What's It All About?

It's all too easy for days to pass without reflection. It's my hope that through a greater active awareness on each day, that I will be able to consider God's presence in my life and in the world around me. Writing has always been a way for me to round up my thoughts. This blog seems like a good place to park those thoughts for my own benefit as well as the benefit of others. Please take a moment to read what I have written, to offer comments, and to share the ideas with others.
Libby

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Change of Season: A Non Engineered Approach To Joy

Lake Hogan-Wrinkle Cove Trail
2015 September-photos by Libby Fife





It has occurred to me lately that much of my life involves trying to make something happen. Whether it is trying to get someone to return an email or trying to get my middle aged cat to eat or trying to sell my art, there is certainly a lot of "engineering" going on in my life. Think about it. There is the constant necessity to make meals appear on the table, make the laundry be clean and ready, make time to read or to have a walk, or anything else you can think of. It is all effort and all in the aid of getting some kind of a result. And these are all positive things that I have to do. They are tasks or chores or events that will bring about something good (or maybe bad, who knows?) and are part of what makes a life, a life. But, it is tiring. 

As I reflected on that, the fact that it can be exhausting trying to produce some kind of result, I realized that balancing this out would be helpful. As I looked around while on my walk at the lake (pictures above), I thought about the mental process of balancing and realized how grateful I am for the passing of the seasons. I don't actually have to do a darn thing to make that happen. I just have to enjoy it. And as we approach Rosh Hashanah, I can reflect on the ease of effort and pure enjoyment of a gift that is not engineered or asked for, and be truly grateful for a gift freely given.
Libby


2 comments:

  1. Yes, those things given to us freely help balance the engineered results. I understand completely.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's true I think too. Sometimes it is very stressful to try and make things "happen". It's almost easier to just appreciate things that occur naturally whether you want them to or not.
    Lib

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