WELL! Not too popular… this 5 day series (encouraged by Ed Cyzewski) didn’t get much (any?) participation of the contribution variety. Did it help anyone?
I. have. no. idea.
(but I hope so)
Would you still like a Mini Retreat today?
If so, try this:
Prepare yourself to take a short rejuvenating break to refreshen your day and your spirit. So, please eliminate potential distractions nearby. (Silence your phone, computer, shut your door, etc.) Now take a few deep breaths…in and out…just like a weird belly button. When you are fairly relaxed move to #1, just below.
1. On paper, or your computer, list the top ten blessings in your life.
2. Write the bullet points version of WHY they are blessings to you.
3. What do you come up with? Any patterns emerge?
4. Now, pray with those, and let your heart be full of thankfulness and gratitude.
5. End your time whistling, singing, playing the spoons, skipping, or something like that. Lighten up today. You need a break.
Bonus point. Now that you’ve come to the end of this series, share something with the rest of us.
Thank you, everyone.
SNEAK PREVIEW… Saturday’s post is entitled “Can a Person Absolve Your Sin”?
Guest post from fake blog writer (and also the story of being nearly Punk’d)
I was asked by “Elizabeth” to post a guest blog and link to what turned out to a fake blog they claim is for people “excited by the prospect of veiled links to the education industry in the form of blog posts”. Now I don’t know about you, but to me, this marketing trickery is so fantastic, and doesn’t sound the least bit manipulative, especially if you’ve gone to 8 years of fake evil medical school. ~coughing while slurring “Fail” under my breath~
But, I’m a girl of my word. I told them I would post it, AND link to them, which was incredibly nice of me, since they were seriously wasting my time. Yep. You bet ‘cha. I will do just what I said.
One smallish adjustment though…. Since they bill themselves as almost educational, their submission could only be almost worthy of being posted on this fine specimen of a blog you have before you, and I will almost post it here.
After I read the submitted piece by “Andrew Hall”, (a blind, autistic, amputee from Tuzla, with only two working thumbs), I was SO UNDERWHELMED that I thought it was a good fit for my humor site, that is equally underwhelming.
I made up the thing about Andrew. I’m not sure about his situation, at all.
Andrew’s fake farm
Andrew’s fake office
On a personal note: So, sorry “Andrew”, this is a bit of a downgrade for your humor piece, but thank you for trying. Keep your chin up, because I’ve heard (from an Indian-themed movie) that blind singers get the most money; I think you will do fine. You can sing, right? Bless your heart.
Anyway, you may click FAIL to go to their fake site, and read the submission here. I’m only sorry I can’t give you what you can never get back: the 6 minutes of your life you wasted here today.
Ed Cyzewski invited me to carrying on with his 5 minute Retreat series this week. Today is day 4 of 5. I hope you find this brief exercise a way to create a bit of time and space in your day to refocus and reenergize. May God bless you.
This retreat would be best to do if you have a stone or brick handy. If it’s not easy to search for one outside, find something else, that feels weighty in your hand, like a paper weight, book, full water bottle, etc. Yes, I realize that sounds weird. Indulge me for a few minutes, k?
Before we start, please take a few steps to prepare yourself to take a short rejuvenating break to refreshen your day and your spirit. Together we will gain new perspective. So, please eliminate potential distractions nearby. (Silence your phone, computer, shut your door, etc.)
Ready? Here we go!
Hold your stone or object in your hand.
Close your eyes and take a few deep, slow breaths. (Be aware of where you are. “Be where you are.” That is, push the chatter of your mind aside, purposefully, for this short and set amount of time.)
Now as you gain awareness of yourself in the spot where you are, be very aware of the weight of the object in your hand. Concentrate on that sensation for a bit. With your eyes closed, notice its bulk, size, “weightiness”, and stay with that for about 60 seconds. (That will feel like a LONG time. But, please do hang in there, friends!)
Now think of the things weighing you down in your day this week. Everybody has something. Do you have conflict in a relationship, too much to do, deadlines, struggles, car trouble, illness, loneliness, frustration? What is bothering you RIGHT NOW?
Think about how those things in your life really do feel like a weight resting on top of you. They are pushing you down. They feel heavy.
Now, feel the weight of the stone or object in your hand, and make the conscious association, of what weights you down with this weighted symbol of it that you are holding.
Feel their weight, and recognize that you want to be free of it. You want new strength and relief. You want to claim that release.
Talk to God briefly about your particular struggle/s, all while clutching your stone or object.
If you can say this next bit out loud, I recommend it. If that will be too awkward because of your surroundings, try to repeat this a few times in your mind:
God, I am laying my weight down. Take it from me. I willingly lay it down for you to pick up.
(Repeating this for your ownership of this act will help you a lot.)
Now set down your weight. Release it. Lay it down, with purpose. (If you are outside, you may want to throw it down, or put it in a trash can. Or, maybe that’s just me. OH! And watch out for glass. It can sneak up on you, just as you let your stone fly.)
NOW–Feel the weight lift. It’s GONE.
Breathe deeply.
Now walk away.
And thank God.
Thanks for coming along today, and daring to experience life a bit differently. I hope this is helpful to you in a special way. I’d love to hear about your experience, if you’d like to share it here.
Thank you for coming here. Ed Cyzewski invited me to carrying on with his 5 minute Retreat series, “with my own spin”. This is day 2.
Let’s enjoy a time and space set aside for refreshment. (Please feel free to comment anytime. Sharing your experience is valuable for all of us.)
First, prepare yourself to take a short rejuvenating break, by eliminating potential distractions. (Silence your phone, computer, shut your door, etc.)
Now, fold your hands. That’s right interlace your fingers as you clasp them together.
As you look at your hands, either your left or your right thumb will be on top. Many people hold their left thumb on the top. Which is it for you? (you can let us know in the comment section)
Now, re-clasp your fingers and thumbs so the opposite thumb is on the top.
It will feel unfamiliar, and perhaps “wrong” or slightly uncomfortable. (You can describe what it feels like to you in the comment section)
With your hands this unfamiliar way, take 3-5 deep inhales and exhales, slowly.
Think about the habits and routines in your life that you never really notice. Like… Tying your right shoe first, or sliding into your driver’s seat a certain way, preparing your coffee, brushing you teeth, or something more important, like checking your email first thing in the morning, or interacting with your kids.
Could this be a day where you can be extra aware of your daily habits? Today, could you survey all you do, and see if you want to change some things up?
Unfold your hands and fold them the uncomfortable way–again.
Pray about what make of the details in your life, that keep you from growing, or that keep you where you are, and not where you should be.
Do you need to forgive someone? Ask God to help you. Rely on his strength to forgive that person, through you, (with his strength) even if their are no warm feelings toward them, yet, or maybe ever.
Unforgiving habits are ruts we should overcome.
Try to fold and unfold your hands several times today to remind you of the habits you are in, and the ones that should change.
Stretch out your hands, arms, and body, and let out a big breath.
Take on the day!
Thanks for sharing this with me. May you be blessed.
Ed Cyzewski invited me to carrying on with his 5 minute Retreat series, “with my own spin”. So, for the next 5 days, I invite you to come here for a short and refreshing retreat in your day.
Let’s work through this and apprehend how God is with us. (Please feel free to comment anytime. Sharing your experience is valuable for all of us.) Blessings to you.
First, please be prepared to take a short rejuvenating break, and eliminate potential distractions. (Silence your phone, computer, shut your door, etc.)
Start off with five deep inhales and exhales. — Be increasingly aware of yourself occupying a space, where you are. Feel the weight in your chest as you breathe, and let your air out slowly and calmly.
Cover your ears and breathe in and out five more times, listening to the sound of your breath.
Now-Be aware of God giving you life–the Breath of Life. His Spirit.
Spend a bit of time chewing on that theme. –Allow yourself to make associations, dwell on an image or phrase about this topic which comes to mind, and how it relates to your life, today.
(If you get distracted, or your mind starts to wander, cover your ears again, and listen to your breathing.)
In this way-you try to “get out of your head” (a.k.a. to stop or dull, the chatter in your mind, and set your inner monologue aside.) Remember you are a spiritual being having a physical existence and tangible experience, right now in this moment. You live, you eat, you sleep, you think, and you breathe. Right now, you are here, breathing and living. Stay with that.
Briefly, talk to God (in some way) about your gift of life and Living breath. (Or, the associations, phrases, or images that have been on your mind.)
Now, realize you have God, with you, at hand (not far away), and you may keep this awareness to be revitalized and strengthened in your day.
One more deep breath, and stretch your arms, or whole body, a bit. Find relaxation in these few calm moments.
