Running around New York City

This morning I started my day by making a (really obscenely long impossible-to-do-in-one-day) to do list, having a quiet time (daily devotional) and as I looked at my list and closed in prayer, I asked God to help me accomplish the things that He would want accomplished and, basically, not sweat the small stuff.

Because I'm signed up for a [and now will be words that I never thought I'd utter...] a half marathon, one of the items on my list today was a three mile run. I'm still new to the whole "running thing" and had never run outside before. But I was also craving nature and even spent 20 seconds thinking about how to finagle a visit to Central Park Zoo on my list to see animals. Turns out that God saw fit to bless my little desire to see animals and nature; the beautiful weather today meant that everybody in New York City who has a dog was out with their dog. Big dogs, small dogs, the dog who nearly took down his owner because he lunged for the squirrel, the shaggy brown dog who patiently let the little boy pet him and then some. Not to mention the beautiful spring time flowering trees, all on a backdrop that I've come to love.

It's been a pretty full month with a few trips (vacation and business), some big changes at work, starting a not-for-profit, training for the half marathon, and a loss in the family.

In light of everything, though, God's goodness and help are there when we ask and seek to do what we know is right.

Psalm 84:11

Selah.

A short time ago I was reading Psalm 60 and came across verse 4:

"You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah"

At the time that I read it, I was struck by the "Selah."
According to Hebrew Lexicon (dictionary), the word definition is:

Selah: to lift up, exalt

and further:

From calah; suspension (of music), i.e. Pause -- Selah.

At the time that I read it, and today as I recall it, I'm grateful that the God of the Scriptures has a balance. There are times to go, and there are times to pause and think.

Confessions of a Frequent* Traveler - 7 of 7

1. I love ironing in a hotel room. I really don’t like ironing at home. There’s no rationale reason for this. Perhaps I have a mental block about putting the ironing board away. In the hotel room, you only have to get it out and iron, you don’t have to put the board and iron away in the closet. Somehow that makes all the difference to me.

Confessions of a Frequent* Traveler - 6 of 7

1. I pack a plastic grocery bag. This is especially true if I don’t know much about where I am going, most relevant for travel abroad. You’ll want a place to bag up all the dirty laundry so it doesn’t contaminate the clean clothes, right?

Confessions of a Frequent* Traveler - 5 of 7

I only pack One pair of shoes. That’s all you really need. I choose black or brown (or other) and every outfit I pack has to coordinate with the shoes. The tricky question here is about athletic shoes. I’ve recently started an exercise routine and it required – I’m a little embarrassed – me to pack athletic shoes, and consequently, more than one pair of shoes. But I did select a pair that are thin-soled & lightweight; they slid easily into the front pocket of the suitcase. And I wore the high heels so they wouldn’t take up precious suitcase space.

Confessions of a Frequent* Traveler - 4 of 7

1. I consider pajamas carefully. It’s important to pack small pajamas so that you don’t over-pack. However, you need to pack pajamas that are large enough you don’t mind being seen in them if there is a fire in the middle of the night and you – and all your fellow hotel stayers – need to evacuate.

Confessions of a Frequent* Traveler - 3 of 7

1. I love shopping at the airport. Not sure why, but if I’m early for a flight I love poking around, even if I don’t buy anything. Shopping at the airport is somehow way better than shopping, let’s say, at a mall or somewhere there is something else to do. Shopping in the airport is like a condoned way to kill time. [Though in general I'm against killing time. Really, what has it ever done to you?]