Quietness

There is something to appreciate about quietness.  I used to be a person who struggled being in the quiet.  And for anyone who knows me, I'm quite the talker.  Ask my boyfriend! :)   You know those silent retreats - I always thought I'd go c-r-a-z-y!  In the past few weeks, I've found myself

STARVING -

for quiet.  

Living where I also work is a big challenge right now.  No where, I mean no where, in the entire building can you find quiet at any time day or night.  It has affected my sleep since Christmas, and has even affected my work productivity.  We all know (as is normal for most people), that once sleep is affected, that affect starts spreading like wildfire to other areas of life.  And in the words of one of my four bosses today..."you've been sick all winter."  Hmm...  Connection.  Ding-ding.

This week I've been blessed to dog sit, which means the extra blessing of being in a home.  This week I've also been sick.  I've been relishing in the quietness here.  While the dogs do like to greet anyone passing by (which with the nice weather this week means lots of people walking, biking, etc.), there's still an amazing quiet atmosphere.  It's been great to have noise (TV, music) if I want, and turn it off when I don't want it.  At first, I was frustrated I was sick, yet thankful to be sick while in an actual home.  I've been able to heat up soup and hot tea in the microwave without having to get all dressed and face everyone in the cafe and hall while being sick.  I've been able to actually sleep hard.  In fact, the first day I was here - that is all I did!  I was really sick, but also am really exhausted from a high stress level at work.

I think I forgot what this is like.  Today I attempted to enter back into the world of work.  Great thing - I got to attend a conference!  This afternoon, I came home from the conference and walked into the quietness, and realized it as that - QUIETNESS!!  Wow.  I love it! 

There is so much noise in my life where I live and work - and it's constant.  It makes me think - what other noise is there in my life and what of this is necessary noise and what must go?  How do we get rid of noise that is distracting us from useful stuff?  Sure sleep for me, but what about quietness to hear the Lord's voice, to be able to be "off" from people, or to be able to just relax?  We all have noise in our lives.  How do we find that quietness in our lives?  What steps do we need to take to get that quietness?  What do we need to pray in boldness for the Lord's provision for quietness?

The most challenging questions:

 What do we need to pray for boldness in so that we can 

eliminate the amount of high noise in our 

life - and then what actions must we take?

Humorous Things On My Snowy Commute

What do you do when a snowstorm causes your 11.5 mile commute to turn from 20 minutes to 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES???

You laugh and laugh and laugh!!!  I mean, what else do you do?  Get mad because the car in front of you isn't moving?  That would mean the car in front of them needs to move, and the one in front of them...  You get it!  Um...if that was the case, we wouldn't be sitting still!  So, I found things that made me laugh - OUT LOUD (and I'm sure make the people next to me wonder what was so funny)!!!!

So in no particular order, here is my list of "Humorous Things On My Snowy Commute"

1.  Passing a speed limit sign stating 55mph while driving 5 mph.  Um...did the snow temporary block your view of the OTHER 5 on that sign??

2.  California license plates - Really, you should change your plate.  That way we cannot make fun of you when you don't know how to drive in this weather!  Perhaps the BMV in Colorado needs to require drivers from California and Texas to take a class on how to drive in "this white stuff" (We call it snow here!).

3.  A DJ saying "It's a 2.5 hour commute from Castle Rock to downtown."  The other DJ commenting on those poor drivers and that area of the road.  Then, the first DJ saying "Oh just wait...it's 1.5 hours from the Denver Tech Center to downtown."  The other DJ literally gasped.  

4.  The snow is covering the road - so why not make the shoulder become another lane!!

5.  When our roads can hardly handle the extra traffic these past few days with the National Western Stock Show...well you can just imagine how it is in the snow!  And who thinks our roads can handle hosting a Winter Olympics in the area?  Really people?  Thanks for the good laugh! You should think on this!

6.  The DJ saying "You should take I-25 South to I-70 which is still really bad and slow but you will want to avoid I-270 as it is a parking lot.  Um...why didn't you say this before I was trapped on the entrance ramp to 270?  Timing is everything!

7.  The DJ's on the radio saying "It's still really slow out there on the roads." I start laughing,  then they start laughing, and say "Like we have to say that to those of you sitting in your car right now."  Yeah, thanks! :)

8.  Stop...wait...go...Stop...wait...go...Stop...wait...go.  Enough to make anyone go crazy and laugh their head off!

9.  Wondering why the road was suddenly bumpy, and looking down to see the "tiny mountains of ice" I was driving on.  Nice!

10.  No matter what - there are still those people who will drive up to the exact "lanes merged" area and cut into the lane...as if they didn't see the signs posted "left lane ends."

11.  The police car drives in the shoulder to provide a way for the chemical semi who needs to spray the icy bridges/areas ahead...but is stuck in the gridlock.  Behind the semi - a car!  Why not, I mean the police car is ahead of you!