The Art of Life

Every happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.   Malcolm Muggeridge quoted in Carolyn Arends’ Wrestling with Angels  p. 41

The art of life.  I want to live such a life, a life that demonstrates the art of living.  As I head into the first official full week of a new school year, I want to be prayerfully aware of living a life that listens to God.  I will admit to being somewhat concerned that the busy-ness of life will crowd out the lessons and the habits I have learned in the detour my life has taken.  Lord, I pray that You will help me see the happenings in my life, to really see them.  And in so doing, to hear You and truly get Your message.

What follows are some of the happenings in my life.....

404) a summer evening walk in a nearby park

405) managing to find a place to park in that very busy and crowded part

406) a cool breeze which refreshes when walking

407) the variety of bird songs heard while walking in the park

408) light at the end of the tunnel - the gift of light as it plays on the trees

409) the setting sun illuminating huge billowy clouds

410) the satisfaction of coming to a decision

411) a friend who helps move furniture

412) seeing a good story come to life on the big screen (The Help)

413) Thai chicken pizza with freshly picked cilantro

414) a rainbow shining through the rainstorm

415) getting a classroom unpacked and finding room for most things

416) a willing friend who helps and who loves organizing (Thanks, E.B.)

417) sitting in a park on a summer evening, enjoying mint tea and the company of a friend

418) watching a rabbit chow down on dandelion leaves it finds in my lawn

419) the crisp, clean white of freshly painted window trim

420) the warmth of the sun on my shoulders as I run errands

421) hugs and expressions of compassion as a welcome back to work

422) excitement about new relationships with a new set of students

423) a bright little sliver of a moon

424) the first sweet peas of the season brightening my living room

425) sunshine warming my shoulders as I walk during a lunch break

426) watching butterflies flit around

427) laughter

428) a gifted story-teller

429) being inspired at the beginning of a new school year

430) a school secretary and her daughter who go above and beyond

431) colleagues who pitch in and help the secretary

432) morning walks

433) summer evenings

434) watching the sunset colours play on the clouds, changing and dancing

435) playing Scrabble in the park with a friend

436) managing 2 (yes, 2!) 7 letter words in one Scrabble game

437) a day of meandering, without much agenda, and discovering as we went along

438) plumbers

439) a free-flowing and quickly draining tub

440) successfully modifying a recipe never tried before - Mexican Quinoa Salad