MY DAY

Waking.
Talking.
Making coffee.
Talking.
Talking.
Taking notes.
Talking.
Talking.
Thinking.
Talking.
Thinking.

Thinking.


Thinking.



Thinking.




Lost.



Rearranging notes.

Still lost.



Eating fries.
Thinking.


Talking.

Finding a compass.
Talking.
Talking.
Thinking.

Seeing the goal.
Talking.
Thinking.
Talking.
Thinking.

Buying a soda.
Helping a stranger.
Thinking.
Thinking.
Talking.
Thinking.

Talking.
Eating dinner.
Talking.
Talking.
Thinking.

Talking.
Talking.
Talking.
Talking.
Thinking.

Thinking.


Learning that talking needs to happen 1) quietly with God and 2) out loud with people.
Learning that 1) talking and 2) thinking aren't required to occur in any certain order.
Learning that 1) people that help and 2) helping people are both fun.
Learning that goals 1) are good, 2) are subject to change, and 3) don't define me.

Writing.

Is This the Road Less Traveled?

The more I learn, the more I realize I have to learn. (That's a famous quote, right? If not, it should be.) While I know that God is continually teaching me, it seems that lately I'm being flooded with opportunities to change my way of thinking in certain areas. Is it a difficult process? Sometimes. Nevertheless, I see it as a fork in my journey. The challenge I'm facing now is one of choice. Will I continue on as I always have or will I follow faithfully along a new, dynamic course toward greater intimacy with Him and increased effectiveness for His kingdom with wisdom and courage? Several months ago, I started out on this new path, and while I've made the choice to stay on it, I can still see the old trail across the way. From this perspective, I notice that the grace of God that made that old trail bearable and even profitable for me didn't stay on the old trail. Going back, then, would be unbearable without Him and that all-sufficient grace. His kindness and unmerited favor have led me to where I am, this place of increased learning. And so, in order to leave a marker along this trail, I give you:

Life classes in which I'm now enrolled (sometimes without my prior knowledge):

Marriage 201 - required reading includes :
-"Love is a Blessing"
- "I'm Fulfilled Along With You, Not By You"
-"Get Some Tissues, Here're My Issues"

Advanced Leadership II and III - meets in Building 2508 daily with labs on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings
Topics discussed:
-What Were You Thinking?
-I'm Angry, But You're Still Great
-Leaders Wound
-We Run Faster When There's No Wheelbarrow Involved

There are other classes in Gardening (keeping my heart fertile and leaving no stone unturned) and ones in Archeology (uncovering the past and renewing old passions) and Journalism (what exactly am I broadcasting to my world?), but perhaps I can talk about those before the next semester starts. I just heard the bell ring for recess. Time to play!

Why Blog?

Recently, I've been challenged to join the online community of Church of the Hills, and so this is my attempt to get coherent thoughts out of my brain and into a form that others can share. I've often been told that I live most of my life inside my own head. Therefore, I'd like to extend a formal invitation to all...

Welcome to my world.

As I set up this account, I was asked to choose a user name. Being a contemplative person, I don't typically make quick decisions, and so I paused to think about what would make an interesting, perhaps amusing, and yet accurate description of myself. I discarded any word I have used in the past as I want this to be a record of the new chapter in my life. I asked the Lord to see if He had a good name for me and instantly thought through several prophetic words I've received lately regarding my identity. While I believe those words to be timely and accurate, none of them felt particularly right, so I went back to the Lord. This time, I waited for Him to respond. (Yes, I know. I'm the only one since creation who gets ahead of God, right?)

"Why limit yourself to one title, description, or position?", He said. "I've known you since your creation and watched over you while you were formed. I specifically wired you to act the way you do, to think the way you do, to feel the way you do. At your birth, I named you. Is there really anything more descriptive of the person I created than that name?"

And so, there it is. With all my inadequacies and talents, my weaknesses and strengths, my failures and successes, I am completely known. I am completely loved. I am Darlene.