10 ways to pitch your tent
I loathe camping.
There. I’ve said it. All those muddy fields and uncomfortable beds and no possibility of a long leisurely hot bubble bath. Stifling sleeping bags and no sound proofing. And nowhere to hang your long evening gown. Even erecting the thing in the first place seems exhausting. Although I gather old fashioned tent pegs and trippingly hazardous guy ropes are not always necessary these days.
Still - there’s one tent I am currently pitching by choice. And it’s in a beautiful landscape.
I am choosing to pitch my tent in the land of hope.
Because what else can we do right now? We can’t plan - not even for tomorrow; things change too quickly. We’ve little to look forward to – there’s nothing in the diary and no point in putting anything in when we don’t know what’s going to happen. So hopes and dreams are not featuring very strongly for many of us.
And hope deferred makes the heart sick.
Last year it felt as though the world was crumbling around us. It’s taken its toll as we shed the old comfortable ways of being and everything changed.
It's been exhausting, exhilarating, intense, demanding. And then when lockdown 2 came, we thought it almost bearable, with Christmas on the horizon - and maybe the new year would bring about great changes.
Only then Christmas wasn’t Christmas as we know it. The new year just made things worse for many as Lockdown 3 arrived and seems to be staying.
So -
I am choosing to pitch my tent in the land of hope.
10 ways to pitch my tent:
Feeding my soul. Reading words, verses, that me feed hope. Consistently and regularly. What you concentrate on will grow; what you fill your mind with matters. CHOOSING to HOPE. Choosing to SING the songs that feed my soul.
Sending myself flowers! Ordered narcissus from Cornwall, promptly forget all about it and had the joy of the surprise arriving. Sweet harbingers of spring and hope.
Noticing and being grateful. Bird song. Snowdrops. Occasional sunshine. God's goodness. God's faithfulness. I’m keeping a list, 5 a day each evening, of things I’m grateful for.
Giving myself time to rest, dream, play. And I know I need more laughter in my life right now. Suggestions welcome!
Saying “no” to what I really don’t want to do, or doesn’t feel right - even if I can’t explain why.
Allowing grace to myself as well as to others. Now’s not the time for impossible-to-keep resolutions and standards.
Treats Hot bubble baths, scented candles, twinkly lights. Slowly dissolving ONE square of dark chocolate on my tongue, closing my eyes and RELISHING the taste, the enjoyment!
Walking intentionally. Rather than the muddy fields, I'm walking on the back roads so I don't have to watch my feet; now I can look up, take deep breaths, move my head & eyes from side to side ( a well-know way to lessen anxiety and depression) to NOTICE what's on either side.
Planning some fun times with others to look forward to. Scheduling a zoom drinks hour with a different set of friends each week – and dressing for the occasion! Scheduling a walk each week with a local friend.
Printing out the memes of words of HOPE that I've been creating and putting them where I can see them and be reminded. Small ones are stuck in my journal, larger ones pinned up where I see them. And I post them on social media to feed you too.
Acknowledging it’s OK not to be OK. Probably few of us are right now - there’s a very thin line between the two. Acknowledging it, accepting it, and then doing one small thing that will keep me the right side of the line. (see all of the above)
What about you? ? !
3 suggestions:
WATCH this powerful testimony by Philippa Savile and how she chose to pitch her tent. I’ve watched it twice recently and found it extrememly helpful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M17zUOuWgs
READ helpful verses, but in a different way - write and colour and scribble. I’ve just started this and it’s rather fun! Very different to how I normally do Bible study; and I don't necessarily come to some of the same conclusions as the authors - but then, that' s making me think, and it's certainly a fun experience.... click on this image to get your copy -
PLAN something to look forward to.
join me to prepare for a LENT RETREAT/quiet morning in preparation for your Lent journey. We’ll be looking at the way Jesus was tempted : IF...IF ... IF. Here is a huge issue: who are you? Are you really the Son of God? If you are then you can do this - or this - or this. So are you really who you say you are, who you are claiming to be? And what’s the point of all this? WHAT’S THE POINT OF YOU? Who is Christ? And who am I in Christ? AND WHAT’S THE POINT OF ME? especially at the moment.
The retreat will be on Zoom and you will be sent the link along with the e-Journal a few days before the retreat. A slightly shorter morning this time, following comments from the Advent retreat that 3 hours was a little too long! We’ll have a 5 minute comfort break in the middle, and plenty of time for reflection. And remember that no-one sees you - this isn’t interactive, so you can stay in pj’s if you like!
Why not invite friends, family, your home group, to join us and experience this time together - it could be a great starting point for discussion, prayer, journeying through Lent together.
- PLAN some fun with like-minded women.
Just to get away and be refreshed in body, mind and spirit.
Walk from Lands End to the Lizard on a Celtic Pilgrimage.
And if you missed HOPE PART ONE , find it here: http://bit.ly/3tcFTl8
What about you?!
What is bringing you hope in 2021?
Or what do you need to do, or stop doing, or change ....
And one more exciting bit of news - on Sunday 14th February, Valentin’e Day, I'll send you an email with the details of a FREE SIGNED GIVEAWAY COPY for one fortunate person of the 'Diary of Isabella M Smuugge.' It's a brilliant read - I'm LOVING it! So make sure you keep an eye out for the email on Valentine's Day. Photo below of the give-away bundle! (sign up on the pop-up form to receive not just the email but also a free downloadable ebook on ways to inspire you as you walk with God)
