Lost in the Shuffle?

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit* set their minds on the things of the Spirit.* To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit* is life and peace. - Romans 8:5-6

Dear Friends in Christ -

Someone once said that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing and expect different results. Yeah. Well. Then color me insane, BUT trying to be less insane.

As a priest, Lent is my "busy season." So it's easy for me to be preaching deeper spirituality and reflection while rushing around like a mad woman for 18 hours a day. This year, I'm trying to shed some insanity and get different results by doing something different.

My Lenten discipline has been to practice noticing and doing beauty. And I'm striving to keep that up - even in the face of feeling like the ever-rolling stream of time is speeding up, rushing toward Easter.

When I stay faithful to this discipline of beauty, something different does happen. The cloudy noise in and around me seems to subside. I cease to feel lost in the shuffle. I can hear and see things. Today, I noticed the fresh-tilled earth in my garden and paused to run my hand through the silky clumpy damp dirt. And all of a sudden, I felt less overwhelmed and more like singing . . . "Almost heaven, West Virginia . . . country roads, take me home" . . . and smiling.

Faithfully,
Janet+