Family Life: Lifelong Learners
My elementary school (K-8) had a goal that its eighth grade graduates would be “lifelong learners.” Though I was in school for many years, I have never felt more like a lifelong learner than in my current state of life as a mother.
Some of this comes from the huge learning curve of becoming a parent. Some of it comes with seeking to know and love my children and assist them in their development. Some of it comes from being inspired by my children’s curiosity and verve for life. Some of it comes from friendships with other mothers who cultivate engagement with the good stuff of life.
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a lifelong learner is perhaps different than anticipated. It is not the pride that comes with accumulation of knowledge. Rather, it is the freedom in the great recognition that there is so much I don’t know.
As a young woman, my pride was tied in being seen as capable and knowing all of the things. To not know something or to be wrong was cause for embarrassment or defensiveness. Though pride runs deep and I still like to think I have lots of answers, I have found an even deeper satisfaction in saying, “I don’t know,” “There’s a lot I don’t know,” and “That didn’t work out the way I thought it would.”
Is there an area of life you want to explore? An area in which you are an “expert” where you could still learn more, perhaps from a different perspective?
God, grant us the humility and gusto to be lifelong learners.
Restoring Health: Nourishing Traditions
Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon kept coming up in conversations and podcast listening. After a year or so of hearing about the title and author, I finally purchased the book, and oh baby is it a book.
What this book is not: a fad diet, politically correct eating, afraid of naming what’s up with the current state of nourishment in the post-industrial revolution “civilized” world. What this book is: thought-provoking, smart, well-researched, practical.
The first part of the book sets the scene of our current state of health and nourishment and provides a wealth of information on the breakdown of fats, proteins, milk & milk products, carbohydrates, vitamins, enzymes, minerals, salt & spices, and beverages. I can guarantee it’s a more insightful breakdown than anything you will find through a google search or health magazine off the shelf.
The second part of the book is filled with recipes and additional information on the “why” of those recipes.
Whether you find it at the library, as an e-book, or buy it for your home, Nourishing Traditions is worth reading and sharing with a friend.
Life with God: Art of Prayer
We know showing up to daily prayer is a beautiful habit of faithfulness and an essential part of living in relationship with God. What happens though, when we show up to prayer and can’t connect? Sometimes prayer feels dry or full of distraction.
When this happens for me, I typically try to expand my vision in a few ways.
First, I keep showing up. Sometimes, just like in a marriage or friendship, we are called to build our faithfulness and devotion by showing up when it’s hard to show up.
Second, sometimes we need to simplify, to dial prayer back to basics. We can open up one of the gospels and read for 5 minutes. We can say an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be before getting out of bed or with our morning cup of coffee. I’m not suggesting we give God the short end of the stick. Rather, that we remain faithful in the way we can and continue to entrust ourselves to God in the dryness.
Third, sometimes we need to shake things up—to be creative in prayer. Just because we have been praying in one way for the last year or years does not mean it is the only way to pray or the most fruitful way to pray at this moment in life.
I pray early in the morning before our children wake up—I anticipate (and, honestly, am not looking forward to!) a change in this rhythm when our fourth is born in the next couple of weeks. I recently felt disconnected from my normal types of prayer during this morning prayer time. One morning I looked up from the devotional I was reading and my eyes landed on our icon of the Holy Family, pictured below.
And I was caught in a new type of prayer. Prayer that didn’t need words, but was more of an ascent of the heart toward God. The icon took my distracted mind and centered it on the sweetness of Jesus touching his Mother’s face. The tenderness of Jesus sitting in his parents’ lap. The love present in the Holy Family that reached out to me.
How does your prayer life look and feel right now? Are you showing up? Do you need to simplify? Do you need to shake things up?
Come, Holy Spirit, lead us into deeper Life and Love.