There is no Traffic Jam on the Extra Mile

‘There is no traffic jam on the extra mile’

I must say, I am so impressed with the agility that most people have quickly adapted to this new way of being. We have been in lock-down for the past 9 days now - some of us longer. We have so appreciated the people who have initiated contact with us and the people we have contacted. We have caught up with so many of our old friends and past acquaintances. It has been great to know people are looking out for us. One thing that I am aware of as we now approach 10 days is that some of us are feeling tired with what the energy it has taken to implement the new way of being and ensuring people are well supported in their adapting. My focus has turned a bit to how can I support those who are out there making this happen. I spoke with someone today who intentionally thanked the people re-stocking the shelves at her supermarket. They were pleasantly surprised at being thanked by a perfect stranger. Let’s all do more of that. I am so grateful for being on rural delivery so I have been able to post Easter eggs to the kids. I also put a block of chocolate with a thank you note in for our postie - receiving a lovely thank you note back. Let’s together make this time a blessing for others. What can each of us continue to do to go that extra mile?

Attract What You Want By Being Who You Want

Attract What You Want By Being Who You Want

What has excited me by this time of “lock-down” is that is gives us time to re-boot and access what is important in what we do and who we are. I hear many older people say, it’s taking us back to the old days - days when life was not so rushed and our focus was more on what was important. This time gives us time to access what it is that we want to attract in our lives. I want to attract time with people who are important to me - so I need to initiate time with these people - coffee dates over zoom or skype are proving to be a lot of fun. I am wanting to attract quiet space and calm - so I need to ensure I intentionally schedule that into my day.I want to attract good ‘thinking’ and so I need to ensure I capture unhealthy thoughts and let them go. And this is just the beginning….. watch this space :)

What is it that you want to be?

How can you capture that?

My ponderings...... Day 6 of Lock-Down

‘What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.’

It is interesting that this is what is said on the card randomly chosen today. It is something I have been pondering on the past 24 hours as I have been considering the different responses to being in lock-down and COVID-19. We are all having different thoughts and feelings filtering up to the surface as we have more time and space to ponder. Sometimes these thoughts and feeling are ‘nice’ and sometimes, we want them to go away. I have been reminded that it is good to see them as signposts of what is deeper within us. Can we take up their invitation to sit with them, examine them and give them voice allowing them to become our friends? Henri Nouwen says, 'You need to let your wounds go down to your heart. then you can live life through them, and discover that they will not destroy you'.

We have been given this gift of time in this space - a gift to examine what lies inside of us, and re-centre it onto where it needs to be centered. As a friend said yesterday, “we are all spiritual beings who need to be rooted and connected to the transcendence - something / someone bigger and stronger than ourselves. How does our spiritual ‘rock’ hold us in this season?

The Comeback is Always Stronger Than the Setback

‘The comeback is always stronger than the set back.’

This is today’s inspiring card.

Sometimes I feel a little bit guilty saying that I am feeling quite excited by the positive prospects of what this lock down period is offering us. I don’t want in any way to minimise the impact it is having on so many people. I know it is tough on people as they adjust to being isolated, loss of income and at its very worst, deaths. These effects cannot be dismissed. They are serious.

However, alongside that, I am very much a person whose head is always in tomorrow. I am excited by the opportunities that the comeback of this situation is gifting us should we choose to open the gift.

1. time to stop. And just have more time.

2. time to reflect and evaluate - what is it that we want to lay down and not pick up again? What is it that we want to bring new into our lives?

3. time for others. We live in a world where social isolation has been a big issue. Who can we connect with/ re-connect with in this time and space?

4. the opportunity for us to experience a new way of being the Church rather than the primary focus on doing Church on Sunday mornings.

5. time for our creation to heal and come back to what its Maker intended

6. the opportunity for this time of social (or I prefer to use the word ’physical’) distancing to allow to bubble to the surface what our “unhealthy dependencies” are, and time to address these and become more whole people.

7. the opportunity to bring the being back into alignment with the human.

Yes!!! I so believe that the outcome is going to be stronger that the setback…. if we allow it. It will depend on the choices we make now and the actions we put into place around our choices. Join me with making good choices that will make a lasting difference to the outcome. We have been given this wonderful opportunity of time…..now!

My Ponderings.....

As we settle into lockdown here in New Zealand in order to protect us from COVID-19, we have been given the gift of spacious time. Each day Barry and I have decided to randomly choose a card from a box of Inspire cards. As I ponder, consider and reflect, I have decided to capture my thoughts on a blog. The messages truly are inspirational.

‘Don't waste your beautiful mind on ugly thoughts. ‘

In times like this fear and anxiety can be as contagious as the virus itself. We need to guard our thinking. Remember to hold on to what you know is true. You don't need to borrow tomorrow's concerns. They may never happen. Stick to what you know to be true. Also as we hunker down in our “bubble" with close friends or family, it is easy for tensions and conflicts to arise as we all face these unprecedented changes, restrictions and limitations. We need grace. We need to be guided by kindness. We each need to be responsible for our own thoughts and reactions. This can be done as we remember that we have beautiful minds. Let's keep them that way. One idea at this time could be to start a Gratitude Journal noting each day at least 5 things you are grateful for. Go well my friend. We are in this together. Kia Kaha / Be strong.