Cheerful Heart

“God loves a cheerful giver, give it all you've got

He loves to hear you laughing when you're in an awkward spot
When the odds add up against you, it's time to stop and sing
Praise God to praise Him is a joyous thing”

This was a song we sang at Girl Scout Camp when I was young. I am reflecting on this today. I know I draw much energy from doing for other people. This crazy time has shut down many of my avenues for service, and I’ve been sulking. I am a smart, creative person, so I shouldn’t be letting this shut-down-pandemic-wear-a-mask reality keep me from loving on the people I love…or even strangers, for that matter. Because I have been limited (possibly self-hobbled), my energy is low. Because of this, I am more sensitive to things that I know better than to let get under my skin (you know how when you encounter someone who irritates the living shit out of you, and then you realized the thing that irritates you is a trait that you also possess in abundance…that humbling experience).

I have been clinging to the rationale that I am barely keeping my head above water with all the virtual school stuff, so I can’t possibly reach out to lift anyone else up. I mean, I haven’t even shared this blog with anyone but my family…maybe someone could benefit from this, but noooooo…under the bushel it sits.

Today I have some tasks that must be done for work and home. I also have some tasks that NEED to be done…I need to figure out how to serve…for them, and for me. I need to restore the spring to my step and the whistle to my work. I have friends who are coming back to work next week (and some who are already here) and they are frightened and anxious. I need to figure out how to encourage and support them. I have a class of seniors who are trying to figure out classes, college applications, and a REAL virtual reality (why did the VR Troopers theme song just go through my mind?). We are seven weeks into this Upside Down school year, what can we do to celebrate that?

I have work to do.