Daily 5 - Day 103

This has been an incredibly discombobulating day. Work was gross, and is likely to stay that way all week, and maybe well into next week. The dreams from this morning are still lingering. Other thoughts and things read over the day are stirring or rankling just a little.

So, today's daily 5 or so:

1. I'm thankful that it was not my turn to make supper tonight.
2. I'm thankful for a yoga workout that helped burn off the stress of the day, and was followed by a hot shower.
3. I'm thankful that my usual weekly stop at the gas station went way more smoothly this week than last week.
4. I'm thankful that not all days are like this day was.
5. I'm thankful that I spent an hour out of the office this morning doing work errands, and left about 20 minutes early today to do another work errand. It was a helpful break in the midst of a terribly difficult day
6. I'm thankful for internet access in my home, and the ability to communicate with friends scattered around the world with ease.
7. I'm thankful that not all of the dreams are nearly as disturbing as last nights, and that some are quite beautiful.
8. I'm thankful for cranberry scented home fragrance oil from The Body Shop.
9. I'm thankful for friends who pray
10. I really enjoyed having a banana with peanut butter for breakfast.
    

Sin Boldly

Cover of Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace

Late last night, after slowly reading for a few weeks, and reading in giant gulps of thirst for grace while cocooned yesterday afternoon, I finished "Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace" by Cathleen Falsani.

To be honest, I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this one. I bought it because I recognized the author's name from a radio interview I'd heard. But mostly I bought it because it looked vaguely interesting, and was on the clearance table at the local Christian bookstore with an additional 25% off the lowest price sticker pasted to the front cover. (I'm a sucker for a bargain, even when it comes to books - one of the few things I regularly pay full price for.)

I was pleasantly surprised.

Though by no means a brilliant work, the stories are beautiful, and Falsani has done an excellent job of portraying grace.

And for me, there was grace simply in the timing of reading this book. In needing those reminders of beauty and hope in the midst of a really challenging moment.

I underlined here and there (the mark of a book that is really grabbing my attention) - especially various quotes, and I'm sure that some of those will eventually appear here amidst all the other bits and pieces that make up my blog.

But for the moment let me just say I'm thankful for the hope and grace Falsani's book offered in the moments I needed it yesterday, and that if you love stories about real life and hope and joy and grace, written with a slightly humorous twist that doesn't take anything more seriously than necessary, than I heartily recommend this book to you as well.

Monday Morning

My day started with dreams of animals and attack. Not all that pleasant a way to enter a new week of work.

I'm feeling passionately opinionated about anything and everything today. Not that unusual, but this is one of those days where the words just might spill out of my mouth without much pause to consider the finer points audience reception.

It's going to be a crazy day and week at work. So I'm settling in, buckling down, and figuring out how to face it.

I do, at least, feel semi-restored for my afternoon of reading and cocooning yesterday. Thankful for the influx of at least a little bit of peace.

And the decision making I was going to do yesterday, so that it wasn't hanging over my head all week. Well, as I melted down and then cocooned and prayed, I realized that it wasn't going to work to force a decision, and I really don't have to know what I'm doing until the end of the week, so, I'm not going to see it as hanging over my head. I'm going to set it aside, except for in a few specific moments of prayer, and wait and see what comes.

It's Monday morning... on into the week!