Category: Just for Fun

Join me today for 5 Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama where we write for five minutes on a given topic. No editing. No criticism. No worry. Today’s topic is: Rest

Yesterday I was running.  Running for the race of my dreams.  Running so I would be prepared in a few weeks to cross over the finish line after 13.1 miles.  Four miles earlier strength and speed were my friend.  Now they were just reminding me of how truly weak I am.  My legs were weary, but my soul became wearier.

In my ears I hear a story, coming straight from the pastor on my IPod, of a man named Elijah who God gave strength, protection, and nourishment.  But at the end of the day Elijah was weary too, and yelled out, “Please, take my life, God.  I am weary and no good!” 

As my legs continued to pound on the pavement toward my dream, I did not look back at the four miles God had brought me through, I just looked ahead at the miles that I still was not. 

And my soul was weary.  Weary from always striving be more without looking back at who I once was and from where God has brought me.

As the story goes on, Elijah stops.  He sleeps and eats under a tree, and he stops.  He stops striving, he stops pondering, he stops fretting.  He finds rest in his soul through the rest of his mind and body.

For the remainder of my run I no longer looked forward.  I looked back at the strength God had already given me.  Then I found rest with my soul. 

Scripture Reference:  1 Kings 18-19
Photo Credit:  Creative Commons

Where do you find rest for your soul?

Join me today for 5 Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama where we write for five minutes on a given topic. No editing. No criticism. No worry. Today’s topic is: Older

They felt like they were turning to sandpaper, in the beginning stages only twenty years in.  Hands that hadn’t touched too much yet were already showing signs of exhaustion while my mind was bouncing in and out of dreams making me who I was meant to be.

Seven years later I inherited my first strand of silver.  Right there in front among all the dark brown hair where everybody could see.  If I was forty years down the road it would have been my trophy, but my mind was now digging roots, deep roots into those dreams of who I was supposed to be.

The sun’s toll took over a short time later.  She kissed my forehead with her warmth, and now I will remember my days with her in my youth forever.  Time making its mark on this body while my mind releases me into who I was created to be.  

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

Join me today for 5 Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama where we write for five minutes on a given topic. No editing. No criticism. No worry. Today’s topic is: New
 

I slid my feet in one at a time – into those polished, shiny new shoes, and my countenance became shiny, too.  So I walked around standing high and tall.  Those polished, shiny shoes made me new.

My head got too heavy as I held it up high, so there it fell. I leaned forward, and trip, trip, trip my polished, shiny, new shoes splashed in a puddle now stained with the look of old.

Now if only I get a new pair of polished, shiny shoes will all of these troubles fade away?

Join me today for 5 Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama where we write for five minutes on a given topic.  No editing. No criticism.  No worry.  Today’s topic is: Wholeness

There are so many places we go in our quest for wholeness.

In our homes we look around and say, “No, not here.  Only if I had something bigger.  Grander.  Something that would turn heads and create awe.”

So we leave that place that was supposed to be a safe-haven of peace and go on our journey to find wholeness elsewhere.

We stop at the place that pays us money.  Money to get the things our house lacks.  But in the back of our minds we think to ourselves, “No, this can’t be it.  Does this really matter?  Is this really making a difference?  Will this last?”

So on we go to the next thing along the road.  The road’s getting long now, and the hills are getting high.  Maybe this is where it is.  Maybe this object, substance, person, mindset is where my wholeness will be found.  Except that they are really idols.  And no, I know, only temporarily will I find wholeness here.

So back I go to my original place and in that house that isn’t quite right I bend my knees until they touch the ground.  I cry out, cry out begging for something that will last, that will never change or go away.

And there it is: Wholeness – wrapped around the words to my Savior.