Anyone who has ever made a resolution will likely agree that even with the best of intentions you often set yourself up to fail with unrealistic expectations. Lee Ann and I have committed to healthier eating and have done reasonably well at changing our thinking about food as well as what we consume.

Today I almost slipped! A locally-owned doughnut shop has opened in our community to rave reviews. At church last night it seemed everyone was praising their products especially apple fritters and doughnut holes (two of my favorites!). I have avoided the temptation to stop in but avoiding even driving by the building.

While I was out running errands at lunchtime I ended up at the library which is just around the corner from the doughnut shop. I decided to be thoughtful and take some holes home to Erica who I knew would love them – and of course I’d have to sample one! Just one. I began to imagine the smell, the visual display of the decadent feast, and oh! the taste. I began to crave just one bite.

So, I broke my resolve and headed for the doughnut shop. Imagine my surprise as I stopped at the last intersection before reaching my destination to discover a train stopped on the tracks between me and the goodies! Not knowing how long my wait would be I turned the other way and returned to the office.

Did I feel victorious? Defeated? Neither one actually. I was amused. I had to laugh. The perfect timing to keep me headed in the healthy direction!

As I drove back to the office – away from the doughnuts – I thought about how easily I allow myself to be lured away from things I know I should do … a phone call, a visit, a note, a volunteer opportunity. All things that would be pleasing to God. All things I should want to do (and sometimes do). But often I let me get in the way.

So today I asked God to continue to put freight trains in my way when I am headed the wrong direction. I want to fully experience God’s grace and know that I have to do my part in learning about and growing to be the person God wants me to be.

Two major milestones highlighted last week for me. Granted, they may not seem significant to you, but given my middle aged, not-cared-for body, and a personal history where I was told “you can’t” related to any physical activity, I feel like a gold medalist!

Before I tell you what I did (I’m told I inherited a flare for the dramatic from my paternal grandmother) I have to tell you what made the difference … or rather who made the difference. No surprise to those who know me but it was Lee Ann. She believed in me! She encouraged me! She affirmed my baby steps toward being fit and active! She never gave up on me and didn’t let me give up on myself! WOW! She blesses my life in so many ways and this is a good forum for me to tell her “thank you” yet again.

Okay, so the suspense is getting to you, right? LOL! What did I do? The first thing was to successfully hit the majority of the softballs at a local batting cage – two tokens worth. It was a lifetime first for me to step into the cage and a major accomplishment to hit most of the balls. Lee Ann made the difference … and I helped. I had to change how I was thinking about hitting the balls. I had to block the PE teachers from elementary school (nothing wrong with my memory) who told me year after year what a failure I was at hitting a ball with a bat. I had to choose to listen to Lee Ann who believed I could do it! And I did!

The second thing was to ride my bike with Lee Ann at our local state park (we missed Erica who opted to stay home)… hills and all (well, not the really steep ones, at least not on this trip). I had been dreaming of doing this – yes, literally dreaming about riding and only rain, illness, and a day at the beach got in the way. Finally on Saturday we strapped the bikes onto their new rack and off we went. The more I rode the more I wanted to ride! And my “coach” was there each peddle of the way with suggestions that made it easier on my knees and even more fun. I can’t wait to go back!

As I reflected on these two events I recalled just a few of the many times another encourager in my life empowered me to triumph. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). The acceptance, love, forgiveness, grace, hope, joy, and peace Christ desires for each of us is life altering indeed! How thankful I am for Christ in my life. And recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17) I am thankful for Lee Ann and others who help me keep growing.

As a child of the 50s I grew up when no one locked their doors (neither home nor car) and neighbors rushed to bake bread, cakes, and casseroles to welcome newcomers to the street. My parents reminisced about sitting on the porch after dinner with family and friends as the day ended and I witnessed this practice when we visited my grandparents. In the late 70s I discovered this way of life still existed in rural Illinois where I lived for a short while in “farm country.”

I think I first recognized how drastically lifestyles had changed (as a college and graduate student I had been oblivious to much beyond campus) when a group of church leaders were lamenting no one would accept their invitations to visit the Sunday visitors on Monday night. That caused me to reflect that I did not rush to bake something for a new neighbor any more (when is there time?).

Rushing from home to work to lessons or practices or church to home again while eating on the run challenged how we built relationships. “Me time” became a mantra for many seeking relief from the rat race. Then cocooning began in response to the need for family and home and rest.

As cocooning became common practice, VCR followed by DVD rental businesses flourished (and now Netflix has contributed to their closures) while movie ticket prices soared and sales plummeted. Telephoning gave way to emailing which rapidly took the place of letter writing too. And along came texting. Educators began to lament that students did not know how to write or communicate verbally. More and more we withdrew from direct contact with more than a few friends and family members.

I believe inherent in each of us, introvert and extrovert alike, is the need for companionship and mutually fulfilling human relationships. Despite cocooning, community networking events began to spring up along with church supper clubs and Neighborhood Watch groups. And today diehard Facebook users list networking as what they are seeking and some compete to build their list of friends.

In beginning God created … for the first human he created a companion because It is not good for the man to be alone. Throughout my life I have heard multiple preachers propose that God created humankind for companionship. And while I have a hard time comprehending God having any need I recognize relationships with God and others as a thread woven throughout the Bible.

And where does all this thinking end? Again with the Great Commandment! Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

I affirm that loving both God and my neighbor means spending time with them. I am looking forward to meeting some of my international neighbors next summer on a mission trip to Africa but until then it’s time to break out of the comfort zone of my cocoon to reach across property lines with more than a wave.

The dreaded call came mid-morning. It was what we had feared. The test was positive. The flu had come to our home. Erica has been symptomatic and missed school yesterday. Her mom was hoping at the worst it would be a sinus infection. But no, it is the flu.

None of us have felt right for several days and have admitted fighting off “something.” Over the counter medications are lined up on the kitchen counter next to the sink.

As the day has progressed so have my symptoms … all the usual suspects. Then suddenly I’ll feel better and tell myself it’s all in my head. But my years of living have taught me that we may all be on the sofa under the afghan before the week is out.

Anticipating this happening I ate my lunch while I worked to give me time to run errands during my normal lunch time. Library books were waiting to be checked out and the cats have to eat! And they have to have what they like and need (two of the three require prescription food). And they have to get their monthly dose of Frontline. We didn’t want the flu but we certainly don’t want fleas!

Driving to the pet food store I noticed I was speeding down the interstate. I felt an urgency akin to making sure there are flashlight batteries, bread, sandwich meat, and bottled water in the house as a hurricane approaches.

Urgency. Several New Testament scriptures began to flood my thoughts. We are instructed to live with such urgency that we are ready when Jesus comes again. As I slowed my driving I also slowed my thinking to contemplate these teachings.

With my words and with my life I need to share the love of God and the reconciliation Jesus offers. What about you?

Lounging on the beach I looked up just in time to see a flock of seagulls pass overhead. I studied them for quite a distance and for the first time noticed that they all flapped and then “coasted” simultaneously. I couldn’t remember ever noticing birds coast before! How graceful to watch them float on the air current.

Watching them made me think of coasting when riding my bike. Peddling leads to that wind-in-your face time of taking your feet off and just coasting. If it’s been a particularly difficult climb to the point you can coast it is an especially welcome rest.

I wondered if the seagulls felt a sense of rest and relief as they coasted. And I wondered if they are soaring when they flap or when they coast.

Isaiah 40:31 came to mind as I wondered … but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Lounging in the beach chase on the white Gulf of Mexico sand was renewing to me. But I wanted to be soaring. And then I thought of all the times I have felt so in sync with God’s will for my day that it felt as if I was soaring. Those are special days.

I took the trash out after lunch today. That, in and of itself, is nothing unusual, expect that chore is usually relegated to Friday afternoons. However the banana peeling from my mid-morning snack attack and the packet my lunch salmon filet was in made for a smelly combination whose only redeeming quality might be as supplemental pest control.

On the way back down the hall to the stairs leading to our offices, I did something I have not done since we relocated to the church in March. I went into the sanctuary to pray. It wasn’t my idea. I was drawn in. I know that God doesn’t live in a house of worship, but today God’s presence was palpable.

Yes, there was a lot on my mind; a lot that needed prayer attention. So I poured my heart out to my listening God. And then I listened. I sensed God wrapping God’s self around me as the peace I had been seeking came.

Inside the sanctuary all was quiet. As I kept listening (to and for God, not intentionally for outside noises) I heard the big green trash truck making its weekly rounds. What a surprise was in store for me!

As I almost unconciously visualized the truck picking up the trash receptacle and emptying it of its contents I realized I was just like that container! I had allowed myself to become distracted from God, largely through neglect of prayer, and thus my life had filled with things better thrown away. And the more I had added to the “trash” the bigger the pile had grown and the more offensive the strong smell had become. Yes, and there were those pesky flies too!

So prayerfully I visualized God emptying me of all that was inside that didn’t need to be there. As it tumbled out I named the things I could recognize. I asked for forgiveness and cleansing. I asked for God to fill me.

I was left with a clean container! I realize I will inevitably start to fill it up again because I am human and that just happens. But I am reminded anew that I can (and need to) intentionally come to God to be emptied.

When I, you, we are filled with God’s spirit we are anything but empty! We are alive to God and all God can do in and through us.