Good morning, everyone~
I was going to post this yesterday but by the time I hit "Submit New Thread" the MWO server was apparently down. Luckily I was able to go back and copy and save what I had written.... So I'm posting today as Monday's thread instead. You'll notice it refers to Sunday but I guess that isn't such a big deal...
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I realize it's already late in the day for a lot of you (or even Monday already for those Down Under) but it's still early morning here in AK... I'm just waking up with my first cup of coffee. We're in the middle of a cold snap here... -25 to -40 for the next couple of days, but actually that's not as cold as it could be this time of year. Yesterday morning I went out to start my car to let it warm up and was greeted by a moose munching on the shrubs outside my front door. She just looked up at me, I looked at her, and she went back to her breakfast. I stood there watching her for a while (I didn't want to disturb her) and after a few minutes she went on her way. And mind you, I live in the middle of the "city" so this is something I see just once or twice a year.... anyway, life is filled with small blessings, isn't it?
I spent another day at the new condo painting yesterday. It seems like an almost endless task, even though the place is pretty small. (I must say, I have a newfound respect for skilled laborers! My hat's off to all of them!) Anyway, I was painting the bedroom ceiling while yet another coat was drying on the wall in the dining room, and I was feeling impatient and irritated. I started getting sloppy. I realized I was in a bad mental place and needed an attitude adjustment. I looked up at the ceiling, and saw the fresh coat of white going on over the dingey old paint. I thought, why not focus on the painting as a metaphor for my new life in sobriety? After all, this is going to be my home for a while, and God willing, I'll never take a drink in this place -- so let this paint be a symbol of the work I'm doing to renew my body and spirit. I slowed down and started focusing on how the fresh paint looked as it covered up the ugly old ceiling and walls. I let the tiredness in my muscles remind me that I was working toward a worthy goal that will generate rewards for years to come. The painting became meditation, and seemed enjoyable rather than a chore to be rushed through. (At least for a while; I lost my focus later. But it was cool while it lasted, and I'll try it again today.)
I've heard sermons about how prayers can be "said" in many ways -- not just on your knees when you're directly addressing God. Prayers are really how you live out your life to achieve good for yourself and for others... and in that sense, you can turn just about any activity into prayer or meditation.
OK those are my Deep Thoughts for this Sunday morning. Hope you're all well out there...
~ Mike
I was going to post this yesterday but by the time I hit "Submit New Thread" the MWO server was apparently down. Luckily I was able to go back and copy and save what I had written.... So I'm posting today as Monday's thread instead. You'll notice it refers to Sunday but I guess that isn't such a big deal...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I realize it's already late in the day for a lot of you (or even Monday already for those Down Under) but it's still early morning here in AK... I'm just waking up with my first cup of coffee. We're in the middle of a cold snap here... -25 to -40 for the next couple of days, but actually that's not as cold as it could be this time of year. Yesterday morning I went out to start my car to let it warm up and was greeted by a moose munching on the shrubs outside my front door. She just looked up at me, I looked at her, and she went back to her breakfast. I stood there watching her for a while (I didn't want to disturb her) and after a few minutes she went on her way. And mind you, I live in the middle of the "city" so this is something I see just once or twice a year.... anyway, life is filled with small blessings, isn't it?
I spent another day at the new condo painting yesterday. It seems like an almost endless task, even though the place is pretty small. (I must say, I have a newfound respect for skilled laborers! My hat's off to all of them!) Anyway, I was painting the bedroom ceiling while yet another coat was drying on the wall in the dining room, and I was feeling impatient and irritated. I started getting sloppy. I realized I was in a bad mental place and needed an attitude adjustment. I looked up at the ceiling, and saw the fresh coat of white going on over the dingey old paint. I thought, why not focus on the painting as a metaphor for my new life in sobriety? After all, this is going to be my home for a while, and God willing, I'll never take a drink in this place -- so let this paint be a symbol of the work I'm doing to renew my body and spirit. I slowed down and started focusing on how the fresh paint looked as it covered up the ugly old ceiling and walls. I let the tiredness in my muscles remind me that I was working toward a worthy goal that will generate rewards for years to come. The painting became meditation, and seemed enjoyable rather than a chore to be rushed through. (At least for a while; I lost my focus later. But it was cool while it lasted, and I'll try it again today.)
I've heard sermons about how prayers can be "said" in many ways -- not just on your knees when you're directly addressing God. Prayers are really how you live out your life to achieve good for yourself and for others... and in that sense, you can turn just about any activity into prayer or meditation.
OK those are my Deep Thoughts for this Sunday morning. Hope you're all well out there...
~ Mike
)Thank goodness its only a temp job and thank God (your pick) I can access MWO here.
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