Cindi Psalm 1

Lord of Heaven
You call our name
You whisper in our heart
May we grow to love like You
May we learn to see what’s true
May we choose to follow You
Lord of Heaven

Lord of Heaven
Your word gives life
You waken up our soul
May we follow where You lead
May we recognize the need
May we honor You in deed
Lord of Heaven

Dear Mr. Obama

Dear President Obama,

I just read another (e-mail forwarded, of course,) letter supposedly from another teacher, and let me just say, I have had it, too. But in contrast to how that other letter started, I have had it with all the nasty and divisive criticism of your administration. I am saddened by the treatment you have received by people who would never allow their kids to speak of a classmate or neighbor the way they criticize you, by people who claim to know Christ and claim to value love and kindness. I have had enough. I apologize to you for our selfish, small-minded interpretation of things you have done and said.

I commend you, Michelle, and your team for all that you do on behalf of the United States of America. I am deeply touched by your leadership and integrity, impressed with your intelligence, value your ability to articulate truth, appreciate your sense of humor (Stephen Colbert’s haircut, for example), applaud your decency, respect your commitment to Michelle and your daughters and how you champion fatherhood, envy your coolness under pressure, admire your ability to think on your feet, applaud your down-to-earth approachability as evidenced in interviews and other efforts, cheer for your commitment to the greater good, and thank you for many things, including keen insight into complicated issues, boldness in values, heart for service, humility in understanding the complexity of our times, kindness to your new dog, patience with pundits, and sacrifices both personal and professional demanded through this job you have been graciously willing to take on for the people.

I know you are intelligent, grounded, and wise enough to surround yourself with others who will look at details, statistics, and strategies beyond what I will ever be able to know or calculate. My pledge to you: I will grant you time and space to lead without being second-guessed on everything by me. I will acknowledge failure is an expected part of success, and grant you the grace needed to move ahead. I will concentrate on the areas where I have influence and control, and use my energies to make a positive difference in my arena, and support you in yours without assuming I have enough information to judge.

Your speech in Cairo was profound. Your visits to other countries inspired. Your delicate walk with the situation in Iran educated me. Your comments on abortion at Notre Dame’s graduation elevated that conversation. Bravo!

In the first few months of your presidency, I have learned powerful lessons and been reminded of how I want to live in response to the crazy stuff going on through various talk TV and radio personalities, forwarded e-mails, and conversations with people:
• I choose to not be critical from this far away from what goes on in federal government, since I do not have all the information, and often the information I do have is not accurate.
• I want my words and actions to be true to The Golden Rule.
• I want to remember to be kind to all presidents in how I speak of them, even if I do not agree.
• I want to be part of solutions and service, not of division and damaging words and efforts.

My demographics: I am about to turn 54, live outside a major city in a state that is broke, registered as an Independent voter, a follower of Christ that attends a large evangelical church, public school educator, have a Master of Science degree in Education Administration, worked briefly in public relations, was an intern for the State of Indiana Assembly, and lived outside of Chicago for about 14 years – and Chicago remains my favorite city to this day! I am happily married to Glen (a Democrat), have no children, and have really had to learn to live more simply with reduced income in recent years due to my husband’s worthy vocational choice (consultant to build capacity for community organizations).

I’d like to say more in support of you, your words, and your administration, about issues I’ve heard some friends and family members cruelly speak against, but who has time. There is a lot to do together.

You are a good man and a capable leader and president. Keep it up. Stay safe. Love your family. Play basketball. Live the faith. Thanks for everything. It is a new day in the USA, and I’ll walk with you to move on. God bless you and everyone, and God bless the United States of America and all nations. We hope to meet you someday.

Sincerely,
Another Real American
Cindi Peterson

Global Responsibility

Challenging excerpt from a One report on a meeting at the UN, June 25, 2009...

Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, the President of the General Assembly, stated at the outset of his speech that we are meeting because “we are going through the most singular moment in human history when our common future is at stake.” He said we must acknowledge that the current economic and financial crisis is the result of “an egotistical and irresponsible way of living, producing, consuming and establishing relationships among ourselves and with nature that involved systematic aggression against Earth and its ecosystems,” which masked social imbalance and global social injustice. He called for “a sustainable way of life,” which stems from a shared vision of the values and principles that promote the well-being of present and future generations, and a creation of a new global ethic to share our common global good that is the “Mother Earth.” This should be extended in dealing with the concerns of environment as well as humanitarian issues including poverty, which is a “time bomb” against humanities of all societies. He concluded his moving speech with a plea that that we “arm ourselves with solidarity and cooperation in order to make a qualitative leap forward to a future of peace and well-being.”

Oma, Opa, and Raspberries

I just ate a little bowl of fresh raspberries, drizzled with cream and a light sprinkle of sugar. This is a summer treat from my childhood. When I was growing up in Akron, Ohio, I was introduced to this summer delight. I would go with my next door neighbors, Annette and Debbie, to visit their grandparents for the morning or afternoon. I remember four things: 1) we called them Oma and Opa, 2) they were of German descent, still with an accent, 3) they had the most fabulous doll house there, and 4) they'd sometimes serve us fresh summer raspberries with cream and sugar. Delightful dessert and memories for me to this day. [Sorry I don't have a photo of fresh raspberries right now. I just ate them.]

Immigration Reform

As I learn more about the issues of immigration reform, I have walked away from the black and white standard responses of my previous positions. My mind has been touched by real life situations that bust some myths wide open. My heart has been broken in repentance for systemic sins.

Through further study of Scripture, I have gained broader perspective on citizenship, personalized alien status, and looked deeper into the eyes of people impacted by this complicated issue. I am now cautious about blaming a people group for problems, without being willing to listen. As a public educator, I have a higher purpose when I look into the eyes of a child. I grasp the power of education to move out of poverty. I will work to educate that child. I cannot police who is deserving.

I must continue to learn. I am called to love...God, neighbors, and enemies. That will keep me busy for years. I look forward to moments that nurture understanding and establish caring conversation on the topic.

Goodbye Guest Room Wallpaper!

Today, I finished removing the wallpaper in the guest room. We have lived in this house for 13 years. We had many rooms that need to lose the wallpaper. Glen's office and the dining room have reached that goal. Now the guest room can be added to the list.

I don't have any memory of serious wall paper removal. Glen did that task in his office. We paid a friend to do that for the dining room. I tackled the guest room. "How hard can it be?" I thought to myself. It was time consuming, but moved along faster than expected. It was physically hard, but manageable. The perfect physical task after winding up another school year! I went in the room and sprayed and scraped and saw progress each day. A nice way to unwind, really. Thankfully, the temperature was pleasant outside, too.

I learned a lot doing this myself. Glen helped me understand the process with some good tips. I cannot believe it is done and soon will be painted. The grand thing about projects like this is once it is done, I don't have to do it again -- no more wallpaper there. That is in contrast to chores, which do have to be done over and over. Another plus is the feeling of satisfaction as I walked out from under the cloud of procrastination and away from the frustration of never getting to it. That right there has payback when it comes to energy given back.

I am excited to see the room freshly painted in a Bennington Gray (looks like coffee with plenty of cream). I can't wait to finish it up with two more mini-blinds and other decorative accents, most of which we already own. When my parents visit in December, it will be a welcoming room after so many years of annoying walls and unorganized storage. I call it "The Nutcracker Suite" when they visit; not a comment on them, just a holiday name for a room.

We do like to share the room. Friends are coming next week, thus the push to get at it! A family of five from the Midwest will use it a base camp while the sight see in the area. I will look forward to sharing it more readily, now that it will look nicer. It is a delightful room, facing west, plenty of windows, and a pretty view through the trees. We can even see downtown L.A. in the distance at night -- the lighted skyline.

So why did it take so long to get it done? So many years of meaning to get to it, and then in less than a week it is ready to paint? We are busy, but really?!! Anyway, it is done now. As I thought of the procrastination, while I was scraping away, I noted a hint of something interesting within myself. When a task is undone, lots of dreaming of the day it is done goes on for me, bringing me joy and something to look forward to. And yet, once the task is complete, the dreaming stops. The "looking forward to" becomes reality. There a mild sense of loss of a dream that prevents us from moving ahead. Do I subconsciously think what if I don't like it once done, what will I have to look forward to creatively then, and what if I can't do what my ideas have crafted in our heads? This may be the curse of the creative person. Not all creative people are procrastinators, though. Anyway, I moved past that moment of melancholy. It did make me pause to see if that is a little of what makes me procrastinate. I'd rather dream than do.

The Bakery Quest

This weekend, I started a new quest. I began to look for little bakeries as I travel around. My friend recommended two to me. One in Santa Barbara and another in Capitola, California. We stopped at Our Daily Bread in Santa Barbara on Friday afternoon for a late lunch. We did not get to Gayle's in Capitola. Another friend recommended The Buttery in Santa Cruz, which was very close to our hotel. We stopped there on the way out of town this morning.

There is something quaint, charming, and welcoming about a town bakery. It is a personal touch in a crazy world, and people gather there to enjoy something good and often to share relaxed conversation with others. Is it the daytime version of what a neighborhood bar might be at night? I don't know. The bakery seems to be a gentle peek into a local community for a tourist, providing a neighborhood connection. A bakery is a nice alternative to the fast paced world of food chains.

So, I'm enjoying this new quest. We'll see what I learn from observations and sampled treats! As a sociologist by education (B.A. Sociology), I love learning how people function in groups in society, and a bakery can provide interesting perspective.

The Tortilla Chip of Engagement

On June 10, 1992, Glen turned to me over dinner at the Uptown Mexican Cafe, and romantically and practically speaking, said, "Well, marry me, then." My first act of biblical wifely submission. I said, "OK." Pause. "Are we engaged now?" I inquired. He said that he thought so. So, there we were over refried beans, and a simple exchange of a few words changed our lives forever.

We were therefore and thereby engaged. We needed some sort of ceremony or ritual to make it feel real. So, we each took a tortilla chip in hand, dipped each said chip in the salsa, linked our arms in that feeding the wedding cake kind of awkward motion and fed one another a chip. That officially became our tradition of promise, the beloved "Tortilla Chip of Engagement." And we all know, a one time ritual like that can bring memories of delight as the years go by.

I'd say "yes" all over again. And in fact, each day in marriage requires some broad sense of generous yes. I still have a crush on my husband. I am grateful to God for Glen. Marriage is hard. A good marriage is hard. And worth it. Most days, we have a great time here. Seventeen years later, I'm still happy he asked and I said yes.

My First Zumba

Now I've gotten in touch with my inner Latina. And I now consider entertainers who can breathe, dance, and sing, like Beyonce, athletes!

I went to my community YMCA this morning for the Zumba® class. I have never been before. I had read the description, and thought I'd give it a try since I like Latin musica. Zumba® is described on the official web site this way: "fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program that will blow you away."

http://www.zumba.com/us/

I lasted 25 minutes. I was wishing I'd brought water. It was a workout, baby!

The dance studio/exercise room was crowded. Besides myself, there was one other woman who looked to be of northern European descent. The only language I heard spoken before class began was Spanish. Maybe I picked the wrong day to wear my t-shirt with the United States flag on it, but my globe t-shirt was in the wash. [I don't have a globe t-shirt.] One man participated.

I headed to the back wall and claimed my spot. The instructor came in, set-up her i-Pod, and moved to the front and center. And the music started. The beat pounded from the speaker over me head, and women all around me, all ages and stages, sizes and shapes, tattooed and not, started to move a little.

Then the teacher started moving. She did not speak. The music was too loud for that anyway. And we all followed her. Forward, back, left to right, side to side, bend, twist, arms up, arms back. And shake it, girlfriend. If that's fun for you.

What a workout! I had fun, but thought I should cool down at the end of 25 minutes. Actually, I thought I might die if I did not. So, I left for today. I walked around the parking lot twice to slow down my pulse before driving home for a big glass of water. Wow! That was exercise. And it was fun.

I laughed at how uncomfortable I was "dancing," basically. I laughed at how uncoordinated I am. It was tricky for me to feel the flow of it all. I discovered I am a decent mimic, so I followed the teacher OK. I did not hurt myself or anyone else in my attempts to move this way and that. I did OK.

Let me just say...some of the Zumba sisters got it going on! They can move to the groove with a flair that is enviable. I, on the other hand, remain rather mechanical and comfortable with that. This seems to be a group that has Zumba'd many times. Some even wore trademark Zumba clothes! I may have been the only one new. That's cause for some minor discomfort, too. Hey, it keeps me young to learn in new situations. And the activity, in spite of the small moments of self-consciousness, is a great investment in life.

Hooray...for getting to the gym. For getting exercise. On a Saturday.

That Bugs!

Bugs are eating my spearmint, oregano, and basil plant leaves. Ugh! That bugs! Those bugs. I can't seem to catch them in the act to put them on time out. But I see their scat and the holes in the leaves. What shall I do?

Mother's Day, The Civil War, Temperance, & Carnations

I was surprised to learn today that Mother's Day was connected to the Civil War and an anti-war observance. I never saw a card about that at Hallmark!

Source: Wikipedia

Early "Mother's Day" was mostly marked by women's peace groups. A common early activity was the meeting of groups of mothers whose sons had fought or died on opposite sides of the American Civil War. In New York City, Julia Ward Howe led a "Mother's Day" anti-war observance in 1872, which was accompanied by a Mother's Day Proclamation. The observance continued in Boston for about 10 years under Howe's personal sponsorship, then died out.

Several years later, a Mother's Day observance on May 13, 1877 was held in Albion, Michigan, over a dispute related to the temperance movement. According to local legend, Albion pioneer, Juliet Calhoun Blakeley, stepped up to complete the sermon of the Rev. Myron Daughterty, who was distraught because an anti-temperance group had forced his son and two other temperance advocates to spend the night in a saloon and become publicly drunk. In the pulpit, Blakeley called on other mothers to join her. Blakeley's two sons, both traveling salesmen, were so moved that they vowed to return each year to pay tribute to her and embarked on a campaign to urge their business contacts to do likewise. At their urging, in the early 1880s, the Methodist Episcopal Church in Albion set aside the second Sunday in May to recognize the special contributions of mothers.

Frank E. Hering, President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, made the first known public plea for "a national day to honor our mothers" in 1904.

In its present form, Mother's Day was established by Anna Marie Jarvis, following the death of her mother on May 9, 1905; she campaigned to establish Mother's Day as a U.S. national, and later an international, holiday.

Originally the Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church, the site of the original Mother's Day commemoration, where Anna handed out carnations, the International Mother's Day Shrine is now a National Historic Landmark. From there, the custom caught on—spreading eventually to 46 states. The holiday was declared officially by some states as early as 1912, beginning with West Virginia. On May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress passed a law designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and requesting a proclamation. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made that proclamation, declaring the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.

Carnations /flowers have come to represent Mother's Day, since they were delivered at one of its first celebrations by its founder. This also started the custom of wearing a carnation on Mother's Day. The founder, Anna Jarvis, chose the carnation because it was the favorite flower of her mother. In part due to the shortage of white carnations, and in part due to the efforts to expand the sales of more types of flowers in Mother's Day, the florists promoted wearing a red carnation if your mother was living, or a white one if she was dead; this was tirelessly promoted until it made its way into the popular observations at churches.

In May 2008, the US House of Representatives voted twice on a resolution commemorating Mother's Day, the first one being unanimous so that all congressmen would be on record showing support for Mother's Day.

In the United States, "Mother's Day Work Clubs" were organized by Anna Jarvis's mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis (1832-1905), to improve sanitation and health in the area. These clubs also assisted both Union and Confederate encampments controlling a typhoid outbreak, and conducted a "Mothers' Friendship Day" to reconcile families divided by the Civil War.

Backyard Inspiration

So, I'm sitting at my desk right now, in my second floor office. Window open. Delightful spring breeze freshens the room. Late afternoon sunshine spills in. And then what to my wondering ears? The Vangelis theme from "Chariots of Fire" fills the yard...the neighborhood...at least several backyards near us. Suddenly, I feel inspired. I feel the urge to run in slow motion along the water on a sandy shore. But the bigger urge is to figure out where this large sound is coming from...and why??...and why only the first 8 measures or so?

That "Flying Scotsman," Eric Liddell, sure inspired us all, didn't he? Unless you were not born in 1981, or going to movies at the time. This film must be a cultural icon and I bet just reading this makes you hum the theme song, whether you saw the movie or not. I know I am humming. No, wait. It's not me. It's the actual song playing again through our backyard. I think I know where it is coming from. What a pleasant distraction, really. After all, the mystery neighborhood DJ could have selected a little something from Metallica! I wonder if they are taking requests.

Well, back to work. Gotta love living in an urban community.

American Violet

I would like to see the new movie "American Violet," released today, to better understand my world and issues of racial injustice. Unfortunately, it is not playing in my neighborhood. It is locally only in 2 theaters...both 45 minutes away. That's difficult.

www.americanviolet.com

Yet, "17 Again" with tween heart throb Zac Efron is everywhere around here. So, marketers know how people will spend their movie money in this area.

Is this any kind of social statement? Are people out here not interested in urban struggles? So a movie promoter won't risk showing it in the suburban areas? Maybe. Maybe not. I cannot claim to make that assumption. Marketers do their research and, plain and simple, movies that target kids are always the big money makers. The heavier themed movies don't create the box office buzz. Naturally, this impacts the money promoters will put behind a movie. Can't blame them. This is business to them. That is a wise business decision.

Many go to movies for entertainment, and films like "American Violet," might not be a seen to distract from everyday life and entertain. I like entertaining movies, too. I can't find fault with that.

Consider "Slumdog Millionaire." That movie took the theater going audience by storm after barely getting any attention from the movie business. That one was a brilliant blend of tough social issues and entertainment, as evidenced by the popularity.

So, back to if the lack of theaters showing the movie a social statement. Not really. Would crowds in my area be interested in "American Violet?" I know many who would. Truthfully, word of mouth will need to carry this one and move people to go see it, support it, and/or rent it.

The personal irony is that I've eliminated spending money on most non-essentials like movies in theaters. So, I probably won't go. I'd love to be part of the good turn-out this weekend to catch the attention and get wider release, but my money priorities are elsewhere right now. I'll look forward to renting it. Glen makes excellent popcorn! Better than theater popcorn any day!

My Big Question of the Day

Why are homemade cookies so good?

"Great Spirits"...Great Quote

I find myself weary of seeing the previous post. I noticed I hadn't blogged for over a month -- almost two. Even though March was busy and brimming with blogolicious moments, events, and ponderings, none of that has yet to be included here.

So, for today's purpose, which is to merely move along the previous post, let me quote a brilliant man, Albert Einstein:

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

Don't you just feel like that some days? Either living the role of the great spirit or the mediocre mind.

Junk Mail Amusement

Today I went through our mail, and here is what I scanned through:

• Save hundreds of dollars a year! (Insurance offer)
• Changes to the IRS Code have been passed that directly affect your Teacher Retirement System benefits -- Mr. Peterson (I'm the teacher in the house)
• An extra $5,000 now... (preferred homeowners)
• Our bundle is better (Charter Cable)
• Glen, we have $7,500 available for you RIGHT NOW. (financial services)
• Open a free checking account and cash in our $100 offer (bank merge)
• This is to inform you that your automotive warranty may have expired (company not clearly identified)

It is my lucky day! So many opportunities to profit...or not. Well, I'm off to the shredder.

Rachel Carson Insight

I am reading The Sense of Wonder, by Rachel Carson, 1956. The text is memorable to me...I do love nature. She is quotable.

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in."

"I sincerely believe that for the child, and for the parent seeking to guide him, it is not half so important to know as to feel. If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow. The years of early childhood are the time to prepare the soil. Once the emotions have been aroused -- a sense of the beautiful, the excitement of the new and the unknown, a feeling of sympathy, pity, admiration, or love-- then we wish for knowledge about the object of our emotional response. Once found, it has lasting meaning. It is more important to pave the way for the child to want to know than to put him on a diet of facts he is not ready to assimilate."

These are powerful thoughts. I hear parents and educators express anxiety about not knowing enough. Find freedom as a preparer of soil, as facilitator.

As an educator, and as an aunt and friend to children and young adults, I think Carson's perspective provides an anchor to learning together. We are now in a postmodern society and some education and parenting is still in the modern tradition (facts rule).

What are kids really into as they reach perhaps middle school and on into adult life -- music. Where would you categorize music, if you had to do so? Fact? Or emotion?

Think about traditional school life, largely based on fact management, so as to make it easy to test kids and evaluate the success of the school. Probably because emotion is hard to quantify and term useful or productive in modern tradition. As school years progress, have you noticed that many kids disconnect from learning as modeled for them in tradition school experiences? I have.

Listen to great people in interviews as to why so many drop out of high school. Their answers miss the obvious in many responses, at least for me. Perhaps an answer may be found in these thoughts shared by Carson. The delicate balance of facts and emotion. I also think the force (as in the silent hand that steers all things classroom) to learn the facts continues to quietly shout or whisper with a roar in such a way that many kids inadvertently become convinced that they are stupid, or at least not good enough, that they do not measure up. So why would they stay in school? Besides the fact that school gives them time to listen to their Ipods [music...emotion] and possibly feel something, even if only drama, in friendships.

Older students are fighting for meaning. Traditional school often does not offer that. Isn't it more powerful to be able to know how to research and find facts (which do tend to change and expand anyway...I memorized nine planets, case in point), and discern the truth (I once saw several pages of Internet opportunities to go whale watching in Lake Michigan, for example), and then use the truth. Kids often merely memorize and complete assignments to play the game of school, often without true context and connection, often at stages of development that cannot support the experience (higher math for me). [Note: I do highly value the important skill of completing assignments and doing so on time...very practical.]

Thank you, Lord, for teachers that engage students and prepare the "soil" for the facts to grow through best practices in the classroom and hearts to serve human beings fighting for their souls while society values them as future producers in the economy. Good teachers facilitate the invitation for a child to "want to know," and provide earthy, warm, nutritious soil to grow.

And what about passing along a life-gripping, authentic faith in Christ to the next generation? Do we simply pound the facts of the faith and neglect the emotions which connect with the untamed mystery of God, those emotions that reveal a God bigger than my image of Him? I have observed many kids growing up with all the facts of the faith, but it doesn't quite translate in to a passion to follow Christ in authentic living and continued hunger and growth. They often can simple tell you why they are right and others are wrong. That is a bridge to nowhere. Get out the yellow "Caution" tape.

We all learn to give the right answers. How do we learn to ask the right questions? To wonder. I wonder. Thank you, Rachel Carson, for a good read on the Sense of Wonder.

A Great Day

Today is a great day. I'll try a haiku to capture it.

Winter, cloudy, cold,
Cozy with promise of rain,
Home by fire reading.

Broken Dishwasher Strengthens Marriage

Our dishwasher is broken. It has been broken for several weeks. We now hand wash the dishes. Sometimes that is a time demand that is tough to keep up during our busy days. We are unable to replace the dishwasher at this time due to other priorities and the need to research a new one, with the hope of getting a reliable one.

For much of our marriage the rule is whoever cooks does the clean-up. That has been practical because of our cooking styles. Glen cleans up as he goes. I love to spread my cooking mess around the kitchen like a junk yard of culinary fun. So, naturally, Glen prefers that I clean up after my cooking adventures.

Last night, Glen and I did the dishes together. He washed and I dried and put away. This old fashioned activity got us up off the evening couch, postponed our TV vegetative states, and took us away from our laptops. The laptops have been known to consume the evenings, since we both work and play on our computers, side by side, as the night slips away.

I have to confess that time spent side by side doing the dishes provided a time to unwind together, accomplish a goal with immediate reward, and a venue for light-hearted, random conversation. It was fun. I really enjoyed it.

I hope we do more dish washing together. It was just such a simple way to enjoy time together, like a leisurely ride in the car. Plus, the cook gets out of the kitchen faster when two tackle the dishes.

So, in this day and age of so many "conveniences," do we lose that easy going time together that inconveniences provide? That are a path to slowing down and sharing life in conversation? In addition, we stopped eating out as often several years ago. I discovered how we each enjoy the creative process of taking time to collect and combine various food ingredients into a rewarding (usually) evening meal, less expensive and usually healthier in portions and nutrition! Back to the simpler way of living step-by-step. We also clean our home on our own now, due to budget cuts. That is relaxing and rewarding, too. At least for us. And it involves a bit of physical activity, which is always good. Big, yet subtle, benefits. Finding time is still the challenge, but the benefits are nice. Am I crazy?

"A & A" E-mails (Alarm & Alert)...Groan!

I have recently thought more about these “A&A” e-mails...”Alarm & Alert” that I get from time to time, usually forwarded. I realize that I can give little to no attention to them. I don’t have the time, energy, or priority space to dig deeper to find out truth and separate bias and then truly influence an outcome. I must devote my days to things that I can impact and want to give heart energy and head space to — things that God has called me to devote my life to in serving Him.

There is so much information available to us through e-mail that we each need to determine how to manage it. And this is my plan. I must each figure out how to avoid the distractions of electronic information, in an effort to focus on what is before me that truly needs my attention. At my 80th birthday party, when I look back on my life, will I think figuring out a right response to these types of e-mails made a difference? Of course, not! If I gave the time to studying God’s word instead, wouldn’t that be time better spent? Or sharing a cup of coffee to catch up with a neighbor? Or bowing in prayer for the leaders of my church and nation? Here is a good filter from Stephen Covey:

Circle of Concern - Circle of Influence
From The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Determine what you can do instead of worry over what you have no control over.
Circle of Concerns - all those worries
Circle of Influence - from those worries, select things you can actually do something about. Be pro-active and get going! This will decrease the list of worries.

"Covey distinguishes between the have's ('If only I had...') and the be's ('I can be...'). Focusing on what you don't like is disempowering. Focusing on what you can do is proactive and empowering. 'Be part of the solution,' Covey suggests, 'not part of the problem.'"

[Comments from Mary R. Bast, PhD]

And the rest...learn to let it go and trust God. So, I will be deleting "A & A" e-mails and moving on.