Soup Sunday

The soup gathers us.

The soup is discussed at breakfast.

What's it going to be this week?

Ideas are offered, 

discussed, 

then decided.

List made, 

trip to store, 

ingredients gathered.

A continuing conversation while

chopping, 

assembling, 

stirring, 

boiling, 

simmering. 

Cover and cook.

Conversations continuing,

as the soup simmers,

occasionally stirring,

all influencing each other, 

bringing out the best in each other. 

Conversations continuing

as soup is ladled and brought to the table. 

This week the gathering is in the living room

as we sit knee to knee, watching the game. 

Grateful for the nourishment 

from the soup and 

our conversations. 

Cleaning up, 

conversations continuing, 

as the leftovers make their way into smaller containers for lunches.

Planning our daily nourishment.

Gathered together, 

our conversations

celebrate the many facets of the gift of Sundays.

Intentions

Reading compels me to consider the word ... aspire

Walking with purpose in the early morning darkness,

        a daily routine to set my intention, 

                 for the past 18 months, 

                       now. 

Thoughts interrupted and expanded.

Setting is casting, 

         casting an anchor into the sea of fast-moving currents,

The anchor bringing me back to the intention.

What is the intention calling me to accomplish?   

To aspire, 

        to notice, 

                    to return, 

                                to practice. 

Significant moments also calling me 

To aspire, 

        to notice, 

                    to return, 

                                 to practice mindfulness.

(This post was inspired by a reading selection from Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness A Guide For Anyone Who Teaches Anything by Deborah Schoeberlein) 

 

                   

Previously I 

   

        setting 

When casting my intention

 

Friday Night Praise

Welcome,

An introduction

Time to praise, 

Time for prayer, 

Listening time. 

Choices 

stand, sit, kneel, bow

Sing, reflect,

Listen.

Being still at the end of the week. 

Breath slows, 

                      deepens. 

Thoughts slow, 

                      deepens. 

Deepened.

It is in the listening

comes understanding- 

Listening 

       through songs 

            and reading, 

                   the spiritual whispers 

                         directed to my 

                                heart,

                             thoughts, 

                                Soul.

Another step in my day,

                    On my spiritual journey.

Continue to share with others. 

          

On the First Friday of each month, the church offers a Friday Night Praise program, which served as a significant moment.

          

              

Is this it?

Spent day searching

And 

Wondering...

Is this it?

Is this the significant moment?

And in doing so

Not being truly present.

Too preoccupied with 

Is this it? 

Is this what I will write about? 

Process over product.

Present over future to do. 

Breathe and let go. 

There is a time for reflection,

And a time for being truly present. 

This is it. 

Smaller than a moment

Even smaller than a moment

Seconds...

That served as a reminder

The significance of small moments.

She was temporarily lost in a daze, 

Patiently waiting.

Handing the lunch bag over the table

She straightened, 

reached

 and 

smiled. 

A smile that can not be easily described, 

Yet a smile that left an imprint. 

Eyes reflecting joy.

Yes! 

Time to eat.

Yes! 

A switch, 

A reminder,

To be fed with small moments of joy.

I was on lunch duty and the student's reaction to receiving her hot lunch had me pause and think how grateful I am to be there.  I witnessed pure joy. 

Inner leads outward

Inner voice

Rewrite the narrative. 

The story you tell yourself.

Starting from within-

The thoughts,

Ideas, 

Beliefs,

Revisit where they are leading you towards.

Envision where you want to be.

Chart a course, 

Starting with "You are here".

Inward changes, 

Changes mindset, 

Leading to subtle changes

In routines, habits, daily living,

A change in direction, 

Altering the course, 

Evidenced outwardly. 

This significant moment is a result of attending Daily Mass and ruminating on the Homily. 

Significant Moments

For the past couple of years, I have been using the Prayer Process by Matthew Kelly.  Recently I have been reflecting on how to capture the impact of step 3, significant moments.  

Yesterday I listened to a podcast by Jon Gordon and James Clear in which James's book Atomic Habits was discussed.

A collision of ideas.  

2 minute rule

(Been challenging myself to change my bed time routine. 

I can do anything for 29 days. 

A month ago, I returned the cable box that was in my bedroom. 

No more watching television as I try to fall asleep. 

Done.

Now I have an additional tweak, as a result of listening to James.

I put the book that I am reading on my pillow case.)

Last night, after having stayed up to see the ball drop, 

I climbed into bed, 

my head hit the book, 

my hand reached for the book light, 

and I read.

A page of ideas digested

then time for sleep.

And as I awoke this morning, 

I realized that I could apply the 2 minute rule

to further capture significant moments. 

Carve 2 minutes from my morning routine to capture 

what I have spent time in prayer reflecting on.

What did I experience yesterday, and 

What might God be trying to tell me? 

Significant Moments meet Atomic Habits.

So for the next 29 days, 

I am going to blog about my significant moments 

And see where it takes me.