Good morning…
“Mondays have become magical for me,” writes my friend on her October 24th music blog. “I know, I know,” she continues, “most people dread them and wish them away, but for now, my Mondays hit a lovely sweet spot.
Today, the day began with a torrential rain storm, coffee on the porch, and a quick catch up of sifting through e-mails and this week’s schedule. Each Monday afternoon, I set aside time for a book study with an informal, welcoming group of women. We explore spirituality, and our lens on life through some deep reads. I have been a part of this group for many years. Some of the faces change from semester to semester, but the leader is so connected and thoughtful and she has an uncanny way of getting to the heart of anything. It has become a calming fix in my somewhat chaotic life.
In addition to my book study, I have added a quiet, contemplative yoga class in the evening. Okay, I have only been a couple of times, but it has made a giant difference in lowering my level of worry and stress. The leader of the class has such a soothing voice that I can feel my heart beat calm, my muscles melt, and my mind drift to a tranquil place.
So Monday has become a day where my mood is chill, and I am excited about the music that comes my way.”
With her blog post playing soulful background music, today we begin gathering for the final week of classes in my little living room. As we wrap up our fall semester and cozy into the Christmas season, our friend identifies a few ‘go-to’ gifts we can give ourselves freely, expanding her Monday magic into every day of each week.
Notice rain storms. Sip coffee on the porch. Give peaceful margin, sifting through emails and today’s schedule. Set aside time for informal, welcoming people. Explore spirituality, clarifying life’s lens through deep reads. Keep old commitments and meet new faces. Be connected and thoughtful. Find uncanny ways to get to the heart of anything. Fix calm in life’s chaos. Add quiet and contemplation, lowering worry and stress. Listen to soothing voices. Feel your heart beat calm. Let muscles melt. Whisper, “Mind, please drift.” Soak in God’s tranquility. Chill excited, expecting to hear meaningful music, normal day after normal day.
Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say. “More, more.” I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, for you, God, have put my life back together (Psalm 4:6-8, MSG).
…Sue…
