Seinfeld List

One comedian made an interesting remark about Jerry Seinfeld.

If I remember correctly, the comment was that Seinfeld keeps a paper calendar strategically placed where he can see it every day, and the calendar has nothing on it but X's drawn by Jerry. When asked about it, Seinfeld explained that it's a work calendar; he, like other writers, has a goal of getting some writing done every single day.

He went on to explain, "My job is not to write great jokes -- my job is to keep that line of X's from breaking."

I liked that. In fact, I decided to start the same habit for a short list of important things I want to be doing daily. That's the reason I printed out a blank calendar so that next Monday can be day number one for creating a line of X's that I keep in tact and unbroken.

Free Money

Found 5 Honduran dollars on the floor beneath my feet in the taxi this morning, and I'm thankful!

Bright Side Of A Gloomy Season

Weather here is starting to turn...

I'm the type of person that can get cold easily. That's been part of the beauty of living in a tropical climate where the temperature is around 80 degrees most days.

But my new town is not as hot as the last one, and I think the cold weather portion of the year will be colder here. I may have to endure a couple months of things like freezing hands and feet and gray sky days that do not support my plant-like need for sunshine.

But today I found myself making a mental list of some positives...things that will help get me through the gloomy season:

1) Drinking hot beverages raises my body temperature and thaws me out. This helps a bunch, even if the beverage is just water, which is most of the time.

2) I'll have a break from the tiny, flying vampires that suck blood and sometimes carry pesky illnesses (I've never hated mosquitos so much in my life).

3) Having a blanket directly underneath me in bed helps with warmth, which is particularly needed in a place like this where there's no central heating in my apartment and I own no space heater.

4) Local cafes offer inexpensive tea and coffee and can be nice places to write and read and reflect and do some Spotifying, etc.

5) Thankfully, ice cream still works for me, even in the middle of winter weather!

Defender

So there are two individuals from Central America who I have a certain sense about.

The sense is that God expects me to contribute to their life rather meaningfully over time. And I mean real time. Years.

There's no connection between the two of them really. They even live in different countries. But both these people radiate! They're the kind of humans anyone could like. And I believe they each have a bright future to look forward to. Still, I can see a couple of areas where there is an absence of something that God apparently wants to provide from me.

Thinking about it all right now, I can't help but marvel at how cool it is to be chosen to perform something for the Master -- even when the work to be done cannot possibly be established without His help.

Part of the name I was given at birth involves the idea of being a defender. When I look back over my life, I definitely see ways that "defender" is an aspect of my identity.

This thought process reminds me of something I've been asking God to do lately:
"Put me in your service. What are you up to, and how can I help? Involve me in the creation and telling of your story."

I don't wanna lose it

Sometimes when I walk out the door and head down the sidewalk - always passing courteous locals on the street, I notice a feeling emerging inside me. It's the same feeling every time.

And it has to do with the desire to be in an environment just like this one for the rest of my days.

Celebrating

$5. That's the monthly payment for my electricity bill, and I'm thankful!

How much is enough?

So there's a song lyric that says, "Christ is enough for me..."

When I think about it, I believe that's true for my life. In fact, I've even said if God never does anything else for me, he has already done enough.

Here I am today in year three of a beautiful Honduras experience, and God has been busy. Specifically, he has been making big, huge promises about for the future.

Now, looking forward to all he has promised, it's interesting to think about the idea of Christ being all I really need.

I mean, what if suddenly all those blessings - everything God has told me to expect - what if all that was canceled? Is Christ all by himself really enough for me?

Another way to look at it is this:
when I think of the two or three things I've most desperately wanted God to send my way, what if he never provides them? Will my heart say Christ is enough then?

The prayer I pray every day, and the attitude I want to cultivate is that I appreciate every gift from God and always want the Giver more than the gift.