Daily 5 - Day 362

Today's Daily 5:
An introduction to the daily 5 lists can be found here.

1. Candles all around my bedroom
2. one of the rare occasions on which I ate some ice cream
3. fresh green beans
4. thinking about St. Clare
5. watching and laughing as some kids I know watched the movie "Cool Runnings" for the first time ever, and absolutely hilariously laughed their way through it.

Clare, Cancer, and Prayers

Today, August 11th, is the day that the Catholic church celebrates St. Clare of Assisi.

Clare is a favorite saint, for many deeply personal and private reasons, but also simply for who she is.  She lived a life dedicated to Jesus, and to the ideals of poverty that were espoused by Saint Francis.  It is Clare's image adorns the tiny silver medal that I wear around my neck the vast majority of days.

The medal delights those friends of mine who are Catholic, and confuses my protestant friends who wonder why on earth I'd choose to wear a Catholic saint around my neck.

On the medal Clare is pictured bearing a monstrance, the container in which the host is stored.  She's one of only a very few female saints who are pictured bearing the Host. It's one of the things I love about her.  I see that image, and am reminded, though differently, that I carry the Spirit of God with me and within me.  That He is deeply present with me.  I find myself reaching for that medal, for the tangible reminder of that between my fingers as I pray some days.

I'm thinking of that today, and praying... and I'm praying specifically for two friends and their families. 

On Monday I saw two different friends, both of whom had been told in the preceding days that a parent with cancer would no longer be receiving treatment, and the disease, barring the miraculous, would be allowed to run it's course.  One is newly diagnosed, the other we've been praying for for many months.  One quite elderly, the other by all accounts "too young".  And yet, none of those things seemed to make a difference on the faces of my friends as they shared that treatment would either not be attempted, or would be discontinued.

And somehow, as my heart aches for these friends, I was comforted by the reminder of Clare's faith, and comforted more deeply by the reminder of the God who sees and knows and holds and loves so much more deeply than I could ever do.

I came across this simple benediction, from near the end of Clare's life, and it rather perfectly summed up my heart for these friends and for so many others who are in the midst of terribly hard seasons currently.   May each of you know the God of peace and love of whom Clare speaks, and may you know the presence of the living God near to you and surrounding you in the midst of whatever life is offering you now.

Now, go calmly in peace,

for you have a good escort.

He who created you

has sent the Holy Spirit who guards 

you as a mother does tenderly

love her child.

Amen.

Daily 5 - Day 361

Today's Daily 5:

1. Friends with talents who share them generously.  I can't afford my usual hairdresser right now, but a friend I met while being a bridesmaid at my brother's wedding is a hairdresser and when I contacted her about coming to her salon (which I knew was more affordable than where I usually go), she generously offered to cut my hair at her home at an even more reduced rate.  I have cute hair and spent the evening visiting with a friend.
2. Macdonald's.  I know - so bad, right?  but every once in a while it's just so good, and tonight was one of those nights.
3. a long commute to and from my friend's house on the bus, simply making space to catch up on some sermon podcasts I'd been wanting to listen to.
4. I got a cheque in the mail today, that, once it clears my bank account, will pay off my remaining line of credit debt and significantly reduce my monthly expenses my eliminating the payments I was making.  while I was employed, though I would have preferred to invest the money elsewhere, we had a mandatory, matching RRSP program.  We contributed a mandatory amount from each paycheque, and the company matched it.  I couldn't access the money while I was employed, but once I lost my job it was mine to access.  After some thought and prayer, I decided the best use for a portion of it would be to eliminate the debt that had accumulated.  I'll still have my student loan payments to make, but the relief of having this one chunk of debt gone is sort of immense.
5. still loving the fact that my schedule for school is a bit more relaxed this week and that I'm spending the sixth night in a row in my own bed.  I'm not sure that that has happened since I lost my job in the middle of May, and I was definitely ready to be sleeping in one place for a while, even if I don't like the place that I live.

What are you reading?

I had really good intentions of coming up with something to say here today.  I'd planned to write a post last night, but ended up sitting in a car with a friend instead, talking about all the stuff of life.

So, here's my question for you:

What are you reading lately?  What books are challenging you?  What blogs are making you laugh or cry, or just generally think about life in a way that you think everyone should be exposed to?  I'm looking for some new book titles and blogs, so leave them in the comments and we'll all benefit!

Daily 5 - Day 360

Today's Daily 5:

1. 360 days... one year is so close now!
2. had a relatively productive day for a Monday
3. still really thankful that I was able to take the full weekend off from school work for a change.  it really helped preserve my sanity.
4. I went to a totally "old school" church bridal shower tonight (complete with gifts wrapped in tea towels!) and was one of probably three people (including the bride) in the room under the age of 40 (I'd guess the average age was more like 70!), and had a really good time anyway.
5. Laughing with my friend (the bride to be) who gave me a ride home.
6. Being told (after explaining some of what's been going on in my life and wryly commenting that I was finding some of it very cliche and that feeling cliche was making me grumpy!) in a very amused voice, "Lisa, you're many things, but cliche is absolutely not one of them!"  Oh I laughed at my friend's response
7. Honest conversation, in a dark car, about all the stuff that's been going on in each of our lives in a season that my friend aptly termed "a grape-crushing season"
8. being able to just listen as a different friend shared a bit about some new and very big challenges her family is facing
9. Italian chicken at supper
10. still enjoying sleeping in my own bed for a number of nights in a row (even when I don't love the place my own bed is located these days)