise not only my physical muscles this year but now too my limbic muscles for deeper stronger connections. It's a must for survival and delivers fantastic pay off if I don't give up. I look forward to finding new ways ways to givie myself and others the gift of a limbic dance not only at Christmas but all year long.
Let's connect, commit and be young!
~Donna
I wonder if it could be that the stress I experience preparing for Christmas is simply more "worth it" because I am anticipating something meaningful to come. Something I long for and need more than I realize and can't always quickly put my finger on. The meaningful something, I finally realize when I ponder long enough, is connection. Connection on a deeper level. Not only my own need for connection, but my desire and ability to create meaningful connections for my family and friends. And ultimately experiencing a deeper connection with God. God, who set things up when he prepared for thousands of years and then ushered in the very first Christmas miracle. He did it all in anticipation of connecting deeply with me and you.
Connecting is the beautiful dance of life... it's what we all long for. Christmas preparation sets the stage for meaningful, memorable connections to happen on Christmas Day. But what about the rest of the year? Do I slow down enough to really connect with others and with God? All of life is meant for making meaningful connections... not just at Christmas.
Meaningful connections are not only important but are extremely vital if we want to thrive, especially in the latter years of life. When our lives are nothing but running and striving we miss out. We reach a healthier balance when we slow down and experience emotions of love, joy, pleasure and play. When we connect with each other.
Reading up in my latest choice health and wellness book..."Younger Next Year"... I was intrigued with the following thoughts about connecting...
Did you know the brain has a magical place where the "connecting emotions" play out. This magical place is called the limbic brain. The limbic brain reads the real world and makes emotions out of it. Little happens in our limbic brain when we look at trees or rocks, but when we look at people, people's faces in particular, something explosive happens in the brain. When we look at people we look with a hungry intensity for connection. Functional MRI scanning shows massive sections of the brain waking up to process the information when we are looking at someones face. The limbic brain is devoted to absorbing and interpreting every nuance of facial expression. When a listener leans in to take interest in what we are saying, when we feel a soft touch of understanding or a smile of acceptance and pleasure, this tuning in emotionally creates a great circle of chemistry and a beautiful limbic dance happens either between two people or between a group of people. It is an extraordinary process and happens every second we spend with people. When we tune into each other we effect each other's moods. We have the power to change each other's moods and the experience feels good... or at least it should. We cannot do without the limbic dance of life.
For so many of us the limbic dance becomes optional or just simply too much work. I admit, sometimes it feels really good, other times it just seems awkward and unpleasant. Regardless of negative experiences I am convinced giving up is not a healthy option. I think so often people just don't know what to do to build meaningful relationships. Do we try to make it too complicated? When I ask myself what I need from friends/family the answer is simple... to be listened to and cared about. If that's what I need then I can also give that out. I don't have to have long complicated answers to people's issues, just a few engaging questions, a shoulder to lean on, ears to hear and a heart that genuinely cares.
I'm convinced being healthy means realizing relationships matter and need to be cultivated. I feel a new urgency to exercise not only my physical muscles this year but now too my limbic muscles for deeper stronger connections. It's a must for survival and delivers fantastic pay off if I don't give up. I look forward to finding new ways ways to givie myself and others the gift of a limbic dance not only at Christmas but all year long.
Let's connect, commit and be young!
~Donna
Monday, November 30, 2009
Divine Inerruptions
She woke up to find that 3 of her 6 family members were down and out. The sound of massive sneezing and sighs of misery first came from the person next to her. Her husband. "Oh no, please.. anybody but him," she thought. Next, as she walked into each bedroom she found her 13 year old son was next to show signs. He looked pale for a usually darker olive skinned toned boy. He had watery eyes and said his neck felt achy. Her 15 year old son passed with flying colors! He was up and ready to tackle the day. "Thank goodness he's ok," she thought to herself. She also breathed a sigh of relief to find daughter number 2 bright-eyed and happy to see the day. Daughter number 1 however seemed the worst of all. She immediately felt compassion and even worried about daughter number 1. She was hot to the touch, pale, dry lipped and stuffed up like her face was on the verge of exploding. Daughter 1 tried to speak but it came out sounding like a snooty operator. Poor thing. A call to the doctor would have to be next. And yes, it would interrupt her previously planned agenda for the day. She felt compassion for her family but also noticed there was a little selfish disappointment in her heart at the same time.
It had been several weeks of this same interruption which put the list of things she really wanted to do on hold. She stopped long enough to lift her heart up to God and listen to what he might like to say about her present state of heart. After a few minutes of quiet contemplation... she said inside... "Interruptions are not by chance. Interruptions are divine opportunities to come forth as gold! What will I do? Continue in my bad attitude and gripe, complain and rot inside as I try to serve my family with a fake smile, or with God's help genuinely rid myself of this selfish disgust, be thankful I have a family and serve with a heart that is moldable in the hands of God?" I have to care for them either way. I would be stupid not to see this as a chance to live and grow and continue to crucify the sinful nature."
"Why do I struggle with this at all God? If anyone looked inside my heart how dark it would seem. Thank you there is you!!! On days like today, THANK YOU THERE IS YOU!"
It had been several weeks of this same interruption which put the list of things she really wanted to do on hold. She stopped long enough to lift her heart up to God and listen to what he might like to say about her present state of heart. After a few minutes of quiet contemplation... she said inside... "Interruptions are not by chance. Interruptions are divine opportunities to come forth as gold! What will I do? Continue in my bad attitude and gripe, complain and rot inside as I try to serve my family with a fake smile, or with God's help genuinely rid myself of this selfish disgust, be thankful I have a family and serve with a heart that is moldable in the hands of God?" I have to care for them either way. I would be stupid not to see this as a chance to live and grow and continue to crucify the sinful nature."
"Why do I struggle with this at all God? If anyone looked inside my heart how dark it would seem. Thank you there is you!!! On days like today, THANK YOU THERE IS YOU!"
Monday, November 23, 2009
Bringing a Little Heaven to Earth
My heart is full as I reflect on my travels to China earlier this month. How do I share such an experience? Where do I start? Such a trip brought me to places of deeper wonder and appreciation for the level of diversity in the world. It also brought me to places of frustration and realization of my total selfishness and longing for what was familiar. It brought me to think on the heart of God and how much I saw Him in my dear friends who serve there so faithfully year after year. They persevere to embrace the culture and language of a very DIFFERENT people group. I admire their slow and steady efforts to genuinely love and offer friendship to the specific people God brings their way. They know what it means when God says that LOVE IS THE GREATEST THING YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR LIFE.
Would you join me as I journey back on all I saw, heard, smelled and tasted during my trip? Coming straight from my heart felt journal entries...
11/12/09
Rick asked me this morning what the most surprising part about being in China has been. I thought, and the first thing that came to mind was I am surprised by how big China is and so modern. Not sure what I was expecting, but the cities we have been in are huge! During interaction over an interesting boiling "hot pot" meal where you dip various kinds of meat and vegetables into boiling water in the center of the table and then attempt to lift them all out with chopsticks...yeah right... a Chinese friend of Les and Karla (named Rick also) informed us that the city we were in has grown over the last 20 years from 40,000 to 8 million people! There are people everywhere. You should see the streets! It's instant stress and tension that you can feel rising up in your neck and shoulders and gives you an instant headache. Cars, bikes, taxis, buses, rickshaws, scooters, and even people walking all over the very busy roads like it was nothing at all. Everyone is pushing their way ahead (no defensive driving lessons in China) and if you get in someone's way they will honk loud and long to let you know. When we crossed the street I found it best to hold Karla's arm and just close my eyes and blindly walk and pray until we made it safely across to the other side. Same was true for Taxi rides. It was best to close my eyes and try to relax. Les called the front seat passengers side the "Hello Jesus seat" because there are so many near misses to that corner of the car. Such a different way of life in something as simple as the way people drive. Whew!
Not only do I see crowds surrounding me, but it is a crowd that continually tends to stare at me. It's very uncomfortable really. Sometimes I am tempted to make a funny face when they keep staring. :O) Karla says on an especially difficult day, she sometimes will do something super silly to really give them something to look at. She says it keeps her sane. I love that!
Did you know that in China the government purposely does something called "seeding" the clouds? It somehow causes them to condense and precipitate faster. It helps clean the smoggy air. Well it has certainly been raining AND SNOWING! Bummer. Karla says it must be part of God's plan to help us really get a taste of their lives there when they go for painfully long stretches of time with clouds. You have to understand when it's cloudy in China... IT'S CLOUDY!!!! Because of the smog it is often foggy and darker than usual, like one of those mysterious foggy looking dreams you walk through as you sleep soundly. I feel heavy walking through it some days and have to fight feeling depressed even.
I have also experienced a damp, cold and chilled to the bone sensation most of the time. The government does not turn on the heat in the city until November 15th. Les and Karla's apartment has heaters in each room so we are nice and toasty every night, but during the day going from place to place is another story. Many of the shopping places we have visited are outdoors with just plastic tarps for coverings. Rick did not pack for cold to the bone weather so we shopped one day for a coat. Entering shops is a whole experience in itself. The shop owners surround you pointing to various items and pushing a sale to the point of practically giving it to you for free. Rick's coat which would have cost $125.00 in the States, he paid $25.00 for in the China shops. :O) I LIKE THAT!!!!
Speaking of good deals!!!! Karla graciously brought me to visit her Chiropractor. I wasn't sure what to expect but left amazed at the excellent quality 45 minute back massage and adjustment I received all for $5.00. :O) I left feeling like I wanted to turn right around and do it again. A haircut includes a 30 minute head/shoulder and arm massage and costs... get this... $3.00! Why isn't that kind of great service for reasonable prices part of our culture? Oh, how I wish it was so! Oh, and eating out is the preferred way to go in China... shopping at the market and cooking at home costs more money and time than eating out. And the food choices are very healthy. Those are things I could get used to very easily!!! Oh the yogurt... I know, random, but I had to mention it.
I can't help but also notice the women of China. They are just beautiful to look at. It is interesting to me to see modern hairstyles on most of them as well. I always envision their hair being too straight to be styled into anything much. Oh no... long beautiful, wavy styled hair. They all wear high heel boots and look so elegant to me. So dignified and serious... and beautiful!
Our first night in Beijing we stayed in a Youth Hostel. My first thought... "OK... This is different." I walked into a cool, dimly lit lobby area which was small, cramped and cozy with lots of character. Two small picnic tables to the left. Couches with floral prints and big soft pillows faced each other with a table in between. Wooden floors and walls. A low ceiling with plants hanging overhead to add to the homeyness of the place. We walked through a small doorway out into the center patio/garden area. More picnic tables, hanging plants and candles. The ground was made of uneven brick type material. Another door took us down a long, narrow, dimly lit hallway into our rooms. The rooms were surprisingly different than the first impression of the place. More modern looking space just big enough to fit the simple low to the ground beds. A toilet right off to the left of the bed and a shower to the right. It was all part of the experience of being in China. Why stay at Holiday Inn when you can experience a Youth Hostel? I'm glad we did.
I know this is getting really long... anyone still reading???? Anyone???
We traveled from Beijing to Xian via train. We took the 10 hour overnight ride. "Hmmmm" I thought as we boarded and wondered how we would get any sleep on a train. I was pleasantly surprised how relaxing it was. The gentle rocking motion and humming sounds lulled me to sleep nicely that night. I woke up enthusiastic about catching new sights from the large window of our cabin. For some silly reason that song from Aladdin "A Whole New World"entered my mind as I watched in wonder (lame, I know). But it's true... it is a whole new world to me. The way a new culture awakens the senses blows me away. The rolling hills were a refreshing sight to see. Not something I see much in the Midwest. As I watched I wondered why some of the hills had cave like looking holes in them. Karla mentioned, believe it or not, that some people live in the caves I saw. They are cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Whoa! I would love to see one.
The Great Wall!!!! Nothing quite like it. Amazing what the people of ancient past were capable of. I just keep thinking about the thousands of years of China's history. As we drove back into town after walking The Wall, Les shared that everytime China begins to dig in any given area for development they more likely than not unearth ancient findings. I was tempted to go out and start digging to see what I could find. :O)
I have shared some of the highlights of discovering a new culture. Eight days is hardly enough time to truly discover it. Processing a new culture takes years and years of engaging it. Not sure I am called to that. Not sure I want to be. (should I dare to say that?) Les and Karla some days might tell you the same thing. I was most impressed and impacted by them and the rest of the Asia Quest team and the Chinese people we met. I love the way they so faithfully pray for ways to engage this culture to bring a little bit of heaven to the earth. To "Let their light shine so that the Chinese may see their good deeds and Praise their Father in Heaven!" That's what this life is all about... God desires to restore all things to himself to make all things NEW! We can bring a little bit of heaven to our own world everyday as we seek to glorify God in our lives.
I am still learning how to post pictures on my blog... I need my blogging buddy to show me more. In the mean time become my friend on facebook and visit my facebook profile page to see some of the pictures we took while in China. Thanks for reading!!! Until next time, God bless!
~Donna
Would you join me as I journey back on all I saw, heard, smelled and tasted during my trip? Coming straight from my heart felt journal entries...
11/12/09
Rick asked me this morning what the most surprising part about being in China has been. I thought, and the first thing that came to mind was I am surprised by how big China is and so modern. Not sure what I was expecting, but the cities we have been in are huge! During interaction over an interesting boiling "hot pot" meal where you dip various kinds of meat and vegetables into boiling water in the center of the table and then attempt to lift them all out with chopsticks...yeah right... a Chinese friend of Les and Karla (named Rick also) informed us that the city we were in has grown over the last 20 years from 40,000 to 8 million people! There are people everywhere. You should see the streets! It's instant stress and tension that you can feel rising up in your neck and shoulders and gives you an instant headache. Cars, bikes, taxis, buses, rickshaws, scooters, and even people walking all over the very busy roads like it was nothing at all. Everyone is pushing their way ahead (no defensive driving lessons in China) and if you get in someone's way they will honk loud and long to let you know. When we crossed the street I found it best to hold Karla's arm and just close my eyes and blindly walk and pray until we made it safely across to the other side. Same was true for Taxi rides. It was best to close my eyes and try to relax. Les called the front seat passengers side the "Hello Jesus seat" because there are so many near misses to that corner of the car. Such a different way of life in something as simple as the way people drive. Whew!
Not only do I see crowds surrounding me, but it is a crowd that continually tends to stare at me. It's very uncomfortable really. Sometimes I am tempted to make a funny face when they keep staring. :O) Karla says on an especially difficult day, she sometimes will do something super silly to really give them something to look at. She says it keeps her sane. I love that!
Did you know that in China the government purposely does something called "seeding" the clouds? It somehow causes them to condense and precipitate faster. It helps clean the smoggy air. Well it has certainly been raining AND SNOWING! Bummer. Karla says it must be part of God's plan to help us really get a taste of their lives there when they go for painfully long stretches of time with clouds. You have to understand when it's cloudy in China... IT'S CLOUDY!!!! Because of the smog it is often foggy and darker than usual, like one of those mysterious foggy looking dreams you walk through as you sleep soundly. I feel heavy walking through it some days and have to fight feeling depressed even.
I have also experienced a damp, cold and chilled to the bone sensation most of the time. The government does not turn on the heat in the city until November 15th. Les and Karla's apartment has heaters in each room so we are nice and toasty every night, but during the day going from place to place is another story. Many of the shopping places we have visited are outdoors with just plastic tarps for coverings. Rick did not pack for cold to the bone weather so we shopped one day for a coat. Entering shops is a whole experience in itself. The shop owners surround you pointing to various items and pushing a sale to the point of practically giving it to you for free. Rick's coat which would have cost $125.00 in the States, he paid $25.00 for in the China shops. :O) I LIKE THAT!!!!
Speaking of good deals!!!! Karla graciously brought me to visit her Chiropractor. I wasn't sure what to expect but left amazed at the excellent quality 45 minute back massage and adjustment I received all for $5.00. :O) I left feeling like I wanted to turn right around and do it again. A haircut includes a 30 minute head/shoulder and arm massage and costs... get this... $3.00! Why isn't that kind of great service for reasonable prices part of our culture? Oh, how I wish it was so! Oh, and eating out is the preferred way to go in China... shopping at the market and cooking at home costs more money and time than eating out. And the food choices are very healthy. Those are things I could get used to very easily!!! Oh the yogurt... I know, random, but I had to mention it.
I can't help but also notice the women of China. They are just beautiful to look at. It is interesting to me to see modern hairstyles on most of them as well. I always envision their hair being too straight to be styled into anything much. Oh no... long beautiful, wavy styled hair. They all wear high heel boots and look so elegant to me. So dignified and serious... and beautiful!
Our first night in Beijing we stayed in a Youth Hostel. My first thought... "OK... This is different." I walked into a cool, dimly lit lobby area which was small, cramped and cozy with lots of character. Two small picnic tables to the left. Couches with floral prints and big soft pillows faced each other with a table in between. Wooden floors and walls. A low ceiling with plants hanging overhead to add to the homeyness of the place. We walked through a small doorway out into the center patio/garden area. More picnic tables, hanging plants and candles. The ground was made of uneven brick type material. Another door took us down a long, narrow, dimly lit hallway into our rooms. The rooms were surprisingly different than the first impression of the place. More modern looking space just big enough to fit the simple low to the ground beds. A toilet right off to the left of the bed and a shower to the right. It was all part of the experience of being in China. Why stay at Holiday Inn when you can experience a Youth Hostel? I'm glad we did.
I know this is getting really long... anyone still reading???? Anyone???
We traveled from Beijing to Xian via train. We took the 10 hour overnight ride. "Hmmmm" I thought as we boarded and wondered how we would get any sleep on a train. I was pleasantly surprised how relaxing it was. The gentle rocking motion and humming sounds lulled me to sleep nicely that night. I woke up enthusiastic about catching new sights from the large window of our cabin. For some silly reason that song from Aladdin "A Whole New World"entered my mind as I watched in wonder (lame, I know). But it's true... it is a whole new world to me. The way a new culture awakens the senses blows me away. The rolling hills were a refreshing sight to see. Not something I see much in the Midwest. As I watched I wondered why some of the hills had cave like looking holes in them. Karla mentioned, believe it or not, that some people live in the caves I saw. They are cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Whoa! I would love to see one.
The Great Wall!!!! Nothing quite like it. Amazing what the people of ancient past were capable of. I just keep thinking about the thousands of years of China's history. As we drove back into town after walking The Wall, Les shared that everytime China begins to dig in any given area for development they more likely than not unearth ancient findings. I was tempted to go out and start digging to see what I could find. :O)
I have shared some of the highlights of discovering a new culture. Eight days is hardly enough time to truly discover it. Processing a new culture takes years and years of engaging it. Not sure I am called to that. Not sure I want to be. (should I dare to say that?) Les and Karla some days might tell you the same thing. I was most impressed and impacted by them and the rest of the Asia Quest team and the Chinese people we met. I love the way they so faithfully pray for ways to engage this culture to bring a little bit of heaven to the earth. To "Let their light shine so that the Chinese may see their good deeds and Praise their Father in Heaven!" That's what this life is all about... God desires to restore all things to himself to make all things NEW! We can bring a little bit of heaven to our own world everyday as we seek to glorify God in our lives.
I am still learning how to post pictures on my blog... I need my blogging buddy to show me more. In the mean time become my friend on facebook and visit my facebook profile page to see some of the pictures we took while in China. Thanks for reading!!! Until next time, God bless!
~Donna
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)