Dancing Light

I had the place to myself and I received the brief moment before the students and teachers arrived for chapel as the gift it was.  The stillness was what struck me first, then the height of the space, but as I stood there, I looked over and saw something I’d never seen before. Light shining through one of the windows painted a colorful interpretation of the window on the white walls. It was a loose collage of color unharnessed by a window frame and it inspired me as much as the window itself.

Throughout that morning’s service and many days after, I’ve thought of those colors on the chapel walls. They’ve continued to draw me back to the moment and remind me that we all have the chance to be like those windows that created the blurry artwork. In our brief time here on earth, no matter where we were born, no matter what situation, we are windows through which God’s light wants to shine. The purpose is not to draw attention to the window but to spread color on the walls around us. The results are always unpredictably loose, unharnessed by our need for control, but when we allow God’s light to shine through us, the results are always more than we can hope for or imagine.

As we saunter through these days that are slowly becoming lighter for longer, may we accept God’s subtle invitation to allow light to shine through us more. May the colors that dance on the walls around us inspire others to allow the light to shine through them, as well.

One Word

Although I’ve always hated New Year’s Eve, I adore a new year. The chance to try again, to get a fresh start, excites me at my core and is probably why I love going to church. Most years, I sit down and create a list of goals, and, while my list is often too ambitious, at least it gets me looking forward. This year, however, my wellness coach* challenged me to put away my cumbersome list and come up with one word to guide me throughout the year. “One word!” I protested, but then got to work.

A single word can guide us in powerful ways like a star . If a person were to pick “joy,” for example, she might be drawn toward those people, places and things that bring her joy. She might also look for ways to bring joy to others, as well. Someone who picks “creative” might look for ways to explore new things or ask more questions this year. Rather than restricting my view of the year head, focusing on one word has widened my view and taken my heart to unexpected places.

After coming up with many words, I picked the word “inspire.” Given the year we’ve just been through and the way I feel about our country, in particular, I want a year in which I focus on those things that inspire me and cause me to dream and look beyond. I want the people I see, the books I read, and movies I watch to inspire me. I want the music I listen to to rev my engine and live a more inspirational life. Not only do I want it to be a year in which I am inspired, I want to do at least one thing that’s inspirational. For me, that means trying something that I am not sure I can do.

I have no idea how it will go, but I encourage you to come along. Find a word and let it guide what you think about, do, and say. My hunch is we will end up having a wonderful new year.

* Honor Jones Garrett is a gifted life/wellness coach if you want to begin working with someone who will draw out the very best from you. https://www.facebook.com/groups/726006077863232/

my first action step was to put before me a picture that would inspire me daily. i can think of no better picture or story than the 1980 olympic hockey team.

Going Back

I made my way up the snowy road to the house trying to hide my apprehension from my daughters in the car. Summoning my inner little-engine-that-could, I tried to will our way to the top of the hill, but the wheels began to spin and the car skid during our final ascent. I knew we were in trouble, so I stopped the car before it slid into the ditch and told the girls to get out and walk the final stretch while I tried to figure something out. I reversed the car and knew I could backtrack and take a longer, more gradual route to the house, but I then thought I should try to make it one last time, only to slide the car into the ditch. 

I was more frustrated than frightened, but as I looked at the car leaning into the hill I realized it was an experience well worth my contemplation, particularly when beginning a new year. I wanted to make it, I wanted to go forward and reach my destination, but the road was too steep. I was given the chance to back up and go another way, but I second-guessed that choice and tried to force my way forward, only to slide in a ditch. A new year is so often about setting goals and moving forward, but in our determination, we sometimes forget there are other ways to get there and that we might need to reverse rather than plow forward. Whether in a relationship, a business venture, or even our faith, we might need to go back before we can go forward. The most direct route may be too steep. 

I’ll find a way to get the car out, just as I’ll find a way out of whatever ditches await me in my personal and spiritual life, but I could also seize the opportunity to go back and take the longer, more gradual route before I’m in the ditch, That way, I can spend my time on more productive things.