I thought long and hard this morning before cranking open my office window so I could enjoy the cool breeze and beautiful songs the birds were singing. I sat down here at my desk and fired up the computer. Actually the thought of having to dig deeper brought a peace with it. I think maybe that in itself is a leading that might be good for all of us. Dig deeper rather than take whatever comes our way. Dig deeper rather than do what is easy and requires no thought or planning.
I don't think any of you would disagree that most of us live in a fast paced world. For me that pace is caused by trying to accomplish too much in a given amount of time. As I watch people race in traffic, walk in and out of stores as fast as they can move and exhibit no patience in line, many share the same issue that I have. If we stop and look hard at that racing around with too much to do lifestyle, I believe we can all agree that we choose it. I have learned to plan less, slow down and enjoy what I expect to do a whole lot more. I am a happier person for making that change.
Once we get our list of tasks under control and to a reasonable and manageable size, we may be able to stop being self focused and find ways to spread some of that amazing love stuff around.
This is where some of that "dig deeper" stuff comes into play. Admittedly, we are a self focused people. We look at our needs, our kids needs, our parents needs and somewhere out there other family members needs. Then we add in the needs of our friends. All good stuff but in reality it is a pretty tight circle.
If I plan to set some time aside to offer some "digging deeper" love, I have to start by taking time to ponder what that might look like. What I have found is that finding such opportunities may not be that hard. I believe that they are all around us but we race past them all day long. For me, some of those ideas are in plain sight and right in front of me.
Due to the nature of what I do, I spend large amounts of time alone, pretty much every day. I admit at times I get lonely. When someone calls I am filled with excitement and step away from my desk and find a chair out in the yard and spend a wonderful 10 to 30 minutes in nature talking with someone who made the effort to check in. Not only that, but I also appreciate that they even had me on their mind. If we would take that extra time to look around us, I am sure we can find lonely people. They can be next door or right across the street. They could be sitting next to you at Dunkin' Donuts or Chick-fil-a.
I mention those two places because they are favorites of mine but also, I have spent hours making friends with just such people in those places. My day was strategically planned in such a way that an hour and a half conversation with someone I didn't know put no hardship on my day. I regularly plan to make time in my day to be available to those around me. If I don't meet someone, then I have more time to relax.
Maybe another idea (came to me because of our daughter getting ready to deliver her first baby) is how about joining a young mother as she walks the neighborhood with her baby in a stroller once a week. Maybe a new mother lives nearby and would really enjoy you stopping over with a pastry and sharing in some much needed conversation. Maybe you could even take that mother and baby to the store or run an errand for her so her husband wouldn't have to make a stop on his way home from work.
How about noticing the elderly man or woman across the street working in their yard and walking over to contribute an hour of help and conversation. Wouldn't it be cool to see a bunch of older people caught up in a water hose fight? Come on now, just because they might be older doesn't mean they are grown ups. I cannot think that I would not enjoy a good water fight no matter how old I get. Hey, us older people like to have fun too!
A water fight is not the real point, the point is that all people like to have a nice time. Once the effort is made, you always have someone nearby to wave to as you come and go from your daily race, and that is kind of nice.
How about helping the teenager next door fix his bike or paint that soap box derby. I remember when I was much younger and we lived in a duplex.. There were two much older ladies who lived next door. One of those ladies set up a date with my mom and took me to see a movie. We walked all the way to the theatre and back. Here I was about 12 and she was most likely in her 70's and we spent a day paired up and off to a movie. Perhaps we can think outside the age brackets and do something crazy like that.
The great thing is that nobody gets hurt. We were created to love and created with a need to be loved. A perfect fit if you ask me.
I encourage you to think outside the norm and do something different. It doesn't have to be a yard remodeling weekend with 20 other people from your chuch. It can just be simple, little kindnesses that matter big.
If you catch the guy across the street starting to put his lawnmower away after cutting the grass, how about taking over a pitcher of iced tea and a couple glasses and telling him how much you appreciate the care he gives his yard? Thinking of lawns, how about if you finish cutting yours and cut the neighbor's too? How about helping the gal next door wash and dry her car while talking about things that interest her?
Can you see there are hundreds of opportunities to share a little love within walking distance of home. A little love goes a long way.
So this week try something new. Make a realistic to do list and plan for time to love those around you a bit. Do me a favor, if you do something really cool, let us all know by telling us about it here. Click on the comments spot at the top of the blog if you are interested.
Have a blessed day blessing others. Love is a really cool thing, when you give it away and make someone's day better, your day is better too.