Skip to main content

Year Two, Day 303: You Can't Take it With You...

Beautiful sunshine!  Inhaling some vitamin D! :)
The sun is shining!

I have a load of laundry in the wash.

And I just did a quick run on the treadmill! High five to me!


I did a bit of stretching too. Most stiff am I!

 I just finished my morning prayer and devotion reading.  I was struck by this scripture in my devotion, (which is still dealing with death):

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."
~1Timothy 6: 6-7

Again, I recall a recent conversation with a piano student. Her family has struggled to survive as long as she can remember. But she recently discovered she has family members on the other side of the country that live a life of prestige and wealth. 

This is a lovely woman. Single mother of two. Not only one of my favorite students, but favorite people.  My heart broke hearing her story. I have felt that way too.  I told her, "remember, you can't take it with you."  I couldn't remember what scripture that was from and I am hesitant to actually quote scripture. But here it is. In my devotion for today.

It is hard to avoid the materialistic focus of our culture. But it is freeing to rise above. Or should I say, to be content with the basics. And set our souls free!

As I continue to purge myself of things, my dream is to be free to travel and meet new people, visit old friends and reunite with family.  

Of course, there is a balance here. I discovered this in  my last move. There are books and photos and such that I will never part with.  It is nice to have my piano. I have lived without and can practice at church, at the music center and student's houses.  I have lived without a vehicle and taken public transportation and my own two feet for about 10 years now.  

But even though I like my solitude, I do realize that I cannot live without people. Connection is vital.  So as I continue to learn to live with little, and purge my  life of unnecessary things, I want to also focus on purging my soul of unnecessary things.

Negative thoughts and feelings;  doubt, worry, bitterness, envy, anger, insecurity, despair.

Then I will truly be free!

And now to go forth and enjoy the free gift of sunshine provided by our loving Creator God! 



But before I do, I must share this from my devotion book (Challenge: A Daily Meditation Program Based on "The Spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius", by Mark Link, S.J.)

"Henry van Dyke portrays death this way:
'I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. she is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, 'There! She's gone!' Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, 'There she goes!' there are eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, 'Here she comes!"

Happy Friday!

Today I focus on "kindness" (from Galatians 5:22-23).

Talk to you tomorrow!

Zita

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 347: My Big Fat Greek Salad!!

I have perfected the art of making a Greek salad!  I have made two huge bowls in the last week. My kinds rave. Essentially the secret is f vegetables , good feta cheese, Greek olives and a homemade dressing made with light, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar,  and oregano. Here is my recipe: MY BIG FAT GREEK SALAD Serves 4 hungry adults 4 cups greens (I used a "spring mix" from Fred Meyer) 2 cucumbers 6 roma tomatoes one small red onion 1 cup cubed feta cheese 1 cup Greek olives (pitted) Get out a big bowl. Peel a clove of garlic, cut in half and rub it over the interior of the bowl.  Wash the lettuce if it is not prewashed and packaged like mine was.  Dry the leaves, and tear into bite sized pieces. Throw into the big bowl. Note: Romaine lettuce is good to include in the mix, because it is hearty. Peel the cucumbers and dice. Add to bowl. Cut the roma tomatoes in half and squeeze out the seeds (otherwise they make th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Two, Day 307: Chasing Away The Gloomy Weather...with Music and a Smile! :)

It seems to me that most of the city is depressed, tired and sick. I still have my low grade snuffly nose, along with sneezing, and itching eyes.  Low energy. It is nice to know I am not the only one. Misery loves company, don't you know! Even through the gloom, I had an enjoyable day.  I told myself several times that I really am a lucky woman. My kids are grown, I'm going to be a GRANDMA, and I love my work. My church job is a nice secure little job and it seems I am quite needed there.  I am still learning the ropes. But I am enjoying it. Meeting new people. And best of all, I have only a 1 1/2 minute commute (by foot!). I have a cozy little room in a household full of wonderful laid back people.  People who love animals and music. But best of all, my afternoons are filled with music. I basically get on the bus and travel about town, sitting at pianos, visiting with students, who are like my family. We talk. They play the piano for me. I offer pointe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Two, Day 50: Mindful Biking

More breaking ground today. I rode my bike to the Max, and then to my first student, who coincidentally lives close to my gym.  Maggie waiting patiently for me at the gym, 6/28/2016 I am starting to notice positive changes from my daily biking.  First of all, I feel such a sense of freedom and exhiliration when I hop on and take off.  It reminds me of my childhood. My brother and I rode all over Vancouver, WA on summer break.  It was my first experience of independence from a rather harsh father.  Back then we didn't wear helmets. And there were many hills. I will never forget the joy of coasting down a hill with the wind in my hair. I have hints of the feeling now. I also have noticed my energy is higher. And although I am sore (cycling uses muscles that I have not worked in awhile), I am getting stronger. Feeling strong! Cycling is also good for my mind. I find myself going through routes in my head. I am hoping to add more routes to my day...
Post a Comment
Read more