small things

My life is becoming consumed with moving clothing from one spot to the next.

Besides having aching shoulders and tired feet, I really am enjoying my job at Dillards. Markdown's are no fun...Hence, the aching shoulders. Does anybody know anything about pinched nerves? I think I might have one. But, I do like helping people find what they are looking for. I love "shopping" with other people's money and I've been able to put some of my artistic side into making displays. There's a friendly sense of competition among co-workers with sales quotas and some really nice older women who are kind and interesting. All of the associates meet in the morning for a meeting. Some may find it tiresome and pointless, but I appreciate the effort made towards building group morale and identity. I'm finding this part-time, seasonal job oddly fulfilling. And for that I praise God. I've needed something to pour myself into, even if it's just temporary.

Tomorrow and Friday I am not working, so I am headed to see Sara Groves and Jars of Clay in concert in Evansville, IN. Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz will also be there. I'm making a mini-retreat of it and staying at a local Super 8 for some time of solitude and reflection. Music always inspires my soul--so I look forward to the way the Lord will speak to me.

Here are some lyrics from Sara's latest release, Add to the Beauty:

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are
And I want to add to the beauty
to tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
that's burning up inside
It comes in small inspirations
It brings redemption to life and work
to our lives and our work

I want to add to the beauty in my daily, mundane life of scanning and stickering tickets on blue jeans.

"You can do no great things, just small things with great love." Mother Theresa

Bittersweet November

November has been a bitter sweet month over the last couple of years. I love fall--the colors, the smells, the sweater weather. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. And, it's a month of remembering hard times for my family. Grief is a slow and long process.

I received some sad news about HoneyRock last night. Two amazing leaders who have had significant influence in my life have been laid off from their positions. The graduate program (of which I was a part of last year) has been canceled. I am sad for the Suttons and the Shepsons. I am sad that other grad students will not have the opportunity to experience community life at HoneyRock. I am sad that HoneyRock is changing. My sadness is mixed with some anger towards the change too. But, I'm trying to remember that God has a purpose for HoneyRock even though it may be different than what I want it to be. HE is the Solid Rock of my beloved home in the Northwoods.

Pray with me for these families that are affected. Pray for us former HoneyRockers--that we will not let bitterness and anger overcome us. Pray that we will hope for a future that will bring many souls into Christ's Kingdom.

I hate to give you all whiplash with the change of theme in this post...but I wanted to share the progress of my support raising. I find this as a positive update. I have 30.75% of the start-up expenses ($1,854 out of 6,000) and 5.54% of my monthly pledges ($167.50 out of 3,000). I also have at least 11 committed individuals who are supporting me in prayer. There are some good things happening here. Thanks so much for being on my team!!!!!!!