Narrowing

Genesis 5:22   And Enoch walked with God…

I’ve had a difficult time with blogging lately, sort of feeling a bit dried up if you will.  I think of pictures I want to share, but I don’t want to take the time to download, edit, upload, and publish.  I think of some good insights I want to work through with you, but sometimes it is hard to do that, this sharing with the anonymous reader (or two).  Because really, what I want to know is, how are you?  But this is a blog…so here are some photos I prepared and here is some pondering (smile).

I recently read a very good article entitled, “What Captures Your Attention Controls Your Life.”  And I’m wondering a lot, what is it that captures my attention, and is that thing or idea or person or place or dream worthy of the attention it is getting?  I really feel like my time is a gift from the Lord, and it is finite.  Am I spending it wisely?  Most of the time I lament miserably over not being better disciplined about (fill in the blank), but remembering that my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) I do find cause and reason to rejoice even in the things that point out my failure or difficulty or disappointment. But I want to strive for the better things, the more excellent way.  I also wonder, how are you doing? Are you controlled in the things that clamor for your attention?  Are you intentional about where you spend your time? Are you too easily distracted from what you claim is more important?  If you’re at peace with your time, you’re the one I want to spend tea time with (if you have time, ha).

One pastor remarked, regarding the article, that he remembered as a child what captured his grandmother’s attention was the “black book” she was always so engrossed with.  Some days I am shamefully more concerned about checking my e-mail (there might be something new or a response I’m waiting upon) rather than God’s Word (which always has something new and every response I need).  No wonder I am feeling dull in the head.  What about you? How are you doing? Are you staying in the Word?  Are you striving, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)?

Our day of distractions is a challenge, isn’t it?  But I can’t blame my circumstances nor my environment.  Truly, if even the Bible gave me a little musical *ding!* on a regular basis, would I want to open it more?

Also. Sometimes I have blog-pinterest-envy (this is my blog and I can dump, right?).  You know, poking around and seeing all of the amazing things other women are doing; discounting of course anything of value that I myself may be doing.  My little vase of flowers picked from the weeds in the front yard by sticky little hands and plucked into a mason jar just doesn’t seem to match the sweet buttery blurry romantic Photoshopped bouquet on an old farmhouse table artful arranged (only to look wildly thrown about) in a French enamel container that cost $75 to purchase.  And the poetry; some bloggers are amazing writers!  Oh to have the luxury of crafting such words; talent yes, but most writers will admit readily to sweat and sheets of crumpled paper bore through with eraser holes.  Oh, and the nature journaling and drawing and handwork and magnificent baked cakes that would charm Queen Elizabeth herself.

But I did come across this statement which revealed to me how some other mothers have the time and talent to surf the waves of Blogsville or Etsywood with their hair not mussed, and it was this: “I then get the children ready and take (child) to school and (other child) to his child minder.”

Oh. There’s the rub.  I really can’t do it all.  And if you have your children at home with you, you can’t either (unless you want to damage the relationship you have with your babies, to which I say, what’s the point of keeping them home then?).   So decide.  Crafts or cradle-rocking.  Blogs or bubble baths.  I-pod or We-read (a book).  Black book or black phone.  Choose this day whom you want to serve, and how you want to walk.  Keeping children home is a sacrifice.  So is sending them away.  Which sacrifice are you willing to make? And can you (can I?) make it without the pitiful sigh going along with it?

Enoch’s name means “narrowing”.  To walk with God means to choose the narrow way.  If what captures your attention really controls your life, it might be worthwhile to consider your ways and to examine your walk.  You may find your choices have been too broad, and pruning needs doing.  Like for me, this blog:  how do I prune it back?  Does it need pruning? A chop?  Six years later, do I still need it?

And now is when I stop rambling and share some garden photos I’ve been saving.  Enjoy them.  If you were here, I’d offer you a cup of tea (and maybe some baked biscotti unless I was reading Curious George during baking time) and conversation and I might send you home with bunches of herbs from my garden if you wanted them.  And maybe we could really talk about what it means to walk with God, and why we are not as enthralled with HIM as we ought and what we might change or do about it.  If what captures our attention really controls our lives, then don’t we really want that to be….God?

Ponder with me as we walk.

Grow, and prune as necessary,