Alone?

There are times that I feel very alone. The last few weeks I have felt that awareness all too well and yesterday it was very real.

I found myself leaving the hospital, trying hard to not cry until I reached the car. But yet, tears were running down my face as I negotiated the long path through the hospital to my car. All I wanted was to lay my head down and tell someone that my heart was hurting. And yet I knew there was no one there for me, no one waiting for me at home .... no one but me.

I woke up this morning with a heavy heart this morning and found that I was still struggling with a feeling of being alone, so I decided to get away from the office for a while and get alone with God. I found myself at the Willamina Pond. And I sat by the pond and just got quiet. I watched the goldfinches and the red winged blackbirds flitting around the cattails as I listen to the cry of the Osprey. As I watched I let  God's peace and love wash over me.

It was the reminder that I needed that I do not really walk alone. God is with me every step of the way.

And His love is enough ....

Just Connie

And They Call Me the Fireman ...

So often I feel like all I do is put out fires. There are conflicts between people, ruffled feelings, a committee that is not getting along, differences of opinions ... all of which I spend an incredible amount of time in.

Recently I have been putting out fires in both the church and the community. I find it intriguing how often I am called in for "non church" issues. I think it is something I do well, and with great satisfaction but when they begin to pile up on top of each other I begin to find myself drained.

This past week I am finding myself stressed and tired and it is a symptom that I need to respond to. It tells me I am taking more out of my resources than I am putting in. It is time to carve out some quiet time and spend less time working and more time re-creating and restoring.

So I am looking for ways to get away, take a deep breath and not work on problems for a while. I think perhaps Hope Puppy and I need to spend a couple of days at the creek enjoying each other.

Now that sounds like a good idea.

Just Connie