The Odd Flower Out
I was out in the garden the other day, hanging up some laundry and enjoying the sun's warmth on my face, when I noticed something unusual. A single daisy-like flower bloomed tall and steady in the middle of one of my backyard bushes. I had seen it before—last year, in fact—and it had struck me as odd then, too. It seemed so out of place, protruding from the bush all alone in its uniqueness.
As I stood there, admiring the flower, I couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship with it. Indeed, we've all had moments where we've felt like the proverbial square peg trying to fit into a round hole. We've all experienced that sense of not quite belonging, even among those we consider to be our closest friends and family. It's a feeling of isolation, being different, and standing out like a sore thumb.
Mindfulness in Christian Living
This morning, Jason decided to treat us to homemade scones for breakfast. It was a lovely gesture, to be sure, but one that didn't quite go according to plan.
You see, our oven is a bit of a peculiar beast. It's got two knobs: one for temperature and another for the various oven controls. You can turn up the temperature without turning on the oven or turn on the oven without adjusting the temperature. We typically leave the temperature set and only fiddle with the control knob, as we're creatures of habit when it comes to baking temperatures.
Jason went about his merry way, mixing the ingredients and shaping the scones with the precision of a master baker. He popped them in the oven, set the timer, and waited for the magic to happen. But when the timer went off, he opened the oven door to find... raw dough. The scones looked exactly as they had when he'd put them in!
Swing Low, Sweet Slug
As the summer weather continues, I find myself spending more and more time outside on my swing. It's the perfect spot to enjoy the fresh air, soak up some rare Welsh sunshine, and spend time with my furry companion, Tess. I love to use this time to read my Bible, pray, or do some writing. It's my little slice of heaven here on earth.
But recently, my peaceful swing time was interrupted in a most unexpected way. As I sat there, enjoying the gentle rocking motion and the sound of birds chirping, something fell from above and landed in my lap. To my horror, I discovered it was a ginormous slug! Evidently, the slimy creature had crawled up to the top of the swing and either lost its grip or deliberately decided to pay me a visit.
Beyond the Mirror
The other day, my husband Jason came into the bedroom where I was working on my latest book. I immediately noticed a long smear of grease on his face. When I pointed it out, he chuckled and told me he had been working on a project in the kitchen and had gotten a bit dirty.
A few hours later, while I was writing in my office, he left with Tess to take her for a walk and run a few errands in town. When they returned, he walked through the door to my office, and I couldn’t help but smile. He still had the long streak of grease running down his face, and he had walked all around town that way!
The situation reminded me of the passage in James about looking in a mirror, seeing our flaws, and then walking away without doing anything about them. The mirror in James represents the Word of God.
Rest, Run, Repeat
I'm happy to say that my back is improving, and I'm having fewer episodes of intense pain and restriction. It's a relief, let me tell you! However, according to my osteopath, I still have a lot of healing to do. Oddly enough, his instructions to me at the end of each visit are the same: "Move more and get more rest."
Is it just me, or do those two instructions contradict each other? If I move more, I'm not resting, and if I rest more, I'm not moving. It's like telling someone to eat more cake and lose weight simultaneously! (FYI, that doesn't work. I've tried it…multiple times.)
I'll be honest, it's maddening trying to find the right balance of moving and resting. My mind races endlessly: Should I be up and about now? Am I pushing too hard? Is this pain a sign to stop or a hurdle to push through?