Life Itself

I'm at my favorite place in the world, seeking a little peace and quiet and doing a little self-care with my favorite people in the world (see below). Conditions are perfect for peace, quiet and self-care; not too many folks here right now. Lots of room to move, lots of blue skies and perfect weather.

Currently, I'm reading Gifted To Lead: The Art of Leading As A Woman In the Church by Nancy Beach. I picked this up in June and dug into it last week. I expected it to be good, but I'm finding it beyond simply good. It's stunning, inspiring and spiritually challenging.

By the way - women? Read this book.

Here's something I read today that has been twirling in my heart for the past few hours; she quotes Frederick Buechner from Now and Then:

"There is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it, always hiddenly, always leaving you room to recognize him or not to recognize, but all the more fascinatingly because of all that, all the more compellingly and hauntingly... Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace."

Wow.

Life itself is grace.

Just chew on that for a while.

Then I read Robyn's blog - "3 Girls Mom"; writing about her experience at a Beth Moore teaching conference, she had this to say:

"I also learned that EVERYTHING in my life (good or bad) has been allowed by God for the sole purpose of glorifying Him. And if I don't use those life experiences (good and bad) to glorify Him, then they were all in vain. Think about that the next time you want to throw yourself a pity party."

God is reminding me today of a few very important things. I find them mind-boggling, heart-wrenching, and spirit-renewing.

And that's a very good thing.

Oh, and my favorite people in the world? Here they are: