Daily 5 - Year 3, Day 161

Today's Daily 5:

1. Worship in the tiny hours of the morning, led by a friend
2. Conversation on an honest level, that encouraged my heart, with a trusted friend
3. a long bath with a good book
4. a new planner
5. the smell of an awesome meal cooking
6. playing a bingo game on facebook
7. chatting with my baby brother
8. The fact that my brother is loving cooking, and made this fabulous chocolate mousse for dessert
9. crawling into bed tired, and sleeping well
10. chances to make choices that are healthy

Daily 5 - Year 3, Day 160

Today's Daily 5:

1. Friday!
2. The opportunity to practice one of the nursing skills that we have a practical exam on next week
3. a grilled chicken pita for lunch
4. peanut butter
5. the flexibility to come home and sleep/nap for most of the evening, to be prepared for an early morning commitment.

Friday Reflections, January 27, 2012

For today's Friday Reflection, I wanted to share an image that I've linked to here before.  David Hayward shared this carton at NakedPastor again recently, and it once again grabbed at my heart, and spoke to the journey I've been on over the last number of years, and the journey I continue to be on.  A journey of starting my days from a place of being known and loved, from a place of greater confidence and rest.  It's been such a powerful journey, and this image has been a part of that.  I'd love to hear what thoughts and images that this cartoon stirs for you today.

Daily 5 - Year 3, Day 159

Today's Daily 5:

1. Waking up happy
2. bus drivers who turn the heat up
3. little routines like scripture reading on the bus
4. the small reminders that I am known and loved
5. a good day of class work
6. finishing a bit early
7. a really encouraging appointment
8. a cuddle and a hug and kiss goodnight from my favorite little guy tonight
9. gathering with home church to study the book of Mark
10. the comfort of collapsing into my own bed at the end of the night

Listening to the Internal Voices

I spent the whole of Monday with one of my closest friends, and it was fabulous to have that time to be together.  Since we have lived (and will live for the foreseeable future) on separate continents, in person, non-skype or email conversations are precious and to be cherished.  We talked about the funny, and the important, and the deeply personal, and everything in between.

We met up again for dinner after I finished class on Tuesday night, and invited another long-time friend of mine and acquaintance of L's to join us for dinner and drinks.  The conversation and laughter flowed freely again.

As I took the bus home on Tuesday night, I found myself pondering those conversations, pondering the things I'd shared first with L, and then with both of these friends who know and have known the deepest parts of me quite well.  I pondered the things I shared, and listened as a new internal voice that I've been noticing lately began to once again make itself known.

It's not a voice that is familiar, though I know it as mine.  It's not a voice that is comfortable, though I find the comfort growing.  It's a voice that makes me laugh and cringe all at once, in anticipation and nervousness abounding.

It's a voice that I hope to welcome, one that I want to give heed to.  One that calls me to pay attention, and to bring it's words before some trusted external voices and advisors in my life.

I'm anticipating where it is taking me, but in the meantime, I'm trying to sit quietly and let it find it's place.  Let this thing within my soul find full voice.  I'm trying to honor that.  And so I listen and ponder and pray as it speaks and grows in strength within me.  As it tentatively roots itself in my soul and begins again a process of transformation.  I sit and listen and pray and wait.