Road Trip

Ok so let’s talk about what we do when we are on a road trip. Can we all say it together…eat. It sounds better when we say snack and that is exactly what I have been doing since I left my house. I have been snacking. So I figure if I attempted to write down my thoughts my hands may become occupied with the keyboard and they would stop putting stuff in my mouth.

A couple of weeks ago I was evaluating my health and my eating habits. So I decided I would start running because, well let’s face it I am not coordinated enough to do anything else. Truth be told, I’ve tried Zumba. Because of that escapade there is probably a poster at the door of every Zumba establishment within a hundred miles. It reads something like this. “WARNING: Do not let this person in and it has a picture of me attempting to do Zumba. Just a few months ago I attempted Yoga. Go ahead get a mental picture. Mmm yes it was bad. So I think I’ll stick with running. I am happy to report that last night I noticed that two of my four butt cheeks aren’t as apparent as they were two weeks ago.

Obviously I am not good with staying within the boundaries of first level disclosure during a conversation. If I was you would probably have stopped reading long ago.

This past week I had the pleasure of taking my 4 year old grand baby to work with me. It was his first opportunity to serve others. We started with going to a local food pantry to gather food for a family in need. I allowed him to pack one of the boxes and he grabbed food that he liked, off the shelf. I am sure the two children that received the food appreciated his efforts. When we were done at the pantry we headed to drop off some clothes and then he was ready for a snack. We then went to my office and in all his innocence he was eager to help unload the car.

This adventure reminded me of when I first started serving. There was this innocence in giving. There was none of this trying to qualify others as worthy before I gave. I just gave. It’s true that when we give, give and give we have a tendency to forget why we are giving. We can easily fall prey to compassion fatigue. We go, go and go and at the end of the day we have nothing left. We over extend ourselves and the word “NO” disappears from our vocabulary. It’s a wonder that we can still function. When we give of ourselves we often end up emotionally spent by the end of the day. It is a must to refuel and to be intentional about it. Self-care what a concept.

Do you remember the story of the woman that washed Jesus feet with the alabaster jar of perfume? Just in case you don't I'll jog your memory, it goes something like this. At the beginning of Luke you find that Jesus had been teaching and serving. You even find Jesus in the temple teaching the Pharisees and what does he teach on? You guessed it, serving the poor. Someone handed him the scroll of Isaiah and what does He choose to read? Right again! He reads “the Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,” The book of Luke continues and says he is healing people left and right and somewhere in between He calls us to love. Finally in chapter 7 Jesus decides to have dinner at a friend’s house and I can only assume He is tired. The word states that Jesus reclined at the table. Then this woman shows up and decides she wants to allow Him, well let’s just say “self-care” maybe. Yes just maybe Jesus was teaching us a little about self-care. With no guilt attached.  So go on servants of the most high, relax and enjoy so that your giving heart may be replenished. Take care of you so that you can continue serving with love.

Ok so I should stop writing at this point but I have something to share and it doesn’t fit anywhere, it’s just random but I just can’t keep it to myself any longer. So here it goes. Ok so a while back I was scheduled to speak at an event. It was a good size event and I was seated eating my dinner before I took the stage. A gentleman takes the seat next to me and we begin to converse. We did the, what do you do chat, the weather chat and well you know your typical I don’t know you conversation. Really it’s much more pleasant than to sit there awkwardly in silence. Then about 15 minutes in he asks, “What are you?” I reply with “I get asked this a lot. I assume you think I am Philippine? He said, “Actually yes”. I reply “actually I am Mexican both my parents are from Mexico. He sits back in his chair and says. “Wow”. You are amazingly beautiful. Long pause………. My cousin Diana at this point would say …”wait for it… wait for it”. Then he finishes the complement with … for a Mexican. Yes he said I was amazing beautiful for a Mexican. I smiled and said “uhh thank you?!?! In total love because I truly believe he didn’t know any better. I waited for my introduction and said excuse me and then I took the stage.

Love people it cost absolutely nothing and it gives others absolutely everything. Jesus did!!

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

Luke 7:36-38 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.