Day#16- Charming
Day#16-Charming. Have you noticed anything pleasing or delightful today? Something that is attractive to you? #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010 wellofencouragement.com
Day#15- Blessed
Day#15-Blessed. Where have you received contentment or good fortune today? Have you in turn blessed others? (And not in the snarky, “southern” expression). #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010 wellofencouragement.com
Day#14-Heavenly
Day#14-Heavenly. What have you experienced that is wonderful or beautiful; resembling or befitting heaven; blissful? For those who are Christ’s followers, we can experience a little heaven here on earth. #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010 wellofencouragement.com
Day#13- Pure
Day#13- Pure. I like the definition from the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary: genuine; real; true; incorrupt; unadulterated. Have you witnessed something genuine? Real? True? #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010 wellofencouragement.com
Snow Stories
Our house during a lull in the recent blizzard. At the time of the picture, we were shoveling the “first” pass before the next go round.
In our local journal there was a very sweet human interest story about a rescued cat. During our recent blizzard a small cat escaped from his home. One of the neighbors happened to be outside and heard a meow from far up in one of the trees. That neighbor called the fire department, animal control and all types of rescue places. Because of the blizzard and the road conditions, no one could come out. She and other neighbors, tried various ways to get to the cat but to no avail. Someone suggested posting on a local neighborhood online board. She did and soon two folks came by who were ironworkers and so were used to heights. Before the neighbor could explain to them what might be the plan, the one gentleman had climbed the tree and had rescued the little cat. The journal was happy to report kitty was doing well, safely back in her family’s home and the neighbors who joined together over this common crisis have been connected.
In another Blizzard of ‘26 story, one of our friends witnessed a snow plow truck getting stuck in his street and then two additional trucks getting stuck while coming to the aide of the first. So, he and his neighbors went out and hand dug the trucks out of the situation. As he said, “It turned out to be a lot of fun. Everyone got together over a common purpose.”
Reminds me that small acts of kindnesses are what brings communities together.
In this time of uncertainty, we need to remind each other of our commonality and our need to help one another. One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 8:14: “your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need”. It is not that life should be a tit for tat ledger and that I am keeping score so that when I need something, you have to give it to me. Rather life is a recognition that at various times of our lives we will have plenty and at other times, we will have want. In God’s economy, if everyone shares when we have plenty with those in need, it will be enough.
Abundance can mean all sorts of things: money, time, talents, encouragement, hope, kindness, etc. I could regale you with many stories of how our needs were supplied by the generosity of others- both financially and emotionally. Our response is that, when we can, we help others through our generosity of our time, talent and treasure.
We help others when we can and then at other times, we accept help when we may need it. For, like it or not, we will all need someone to help us at some point of our lives. And for some of us, we will need more help than we thought.
When we do the small acts for each other, the larger acts are not as difficult. We become practiced in the ebb and flow of giving and receiving.
What about you? If you had wintry weather like we did, any stories of neighbors coming together? Have you witnessed small acts of kindnesses? Ever? Do you look for opportunities to be the bearer of small kindnesses to someone who might need it?
The thing about sharing is that it gives back to us in so many ways. It is truly better to give than to receive. When we give, we enter into a cycle: we are metaphorically, sometimes even physically, releasing something that we are holding to the recipient. That in turn creates for ourselves a space and an openness to receive something new: a new opportunity, situation, or even something tangible. Mostly, in giving, we create an opportunity to be joined with our fellow travelers on this journey of life.
Day#12- Ideal
Day#12- Ideal. What is the ideal day for you? Or an ideal moment? Have you ever experienced one? Or the ideal situation for an event? Can you create all or part of it? #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010 wellofencouragement.com
Day#11- Interesting
Day#11- Interesting. What have you discovered today that interests you? Was it something someone said? Or something you read? Or witnessed? #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010 wellofencouragement.com
Day #10- Irresistible
Day #10- Irresistible. What have you seen that is so good or attractive that you cannot resist? #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit. @virginiaruth010
Day #9- Credible
Day #9- Credible. What have you seen that you are able to believe? Trustworthy? Something that possesses competence or expertise? #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010
Day #8- Funny
Day #8- Funny. Anything strike you funny today? #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010
Sick Day/Snow Day/ Sabbath
Three weeks ago I woke up with a head cold. You know the type: eyes are sore and feel heavy, headache, congestion with intermittent nasal drainage followed by trickling-down the back of the throat, guaranteed to cause fits of eye-watering coughing in which you think you will cough out part of your brain and lungs. Wasn’t the flu and it wasn’t covid. Just the old-fashioned head cold.
So, I cancelled/postponed any in-person meetings/events, drank lots of fluids, and rested. I had to take a sick day (actually a bunch of sick days until I was reasonably “normal”.)
While I find being under the weather incredibly annoying, secretly it was kind of nice to have an excuse to not be so busy. Dare I say, it reminded me a little of the pandemic and those open-ended days.
Of course, during the pandemic, I was feeling healthy and so, feeling a little cooped up. For most of the cold week, I wasn’t feeling like doing anything: didn’t want to read, or watch any movies, or even sleep.
The tree outside our front windows.
On Monday, we had a doozy of a blizzard in my neck of the woods. The governor banned all travel on Monday and Tuesday. Our street had one lane plowed (we are the emergency route) but all other streets around us have not been plowed as of this writing. Fortunately we have power and so it is another type of rest day.
But this feeling of having a “sick or snow day” intrigues me. Many years ago, in the employment parlance, they talked of a “mental health day”. Not sure if that is the correct term nowadays.
There is something to be said about having a mental health day- a day to clear one’s mind and to reset the pace of our living.
Of course, the Creator of the Universe- which includes the creation of each one of us- knew that we needed a regular “mental health day” which God called the Sabbath. Of course, Sabbath is different from just taking a day off, in that there is a spiritual element to it. The fact that we become, “short-changed” each week of a productive day is one of faith: We rely on God’s time not our own. Just like God’s economy of money, in God’s economy of time, when we give to God first, miraculously, all our needs, demands and responsibilities are met.
According to the Mayo Clinic, everyone would do well to have a mental health day, before any burnout or “sickness” really occurs. It is a day to recharge but not necessarily to just do nothing- or to sit or lie in bed all day (though, I imagine for some, having a day or part of a day like that would be a luxury and well received.) The Mayo Clinic suggests the following: *
Unplug social media
Review Goals
Be creative
Get physical
Spend time outdoors
What about you? Have you ever taken a mental health day? If so, what was happening for you to do so? Or, do you keep going until something, like a cold knocks you out? Do you regularly practice a Sabbath? What does that look like for you?
During this Lenten time, some people take on a practice. I have been sending out daily words for us to contemplate. In addition, I would encourage us to practice a Sabbath on our Sundays: to take some time outdoors-noticing the beauty of the created world, to do something other than our routine on “normal” days and to look at our surroundings with a heart posture of gratitude.
Day #7- Cherish
Day #7- Cherish. What do you hold dear or care very deeply about? #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010
Day #6- Delightful
Day #6- Delightful. What have you noticed that you find very pleasant, attractive or enjoyable? #40DaysofEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010
Day 5- Compelling
Day #5- Compelling. What have you seen that evokes your interest, attention or admiration in a powerful way? #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010
Day 4- Honorable
Day 4- Have you witnessed honorable behavior today? If so, what happened? #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010
Day 3- Inspiring
Day 3- Inspiring. What have you seen that has inspired you? To try something new? To be courageous? To make today better than yesterday? #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010
Day 2- Resilience
Day 2- Resilience. What or who around you shows resilience? #40DaysLentenEncouragement #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010
Day 1- Kindness
Today, look around for kindness. Or be the epitome of kindness to someone who might need it. #40DaysLentenEncouragment #40DaysofGoodShit @virginiaruth010
Lent
Today is the beginning of Lent- the forty days prior to Easter, not including Sundays. Not growing up with a liturgical background, Lent really didn’t have any specific meaning to me. I remember my neighborhood playmate who, being Catholic, “gave up” something for Lent. Usually chocolate, sugar or something of that nature. It baffled me, “You mean you can’t have this cookie?” I would ask Kathy. I was grateful for being Protestant and therefore, didn’t have to do that.
In more recent years, I have become more interested in the liturgical calendar and the rationale behind the design. I see the symbolism, the mystical beauty and comfort of the liturgical rhythm. I see how it all fits together and is such a great teaching tool especially for those who are different types of learners.
Just yesterday, I received an email newsletter from a pastor that I sometimes read. She suggested that for Lent, instead of giving up an item, think about giving up an attitude, namely to give up despair or discouragement. She is encouraging people to notice the good around each one of us. And while social media may be a contributing factor towards our despair, she is encouraging others to use social media to spread goodness.
The idea is to notice something good every day during Lent and to share that positivity through social media.
One of my absolute favorite quotes.
Her only criteria is that it has to be something that you personally witnessed. It cannot be something that was reported on a social media page. For instance, she would not comment on the walk for peace monks because she has not personally seen them. But she would report on a positive conversation she had with her neighbor.
I like her idea and was thinking our little community could join in with this conversation or just encourage each other.
What I am proposing:
Each day in Lent I will post a picture with a word of encouragement. (If my technological skills work, the picture and word will be on: the blog-wellofencouragement.com, facebook.com/virginiaruth.author, instagram.com/virginiaruth010-@virginiaruth010)
I would encourage you to ponder that word and keep your eyes open for examples of it during the day.
Journal about the experience.
Write a comment, take a picture, share an anecdote about that word.
Share your thoughts either on the comment section here or on one of the other social media sites: facebook or instagram- include the hashtags: #40DaysLentenEncouragement, #40DaysofGoodShit. (I apologize for the language but that is the link for the pastor.)
If the word doesn’t speak to you that day, ponder Goerthe’s words:
“Every day one should at least hear one little song, read one good poem, see one fine painting and -- if at all possible -- speak a few sensible words.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
As we journey these 40 days together, may we experience Lent in a new and eye-opening way this year.
Opportunities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI41MtiNsls. Opportunity (An Excerpt from Evan Almighty)
I saw this video, and while this film is over ten years old, I think the message is perfect for today. I think many, myself included, are praying for courage, patience, peace, and unity during this time of unbelief and uncertainty. I don’t know about you, but everyday I am flabbergasted by the behavior of my country. But perhaps we need to see what we are experiencing as an opportunity and pray for that opportunity: An opportunity to speak for those who can’t, to feed the hungry, to protect the vulnerable and to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting world.
There is so much confusion and chaos. I listen to both sides of the news and things are so far off that one wonders- where is the truth? Because, both sides claim they have the truth. The old Bob Dylan song comes to mind, “With God on Our Side”.
I am reminded that God is not a God of chaos and confusion. His message is clear and simple: love Me and love your neighbor. For me that means following Jesus- the Incarnate, God here on earth-and following His tenets.
But we have made the message so complicated because of our need to be in charge- we want to be our own god and to lord over others. Completely opposite of the simplicity that God intended. When most of the world is competing to be top god, it gets very difficult to suss out the truth. But as a friend always reminds me, “Where’s the fruit?”
What about you? How do you manage the polarity of “truth” in today’s world? Do you look at the world and see a mess or an opportunity?
And so, I leave you with another song- Burt Bacharach’s 1965 song, What the World Needs Now . As you listen, may you be reminded that today is another opportunity to be a blessing to someone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfHAs9cdTqg&list=RDFfHAs9cdTqg&start_radio=1
Yesterday I received in the mail my twelfth published book. (I have contributed to 12 books of either devotionals or essays in addition to my ongoing contributions to a caregivers magazine). I had forgotten that it was coming out. (guideposts.org)
An excerpt of my essay.