What Was That Again?

This was started as a group blog for a women's leadership team. This post is by Susan:

I've recently read through all the postings and I noticed that I wrote about this "simple things" topic multiple times over the last year.

Reading the "Substance" posting again was a little embarassing! Boy, do I sound noble - if not theoretical. I even thought I heard a patriotic song in the background (I am patriotic - I'm not embarassed about that.) In my defense, I will say that I am often over-confident, I mean over-optimistic, about what I can do.

I also noticed that in the past I wrote alot about humility too. I guess if you can't do something, you can at least talk about doing it.

Baby steps ...

Substance

This was started as a group blog. This post is by Susan:

Lately I've been thinking about doing simple things well. I have to start with the simple things and progress from there. It seems almost impossible just to do that!

I'm not talking about perfection, I'm talking about doing things with heart. With the proper intention. With hope for the best for everything and everyone.

Doesn't it sound like a no-brainer? But we move through life in a daze, just scratching the surface of too many things. I would need a million-year lifespan - more - to do everything right.

So for now I can concentrate on just a few things. Doing them well, on purpose, to the best of my ability (even it it's not perfect.)

From that, I think, comes contribution. And with contribution, satisfaction.

Teammates

I once bought a book called, Huddle Up, just because I liked the title. (It was about creating family unity.) I also like what Susan has to say about the huddle, as she calls it. "We have to focus on what is constant and let that sustain us and steady us through the turmoil." Seems that it is about reconnecting with what is central in order to become stronger for the rest of life. Takes guts and wisdom usually, but sometimes there may be no other choice.

When you re-group, cocoon, or power down, it's for a purpose--to power up again. I would ask, "Who's in your huddle?" Besides God and me, I want those who speak life and truth to me, those who I trust, who pray for me and with me, and those with whom I let down and share a sustained belly laugh. What good gifts they are to my health, peace, and progress, at just the right time.

The Huddle

Torchwood was started as a group blog for a women's leadership team. This post is by Susan:

In order to operate from a place of fullness and strength rather than from a deficit, we may have to go into a "huddle" and gather or renew our forces. I think that's what some of us have been doing in one way or another these past four months.

For me, I had to get my house in order. It was falling apart through illness and inattention, not to mention blatant attacks. I had to make a conscious decision to put my eyes back on my Guide and then repair my foundations so that I could step out again in strength and reconnect with His flawless plan. It is so easy to allow ourselves to be distracted by the "interrupts" because they can often seem like the top priority. We become reactive - jerked around. This is not a position of power. We have to focus on what is constant and let that sustain us and steady us through the turmoil.

Some don't understand the huddle. I had one friend who became very upset with me because she wanted my help and I could not help her from the position of my deficit. I had to choose, and so I did according to the priorities I knew were the proper ones, although it appeared I was being uncaring. A wonderful friend once told me, "A need is not a call". We can't fix everything. We have to trust that there is One who is in control of everything and He will have it covered.

But, during the huddle it is muy importante to "tawlk" with the other members of your core, to hold each other up and encourage each other, and to hear different perspectives so that we don't grow blinders. Easy to do with those who understand the huddle. Hard to do with those who don't - who will want more than you can give while your head is down.