Perspective

 There is this stretch of the interstate that I travel on during the drive from my kids' schools that freaks me out.  Essentially me and my traffic compadres are driving along on the highway when out of nowhere a group of rogue riders come ricocheting in from our right.  (Okay, in actuality they're yielding onto the highway...but we were there first.)

No matter how many times this happens, I am always unnerved by it.  I feel like the cars coming in from the right are too aggressive and unruly.  I tend to react by hitting my brakes, worried that they will plow right into me.

Well, today while coming from shopping in an area where I typically don't shop, I followed my GPS until it brought me to the highway that I am familiar with.  I approached the on-ramp, proceeded onto the highway, and realized that, yep, you guessed it,  I was now in the position of the rogue riders. Today I was the one zooming onto the highway and causing drivers to take caution.  However from this vantage point, it didn't look the same.  I was simply coming from where I had been to get to where I needed to go.  There was no vengeance.  No wrath.  No agenda.  Just me trying to get home.

It never ceases to amaze me the clarity that comes from seeing another perspective.

Awkward

 Yesterday I went to have my annual gynecologic exam and Pap smear.  Certainly not in my top 10 of choice activities but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

I'm always fascinated by how awkward the visit tends to be.  You would think that after years of doing this that the medical staff would be kind of chill about the whole thing.  But in my experience there is usually a distinct uneasiness in the room.

It begins with how the staff talks about the procedure.  "I know you'd rather be doing anything other than this, so let's get you done and out of here."  Then it morphs into joking.  "Scoot down on the table.  When you feel like you're about to fall off of it, you're at the right spot."  During the exam is the worst.  The doctor is doing her (his) best to engage in casual conversation to try and relay a sense of normalcy while adjusting the "probey" thing between your legs and feeling around in your nether regions.  "So, tell me, are your kids doing in-person or virtual schooling?"  Meanwhile I'm staring up at the fluorescent light bulb wishing they at least had the cat poster on the ceiling that says, 'Hang in there-it will get better' for my amusement.

When it comes down to it, I know that the exam & Pap are important tools to determine my well-being.  It's just amusing to me how awkward the whole ordeal can be even as adults.

Running Right

Since September of last year I have been running. Three times a week (mostly) I leave in the dark of the early morning and return home in daylight about 30 minutes later.

Saying that I have been running is a miracle in and of itself.  I absolutely LOVE to walk and can walk very fast.  However, after many failed attempts at the act of even a short run, I officially "called it" long ago-

I am not a runner

Needless to say when a friend challenged me last year to begin running, I was shakin' in my boots.  At first, I dreaded even waking up on "running days" and just wanted to get it over with. 'Let me get moving so I can put in my time, get out of breath, and move on' was my thinking.  Then I began to push myself.  'See if you can run longer than five minutes.'  'Okay now see if you make it to the top of the hill without stopping.'  'Now sprint to the end of the road!'  No longer is it a challenge from my friend.  Now it is an inner challenge.  I am challenging myself to do the extra.  To put my all into it.  And whenever I see results (strength, endurance, anticipation) it motivates me to continue.

I've quickly come to realize that there are SO many lessons to be learned from running.  Take today for example.  While running uphill, I was starting to feel gassed and my legs were becoming jelly underneath me.  I didn't feel like I was going to make it up this "easy" hill, yet I was determined.  What was holding me back?  Then I remembered...I was running all wrong.  I was using the front of my legs to do the work instead of using the back.  It is easy and intuitive to use the toes, calves, and hamstrings for running--but it is not best.  The larger muscles of the quadriceps and gluteal area as well as the heels provide the strength like a springboard to propel the body where it needs to go.  Using these parts is more difficult.  It requires intention and, for me at least, an unnatural shift.  But once I engage them, there is a clear difference.  I have power that is unmatched and tone displayed after months of using these muscles over and over again.

When I think about this scenario I am reminded of the importance of bringing God into my circumstances.  I can run all over the place in my own strength only to grow weary.  But when I do the intentional work of including God in my situation and employing the tools that He has given me, the load becomes lighter, His power is displayed, and growth ensues.

Stuck on Stain

 Recently I purchased a dusty orange ottoman from a thrift store.  It was in mint condition except for a wobbly leg that likely kept buyers at bay.  My husband tightened the screw on the loose leg and the stool is absolutely perfect.  An absolutely amazing find for $1.99!

There's a slight problem, though.  Because of its light color, I worry about it staining.  We had previously purchased some stain repellent spray for other furniture and applied it to this piece as well.  Nonetheless, I continue to worry about the ottoman getting stained.  At times, due to the lighting, an odd shadow will fall on it that mimics the appearance of a stain from afar.  I walk over to it, inspect the area, and to my surprise find the fabric in just the condition we purchased it--pristine.  But this scenario has played out multiple times with me being duped on each occasion into thinking that something has stained my precious piece of furniture.

This obsession, my fixation on the ottoman getting stained, makes me think about other areas in my life where I tend to be anxious.  Whether it is nagging my kids, strong-arming my way through a situation I was told to wait on, or doing something that's really someone else's responsibility because I want to make sure it gets done, I can easily get wander past my own borders.  In the case of my ottoman, it is the stain protector's job to protect the furniture.  My responsibility is to let it do it's job, live life, and stop worry about whether or not the dang thing is stained.  The same is true for the rest of my life.  There are protections in place for worrisome situations and (thankfully!) most of them do not depend upon my oversight.  I need to let these systems do the job they were created to do and stop checking in on whether or not they are working like they should.

And, if I'm doing this right, all that's left to do is kick my feet up on my orange ottoman and chillax.

Covid classroom entry #1

 Periodically I'm going to write about life in the new age of "covid classrooms".  My definition for this term is a class (whether for the purposes of school, work, or other) that is taught remotely due to the wrath of the covid virus.  Today's entry stems from an exchange during my kindergartener's class being taught remotely due to a temporary covid closure.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

My Kid: Miss Michaels is frozen!

Jenna: Aw, Miss Michaels is frozen again!

My Kid: Miss Michaels is frozen...we can do whatever we want!  Woo hoo!

Sammy: Let's pretend we're frozen.

Zeus (hey, if I'm changin' the names I'm gonna get creative): Yeah!  Let's do it!

Annika: Wait, how do you stop moving?  I can't do it.

Jeremy: You just need to stay still and only breathe through your mouth like this (demonstration ensues)

Miss Michael: Ok, Friends, I'm back.  You know what's great about all this?

Silence

Miss Michael: Comcast says there is nothing wrong!  Okay, so where were we?

My dear Educators, may God bless you with strength, patience, and humor in these trying times!

Lessons from the Snow Part II

 I am driving home on unplowed roads.  Not my comfort zone whatsoever.  Have you ever been driving in snow and you remain in a slow lane crammed with vehicles because you dare not breach the lane next to you lest you get stuck crossing over into it?  Okay, I think you're with me now.

So I'm in the "slow" lane and quite content to be there.  There is a car in front of me and I'm just following along behind barely even having to pay attention to the roads. All I have to do is follow behind in the lead car's tire tracks.  Then it happens.  He takes the next exit...leaving me in the lead.

This wouldn't be such a big deal under normal weather conditions.  I would speed up, set my cruise control, and sail through traffic.  But I certainly wasn't going to do that in the snow.  Suddenly I recognized that I was the pacesetter...and the track-leaver.  Cars were going to follow me and I had to pay attention in order to lead them well.

As is the life of a Christ-follower.  I am charged with setting the standard and staying the course that has been set by God's word.  Don't be fooled.  Just because a person isn't a Christian doesn't mean that they don't know what a Christian should and should not be doing.  My job is to pay attention to what God tells me to do and do it so that I can leave tracks of truth for His namesake.

Lessons from the Snow Part 1

 It is that delightful time of year when regular snowfalls pay a visit to the Central Pennsylvania area.  Today was a day when the timing of the snow was just late enough to allow our kids to go to school.

When I left around 7 a.m. with my 9th grader, there was absolutely no precipitation.  But as we neared his school, I was able to see faint white specks descending from the sky.  By the time I was headed home, lights swirls of white were dancing across the road as commuters raced to and fro.

I entered our driveway to a cascade of steady snow coming down and beginning to stick on the ground.  Right then and there I decided to leave earlier than usual--as in a half hour early.  My youngest and I hopped into the car and started the trip.  

Did I mention I am not a fan of driving in the snow?  I've had at least one snow accident in the past and have gotten stuck more times than I can recall.  Recognizing that this was just the start of the snow, I knew that the roads would not be in the best condition. Needless to say I was not looking forward to this drive.

We turned out of our neighborhood and headed down a nearby road to reach the highway.  Immediately after turning onto the main road that connects to the highway, I hear a glorious sound...a clicking and snapping underneath my tires...SALT!  Woohoo!  Identifying the presence of this miracle mineral helped to calm my nerves and put my mind at ease.

Do you ever respond like this in your circumstance when you think of Jesus?  Have you ever been worried, scared, or frustrated only to be reminded of Who is inside of you and the certainty of His promise to always be with you?  I want to hear about it and so do others.  Please share and thanks!