thoughts on the news of the day: softness

hmmm…..

            Today my internet connection is not working.  This happens every so often in the mountains here in northern Arkansas.  So I am not up to the minute on the news of the day.  But I can look outside and see that it is raining.  Not pouring, just a damp drizzle that softens the landscape and hazes the horizon. 

            Softness, that is what I am working toward for next year.  I would like for God (and maybe me) to soften all my hard edges.  Sometimes I have an edge that is not so pleasant to be around.  Not many people see it; I am usually able to hide it from almost everyone but my closet friends. 

            The hardness of life gets inside us and gives us edges that don’t always reflect the most beautiful things.  We get impatient, agitated, annoyed because life is sometimes hard.  And it makes us stiff and difficult.

            Rigidity is not so good.  In fact, I heard a psychologist say that inflexibility is a good definition of insanity.  When we are unable to allow life around us to permeate into us, then it can make us pretty crazy.  Now, that is not to say we should not have emotional boundaries.  Boundaries are good; they help us to know where we end and someone else begins.  It’s that “good fences make good neighbors” thing.

            But for 2011, I am going for softness -- for an easy touch, a gentle manner, a kind demeanor.  If I can accomplish that, it will be a good year!

            hmmm…..