Bad habits

Many of you know I got a new kitty some months ago who gives me a run for my money as well as his older sister, Pepper, who is six years old.  Pepper is less than fond of her brother especially because of some of his bad habits. She  tolerates him and that might be stretching the truth. Of course, there is hardly a parenting class for kitties so each day is a new learning experience for me as well. 

My "baby Carmel"

Carmel loves to retrieve a paper "ball" and I love playing with him but I am learning too slowly that the bedroom is no place to play ball. Lights out to me mean, "beddy time", but to Carmel means, "let's play!" Fun at first but 3am is another thing. 

Now I read articles on how to break a few bad habits, not just this one habit but a few others.  And Carmel is a little older, so the habits are a little harder to break. I am learning to be gentle but consistent; I am getting trained, too!

I find myself thinking about other bad habits of my own that I have sometimes been unaware of at first but after some time realized others were not happy with me and even brought them to my attention. It was hard to hear and hard to work through but it really was the best thing in the end.  I am a better person for it all. 

We need others, we need gentleness and consistency. We were young once, and we grew up! I'm glad for those who were patient with me, loved me but helped me during those times that my own bad habits needed some love and direction. Who do you have in your life who can help love you through some of your bad habits?  Lent is a wonderful time to consider working on some bad habits! Think about it!

White as snow

It snowed here last week. Yes, so what else is new in Wisconsin?  Today I drove north to pick up a friend then made some stops and did lunch.  The fields and trees were just gorgeous, snow still heavy on them. The saying, "white as snow" was very true.  Everything was without blemish. 

I went past a huge sand hill and that area was dusted with sand; there was no "white as snow" on that area. This got me to thinking. Driving these roads often I know what is really under all that white stuff.  One place we stopped had all kinds of discarded stuff out back, a real mess.

The lady of the house handed me what I had come for but she certainly shielded me from coming in or even seeing beyond.  Has that ever happened to you?  It has happened another time to me and the insides of the house were just as miserable looking as the outside.  

On a personal note, however, how often do each of us do that: shun away from others not wanting them to know the real us inside.  I recall times I didn't want to play the piano in front of someone, ashamed they would realize I wasn't counting the beats exactly the way the music was written. Or times avoiding a social event because of feeling too heavy and thinking my attire wasn't good enough.

One blessing I have discovered to assist me in unpacking my inner stuff has been a spiritual companion.  Many folks are beginning to know how safe and easy it is to talk with a trained person.  It is amazing, too, on my end as a spiritual director, to see veils of shame, anger, sadness and resentments lift as well as the joy and excitement that comes in this freedom. 

A not so white as snow tree top!

Yes, none of us are "white as snow" but having someone who can be with us in the process of processing that mess helps make the landscape easier to deal with. On the other hand too, it is such a blessing to share the landscape when it is beginning to look white as snow!