You Are Going To Die.....

You Are Going To Die...

That sentence really gets your attention right?  Yesterday, was of course Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.  I found myself with a client in town, a ton of meetings and not a lot of time.  I decided I could "grab ashes" at St. Peters on capitol hill and walked in for the 12:15pm service.

The priest started his homily with:  "you are going to die....just hopefully not today."  I think I have been thinking about his homily for the last 24 hours in an almost daze.  How often to we put our faith or what is important on the back burner.  If you are a list maker like I am, how many lists do you have going at any one time?  For me it is way more than I want to admit.

In a world where having it together and being caught up is so important it is way too easy to be caught up in the ways of the world and the things of the world, rather than what is truly important.  The next now 39 days for me are more about trying to finally kick the things I don't like about myself to the curb and embrace and accept the things that truly matter.

I realize this probably sounds like the most random post for a lot of you, but with Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook you really only see one side of a person and I for one will admit, I try to put the best of whatever I am going through that day out there.  I mean how many times have you caught yourself thinking or saying "I don't really care that so and so is stuck in traffic, or went to the grocery store or the classic their kid went to the bathroom on the potty."  I admit to having cringed at those posts, but let's be honest I know I have had days where just getting through my meetings, processing orders and getting to the grocery store has seemed like an Olympic event.

I am a big believer in accountability, so I feel a need to put it out there...

For me this lenten journey is about not only taking the time for what is important, but recognizing that on some days it just won't get done; and when that happens it doesn't have to be someone's fault.  Perfection is not reality.  It's fine to try and be the best version of yourself, but when you look around and realize you don't have anyone to call when the bottom falls out, and if you have kiddos the bottom falls out at least once a week (until you have a glass of wine!), was it really worth it?  I am so so thankful for the friends that are ALWAYS there.  WHo don't laugh at me when I ask them the same question for the 20th time because they know I am struggling with my answer.  I am blessed to have so many strong Christian believers in my life who hold me accountable.  I woke up early this morning to pray and reflect.  I usually run around early in the morning and try to get a bunch of stuff done, but today it was just to reflect and you know what:  I got more done today than I have in a long long time.  The master wanted to school me on the first day of this lenten journey and I have a smile on my face as I type this and realize, he has always been there, but unlike my to do list that often leaves me feeling like I have fallen short, he finds joy when I make time for him.  The priest closed by saying God gives us 168 hours in a week and really only asks for 1.

Perspective.   It's all about your viewpoint.  Now please don't think post means I have gotten on a high horse, in fact it's just the opposite.  I realize that I need to step back and think, calm down, ironically some of the same things I tell my kids, minus the "don't you think the Disney channel has been on long enough?"  I still love my family, and my friends and my day job and of course Pineapple Grove, but the reality is that if I don't invest in myself then all of those things cannot reach their potential either.

So thank you to all of you that are friends in real life, that send me random texts, or still claim me as a friend even after you know that I am oddly addicted to nugget ice and to those of you that have supported my business, thank you for being a part of something I love.  I am truly hopeful and committed that this lenten season leads to something far more than 40 days, but a grace that I can carry with me, because who couldn't use a little more grace in their lives?