another way of being/working

Last year about this time I had just led my first retreat for a small group of out of town friends. As I prepared and after I had completed the retreat on New Birth I found I had little to say about my experience. I was able to notice and name some things I had learned, but that was all. I found myself surprised and wondered if my friends might even have been a little miffed by my not mentioning our time together here in my blog. My imagination is greater than their sensitivity, so I don't think any of the women actually were offended.

This summer my husband and I have been asked to lead the closing segment of a two day conference of Christian library directors. At first my mind began to scramble and labor: How would I craft my knowledge with the topic? I talked with a friend, and together we began to imagine how I might proceed. 

But lately, I have noticed a theme running through my life: (to quote Paul Simon) "slow down you move too fast" and in this slowed down time I am wondering if I just might have enough to give them already. If I look even at the material I gathered together to share at an open house my husband and I hosted with a visual artist, would I find a hint or an outline?

I think I will. And I think I will try hard not to try so hard this time. Self-defeating effort? Maybe I will relax and trust and do the work required at a pace that honors the life I share with the Risen Lord.