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Refreshed, Renewed, Reset . . .

9/5/2020

9 Comments

 
Picture
I needed that.

Once I realized that I was fighting battles that weren’t mine to fight, I decided to take a month off to retreat and  regroup. I watched minimal news and viewed even less social media. I tried to avoid talking about politics and the coronavirus. I spent more time resting, reading, writing, walking, and praying. I am happy to report the following results.




I am refreshed. Just like an unexpected summer rain takes away the heat and pollution and tiredness that builds up, so too my respite has washed away my weariness and my energy has been restored.

I feel renewed and ready to resume my activities with a new spirit, and I have a visual reminder of this new lease on life. A creature of habit and routine, I really don’t like change. Consequently, for all twelve years that I have lived in my home, every wall in my house has remained the nondescript mocha it was when I moved in. That is until about a month ago. The lock-down left me with some time on my hands, and too much time staring at those walls. So I finally heeded the urgings of others and took a chance. I painted two rooms in bold colors. The dry walls soaked up the new paint, and the rooms took on a whole new freshness and look. I feel the same way.

Finally, I was able to reset. During my years as a teacher at Clovis West High School, I ran the clock for all the girls basketball games. Sometimes, I would get so involved in the action of the game, I would forget to start or stop the clock on time. As a result (usually because a coach noticed and complained), play would stop, and the ref would come over and have me reset the clock to the correct time. Then play would resume.

This was what I had needed to do as well. I had become so distracted by all the voices around me that I wasn’t listening to the only voice that was important. I needed to reconnect with my God and refocus on what He wanted me to hear. And funnily enough, in a world with so many conflicting voices and opinions, His command was so straightforward and simple and had never changed:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30-31)

Oh, how different our world and relationships would be, if we just focused on these two things.



9 Comments
Laurie
9/5/2020 11:30:19 am

Welcome back, Jody! Your blog helps me refresh and reset as well. Thanks.

Reply
Linda C
9/6/2020 06:18:16 pm

I'm glad you're feeling renewed and refreshed. And look at all the painting you finished!

Reply
Elaine M Hays
9/9/2020 07:09:34 am

Thank you, Jody, for this! I appreciate the hope that is in this post. Thank you for always drawing us back to the Lord.

Reply
Genevieve Healey
9/11/2020 12:05:59 pm

I completely agree with that last part. Glad you're feeling refreshed!

Reply
Lynn
9/12/2020 07:09:59 am

Jody my friend,
I am not sure how I may have missed this but I did and now just have to report how very sauvy you are! I do believe keeping news at bay somewhat can give us all a real lift! Oh my goodness laughing right now because whenever I write to you I think, is this x-teacher grading me? Forgive me for any grammatical errors on my part! As always Jody, my love and admiration for a job well done! 💕Lynn

Reply
Jody
9/12/2020 02:56:27 pm

Trust me. I turned in the red pen when I retired!

Reply
Lynda Nolte link
9/12/2020 10:11:55 am

Thank you for sharing Jodi. A beautiful song to start my day is always welcome. I agree this is a good time to go within and learn more about ourselves and our spiritual beliefs. Quiet is so good for the soul right now. We can learn to be so creative while learning what is true.

Reply
Lynda Nolte
9/12/2020 10:16:34 am

Oops, spelled your name wrong Jody- didn’t know how to correct💗😊

Reply
Jody
9/12/2020 02:55:56 pm

No worries. Hope all is well with you in Washington. No fires in your area?

Reply



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    Author

    Jody Eileen Solinski spent her career teaching in the California public school system where she enjoyed helping young adults take their place in society. A native Californian, she enjoys the outdoors and so loves living in Northern California where she can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation up close.

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