Thursday, November 19, 2009

intentional radiance


There's been a lot of conversation about gratitude on blogs in recent months, and for good reason. A natural antidote to difficult times and challenging situations is spending some time in the light. At our house our challenges continue. Some days the shadows are deep and long, and on other days they are less apparent, almost unnoticeable. It can be hard to walk that line of inconsistency, so for my own sake of balance I have been trying to think of ways to incorporate a ritual of seeking and reflecting light.

At a bookstore the other day there was a small volume about ways to "give away" at Christmas. It was just the kind of companion I was looking for to help me make my intentions more concrete, and help my focus on seeking/reflecting stay on track. The book offers simple suggestions, like giving hugs and smiling at strangers. There are the fun things like paying for the coffee of the person behind you in line at Starbucks. Then there are the more strategic ideas, like leaving five and ten dollar bills in places where people without much money are likely to encounter them: dumpsters near areas where homeless populations linger, or shopping carts at dollar and discount grocery stores (and I don't mean Sam's or Costco). There was, as well, the notion of starting a "giving" account, which would accumulate funds to be given away. This year I think our various jars of loose change is a place to go to do a little something.

You get the idea. It doesn't take much to make the world a brighter place for someone, even if only for a moment. So I invite you to join me in the practing of reflecting light. My hope is that in doing so, at least for me, my own heart will shine more brightly, and that the intentional ritual of giving/sharing/reflecting/loving will become part of the fiber of my everyday being. I'm tired of being a person whose intentions outnumber her actions, and as we approach a season infused with charity, compassion, love and generosity, there is no better time to get busy sharing the light.

I'll start by thanking you for honoring me with your visit to this blog. Your presence matters.

7 comments:

Kimberly Mason said...

hahaha synchronicity! We're both telling people (though you do it in a much nicer way!) to get off their backsides. I'm almost scared to click on the blogs of my other sisters, what if we are ALL synchronized today? :P

The Bug said...

No fear ladies - today's post is all about me :) But if you're not careful you'll inspire me to actually DO something. Hmph.

In answer to your visit to my blog yesterday, I would LOVE to quilt - my grandmother quilted some. However, me & sewing? Not very friendly. I should write a blog post about my upholstery class experience - not pretty!

Dr. M & I love Peducah - but we especially love the Land Between the Lakes area near there. That's my idea of bliss. We should rent a cabin & I'll work jigsaw puzzles & you can sew!

Unknown said...

Wow, your blog is awesome and so are you. Thanks for visiting my blooming blogging effort and commenting. It really means a lot to me. Being in contact with someone like you is exactly what I was hoping would happen.

Kip said...

Great suggestions Anne!

Jan said...

Love the suggestions, esp. since I just finished the ABC's of gratitude, which I got from you awhile back. Thanks.

Jayne said...

During Lent last year, I decided to do something totally different. On the way to church each Sunday, I stopped at a gas pump, then after getting gas in my car, went inside and gave the clerk $10 and told them, "Tell the next person who comes in to pay for gas, that the first $10 is free." They'd look at me incredulously, and then smile broadly. It felt so good to be able to do this simple thing for someone anonymously! I think I'll do it again this year!

I too, am so grateful for you and your friendship!

Janet M said...

The giving away idea is always so much fun, I paid for a man's breakfast the other day and bought him a gift cert to the place and left it with the waitress. I always pay for the person behind me at a drive through, I always figure you never know how that person's day has been going.
Nice blog post.

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