grOwiNg

when i was in college i took a lot of english classes

because i loved english and each course was an easy "A" for me

until i got dr. demott for american lit...my lazy ways didn't fall under his radar and i did not love his english class

a "d" on a paper!  and when i rewrote it (with little effort), a "c"

but i became a better writer, a better thinker because of dr. demott

and i felt better about that "B" in his class than all my "A's" put together

i am reading two books right now whose authors may just be related to dr. demott


i've been praying for a kick in the pants on behalf of my expanding backside {i love to eat, hate to exercise} and on behalf of my lukewarm spiritual life {how my mind can wander to such great lengths during prayer is beyond me}


from author paul e. miller:


oddly enough, many people struggle to learn how to pray because they are focusing on praying, not on God


and this...


so don't hunt for a feeling in prayer.  deep in our psyches we want an experience with God or an experience in prayer.  once we make that our quest, we lose God.  You don't experience God; you get to know him


miller has called my bluff (which seems to be the bluff of a lot of people, which is comforting) and is teaching me to re-think prayer


and from a most surprising author {DJ from "full house"} i am rethinking how i go about weight loss


{her book is getting great reviews}

i nearly laughed out loud when a few nights ago i read this


remember, the heart will deceive us with all sorts of negative thoughts: ..."you're getting older and people can't take the weight off" 


{i have been using this excuse a lot lately!} 

i suppose the biggest lesson i'm gleaning from candace's book has nothing to do with food or weight

but everything to do with willpower, delayed gratification and moderation

{things i already knew...but candace reminds me that it's all about body, mind and spirit together}

i hadn't really planned on reading either of these books 


but i'm glad they have found their way onto my nightstand


i want to grow spiritually and shrink physically {grin} this year


so on this sunny, but wintry cold, day


i leave you to curl up by the fire to read


happily welcoming more wisdom


from unexpected places