A Day of Rest and A Brewing Storm

The fair has come to town. 

Since it is the biggest fair in the Nashville area, 

the traffic in the city of Lebanon is horrible!

All the crazies come out!

I've decided to stay in today, 

which I desperately need to do anyway

so that I clean and unclutter some more. 

I don't know why it is, but it 

took me 3 years of not working to 

unwind and realize that I didn't 

have to feel guilty about doing nothing. 

Now that I'm back in the real world, 

I have trouble with doing nothing. 

Since sitting on my porch drinking coffee, 

blogging, reading, and working puzzles 

feels like I'm doing nothing, I feel guilty.

I spent some quiet time this morning, 

doing my Bible study.

That doesn't feel like a do-nothing

so I don't feel guilty.

I watched a storm brewing from a distance.

I felt with it the wind and spray from the rain.

It brought with it a little relief from the heat and humidity.

It moved out as quickly as it came in. 

I've moved inside and the sun is now shining outside my window.

Not all storms come and go as quickly.

Some stay awhile.

I felt like the storm would never lift in the 5 years 

of my parents illness and eventual death. 

Then there was the 3 years of grief that would not heal. 

The move has been good for letting go. 

I've leaned into joy.

Sometimes I become afraid and anxious 

about the inevitability of another storm. 

I pray that the wind of the Holy Spirit 

will lift me above where I'm not tossed here and there

by the winds of anxiety, depression, fear and doubt.

I'm learning but I have a ways to go.