Empower

I read about the Self Defense training offered by WAR on Facebook. I decided that it would be a great opportunity for me to learn some helpful things.

I asked my sister, mom,  and friend to attend with me and was turned down :(

So, I turned to my favorite 11 year-old sidekick: Karissa.

I was worried that the three hour training would be too scary and intense for her, but it wasn't.
The girl LOVED it!

The One Light Self-Defense team taught us very practical tips, two types of hits, two types of kicks and a series of ways to get out of specific situations (hair pulling, chocking etc.).

The event was very empowering. I loved being a part of a big group of diverse women: moms, daughters, grandmas, college students.

The training group is based out of Chicago and travels to schools, churches, agencies and African Villages putting on this class. It is their ministry. They only ask participants to donate what they can to the host site. So cool!

The event gave me a lot to think about and some nicely sore muscles to cope with the next morning.

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The One Light Self-Defense team began as diversified individuals who shared a common interest, as well as experience, in self-defense training. Traveling to the poorest slums in Nairobi, Kenya, where girls face daily physical attacks, the team presented simple self-defense techniques which empowered the girls physically, mentally, and emotionally.

While women in our own communities do not confront these extreme situations on a regular basis, all women are still potential victims. Our goal emphasizes a holistic approach in preparing women to avoid, face, or heal from physical violence.

green

On Saturday, we went to The Curragh Traditional Irish Pub in Holland in Honor of St. Patrick's day.

It was a fun few hours with lots of music. One member of a band impressively played an assortment of bagpipes!

I picked up a 5-pack of these silly little leprechaun hats from the dollar-store and we wore them all night.

Elizabeth said to me, "you look Irish, maybe it's your darker hair", which made me laugh because though I'm predominately dutch I do have some Irish genes too. Just take a look at my Grandparents-- the McIntyre side of the family and the ethnic connection is pretty clear ;)

In honor of the recent Holiday, here are some of my favorite Irish proverbs and Celtic blessings.
Ah, Such rich, pastoral words!

True greatness knows gentleness.

A silent mouth is musical.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand

The tree remains, but not the hand that planted it.

The believer is happy, the doubter is wise.

May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow. May the soft winds freshen your spirit. May the sunshine brighten your heart. May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you, and may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.

P.S. I never knew that the shamrock was supposedly used by St Patrick to teach about the trinity. Did you?

grace saturated

I've been reading some about food and spirituality (finished Women, food and God) and am in MUCH anticipation for Bread and Wine to be released and delivered to my doorstep.

In our gluttony study, I was introduced to the writing of Norman Wirzaba (note his credentials: Research professor of Theology, Ecology and Rural life at Duke Divinity School---doesn't he just sound awesome?)

I just love this quote:

"Whenever people come to the table they demonstrate with unmistakable evidence of their stomachs that they are not self-sustaining gods. They are finite and mortal creatures dependent on God's many good gifts: sunlight, photosynthesis, decomposition, soil fertility, water, bees and butterflies, chickens, sheep, cows, gardeners, farmers, cooks, strangers and friends...Eating reminds us that we participate in a grace-saturated world" -- Food and Faith

sloth, lazy, rest

I've been trying to learn the difference between laziness and rest.
I always seem to confuse the two.

As we've been studying through the Seven Deadly sins, the lessons on sloth have been good, healthy reminders of where I am putting my 'energies' and where I am finding my rest.

Rob shared,
"Sloth is saying "No" to the endless potentials and possibilities of the life God has given you".

It's kinda like being awake, but not really being present to what's going on around you.

On Saturday morning I awoke at 8 am (typical), and then I decided to 'lay back down'...
I didn't wake up again until about 2 in the AFTERNOON.
So, this means I slept for a grand total of about 14 hours!!
I woke up feeling SHOCKED, confused but also SO rested and calm.
Is there something wrong with me?
Did my body just go into a temporary coma?
What does this mean?

People in my life have been reminding me of the importance of rest.
I'm good at self-care boundaries, yet somehow I always neglect the importance of simple sleep and quiet.

I am slowly seeing how rest is not something to feel guilty about, but a necessary thing that allows me to be more alive and to explore the potentials of this life that God has given me.

sick.

This time the mind-over-matter thing didn't work....

that sore throat I felt comin' on Sunday night had morphed into the full-blown cold/flu by Monday evening.

It hit me hard.

My existence over the last few days has been comprised of long sleep and short wake cycles.

During my awake times, I've laid on the couch watching Alias episodes and have nearly finished knitting a bamboo baby blanket.

You'd be shocked by the amount of tea I've consumed...(side-note, I've started composting and I think my container is literally going to be stuffed with tea bags soon; we'll see how fast they decompose).

I took two hot baths with lavender and Epsom salts. Sick or not, you should probably try this- felt so good. The second time, I had the grand idea to add two teakettles full of boiling water...It took about 30 min for me to be able to submerge myself in it. Not so smart. My skin kinda looked like a lobster.

I really, really wanted to go back to work today, but the dizziness, feverishness and aches just wouldn't let me.

I don't like feeling like I'm missing out on work, on regular life. So unfortunate that I'm missing small group tonight.

But in a way, this is probably somewhat of a blessing in disguise. It is my Spring-Break week and I wouldn't have been able to have this much quiet time without some germs slowing me down.

Middle Zone

"It's like washing dishes. If you focus on getting the dishes done so that your kitchen will be clean, you miss everything that happens between dirty and clean. The warmth of the water, the pop of the bubbles, the movement of your hand. You miss the life that happens in the middle zone---between now and what you think your life should be like. And when you miss those moments because you'd rather be doing something else, your are missing your own life".

-- Geneen Roth in Women Food and God

 

A desire to rush to the future, to the ways that I "think my life should be like" is my biggest temptation right now.

 

~ I want it to be summer

~ I want to be done with school

~ I want a consistent, full-time, salary paying job

~ I want to be married

~ I want to decorate and fill-up my own place with special things and memories

~ I want to pay off my student loans

~ I want to cook, garden and be an awesome homemaker

~ I want to have a family: a baby or two..or adopt...and be a foster parent

~ I want financial stability

~ I want to travel

 

Learning to be patient and to appreciate this moment is hard work for me.

 

I believe in the beauty and power of the present.

I am an advocate for mindfulness, but I still yearn for specific future changes with great energy. I want these things my way and I don't want to have to wait too long.

 

I feel like I've done enough waiting.

 

This 'Middle zone' seems never-ending.

 

During Lent this season we are studying through the traditional Seven Deadly Sins and Holy Virtues. I'm not sure which of these my present condition relates best with (so far we've looked at pride, lust, gluttony, and greed), but this challenge of not taking the present for granted is the theme that I have been constantly bombarded with during this study.

I can't shake it. I am more and more aware of my impatience.

 

So here I am. 

Lord, Thank you for this mysterious day and for your plans for my life. Help me to see the beauty in the 'middle zone'. Help me to trust in you and receive your peace.