Flood. - Do I share a picture of a good thing or a bad thing?
Floods can be good? Yes.
Flooding of property and land caused by storms and earthquakes can be devastating.
But flooding can be an overwhelming abundance of anything like "flooding the widow with cards of sympathy" or "my desk was flooded with applications for the job," and, "I was flooded with emotion."
.
And - my favorite: Flooding can be to "pour forth; overflow."
It is in the season of Advent - actually starting around Thanksgiving, when it is the norm for me to intentionally count my blessings and be grateful for the love and gifts that surround me. Memories of past celebrations flood my mind and overflow my heart. Flooding occurs at Christmastime in many ways. The stores are overwhelmingly Tsunami'd on Black Friday. Christmas greetings come flooding into our mailboxes along with advertisements and coupons. Television commercials are extreme in targeting the consumer and the Christmas messages, good and bad, pour out of our TV sets, radios and internet.
It is only those things that overflow my heart with love and fond memories that make the modern celebrations worthwhile to me. Because my bank account is not overflowing, it makes sense that any gift purchased be motivated solely by the love and appreciation I feel for the person of my gift intentions.
I love the thought of my advent season being flooded with quiet and peace -- with music and candles and shredded lists of to-do's.
Perhaps if we look at pouring out as a way to re-fill, the flood of "things to do" could be damned in it's wake. Think about this. If we think of ourselves as vessels capable of holding an abundance of things which can be poured back into those who surround us, what, then should we hold? How about deciding to empty our chalice of those things that do not serve us or others. Instead, be filled to overflowing with those things that make our celebrations significant and remarkable. The idea of simple abundance fits here. Remove those things not essential to the peace of your soul. Slow down. A full vessel is full whether it holds good things or bad things. Pour out (give away) and remove from your chalice those traditions, things, people, food, clothing, and anything that does not fill you with joy. Pour out resentment, negativity, blame, judgments, assumptions and any feelings that don't bring joy. Hold on to the memories, the traditions, people, food and music that fill you with joy and love. Getting rid of what does not work anymore not only gives you room to fill up your Joy chalice with new traditions, but better yet, gives you space for quiet, for reflection and room to receive the in-flooding of love from others.
The aftermath of devastating floods is chaos. The in-flooding of God's love is Peace.
Floods can be good? Yes.
Flooding of property and land caused by storms and earthquakes can be devastating.
But flooding can be an overwhelming abundance of anything like "flooding the widow with cards of sympathy" or "my desk was flooded with applications for the job," and, "I was flooded with emotion."
.
And - my favorite: Flooding can be to "pour forth; overflow."
It is in the season of Advent - actually starting around Thanksgiving, when it is the norm for me to intentionally count my blessings and be grateful for the love and gifts that surround me. Memories of past celebrations flood my mind and overflow my heart. Flooding occurs at Christmastime in many ways. The stores are overwhelmingly Tsunami'd on Black Friday. Christmas greetings come flooding into our mailboxes along with advertisements and coupons. Television commercials are extreme in targeting the consumer and the Christmas messages, good and bad, pour out of our TV sets, radios and internet.
It is only those things that overflow my heart with love and fond memories that make the modern celebrations worthwhile to me. Because my bank account is not overflowing, it makes sense that any gift purchased be motivated solely by the love and appreciation I feel for the person of my gift intentions.
I love the thought of my advent season being flooded with quiet and peace -- with music and candles and shredded lists of to-do's.
Perhaps if we look at pouring out as a way to re-fill, the flood of "things to do" could be damned in it's wake. Think about this. If we think of ourselves as vessels capable of holding an abundance of things which can be poured back into those who surround us, what, then should we hold? How about deciding to empty our chalice of those things that do not serve us or others. Instead, be filled to overflowing with those things that make our celebrations significant and remarkable. The idea of simple abundance fits here. Remove those things not essential to the peace of your soul. Slow down. A full vessel is full whether it holds good things or bad things. Pour out (give away) and remove from your chalice those traditions, things, people, food, clothing, and anything that does not fill you with joy. Pour out resentment, negativity, blame, judgments, assumptions and any feelings that don't bring joy. Hold on to the memories, the traditions, people, food and music that fill you with joy and love. Getting rid of what does not work anymore not only gives you room to fill up your Joy chalice with new traditions, but better yet, gives you space for quiet, for reflection and room to receive the in-flooding of love from others.
The aftermath of devastating floods is chaos. The in-flooding of God's love is Peace.
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