Intentional

The beautiful view of Beaver Lake from our cabin.

Our last couple of hours here at Winterwood before heading home to face the real world again. A three day getaway is almost just a tease. It's just long enough to get unwound and back in tune with yourself and then it's over. There simply isn't enough time to truly appreciate your unwound self.

More than anything I want to go home and remember to BE in the moments. Luke and I talked a lot about being intentional - about living in the moment and not flying through life. About intentionally making time for God, each other, and other people as well. About appreciating each moment while you are in it. That night we happened to read Ephesians 5, where it talks of paying attention to your walk, being wise and not unwise, and making the most of every opportunity. I don't want to zip through life (or even zip through my day) without even having done one truly intentional thing. Sure, I may have gotten the laundry done, or cooked dinner, but was I intentional about my approach to anything? Did I give anyone my full undivided attention despite always having my own agenda and to do list? Did I notice someone else's needs and purposely help them? Did I intentionally make the time to sit and read God's Word, with open eyes and an open heart, to allow Him to show me what HE had planned for my day?

Mike Mains and the Branches will soon be releasing a song on their album "Calm Down, Everything is Fine", which speaks of just that - slowing down. When I heard that song I felt like it struck a chord with me. "Slow down, slow down. Grab a coffee here with me and take a second to breathe." Let's just relax, and enjoy each other, life, God, nature... All the things that God made and that are good.

Without intention there is very little purpose to life. I want to be "careful, then, how <I> live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity..."