Becoming

How we spend our moments, is how we spend our lives. I wish I had taken captive my moments when I was 20....but hey, 49 is better than never! I didn't really know about the importance of rhythms, habits, discipline. But I'm learning. I'm becoming. I've been working on these for a couple years now. I'm getting better. They are becoming more a part of my life. It's the rhythms that I am trying to create. In Justin Whitmel Earley's book, "The Common Rule Habits of Purpose for an age of Distraction" he said, "to fully understand habits you must think of habits as liturgies. A liturgy is a pattern of words or actons repeated regualry as a way of worship." I love this. Rhythms of prayers; morning, noon, and night-knees bent, head bowed remembering and anchoring myself to the source of life and meaning. Morning rhythms; water, vitamins, pilates, coffee, and quiet time all before phone. Rhythms of the table; that invite outsiders in-nightly dinners, communion, student table fellowship lunches, Sunday family lunches with extras, and Home Fellowship meals with my church family. I see a shared table as a way to be what Earley calls a, "light of presence in a dark culture of loneleness". Rhythms of presence; fullness of presence-focused presence; which means I must master my smartphone. I must turn it off. I must delete the apps that rob me of my time, my focus, my attention, my life. I want to be where my feet are. Fully focused, completely engaged-present. I must become comfortable with boredom and silence. Stare at the wall, have a book in my purse, watch people. Avoid distraction and the constant quest of being entertained. Rhythms of relationships; Tuesday coffee with Christi, Monday, monthly Mom Talk. Sunday night home fellowship at the Winn's; periodic couples date night with the Mangum's and Tilley's. Holiday celebratons with extended family. Rhythms of health; walking a mile a day, eating protein focused meals, being in the sunshine, drinking water. Rhythms of home maintenance; chores, meal prep, errands, laundry, car care, work, planning, writing, dishes. Rhythms of rest; Sunday nap, early bedtime, DEAR (drop-everything-and-read) time at school and after lunch walks at school. I'm becoming a disciplined person. I'm becoming a student of the moments of my life. I'm seeing my habits as my liurgies. I'm slowly becoming more of who Christ created me to be.