Take note of the good

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I smelled rain today.

The smell of rain on a spring day - and possibly more so the worms scrounging through wet dirt - is a strange smell to love. There's nothing like it.

The drizzle today will likely turn to snow, but it is a foretelling of (may we hope) later this month.

And I implore you: take note of the good. 

My aunt Jen spoke at a women's conference today. I got to watch, appreciating her vulnerability and tearing up to stories I have had a front-row seat to - the other women hearing them for the first time.

Jen unwrapped the layers surrounding our dreams: the fears we face, the shame we can't seem to shake, the questions we don't know to ask ourselves, and the identity that will feed our confidence.

Do you find yourself doing life simply because that's what we do? 

We do budgeting. It's what we do.
We do work. It's what one is to do.
We do church. It's what Christians do.
We do taxes. It's what we must do.
We do dishes. It's also a must (really, it is.)

Before we know it, we are robots...doing. The joy is sucked out of life and we forget to dream, because we are living in habit. 

I picked up my violin to play a few months ago. It had been gathering dust for some time, so I began tuning. As I twisted the A string slowly, lovingly, the neglected thing simply sighed it's last sound and slipped off, breaking from the top. I haven't replaced it yet.

Photo: Alyssa Joy Photography

My colorful pens sit on my desk, just waiting to be used.

And my blog... well, you know, don't you? It becomes dormant.

This is what it is for me: the words, musical notes, and colorful pages start showing up when I remember my identity in God, when I watch for the good, and when I intentionally break free from routine.

Yesterday morning started out crummy. It took an already cranky Rachel and threw some running-late and spilled coffee in. As I drove out from my apartment, I took a moment to pray.

Okay God. I'm sorry I'm grumpy. Help me to see the good, I'll try.

I got to the stop sign where I turn toward the main road, and the man in the car to my left had stopped before the intersection, waving me on. As soon as I turned, the light ahead of us turned green and I didn't have to wait.

It was a simple act of kindness and a simple green light, but I saw it. It helped me shake my attitude and start my day better.

Maybe if we realized that the mundane is beautiful, we would dare to do the extraordinary, too. 

Budgeting is an opportunity to learn the priorities and desires of your spouse. Work is an opportunity to honor God (literally in any work - God put it in His design).

Church isn't just a task or a place we have to be, it's a Holy space to be fully yourself in Christ. Taxes? Well, have a good cup of coffee while doing them, and it makes for some peace.

And play with the bubbles around the dishes while blasting worship music sometimes - it's good for the soul.

When it has been snowing for a month straight? Laugh at how high the snow piles are, and notice that your car is sparkly with frost in the morning.

Let yourself be inspired, and you might just inspire others, too. 

Again I implore you: take note of the good.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

-Philippians 4:8