Slow down, you move too fast

This summer (8 months ago) a friend gave me a book called Slow is beautiful. I’ve been too busy to read it. But now, I’m finally starting to realize my need for slow. It is not as strong as my need of silence (I tend to get that on a daily basis after ever one else has gone to sleep.) I would truly starve without silence at some point in my day. But now after 8 months of intense speed (major renovation and starting a high profile business) I’m starting to hope for a more sustainable rhythm.

Even as my friend handed me the book, she said that we were entering a season where this book might seem impossible. Maybe now I can find the book again under the piles of 8 months of clutter.

What started this need, this pull my nose off the grindstone? I cleaned my office. Once the clutter was reduced, a rhythm, a system found it’s place. It’s only about a 4 foot square corner of control. But now I’ve maintained it for a total of 4 days! There is a freedom in a bit of rules. Leave the desk as clean as you found it. File it! Take action.

Admittedly it’s only been 4 days. True, it’s only 4 feet square. I’ve got a whole house to deal with now. And that is just physical space. What about my spirit? My body? My finances? My relationships? There’s a lot of clutter that has been shelved and piled these past 8 months. God, I get overwhelmed when I think about the energy and effort to pull things back to reasonable speed and order. Hell, it took me 2 days to clean and organize my desk.

I’m grateful for the groundwork God has done in me over the years. His instilling in me a love of nature, community and peace will continue to be my pillars as I rebuild. A great strength is that we are surrounded by amazing folks who hold to similar values, a beautiful landscape to get lost in, and hearts begging for inner peace. I’m not going to make goals, resolutions or promises of daily updates on my progress. That would just add to the overwhelmingness . For now it is just enough to state that I am ready to begin the process and acknowledge the need of slow.

The Girls are a-layin'

Look at that! 18 eggs laid by our own chickens! Well, at least three of them. Leola (named after the children's book, Leo the Late Bloomer) is staying true to her name. I feel like a chapter out of Little House on the Prairie. We all have a definite fondness for "chicken eggs" as opposed to "store eggs". Friday nights have become breakfast dinner time.. a new family tradition.

Summer Reading

Yesterday, was our (usually) weekly trip to the library. Yet again, we dragged home a huge bag of books. As soon as we land in the living room, the bag is dumped out and the scurry begins. Every kiddo digs through the pile, searching for their own book treasure. (It looks a lot like the chickens scratching through their food plate.) And then .....peace settles over the household! Everyone in their little corner being transported to castles, barnyards, and pirate ships. Then I take a look at my books.....Which one should I choose to read for this moment?

My daughter and I are very similiar, in that, we both usually have 4-5 books going at a time. Here's what I'm reading:

Jesus for President by Shane Clairborne: Asks the question, "What would our lives as Christ followers look like if we truly let Jesus be our leader in all we do spiritually, economically, and politically?" Great words...but I love the scrappy art style too.

Keep Chickens! by Barbara Kilarski: My guidebook for raising chickens in a small suburban place.

A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'engle: One of my all time favorite authors. We've been listening to this one in the car as a family. I love the allegories that can be drawn from this book. If you've ever wanted another picture for John 15 ("remain in me," Christ the vine, etc), this has some beautiful thoughts.

Uncommon Grounds by Mark Pendergrast: The history of coffee and the world. My husband and I are in the early stages of starting a coffee roastery/shop, so this has been very interesting. More about that development later.

Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller: Good stretching-your-faith stuff.

DragonFire by Donita Paul: I need some sort of east fictional story in all of my spiritual, world politics, history heaviness. A allegorical dragon, wizard story with a strong female character..might be handing this one down to my daughter after I'm done....If she doesn't finish her list first and grab it from my pile!