Why I'm still going for simplicity

A year ago, in the season of Easter, I was in one of the biggest struggles of my life. Probably the deepest depression I had ever experienced, battling through envy, anger, jealousy and feelings of inadequacy in areas of life that most people didn't know about. I battled feelings and moods that bruised relationships and caused me to then go deeper into depression ~ yet I (for the most part) kept it in.  One of my self treatments was the pursuit of simplicity and de-cluttering in our home life, along with continuing the spiritual practices that I started last year during lent.  I wrote about many of those early steps in this blog over the last year, and I still love to follow Courtney Carver's blog "Be More With Less".  Though I doubt I will ever be a true minimalist, I do now blend many of those techniques and practices that she writes about into our life.  The areas that I started with like closets, cabinets and spaces around our home that were 'decluttered'  mostly remain that way, and it feels good!  We also eat simpler and healthier, which hopefully will give us more years to achieve our goals. There is  still a LONG way to go!!- 

I know I won't be a true minimalist  (at least I don't think I will!) because I still hold onto many treasured items, even though I know my child probably has no interest in them in the future. There will be some things she will have to make the decision on what to do with,  but there are far fewer of them than there were.

I wanted to share a bit of why I am still choosing simplicity.  I turned 59 a few weeks ago.  I am in really good general health, I feel good and for the most part, am very active.  I work at a job that most people don't understand, a direct sales company.  After years of education and a long time to achieve a degree, I'm not directly working in an area most people would think goes along with all of that.  A lot of people think of direct sales as those people that scream "come - make lots of money fast with me, reach your dreams" kind of people.  It can certainly be that, but not for me.  I am in for the long haul, and am using my education in a more subtle way.  My life coaching certification and teaching are used with my team. I am slowly building a group of women around me that are like-minded and want to provide for their families, not in a 'get rich quick' sort of way, but in a steady, solid, debt free manner. We sell a trendy beauty product - which for some may seem to go against my desire to go simple.  I have refined my clothing choices to what I really like and fewer items.  I get to express my style in a simple, inexpensive product that doesn't break the bank.  We continue to get rid of things in our home that we don't need, allowing us to enjoy the things that we do. That is just part of the simplicity process.

I watch my 71 year old husband continue to go to work every day, after retiring from a great career 10 years ago, because frankly - we need the money to maintain all of the things we acquired over the years, most of which is now outdated and worn.  Life happens - economies crash, family members have problems, and homes need upkeep.  I do what I do to help him.  We love our home and our 3 rough wooded acres.  Even though we don't have a finely manicured type of yard, or the latest and greatest decor, we have many areas that need constant care of weeding, repair and more. Our grandchildren love to come here and be in nature, play outdoors and get dirty!  Most days all I see are overgrown weed beds and designated areas that we intended for lush vegetable gardens and pretty scenery.  It gets harder and harder to do the necessary things like weed eating, mowing and  just cleaning up the clutter of things we have accumulated over 32+ years marriage.  So simplicity looks even more appealing.  It gets harder and harder to do the things needed for our home after we both work at our jobs during the day. So simplicity is my personal goal.  I work to rid ourselves of things!  Many younger folks work hard for more stuff, and that is okay, I do so to allow us to hopefully stop.  It is a hard cycle - to work really hard, often without seeing progress, in order to pay for things we don't need or want anymore so that we can enjoy less.  We will get there and I already see that some days we are able to camp an extra day, or sit on the porch and watch the kids play a bit sooner. As we continue to pay things off, clear our areas of things that need upkeep and have less we are very slowly  gaining more of what we desire - simplicity.  

I know it seems like a total contradiction, to some, that I am constantly on this computer and 'selling' - but I do it not to buy more stuff, but to really have less stuff. To allow us to not have to mow a large yard and to not have to watch my husband labor on things he would rather not do after a day of work he shouldn't be having to do anymore.  Simple looks really good, and we will achieve it.  Last year it looked impossible, and today the mountain still looks really big. It is important for me to look back, because so much progress has been made in a year, and it feels good!  It prods me to keep doing what I do because one day I will look up and I will be able to sit on that deck of a simple and modest mountain home, with  the view I desire and the time to enjoy it.  I won't have to worry that another chore needs to be done, or that I want the latest new thing - because I will have what I need and be able to enjoy it.  We all do things for different reasons. I wish I had gotten off of the treadmill of envious desire, accumulation and 'things' much sooner and the heartache of difficulty in 'keeping up' would not be in my life. I wish I had accepted being who I am,  discovering me like I wrote about in my book, earlier so that much of what I am struggling to overcome now would not be an issue.  If we all work hard to be who we are created to be at an earlier age we maybe wouldn't have so many struggling, sad and lonely elderly.  I am even more determined to choose simplicity in order to enjoy the remainder of my life the way I wish I had taken the time to enjoy in the first 58 years.  I'm slowly embracing the joy that comes in wanting less.

I would like to close today with a reading from one of my favorite authors and spiritual leaders that struggled with his own issues throughout his life:

Living Faithfully in an Ambiguous World

Our hearts and minds desire clarity. We would like to have a clear picture of a situation, a clear view of how things fit together, and clear insight into our own and the world's problems. But just as in nature color and shapes mingle without clear-cut distinctions, human life doesn't offer the clarity we are looking for. The borders between love and hate, evil and good, beauty and ugliness, heroism and cowardice, care and neglect, guilt and blamelessness are mostly vague, ambiguous, and hard to discern.  It is not easy to live faithfully in a world full of ambiguities.  We have to learn to make wise choices without needing to be entirely sure.

Henri Nouwen - Bread for the Journey, 1997

A mother's love letter

Almost 29 years ago a 19 year old young woman that I don't know, who lived a life far removed from anything I can imagine, cried ~ was desperate ~ felt alone and made a decision.

She chose life.

28 years ago today, March 28, 1988, our phone rang and we heard these words "It's a girl! She is yours!"

A new life!

A few days later we welcomed you to your new home, and a few months later we went before a judge and you had your forever home.  "We gotcha!!"

We celebrated life.

You grew, we laughed, you danced.......love.

Choosing life.

A bit over 7 years ago you gave me the honor of laboring with you and being present to experience birth like I never had the chance in my own life to do. To see you struggle, to stroke your hair and to welcome that precious child and watch her be placed in your arms:   Chloe Grace..... a mini you!

                    

            Chelsea - 4         Chloe - 4

             

                                 
                                                                                                                                            

You chose life.

We have navigated through the years with laughter, tears, struggles and fears....... the world of mental health and invisible illness that many in society, and some of those closest to us, never fully understand. People talk of a mother's love, and I know what that is. Powerful, intense, heart wrenching and deep.  Not born from my body, but my child in every way. From extravagant highs to excruciating lows yet all of it with love.

We continue to choose life.

Our circle grew. Though I wasn't present at her birth almost 4 years ago, my love grew with our feisty Ryleigh Jayne.  

Continuing to choose life.

28 years ago when you were born,  a young woman that I don't know chose life, my heart had a spot filled that God knew was just for you.  I thank God every day for her and for you. May you continue to choose life in all that you do, may you grow in the realization that I love you more than you know, yet God loves you even more than that.  

Happy Birthday Chelsea Lee........ I love you infinity and beyond!

                                                    2016 - Chelsea's 28th birthday

Psalm 139:13-17 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day passed. How precious are your thoughts about me,  O God. They cannot be numbered!    NLT

Proverbs 22:6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.  NLT

What is in your 'garden'?

What is growing in the garden of your life right now?  Loneliness ~ debt ~ chronic illness ~ invisible illness ~ abuse ~ family dysfunction ~ hopelessness ~ anger ~ doubt ~ lack of forgiveness ~ dashed hopes ~ "too much, no happiness" ~ sadness? What do you beg God to take from you?  Jesus went to the garden and asked too - but he also took what came and relied on his Father to get him through it.

Imagine Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew what what was coming.  Yet he went. For us.  Sometimes life overwhelms us and no one knows.  We put on a good face for everyone while slowly dying inside.  Today churches and places of worship all over the country will have services reflecting on the agony of Jesus in the Garden.  A time to really grasp the hope that is in God.  The real reason Jesus came.  Take time to examine your heart, to understand the hope that is offered in a walk with God.  Will it be easy? No. Nothing about what Jesus did, and does, is easy.  That is why I find such strength and comfort in my relationship with God.  I can turn there when all else fails me.  

Go to the garden today - find a church service and make that step.  Go listen to what Jesus did FOR YOU!

Mark 14:32-46 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray." He took Peter, James and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." He went on a little further and fell to the ground. He prayed that , if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. "Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." 

From wilderness to chaos!

Every year I am somewhat *shocked* to enter Holy Week.  So much time is spent on reflection, prayer and service during lent then all of a sudden we are thrust into the hectic and chaotic time of Holy Week.  Extra worship services, special events, planning Easter activities and most of it so far removed from anything that has to do with the Resurrection! Easter bunnies, egg hunts, special sales........ ugh!  Can I just stay in the wilderness and BE!?  Even our worship services have become a blend of secular activities and 'play' in order to make Christianity more comfortable for everyone.  (I'm sure I will step on toes with that comment).  

This is our world.  This is our day to day.  There is always something going on, a new event to plan for, a special family get together to organize and a myriad of things competing for our time.   The desire to simplify burns so deep within me. Yet my work is all online, I rely on social media and sales to pay bills.  How does one balance that conflict?  I depend on the very things that make me crazy!  It all comes back to my spiritual condition.  Yet I contribute to other people's quest for more stuff in my desire to cut back.  I urge people to buy, use the products I sell while my desire to have less is foremost in my life.  The circle goes around. We all need to have clothes, food and shelter.  Every season for this last year I have reduced 'things' in my life.  Fewer clothes, simpler food choices and less clutter  around my home.  At least I choose to sell a product that takes very little space, it is a beauty item so in high demand in our society and it pays bills. It is certainly not a 'need' but it is a 'want' for many, so I continue.  I guess a saving grace in working Direct Sales is that I know this business is providing for women on my team in powerful ways that haven't been available through conventional jobs. Single moms overcoming addiction and building a REAL business for themselves and their children. Stay at home moms able to nurture and care for their children yet paying bills when the normal jobs wouldn't allow them to work from home. Retirees making a steady income when the government and our society takes so much away from them.   The struggle continues- and I live that struggle every day. My faith in God, my strong belief in prayer and the saving grace and sacrifice of Jesus that have nothing to do with programs, activities and entertainment - that is my Holy Week.

Today I'm drawn back to this scene and how Jesus must have felt - not much has changed!

Mark 11:15-17 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple a marketplace. He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves."

This blog is my own opinion- not about judgment.  I'm constantly on a quest for a simple, faith-filled life with God.  For now I rely on the world around me to sustain that in material ways.  I long for the day when I reach that simplicity, to pay off what we owe, to downsize and not be slaves to house maintenance and leaving a burden of 'things' behind for our child and grandchildren.  I will continue on the retail treadmill in order to do those things.  Not to acquire more (though that is a goal for some) for me it is a quest for less. 

May your Holy Week have a least a little time for Jesus, his message of hope and the love of God.  

I choose blessing! And blessings can be fun too ;-)

From  Wiki:

Patrick was a 5th-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Much of what is known about Saint Patrick comes from the Declaration, which was allegedly written by Patrick himself. It is believed that he was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church. According to the Declaration, at the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Gaelic Ireland.^[11] It says that he spent six years there working as a shepherd and that during this time he "found God". The Declaration says that God told Patrick to flee to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home. After making his way home, Patrick went on to become a priest.

According to tradition, Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. The Declaration says that he spent many years evangelising in the northern half of Ireland and converted "thousands". Patrick's efforts against the druids were eventually turned into an allegory in which he drove "snakes" out of Ireland (Ireland never had any snakes).

Tradition holds that he died on 17 March and was buried at Downpatrick. Over the following centuries, many legends grew up around Patrick and he became Ireland's foremost saint.

For many today has become a "party day" - to wear your favorite green attire, eat and drink certain food and generally "celebrate to drunkenness".    Look at this other excerpt from Wiki:

Christians also attend church services and the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the day. Perhaps because of this, drinking alcohol – particularly Irish whiskey, beer or cider – has become an integral part of the celebrations. The St Patrick's Day custom of 'drowning the shamrock' or 'wetting the shamrock' was historically popular, especially in Ireland. At the end of the celebrations, shamrock is put into the bottom of a cup, which is then filled with whiskey, beer or cider. It is then drank as a toast; to St Patrick, to Ireland, or to those present. The shamrock would either be swallowed with the drink, or be taken out and tossed over the shoulder for good luck.

I think people simply look for a way to have an excuse, or reason, to indulge in their own chosen pleasurable pastimes.  I know there will be some that attend worship today, and maybe even some that don't normally do so - my lenten challenge for you: why go on just a certain day in memory?  Why not worship, pray, serve and study EVERY DAY? The wilderness journey of lent is always about change for me - most years I do okay during the season but soon after I slip back to old ways and  when the season rolls around again I have to start over.  In looking back over last year's journey and journal I discovered that some of the disciplines I put in place are actually still my daily practice - so it is good to look back! Traditions are fun, celebrations are just that - a time to participate in practices that aren't the norm.  Why not put more traditions in place that are life affirming?  For me there is just something a little "off" about honoring a Saint with drunkenness and throwing all caution to the wind! On this day I plan to ponder how I might be a blessing and reflect on how I might be a vessel for God to touch the life of someone else.  How will you celebrate?  Being a blessing can be fantastic - with no hangover!!

Love letters

I have always loved writing and receiving letters.  When I was young I had multiple pen pals, all over the world.  It was so fun to go to the mailbox each day and see if I had a new letter to read.  I still love to write letters, and I have tried to get pen pals going again but with all of the electronics and email people rarely write.  I keep a basket of notes and cards and they are such a great pick me up when I have a hard day- to read words on paper that someone took time to personally write and send.

This week has been one of contrasts, as mid March can be in Texas!  Daytime temps in the 80's, night time temps teasing to the 40's  Bright sun, clouds, wind, calm..... and fun times with my 7 year old granddaughter since she is out of school this week.  Last evening before we walked down the hill to driveway camp in our trailer she handed me this note:

We have kind of a mutual admiration thing going on!  I write her notes, and she leaves me notes in unexpected places.  Yesterday she spent a long time coloring, just having some quiet time and she handed me this:

I love this pic and was ready to hang it on my fridge when she said "turn it over Grammy!" That is when I found the love note.  I was happy with the beautiful picture she had spent time coloring, but then to find she added words of love just made my day.  As I think about my wilderness journey this year I realized that my Bible kind of does the same thing for me. At first I read and I envision beautiful pictures that the story paints, some of them hard to look at like Jesus being tempted or crucified.  But then I read the words again, I dig in and study a little deeper and see that it is the ultimate love letter from God.  Through all of the struggles of the ages and the difficult paths that people walk down or the hard ones of their own making, God sent a love letter to encourage and guide.  Read these words and make them your "love letter" today:

Listen to the love song that I am continually singing to you. I take great delight in you... I rejoice over you with singing. The voices of the world are a cacophony of chaos, pulling you this way and that. Don't listen to those voices; challenge them with My Word. Learn to take minibreaks from the world, finding a place to be still in My Presence and listen to My voice.  There is immense hidden treasure to be found through listening to Me.  Though I pour out blessings upon you always, some of My richest blessings have to be actively sought. I love to reveal Myself to you, and your seeking heart opens you up to receive more of My disclosure.  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door be will opened to you.

From March 15 - Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

Be Thou My Vision

Spectacles.......glasses........'eyes'.........shades........sunglasses......readers.......  

My eyesight has somewhat followed the pattern of my Mom's: I needed readers first then noticed they weren't quite effective. Over the years I have progressed to bifocals, now trifocals and basically they are one of my must have items.  I have also found, in recent years, that the Rx for my glasses barely makes it through the year before I need to go back for an exam and get yet another adjustment.  It frustrates me!  So last night I was in bed, unable to sleep and thinking about items that I must have near me.  Sure I could get by without my glasses, I can see distances pretty well, but that mid range for the computer and closeup definitely blur out drastically if I remove my glasses.  Because of the shape and condition of my eye I am unable to wear contacts - so I'm stuck.

As I tossed and turned last night, on in to the early morning hours, I thought a lot about this year's lent journey in the wilderness.  It reminded me of wearing glasses.  Sometimes I have a clear view -things are in focus and my perception is good.  Other times, just like when my glasses fog over in room temperature change, or the lens' get dirty and my view can be clouded - so goes my battle with temptation.  Things come along to cloud my focus, to distract me from my spiritual intentions.  I can be working in the kitchen or craft room and my glasses will get dirty but I keep going, I continue on until it just becomes too difficult.  I find I follow the same pattern with the things that tempt me.  I go along for awhile, thinking "this isn't so bad, I will just fall off this one time" then suddenly it is like when I have to completely remove my glasses to clean them!  I realize I can't see a thing.  Things are blurred, my focus and perceptions are all askew.  So it is when I let the distraction completely blind me from my focus on God.

Wearing glasses is necessary for me to work (and play) safely, effectively and comfortably. So it goes with my walk with God.  Reading Scripture, praying, serving and worship are necessary for me to keep the temptation at bay.  When I keep my spiritual being clean and up to date (just like my eyeglass Rx) things are more in focus and comfortable.  I find comparisons in odd places in the middle of the night........ and right now I need to clean my glasses!

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

naught be all else to me, save that thou art.

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

waking or sleeping, thy presence my light               versed by Eleanor H Hull 1912

Challenge! Are you ready?

I turned 59 last Tuesday.  I am always trying new things, and I imagine I will continue that practice through how ever many days God gives me on this earth. One of the things I have been pondering in this year's season in the wilderness is what 'new' things I will do this last year in my 50's.  

Last year I ziplined, I finished writing a book, I knitted a garment (I had knitted before, but not a piece of clothing).  Looking through idea pages on Pinterest I usually find new things to try - a new food to cook and taste, a new craft item to make, a new place to visit. Sometimes just choosing the new thing is the hardest part! 

As I go about my routine Saturday chores of cleaning house and ironing I will be pondering what new direction to travel in or what new thing to try.  I will also ponder, as I iron, what new direction I want my spiritual path to take as we near the end of lent.  I don't want to fall back on a stagnant prayer life or mediocre study time.  Last year I also started the simplifying and purging process of our home. I continued throughout the year, and made great progress, but there is more work to be done!  I continue to be amazed that with each box or load of things I remove from the house, the tasks to keep up with lessen.  The things I treasure are more readily seen and appreciated and the random stuff is gone.  I will continue on that path of decluttering.

My challenge will include a new study to begin after Resurrection Sunday.

A new commitment to keep God in the forefront of all that I do.

An exercise challenge to set for myself, and achieve it!

A new place to visit next September in our 'escape the heat' mini vacation.

A new craft or skill to learn and perfect, tatting maybe?

A new place to serve others.

A new rank and leadership position in my business.

What about you?  As we journey out of the wilderness, what new direction will you travel in? 

Stretch yourself ~ challenge yourself ~ appreciate yourself.  Try something NEW!

What is your 'call'?

Many of us have the desire to help, to reach out.  I have served on mission trips in the past and always love to see God at work through service.  I also know that not everyone is called to serve in 'mission trip' capacity, either unable to travel or time constraints, and sometimes just plain "not my thing, don't want to".  We should take care not to judge when others don't serve the way we do.

I also hear (a lot!) "why spend all that time and money to go far away to help when people all around us are suffering?  Why should I go help "them" when I need help myself?" All valid questions, and worth looking at. Each of us is different and God calls all of us to do and be something. I picked up this book today, and the reading is touching on that very subject:

Our Unique Call

So many terrible things happen every day that we start wondering whether the few things we do ourselves make any sense. When people are starving only a few thousand miles away, while wars are raging, close to our borders, when countless people in our cities have no homes to live in, our own activities look futile. Such considerations, however, can paralyze and depress us.

Here the word call becomes important. We are not called to save the world, solve all problems, and help all people. But each of us has our own unique call, in our families, in or work, in our world  We have to keep asking God to help us see clearly what our call is and to give us the strength to live out that call  with trust. Then we shall discover that our faithfulness to a small task is the most healing response to the illnesses of our time.

From: Bread for the Journey, Henri Nouwen 1997

Calls to the mission field are important and needed.  Look around you - your mission field may be driving someone to a doctor appt, picking up groceries, sitting with a friend in their grief or maybe just listening to a family member when they want to talk. Perhaps it is babysitting for a single mom when her child is sick and she needs to work, or volunteering at your local food bank or community center.  Your call comes in different ways than mine, and different than those who travel to far away places - ALL are important and there are blessings in each.  How are you listening for your call during this season of lent?

The first step in hearing your call is to listen.......

Keep Going? Why?

Resurrection Sunday is still nearly 3 weeks away.  It seems, at least for me, that I have been in the wilderness for much longer than this month that has passed since Ash Wednesday. Sometimes the spiritual disciplines that I set out for myself are hard to stick with.  Other times I think it would just be easier to say "I tried, but what good is it doing me?" 

Why continue to pray when I see friends suffering with critical illness? Why continue to give to others when I struggle to meet our own needs? Why read my Bible when there are so many other writings and opinions battling for my attention and beckoning me to believe?

Then I remember all of the times in my life that it has been my faith and my trust in God that have sustained me when nothing else can.  My Bible gives me encouragement, guidance and hope for whatever I face.  Giving is my greatest pleasure.  When I give I get so much in return and very little of it has to do with money.  Being in the wilderness helps me remember these things.  I have been involved in leading 2 retreats over the last month and both times the Spirit has moved in powerful ways.  Women have shared precious details of the struggles they face and when we came together in prayer, study and worship the burdens were lighter somehow.  That is why I keep going, to be part of the Body of Christ is like none other.  

If you are struggling in the wilderness, reach out.  If to no one else, reach out to God.  He truly is listening and there is no judgment in your struggle.   I love this reading from Jesus Calling

Let me help you through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are  keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face. This awareness opens up a choice; to doggedly go it alone or to walk with Me in humble steps of  dependence. Actually, this choice is continually before you, but difficulties highlight the decision-making process.  So, consider it  all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials. These are the gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone.

From March 7, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Rely on God alone...... hard sometimes.  I'm a 'go getter' and I like to be in charge.  I want to find solutions, fix things and control outcomes.  Sometimes that just isn't possible and I have to give in.  When I do that sooner, rather than later, I nearly always find that God's way is better than what I could have come up with myself.  Answers are not always what I want to hear, and solutions often go against my desire.  Yet I trust.  I believe and I will continue to pray.  Let's keep walking in the wilderness and see what is next!

Goals! Why?

I work in Direct Sales. Being self employed takes commitment and time.  A lot of self discipline is involved and many people look at this business and see the success stories, but then never reach those dream destinations of lots of money and success for themselves. It takes determination and hard work, just like any job.  I approach my direct sales as a job, because it is.  Others see it as a scheme or a scam - mainly because they don't understand.

This morning I happen to be sitting in a campground looking out over a lovely scene and the Frio River is just steps away, where I will be going for a walk later today.  That is a perk of working for myself - I have internet so I can conduct my business wherever I am.  The hardest part is actually doing work when I could be distracted by the vacation like setting of camping!  I love the freedom of choosing where my office will be for each day, and being able to work at any time I choose.  

So what does that have to do with my spiritual journey?  I look at that in the same way.  I set goals for myself to improve my relationship with God.  I make it a priority to set aside time to pray, to give to others and to read/study my Bible so that I can know God better. I need reminding, often, to look outside of myself to love others but that starts by looking inward and evaluating where I am falling short. Lent is a time of self reflection for me, for all of those reasons.  I set those spiritual goals just like I do my work goals.  Just like my business improves when I dedicate time to it so does my spiritual well-being improve when I make time for God.  How are you prioritizing your spiritual needs these days?  Are you making time to stop and listen, to pray and to allow God to guide you?  When I make that my focus, all other areas of my life go much smoother.  It doesn't mean frustrations and troubles are instantly gone, but my spirit is more at rest when I focus on the bigger picture that God has for me. Sometimes I want to give up on the business I have chosen, it seems like the success is just too slow in coming. Then I keep at it another day, another sale comes and another advancement and a nice paycheck - so I keep on. Just like my work, keeping that focus on God takes commitment.  I pray and I study and sometimes it seems like God is silent- then I get a response of a changed life or an answered prayer because of God and it keeps me going another day.  I set goals and I keep on because the ultimate reward of eternal life with God is so worth it.   Answers don't always come in the form I desire, just like my business doesn't  always progress in the way I want it to. Sometimes my spiritual journey often goes in different directions as well.  But I consistently turn back to God, as He never disappoints.   

Always look for the next door!