Thursday, 20 October 2011

• Practicing Imperfect and Simple Joys

  By Bonnie at Faith Barista

  a small rose that captured my attention

  Earlier this week, I was ping-ponging over an important decision.

  In other words, I was obsessing over this choice or that.

  I called up a knowledgeable expert to ask his opinion.

  “I think you’re over thinking this, Bonnie.
  Either way is fine.”

  Really? I wasn’t convinced.
  

  Sometimes I get so caught up in making the right decision, I become focused on all the potential pit-falls I want to avoid.

  Then, no path seems to be a good path.

  It’s no way for a soul to breathe. 
  

  What to do?

  Practice Imperfect Joys

  I needed to make my decision within 24 hours.

  Until then, I submerged my soul in simple, imperfect joys.

  The goal was to trust God with the decision process by practicing trust in the everyday.

  For me, practicing trust means releasing myself to enjoying simple things imperfectly.

  Freeing myself from needing things to be a certain way.

  Restoring my soul’s ability to enjoy God-given pleasure.

  Familiarizing myself with the moment and not the planning.

  Here’s a list of simple, imperfect joys I did yesterday to do just that –

  ~  Read a few pages of my favorite book (interrupted) while my two year old was crashing cars on the floor.

  ~  Read my boys more stories than I usually do, even the same ones over and over again.
  

  ~  Sipped on a cup of coffee with cream and sat on a sunny patch of the sofa.
  

  ~  Took a short walk out in the sun, even though it wasn’t as long as I would’ve preferred.

  ~  Turned off my cell phone, so that it wouldn’t buzz.
  

  ~  Made myself a warm lunch and “wasted” time making it, when I usually just slap a weekday sandwich together.

  ~  Wore a favorite dress I usually “save” for the weekend, but went grocery shopping with it instead.

  ~  Called up a friend I’ve been “saving up” time to call. Made it a shorter phone call than I would’ve wanted, but the laughter lasted way longer.
  

  ~  Folded up some of the laundry rather than feeling guilty I didn’t want to fold up the whole basket.

  ~  Texted a friend whose husband was out of town, just to say hi, even though I couldn’t do more to help.

  ~  Cuddled up next to my Hubby at night to watch a show (halfway) and turned in earlier than usual.

  After giving my soul some simple joys, my soul remembered what it felt like to trust God in the everyday life.

  Then, I was able to make a decision that wasn’t so everyday.

  Because God dwells in the imperfection of the daily grind, I could hold onto Him in unknown ahead.

  “You will fill me with joy in your presence,
  with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
  ~ Psalm 16:11

  
  
  ~~~~~

  How can you practice imperfect joys?

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