Right Place At The Right Time

I have a friend who is slowly returning to the church. I have met with her a few times. We have talked about what she thinks she needs to do to strengthen her testimony. She has been less active long enough that she feels like she needs to start from the beginning again and thought that maybe she should meet with the missionaries. The next time I met with her, she told me the missionaries had texted her some scriptures and spiritual thoughts. I hadn't asked them to do that.

Later, I asked the sisters later why they had decided to text her and they were so happy to hear that they were totally inspired to send her those messages. It was just what she needed. Those sisters are prayerfully working on finding new people to teach and their decision to contact her was no coincidence. 

Just like the women in Matthew 25 who did not have enough oil in their lamps....they left to go fill up when maybe they should have filled up in the morning so they could stay. It's a good lesson. I think the Lord guides us in our study and what we focus on so that we can be prepared to serve the people around us when the right time comes up.

Mastering Your Powers of Observation

Georgia O'Keefe: Nobody sees a flower, really. It is so small. We haven't time and to see, takes time. When we pause to see what's around us, I mean really see it, it not only broadens our awareness, it enriches our lives.

-delighted by the details

-slow down and digest the details 

How perceptive are you?
Do you mindfully observe your surroundings?
Do you rush through on to your next...whatever?

Could you start to carry a metaphorical sketchpad?

Learn to stop and SEE the roses, in addition to smelling them.

What Are You Carrying?

 I woke up the other night with an analogy on my mind that stole my sleep. It spoke to me plainly, as though I was having a conversation with someone directly.

I was carrying a big rock. It was heavy and hard to handle. People kept asking me to do things that meant I couldn't put the rock down. I'd smile and do the best I could - but physically, it was almost doing me in. I kept telling myself I was crazy to keep carrying this rock, but the truth was, I had no choice. 

I carried it through teaching adults and children. I carried it in meetings where we talked about the rock. I carried it while I was bowling. I carried it while having to talk to crowds about all the great things going on. I would ask if I could put it down every time - but people would smile and shake their heads and tell me I'd figure it out. They'd try to ignore the rock mostly, but now and then would ask how it's going carrying that rock. I asked if I could have some tools to help me with this rock. I asked if I could have some time to figure out how to put it down. All the time, the answer was, "Sorry. You have to figure out how to do more than one thing at a time."

Tonight I finally put down the rock. I'm going to have to figure out how to break this rock into pieces so that my sciatic nerve doesn't rebel against me for a month ever again.