half full or half empty?

I am reading Sandpiper's blog about going forth - for all purposes, taking nothing and relying on others/God to meet your needs.

And I am part of a small group who is trying to put our kitchen and thus our fellowship hall and storage areas back into useful condition.  I am having trouble seeing the progress for all I see that needs to be done.  I admit I am discouraged.  I guess I am seeing all the mess that is left with my back turned on all that is done.  Standing in the kitchen door and looking out.

We have a work group coming this week- they will get to use our new kitchen before we do.  Will they understand that we had a yard sale scheduled that was postponed?  Will they see the progress or all the bags of "stuff" all over?  Or will they see how nice our new kitchen looks?  Our custodian has worked hard to keep things reasonably clean during demolition and reconstruction, but dust is pervasive and everywhere.  Will people see the shiny new, clean kitchen or all the "stuff" that is still all over?  Do our fellow parishoners see the progress that the few of us have seen, or do they see the bags of "stuff" that is piled all over, in the way of the yet unwashed dishes, unsorted things to wash and store?

And is that how God feels when He has offered even His own Son for us, and all we can see is the mess that that world is in?

I decide, this day, this minute, to look at the progress in the kitchen and give thanks for the time and energy that has been expended - to say nothing about the expense of all these new appliances, stainless steel cabinets, etc.  To be thankful for all that has been accomplished and, for now, to turn my back on all that is still to be done.  I will rejoice for the progress, as I suspect God rejoices for each person that accepts His love.  And I know there will be another day to work, and more workers to do the work.
I will say,
Thanks be to God!

Independence Day 2013

Over the last month, as I sat looking at the floor for a week following eye surgery, and in my recent time away (I spent a week at the Chautauqua Institute) I have spent significant quiet time considering what I want to do "next".  I feel a bit like a teenager, just starting college and not sure what I want to do with my life.  As I have been retired for most of 9 years, I am a bit past the teenage years.  And a small humble part of me still thinks God has plans for me - and a use for me.

In the last 8 years I have cast about, doing lots of different things, seeking a comfort spot on which to land - to focus.  Much of that effort has revolved around my chuch and church family.  And on introspection and prayer, I am concluding that I need to find a way to bundle all my little "jobs" (prayer shawl ministry, card ministry, helping out in the church kitchen, walking, exercising, working in the yard and garden of my own and others) into some type of framework.  As a busy nurse and then nurse leader, I have focused on the list of things accomplished at the end of the day.
I suspect I have kept busy and involved as a way to ensure I am "needed".  And while I recognize the value of each individual person, I think I have a fear of being forgotten- overlooked somehow when the fun times come.    I need to learn to appreciate the value of quiet time spent reading and listening.

So my prayer for me (and if you are reading this, I ask you to join me) is that I welcome a way to wrap all this up in a forward direction, that encourages others to be present in the moment and sense the leading of the Holy Spirit.