Acts 21, tells the story of how when Paul returned to Jerusalem some of the Jewish people grabbed him and started yelling “Friends, help us! This man goes around everywhere, saying bad things about our nation and about the Law of Moses and about this temple” (Acts 21:28). When the rioting crowd was brought to … Continue reading Mindedness
Tag: peace
Squinty Eyes
“… Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky…” Luke 11:33-36 … Continue reading Squinty Eyes
Worrier Warrior
I do my fair share of worrying but my best and most committed worrying (the kind I stay awake for) is done for those closest to me. The other day I was worrying about the length of time my adult son was on his computer. I suggested (insisted) he went for a walk. He pointed … Continue reading Worrier Warrior
Hide behind
Photo by Tamara Govedarov on Unsplash Last week I received a nasty email. To say I was upset would be an understatement. I clicked reply. My fingers banging furiously on the keyboard. First, though I deleted her email address - I was having an unedited rant that I knew couldn’t be sent. I then sat on it … Continue reading Hide behind
Mind bashing body
My Dad shared this revelation with me this week, and I think it is so important. The mind used to keep us safe. It would tell us when to run and when to hide. It would help us find shelter and food but those aren’t things, we generally have to worry about now, so the … Continue reading Mind bashing body
Loud Thoughts
I was laying in bed, brooding about my day when it came to me that I was having “Loud thoughts”. Loud because the increased volume and repetition of this thinking were demanding my attention and upsetting my peace. There would be no sleep with all this noise. Loud is insistent. She thinks we should … Continue reading Loud Thoughts
Fear-based stress
Today’s COVID-19 update will soon be known. My partner, watching the evening news, will feel compelled to share it with me. He knows I prefer life in a news-free bubble but still, he’ll come and say “I’ll just tell you this …” These updates and others like it, feel like someone’s recount of a … Continue reading Fear-based stress
Dangling carrots
An insight has inspired me to view “upsets” as dangling carrots vying for my attention. “Look at ME”, they say. “Talk about ME.” “Think about ME.” “STAY AWAKE with me!” They distract! Sometimes for hours. Sometimes for days and for one or two “issues”; actual years! Disrupting, distorting, derailing: Progress, productivity, creativity. This dangling carrot: … Continue reading Dangling carrots
Worry Not
Here’s some wisdom on worry that’s worth sharing. Thanks, Dad! Whatever it is that you’re worried about, ask yourself this question… “If I don’t do anything about this situation, what will change in the next 5 minutes?” Extrapolate that question out… “What about in two hours?” “What about overnight?” “If I don’t do anything … Continue reading Worry Not
Head-tale
I’m driving home from work and the guy in the lane beside me, cuts in front of me. Expletives pour from my mouth, the horn is honked. And thus begins a charged narrative about “that stupid jerk”. From this single encounter, an elaborate head-tale, a story I believe. Byron Katie challenges the narrative: Is … Continue reading Head-tale
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