Shining on You

Do you ever wake up, feel the loveliness of a clean slate of a day, and then slowly all the things you have to do start pressing in on you, squeezing all of the loveliness out of your day?  At this point, I comfort myself with the thought that I programmed the coffee maker the night before and at least there is a fresh pot waiting.  (The mornings this has not happened are the equivalent of getting up on the wrong side of the bed).

This morning I calculated that my to do list exceeded the amount of time I had in the day.  I reached for my Book of Awakenings, a gift from a friend that helps me grab a few minutes of reflection and peace before I get going.  Amazed, I read about how new days start out fresh and empty and then we start filling them up with stuff and stress ourselves out.  The meditation invited me to let those things sink in, then exhale and let them go. Then I read from the book by John Ortberg that my Monday night group is reading and again, the message was startlingly relevant.

At the end of the chapter, the author talked about how we make important connections with toddlers through our facial expressions. When they are stressed by something, they look to our faces for comfort.  It is a natural part of their growth and development. We smile down on them, and they find peace.  It brought completely new meaning to this :

"May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Numbers 6: 24-26.


I know how full my heart feels when I smile at an adorable toddler; it almost bursts.  That's how God looks at us? It made me smile, and feel peace.  So I had to share it with you.  Today I just didn't have the capacity to bring anything thought-provoking to you.  This may seem weird, but often I pray about what I should write about in this space (especially on spiritual Wednesdays).  I am praying this blessing for you today.  Let it go, and bask in God smiling at you.