Self-Care...

It's been a longish week.

Lots of things going on personally and professionally.

I knew this would be the sort of Friday night where I'd need to treat myself gently.

To ease myself into a time of prayer and writing.

So I made plans to care for myself.

I picked up dinner - take out, but healthy take-out.

I shopped for a while. Bought some products for self-pampering.

And then I came home.

I caught up on a favorite television show online.

I filed and buffed and shined and painted my fingernails. And then repeated the process with my toenails.

I put a warming masque on my face, and relaxed in the bathtub for a while.

I shaved my legs, and slathered them with lovely scented cream.

I moisturized my face with more care and nicer products than usual.

I took a long shower and washed my hair.

I put on perfume.

And now I'm resting. Slowly settling into a space where my heart (which has, in some ways been praying all evening) can enter into communion with Jesus. Where I can read and find words to write some of the things that Jesus and I have been talking about in the last day or two. Where my heart can focus inward, and I can let myself be held and loved and treated gently by Jesus.

Goodnight.

In the News...

Some headlines catching my attention today...

Judge's Report Calls for Sweeping Changes to NB Mental Health System

Doodling Helps You Pay Attention

Asia Braces for Spike in Suicides Due to Economic Woes

UN Genocide Court Jails Rwandan Priest for 25 Years

Creating Space for God.

another thought from Henri Nouwen. This one was hard on my heart (in a good way). Discipline is not a word I like very much. It has all sorts of negative connotations from growing up. It was one of my dad's favorite words, and sometimes it felt like it was being used as a weapon, as a means of creating shame. I've revisted that word this last year, trying to establish a rhythm and discipline in certain areas of my life, and asking Jesus to restore his meaning to the word. It's helping a little.

Creating Space for God

Discipline is the other side of discipleship. Discipleship without discipline is like waiting to run in the marathon without ever practicing. Discipline without discipleship is like always practicing for the marathon but never participating. It is important, however, to realize that discipline in the spiritual life is not the same as discipline in sports. Discipline in sports is the concentrated effort to master the body so that it can obey the mind better. Discipline in the spiritual life is the concentrated effort to create the space and time where God can become our master and where we can respond freely to God's guidance.

Thus, discipline is the creation of boundaries that keep time and space open for God. Solitude requires discipline, worship requires discipline, caring for others requires discipline. They all ask us to set apart a time and a place where God's gracious presence can be acknowledged and responded to.