another challenging thought from Henri Nouwen...
Spiritual Courage
Courage is connected with taking risks. Jumping the Grand Canyon on a motorbike, coming over Niagara Falls in a barrel, or crossing the ocean in a rowboat are called courageous acts because people risk their lives by doing these things. But none of these daredevil acts comes from the centre of our being. They all come from the desire to test our physical limits and to become famous and popular.
Spiritual courage is something completely different. It is following the deepest desires of our hearts at the risk of losing fame and popularity. It asks of us the willingness to lose our temporal lives in order to gain eternal life.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Always Forward!
My roommate's plans changed last night, and she didn't come home until later, and after a while of attacking the disaster zone of our house by myself, I needed to escape the chaos for a while.
I've discovered that having the internet at my easy disposal helps with the sense of feeling trapped. Not having it in the house right now is something I know I shouldn't complain about, but also something that I'm finding to be quite challenging.
I needed a break from our house, from the mess of moving, and from feeling confined and lonely.
So I went to the library, and spent about an hour doing some things online. Catching up on a few emails and blogs and so forth.
Then I took myself out for dinner (Wendy's - high class, I know!) before heading home. By that point my roommate was home, had made slightly more progress in the kitchen disaster zone, and we chatted through a few further needs and options before we both headed for bed.
Because tomorrow is a holiday (Canada Day, for those of you who don't live in the Northern climes I call home), my office is closing early this afternoon. My plan is to head home, do some laundry, and a bit more cleaning and organizing, and then, tonight, my roommate and I are headed out to buy some groceries, and pay a visit to the dollar store, and to Ikea, searching for some items that we need to help us restore order to the chaos we're currently living in.
For the moment, I'm enjoying the fact that I'm sitting in my office, which has absolutely no boxes or bags to unpack, no chaos whatsoever, and sipping tea. I'm off to dive into the "fascinating" world of checking some data entry work, and I'm contemplating the following quote, which appeared today on the calendar that a friend gave me, that sits on my desk:
"Always forward!" (Saint Maria Chaira's life motto and dying words)
A good motto in the midst of the craziness that has marked my life these last few weeks, and, indeed, for much of the last two years.
I've discovered that having the internet at my easy disposal helps with the sense of feeling trapped. Not having it in the house right now is something I know I shouldn't complain about, but also something that I'm finding to be quite challenging.
I needed a break from our house, from the mess of moving, and from feeling confined and lonely.
So I went to the library, and spent about an hour doing some things online. Catching up on a few emails and blogs and so forth.
Then I took myself out for dinner (Wendy's - high class, I know!) before heading home. By that point my roommate was home, had made slightly more progress in the kitchen disaster zone, and we chatted through a few further needs and options before we both headed for bed.
Because tomorrow is a holiday (Canada Day, for those of you who don't live in the Northern climes I call home), my office is closing early this afternoon. My plan is to head home, do some laundry, and a bit more cleaning and organizing, and then, tonight, my roommate and I are headed out to buy some groceries, and pay a visit to the dollar store, and to Ikea, searching for some items that we need to help us restore order to the chaos we're currently living in.
For the moment, I'm enjoying the fact that I'm sitting in my office, which has absolutely no boxes or bags to unpack, no chaos whatsoever, and sipping tea. I'm off to dive into the "fascinating" world of checking some data entry work, and I'm contemplating the following quote, which appeared today on the calendar that a friend gave me, that sits on my desk:
"Always forward!" (Saint Maria Chaira's life motto and dying words)
A good motto in the midst of the craziness that has marked my life these last few weeks, and, indeed, for much of the last two years.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Another Day...
It feels funny to be stopping in here again before the evening is out, but I wanted to stop in one more time, and I won't have access to the internet once I leave the office.
It's odd, but a relaxed day at the office has helped. There were things to do, but nothing desperately urgent.
And being away from the incredible disarray that is our house just presently is also helpful. I'd forgotten just how much disorganization and disarray stresses me out!
Ah well, I'll have to get used to it! It's likely going to look this way for a little while, since, as I mentioned last week, my commitment is to take the unpacking slowly, sort through the belongings, and really and truly purge and simplify.
I'm looking forward to a trip to Ikea tomorrow night. Along with a few essentials that we've discovered are missing in our new place, I'm also planning to finish pricing out bed frame options. I have a pretty good idea of what I want, I'm just hoping to see it on display. And then, sometime early next week, I'll be purchasing that, and truly able to begin to get my bedroom neatly into shape!
I have an errand or two to do for work tonight, before I head home. Then home, and attacking the kitchen, so at least that space is navigable, and that we're able to cook, and have someplace that isn't in disarray to sit down for a few minutes here and there.
And, I'd forgotten, but work is ending early tomorrow as well, since we often close the office a few hours early on the day before a statuatory holiday. That is also VERY exciting news for me!
And with that, I'm off to tie up some loose ends, and head out for the evening.
It's odd, but a relaxed day at the office has helped. There were things to do, but nothing desperately urgent.
And being away from the incredible disarray that is our house just presently is also helpful. I'd forgotten just how much disorganization and disarray stresses me out!
Ah well, I'll have to get used to it! It's likely going to look this way for a little while, since, as I mentioned last week, my commitment is to take the unpacking slowly, sort through the belongings, and really and truly purge and simplify.
I'm looking forward to a trip to Ikea tomorrow night. Along with a few essentials that we've discovered are missing in our new place, I'm also planning to finish pricing out bed frame options. I have a pretty good idea of what I want, I'm just hoping to see it on display. And then, sometime early next week, I'll be purchasing that, and truly able to begin to get my bedroom neatly into shape!
I have an errand or two to do for work tonight, before I head home. Then home, and attacking the kitchen, so at least that space is navigable, and that we're able to cook, and have someplace that isn't in disarray to sit down for a few minutes here and there.
And, I'd forgotten, but work is ending early tomorrow as well, since we often close the office a few hours early on the day before a statuatory holiday. That is also VERY exciting news for me!
And with that, I'm off to tie up some loose ends, and head out for the evening.
Updating...
We survived the move. We've now officially slept in the new place for two nights.
It's entirely in chaos. I can't find my favorite pair of flip-flops (here's hoping they turn up soon!) But we're there. The goal for tonight is to unpack our kitchen, so we can at least start eating like normal human beings again.
The injury count was low, belonging wise. The glass on one framed photograph broke, but that's quite easily fixed sometime soon. (We're nowhere near being ready to hang our artwork anyway.
As for me, well, I've decided that I bruise more easily than fruit! I have deep, ugly bruises across both legs, both arms, and several on my hips and torso. I also have a small cut, high up on my torso, that I have no idea how I sustained.
I also managed to roll my right ankle, and pull my left hamstring, on the same move, while carrying a piece of furniture down the stairs out of our old house. As I stepped off the bottom step, my ankle rolled under me, and I pulled the hamstring compensating for rolling the ankle! I've spent several chunks of time over the last few days, reclining on my bed, with a bag of frozen peas on either my ankle or my hamstring. Looking a bit ridiculous, but thankful that the injuries weren't more serious.
I did make it to church Saturday night. And to the mountains yesterday.
Tonight I'm doing some errands for work, before returning home to attack the unpacking of our kitchen.
Tomorrow night is scheduled for grocery shopping and a trip to Ikea for a few essentials we've discovered are missing in our new place.
Wednesday I'm off work all day, and am hoping to take care of a number of errands, as well as make a dent in the unpacking. Wednesday is also the day that I should finally have internet access in our new house - something I'm most definitely looking forward to.
I'm a bit worn out, and still a bit frazzled, but overall, I felt the prayers of those who were praying. I made it through moving day, with it's high stress and high demands on energy levels I don't really have with only one minor meltdown mid-afternoon. I am, however, still managing to get at least some sleep, and that is most definitely helping.
It's entirely in chaos. I can't find my favorite pair of flip-flops (here's hoping they turn up soon!) But we're there. The goal for tonight is to unpack our kitchen, so we can at least start eating like normal human beings again.
The injury count was low, belonging wise. The glass on one framed photograph broke, but that's quite easily fixed sometime soon. (We're nowhere near being ready to hang our artwork anyway.
As for me, well, I've decided that I bruise more easily than fruit! I have deep, ugly bruises across both legs, both arms, and several on my hips and torso. I also have a small cut, high up on my torso, that I have no idea how I sustained.
I also managed to roll my right ankle, and pull my left hamstring, on the same move, while carrying a piece of furniture down the stairs out of our old house. As I stepped off the bottom step, my ankle rolled under me, and I pulled the hamstring compensating for rolling the ankle! I've spent several chunks of time over the last few days, reclining on my bed, with a bag of frozen peas on either my ankle or my hamstring. Looking a bit ridiculous, but thankful that the injuries weren't more serious.
I did make it to church Saturday night. And to the mountains yesterday.
Tonight I'm doing some errands for work, before returning home to attack the unpacking of our kitchen.
Tomorrow night is scheduled for grocery shopping and a trip to Ikea for a few essentials we've discovered are missing in our new place.
Wednesday I'm off work all day, and am hoping to take care of a number of errands, as well as make a dent in the unpacking. Wednesday is also the day that I should finally have internet access in our new house - something I'm most definitely looking forward to.
I'm a bit worn out, and still a bit frazzled, but overall, I felt the prayers of those who were praying. I made it through moving day, with it's high stress and high demands on energy levels I don't really have with only one minor meltdown mid-afternoon. I am, however, still managing to get at least some sleep, and that is most definitely helping.
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