Ailantha
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The Challenge Of The Challenge

1/27/2015

3 Comments

 
​    A few weeks ago while I was hanging around the office at my church, Peace Lutheran, I noticed this sign hanging
       on  the  wall:
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  ...And I thought to myself, This is why I love Peace. They know how to cover all the bases in a few words here.
      Anyway, also a couple weeks ago during the Sunday service we were given this hand-out presenting us with a 30-day challenge to "Start Something Old",
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​...the concept being this:
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​...And the challenge consisting of this:
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    On the back of the challenge guide were a list of 20 spirituality exercises to choose from. 
   I looked over the exercises, felt a surge of inspiration, and picked out five that I decided I would do:
    - Spend five minutes a day sitting quietly and paying attention to your breathing.  Remind yourself that even your breath is a gift from God. 
    - Attend an activity in which you are the minority (cultural, race, age, religion, etc).  Listen.  Experience.  Appreciate. 
    - Return that annoying grocery cart you almost hit as you pulled into your space.  It's an act of silent service.
    - Connect personally (phone call or personal note) to encourage or console someone.
    - Practice the art of noticing.  Spend time wondering what's happening in people's lives.  Pray for them.
    I figured three of the five were were  challenges more of an opportunistic nature, and that only two, the breathing and the noticing, would need to be practiced on a daily basis.  I left church that day feeling as I often do upon leaving church, spiritually  motivated and energized.
    Then I arrived home, tossed the challenge guide on the dining room table, 
which was already under siege by a volunteer project that Tom was working on for the  Boy Scouts,
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...fixed lunch, did some laundry, went grocery shopping, did some bills, practiced piano, fixed dinner, worked on my blog, and forgot all about the challenge.
   Then yesterday afternoon  I ventured back into that no-woman's-land in the dining room where I found my abandoned challenge guide and guiltily recalled my five forgotten resolutions. 

    But re-reading the challenge guide  was enough to re-spark my resolve, even if it meant being like the long-distance runner who ambles up to the starting line long after the gun has gone off and the others are on their way:  On your mark...get set... Breathe.  Notice.
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3 Comments
Molina
1/27/2015 09:34:42 am

Patti, so on target...not to use an old cliche, but it's the little things that really do matter. Love these ideas!

Reply
Michelle France
1/27/2015 06:57:02 pm

Patti, YOU inspire me! I love your Church mission and the creative way the challenges were offered. You are too hard on yourself. You are kind and thoughtful, reflective and generous, a true friend of God...a true friend of mine! Thanks for sharing this with so many...peace happens one person at a time. Love you!

Reply
Patti
1/30/2015 10:42:05 pm

Michelle, you are kind and positive and encouraging as ever. Stay sweet!

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