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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.
work through it
through the looking-glass
just passing through
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Not that long ago I had a bit of a revelation. It hit me that maybe the reason I don't ever get around to properly organizing some of the stuff on my bathroom counter or on the top of my dresser is that subconsciously I don't want to acknowledge that I'm staying in this apartment long-term. Silly, right? We moved here almost 18 months ago, and we signed a lease renewal that will keep us here for about another year at least. All the areas of the place that guests would see are pretty well organized as if we actually live here, but in the privacy of my room I still want to feel like it's somewhat temporary. Like I'm just passing through.
You don't live on the earth, you are passing through it. ~Rumi
I think when it comes to my living space, it's probably not good for me to avoid putting down a few roots and feeling settled. But there is something valuable in remembering that my stay in this world is relatively temporary in view of eternity. This world is not my home, I'm just passing through, as the saying goes. Knowing that the time may be short helps us get our priorities right. Trusting God to keep his promises helps us to live at peace no matter what our circumstances. Knowing God is still in control helps us keep our perspective no matter what we're going through.
We are reminded how short life really is, and how we are just passing through. So, all the people you haven't told you love lately, tell them, and live your days like you mean it. ~Hal Sutton
LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered―
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.
Hear my prayer, O LORD!
Listen to my cries for help!
Don't ignore my tears.
For I am your guest―
a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me.
~Psalm 39:4-5, 12~
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I decided that Rhythm would be my WOTY and one way I'm trying to establish a rhythm is by keeping a very brief daily diary, to watch for daily and weekly patterns to develop and to be intentional about keeping the good ones going. I do like the rhythm of writing a phrase or sentence about each day and making it into a summary post. I realized that the weekdays are very much the same - a repeating rhythm! - so this month I've summarized by week.
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Week One
May began in the middle of a week, on a Wednesday, and we kicked it off with something a bit special. We went to a Columbus Clippers game with family. It was a perfect night for a baseball game! The rest of the week was just the usual work, and on Saturday I got my hair cut, cleaned out my pantry, baked muffins, and did the grocery shopping.
Week Two
We were both on worship team this Sunday, so that was good. We picked up subs for lunch. Hubby's hockey game was cancelled so he got home early and we went for a walk. Walking together is a rhythm we want to establish so that felt good! Monday started out as just a regular day, but in the evening as I was rushing out the door to chorus, I noticed that the ducklings must have hatched during the afternoon! I was fine with being a little late so I could take some pictures. Oh, and I sang in the auditions quartet for a new member, which was very fun! Remainder of the week was just the regular rhythm of work days, but we also walked over to the pond to check on the ducklings. We finished this week with a trip to a local food truck festival on Saturday.
Week Three
Happy Mothers Day! Church in the morning, light lunch made my hubby and a nap in the afternoon, and dinner with the kids later in the day. In the evening I baked bread and prepped food for Monday, and of course I called my mom! I did leave work a bit early on Monday so I could get to chorus on time - it was our year end dinner. Thursday was also a year-end occasion - the last day of the co-op class I taught! That evening, hubby and I went to a Brit Floyd show in the city. I'm not really a fan of the music, but hey, it's a date night and in exchange hubby is going to go with me to an event of my choice! Saturday capped off the week with a very busy day. I got up early and spent the morning downtown volunteering at the Race for the Cure, then I spent the afternoon with the kids at Buckeye Lake. We met my husband at Timbuk Farms when he was done work and our granddaughter could play at the fun farm there. We got pizza for dinner to end the day.
Week Four
After church on Sunday we went out with friends for our 55+ Dinner Club, then had a long afternoon nap. The rhythm of the week was quite regular to start with, but we switched things up by driving to Maryland on Thursday evening. We both had taken Friday off so we could have a bit of extra time on the long weekend. The tempo was more energetic on the weekend! We spent time with the family on Friday, including worship team practice that evening. We got together with some friends on Saturday during the day, and after dinner with friends, we met up with some of the kids to walk around Gettysburg a bit and get some ice cream.
Week Five
If Sunday is sets the tempo for the new week, this one was a bit different. We went to our Maryland church and it was good to connect with old friends there. That evening we went to a cookout hosted by our daughter's boyfriend and family. Everyone had the day off on Monday so we set a relaxed pace to packing up and getting on the road back home. We tried to get right back into the usual swing of things with work on Tuesday through the end of the week, but as usual on short work weeks, it felt a little off beat sometimes. Especially Wednesday evening. Instead of Dinner + Discipleship at church, we went to a baseball game with church friends . . . except the game was rained out. Not quite the last day of the month, but funny how May was bookended with two contrasting baseball game experiences!
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Rhythm is my Word of The Year for 2024 because I realized I'd need to adjust my routines and work on my time management as I started a full time work schedule, and I couldn't be striving or fighting all the time - I need to establish a healthy, balanced rhythm to my days and weeks. And additionally, in the last part of 2023, I felt like God had really been speaking to me about the subject of Sabbath, and that he was inviting me to be more intentional about practicing and celebrating a Sabbath rhythm in my life. Here's my WOTY post to explain: WQ - Rhythm Inspires
What's Been On My Calendar? #WBOYC
When my posting schedule coincides with the link-up I share at What's Been On Your Calendar #WBOYC hosted by Deb's World.
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