Saturday, February 28, 2009

Seeing Green

This may sound funny, but sometimes when you work as a designer, the last thing you want to do in your off time is be creative. You've had the juice on all week and being fallow sounds pleasant, relaxing. Ambient. I've felt like this for a couple of months. While I can think of work challenges that have happily stretched my mind, I haven't done much sewing or taking pictures or strayed much from the routine (in my defense, I've been working very long hours). And I've missed these things. It just seems like I haven't had as much fun.

A certain creative someone must've felt the tremor in the force and tagged me and others in her blog, encouraging us to share a little of what we are seeing.

So today, while stirring some soup, I realized I needed some green and a little time with my camera. This is what we found. The creative energy must've spread because I hear Sarah clicking around, capturing all things purple.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Lent

To be honest, I've never participated in Lent. I've wanted to but each year bleak February/March is more than enough struggle for me. In other words - I need all the chocolate I can get to survive until spring.

I also think we should be mindful in all seasons. The poem below is popular in Lent but worth reading and practicing all year.

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ indwelling them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal Truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that undergirds.

- William Arthur Ward
(American author, teacher and pastor, 1921-1994.)