Out my Window: blue skies, fast moving clouds, sparkly snow
Enjoying: candles and twinkle lights, fresh flowers, good books, little electric fireplace heater, playing games in the evening, soft, warm blankets
Listening to/Watching: I am listening and watching lessons on Multicultural Therapy and Legal and Ethics in Therapy for my new endeavor of schooling. I did take some time to listen to the Holy Post Podcast Holy Post Podcast, the interviews were very good as usual. I finished up a few earlier podcasts I had started from Carolyn Leaf: Cleaning Up the Mental Mess. One was on schizophrenia, this was a fascinating story about a family that had 10 kids and ended up 4 of the children had schizophrenia. The interview is very interesting. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3avbEMCrMXukXUNl4Xx35D?si=lN61qYEURSKg5hyjUytIlQ and the other on anxiety being connected to possible head trauma or concussions was eye-opening and pertinent. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1LAaNAzRdMK4isifRiyp9o?si=oM8WfsgfRBe7IxepAqaR4g (PSA:The host takes a bit of getting used to, but the information is very interesting and worth the time.) Christine Caine interviewed Jemar Tisby. This was another great interview with him (two weeks ago I shared his interview on the Holy Post) https://www.instagram.com/tv/CK5QOvCAT0t/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link I am learning so much. I ordered his newest book after that talk. Right now on Amazon you can use the code 5Justice to get $5 off a copy. Buy a few and start a discussion group that becomes an action group. https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B085XNNNJP&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_ZMPEZ1NRJM3TXY5T6VAT As a family we have been working our way through the Monk Series. Sadly, we finished this week. I am finding myself watching shorts on Dry Bar Comedy Facebook page Dry Bar Comedy | Facebook for brain breaks. I always enjoy laughter.
Reading: By my bedside is Reading While Black: African American Interpretation as an Exercise of Hope by Esau Macauley. It has been interesting and encouraging so far. I highly recommend listening to any interviews with him and so far the book has not disappointed.
I am reviewing The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks. I love all things brain, learning, and theology so this book is right up my alley. It is very accessible and interesting with practical steps to implement the ideas brought forth about using more of the Right Brain in discipleship. I will be doing a review for it in the future, but much to think about and some great reminders of God’s desire to give us joy and relationships.
I am on a launch team for a new book on prayer. Where Prayer Becomes Real: How honesty with God transforms your soul by Kyle Strobel and John Coe. This is another blend of theology and practice. I am just getting into it. It seems like a good companion for the other book I am reading on discipleship and the right brain.
Most of my days are filled with reading for my two classes but thankful for the few moments here and there to read other books. So many books piling up on my to read list, definitely not a complaint. It is a good problem to have.
Rambling Thoughts: I have been thinking again about narratives. What are the stories we tell ourselves and others at different seasons of life? In both interviews I listened to with Jemar Tisby he mentioned how the south at the end of the Civil War needed to reframe the narrative to help them cope with the loss of their men and lifestyle. They needed heroes so they didn’t have to live under shame. Instead of repentance, they romanticized the past and changed the causes fought for. How we frame things has power. The stories we tell or don’t tell make a difference in how we see ourselves and others. Our narratives cause a certain filter on how we see things, events, and people in our life. I can’t remember who it was this week I listened to or read that said if we do not deal with our past traumas, they fill find us and deal with us. Sometimes we need people to help us walk through theses stresses and traumas to help us frame them in a healthier light, we need to deal with them. It is easy to just keep moving and buying our story that we are telling, or the story we were told. I am thinking how we as a culture bought many of the narratives told, and stopped questioning for awhile why it was okay for a confederate flag to fly over a capitol? Or why don’t see an issue of naming our teams after things that are sacred to the Native Americans? What things do we keep going with, and what things do we avoid because of someone else’s story? It reminds me of Malcom Gladwell’s fascinating book, Talking to Strangers. It talks about how we will give people passes based on the narrative we have told ourselves about people or a group of people. Something in us is questioning and we make excuses for them based on the narrative we are believing, or the opposite is true also. We are ready to believe certain things about a person or group of people based on the narrative we believe about them. As a Christian it reminds me of how important it is to stay connected to the Holy Spirit and allow God to define and explain the narrative. When I go off on my own I forget who I really am and who others truly are. My narratives become embellished with my ideas that come from my super limited view. Humility is something to practice in this age. Remembering that I do not have all the pieces is significant and helps me to ask better questions as to why someone’s narrative looks so different than mine, especially of the same events. Seeking the Truth will help pan out truth in this season of the world especially for the Church as we seek a way forward.
Fitness and Mental Health: I participated in a 5 day Pilates Challenge with Erica Ziel Erica Ziel | Core Exercise Specialist Rode the stationary bike twice this week and shoveled. Felt good to be moving. I still need a rhythm and plan, but for winter moving daily is the goal. Mental Health: still being intentional with my daily gratitude journal, exercise, and continuing to look for beauty are key. Writing the date and day and a brief list of the events of day has been very helpful for my mental health. Numbering my days…
Home: Keeping people fed, clothed, and things somewhat clean as we are still in the middle of two renovations and two classes.
Giving Thanks For: snow days, tea, warm blankets, laughter, time, candles, twinkle lights, beautiful moon, nature, friends willing to wrestle and encourage through hard stuff with me, technology, God’s mercies, people who challenge and encourage me to think deeper and bigger about ideas and life, well cared for, my home, provisions, rest, so much beauty in this world, good books, challenging thoughts, community, grace, God ordering my days, His provisions and reminder of His heart for me, forgiveness, refining
Inkblot Life 