10 Keys to taking a nap (or should it be bringing a nap)

10. Keep it simple

9. story time, fresh cookies and milk

8. a good shade tree

7. practice, practice, practice

6. an important task to put off

5. proper tools and equipment (teddy bear and pillow) and always being prepared. Training is an important aspect of this as you never know when the need or place to take a nap might arise.

4. the ability to focus on the task no matter how loud your alarm or your boss is.

3. something to smile about

2. a dream that's worth remembering

1. a reminder that you are loved so it is okay to take care of yourself

Reset: Starting Something New, Making Something Beautiful, Finding Something Real. Part 1

 

Thoughts left to be completed. Ideas furrowed across the brow. Words that don’t fit together scattered across the page amidst coffee stains, ink blots, and psychotherapeutic doodles. 

In the midst of this chaos, I decided to stop. 

What is the purpose of this blog?

Part of the reason I know is the metaphorical dancing in the rain, the choice to take a moment and experience it like a child full of wonder, questions, curiosity and play and to try to encourage other people to do so as well. The to do lists, lists of ten, poetry, and to some degree the stories have this aim. 

The second purpose I have a tendency to make a little more complicated so I can pretend I am saying something smart. It’s really not that complicated and, in a way, it is very similar to the first reason. 

The second is to share my experience of falling in love with God. For the most part that is the purpose of the rambles, devotional notes, and sometimes it fits into the other categories. 
 
Slowly, I am learning that significance in life is not about me doing something great for God but about God doing something great within me. God doesn’t need me as he is God, but he does want me with a passion currently I cannot comprehend. And so as I continue in the writing of this blog part of the aim is to write from the depth of the wonder of this love while trying to look at each life moment with childlike joy. 

I hope in the preceding weeks to flush out these ideas a little more and define how they have and will impact my life.

Something For Tomorrow

 

Cashier: “$42.17 mam”

Older lady: “I have $35.”

Cashier: (leaning close to the older woman to speak confidentially) “That’s close enough. whenever you can if you can.”

Cashier takes the difference from her wallet and completes the transaction.

A smile rests in the moment thankfully without snoring.

The cashier starts to ring up the next order (me) as the older woman waves the bagger off pushing her kart of groceries towards the door. Halfway there she stops to talk to a friend.

A shopper unable to find another store associate approaches the register: “I thought these were on sale.”

Bagger (with a smile): “No, they were on the shelf.”

Cashier (responding to the customer ignoring her ever ‘helpful’ bagger.): “No, that was last week.”

Shopper: “Ok, hmmm. Well, I thought they were on sale.”

Shopper walks off to complete his shopping.

Bagger (to the cashier): “technically, last week they were in the warehouse.”

Cashier shakes her head and smiles.

Bagger beams. He knows his audience.

Cashier: (quietly to me) “Don’t worry (nodding to the older woman who is still talking to her friend) She is ok. But sometimes we old timers have to help each other reach tomorrow”

I smile, uncertain, but warmed by her concern not sure if I need speak.

Me: “It’s a lovely day outside.”

Cashier: “Yes, yes, even though it would be nice if it rained at night so each morning we could wake to everything fresh, new, washed clean and gleaming with hope.”

I nod. But think about how nice it is to walk in gentle rain.

A pause in the conversation: Me thinking about walking in the rain. The cashier wanting her moment of kindness to go on forgotten so it can stay as an act of the heart.

A customer joins the queue with a shopping kart holding 6 gigantic boxes of donuts.

There must be another sheriff's convention in town I joke to myself.

Cashier: (with a smile almost waking me from my thoughts) “I pray every year for it to rain at night so of course it rains during the day.”

I laugh.

Cashier: “Are you saving the coupons for the pans?”

Me: “No, thank you.”

I gather my sacks from the bagger and head to the door.

Money is nice to have but a friend with a kind heart is a treasure.