A Sick Perspective

Sometimes getting sick is a good thing. Not the feel horrible part, but the part where we have to take time and recover. That’s hard to accept that but it’s true. Beyond whatever symptoms you have, I think we are equally annoyed at the the fact that our schedule comes to a screaming halt. We lie in bed and think about all the things we should be doing. Most would do anything, try any remedy to get better and back to our “normal” lives when the sad truth is we need the interruption.

Last week I had a nasty virus. Viral syndrome, my doctor called it, which is just a cryptic way to say that a virus has infected more than one system in your body. Mine was respiratory infection with a side of a stomach bug. For the first two days, I didn’t know my name or what day it was. A fever of 101.6 will do that for you.

But as I started to recover, my mind started working. I found myself thinking about all things I wished I could be doing that I couldn’t. I wanted to be singing at my church’s women’s conference, but I couldn’t. I wanted to be writing but I couldn’t sit up in bed for more than a few minutes at a time before breaking into long, painful coughing fits. I wanted to be knitting, but I couldn’t.

Then my thoughts started to expand. I started thinking about other things I wanted to do but wasn’t brave enough or didn’t have enough time to do. Laying in bed unable to do anything made it really clear what I wanted to do. It also made me wonder why I wasn’t doing it when I was healthy. To think about what was really holding me back. I prayed, “Lord, when I get better, I’m going to do the things you’ve put in my heart to do.”

Talk about clarity. I realized that all the things I delayed in doing was for stupid reasons and I should just go for it. I realized that if God put it in my heart to do, He’d help me do it. Unfortunately, I had to be completely shut down to see how much I could actually do.

 It was like I was Sleeping Beauty waking up from the spell. I needed to be removed from my “normal” life to see it in a different perspective. And now I’m thinking up a master plan, but it took me getting sick to see clearly.

My Life in Stitches: I'm a Westknits Girl

Recently I had the very great pleasure of meeting one of my favorite knitwear designers, Stephen West.  He was doing a book signing at one of my LYS and I decided to go and meet him. I enjoyed my visit very much and bought one of his books, Westknits Book 3.

I was even a total fangirl and decided to wear one of his patterns but promptly realized that I had more than one to choose from. I decided on Daybreak and headed out. When I arrived at the store, Stephen had examples of all his patterns on display and that's when it hit me: I have made a lot of his patterns.

I have made five of his patterns, one of them twice, and am currently working on my sixth (and I have the pattern for Rockefeller). Here they all are:

Boneyard

Daybreak #1

Daybreak #2

Garter Ridge Cowl

Spectra

Pagona

Gyllis

I didn't realize that I'd made so many. I am definitely a WestKnit girl!

Tea & Read: Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World

Title: Soul Detox

Author:

Genre: Christian Living

Rating: Spend the day sleepy (★★★★★)

I heard about this book when an interview from the author aired on my local Christian radio station. I immediately hunted it down and it was worth the trouble.

Blurb:

As believers we are called to be in the world, but not conformed to its desires or values. This can be more difficult than we think. More often than not we feel compromised by ungodly influences and emotions like anger, envy, fear, and unforgiveness leak into our hearts and minds. When these feelings take up residence, like a musty house, our souls need a thorough spring cleaning.

Soul Detox by Craig Groeschel explores how we can overcome the emotional and spiritual toxins that assault us daily. With grace and insight you'll be challenged to examine areas of complacency and bring them into the light of God's holiness. Learn how to be free from toxic emotions, attitudes, and behaviors, and discover the freedom of choosing to live with the mind of Christ.

This book was excellent and very timely. Groeschel does a great job of presenting the information in the book in a very practical manner, which is great for Christian living books. His detailed treatment of the toxins Christians encounter in live prompts some serious introspection. He makes a point not to command readers to abstain from toxic behaviors, but he encourages honest examination of self and their relationship with God. With his honest and frank explanations, it’s not hard to see the impact toxicity has on believers.

Most of all, Groeschel’s theology is rightly divided. I’ve read far too many authors that stretch theology to meet their book’s theme. This book is not one of them. Strengthen by clear writing, the scriptures ring out loud and clear.

If you looking for a way to “clean up” your relationship with God from the inside out, this wonderful power-packed book is perfect for the job.