I love to occasionally share my Four Somethings – things I have read, seen, experienced that made me stop and savor life. One practice I frequently promote is reflection – pausing and pondering where you are, where you have come from and where is God inviting you into next. I share bits of wisdom in four categories.
- Something Wise
- Something Wonderful
- Something Whispered
- Something Whimsical
Gathering Four Somethings makes me aware of all the blessings often hidden under busyness, worries, and distractions. These “somethings” become markers in our spiritual journey. With so much pivoting and uncertainty in our lives right now, being grounded in a simple practice like this guides my way.
Something Wise
“The real enemies of our life are the “oughts” and the “ifs.” They pull us backward into the unalterable past and forward into the unpredictable future. But real life takes place in the here and the now. God is a God of the present. God is always in the moment, be that moment hard or easy, joyful or painful. When Jesus spoke about God, he always spoke about God as being where and when you are. “When you see me, you see God. When you hear me, you hear God.” God is not someone who was or will be, but the One who is, and who is for me in the present moment. That’s why Jesus came to wipe away the burden of the past and the worries of the future. He wants us to discover God right where we are, here and now.” Henri Nouwen
I am reminded to take deep breaths and be present in the moment. God is the moment, even the ordinary wintry moments of life.
Something Wonderful
You all know my hubby and love to travel. My hubby collects different kinds of shells and sands at the various beaches on the islands we visit, so we have a small display on our porch. I was fascinated at the different shades of colors of the sands in the jars. Beautiful, aren’t they? According to Sandatlas.org, the number of colors of sand is limitless.
The following video is a little long but gives a great overview of all the colors of sands throughout the world and might just give you a few travel ideas to go to and get some sand of your own!
Something Whispered
Our regional church’s word of the year for 2025 is “listen.” Listening to God. Listening to Ourselves. Listening to Others. And Listening to the Community.
God’s invitation to listen is a gift that permeates the Scriptures. From the Shema, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
I have been taking the word “listen” to prayer and journaling asking God to help me listen deeply and have been surprised to hear God whisper to me, don’t forget to listen to your own voice. To sit quietly and listen to what my heart is singing. What am I not hearing? I was so focused on what I was “to do” I forgot “to be.” I was so focused outside of myself, I forgot to also listen within. My voice matters too. Perhaps this is one reason why my own word of the year, courage, is needed this year. I need courage to hear myself this year and what I need to step forward into 2025 boldly. Hard lesson to learn.
Something Whimsical
I read on another blog a few weeks past how that writer compared himself to the cartoon character of Pigpen, always surrounded by a cloud of dust, no matter where he goes. He wrote, “Instead of dirt, my dust cloud is a constant flurry of activity—busyness, endless to-do lists, and a steady stream of distractions. It keeps me moving, always doing, and rarely pausing long enough to simply “be.” Then he challenged himself to embrace a new character.
That intrigued me. What cartoon character am I or would I choose? My first choice went automatically to Tigger. I have always loved Tigger’s enthusiasm, and he is a favorite of mine. But maybe he is a bit too bouncy for me now as I get older.
Then I thought of Kermit. I do love green. Kermit is kind, friendly, and wise. I do like his laugh.
But I think I lean most to Snoopy. Afterall Snoopy is a writer. I love his imagination. He is a good friend to others. And he keeps trying even after he fails. He encourages all of us to keep trying too. Yep, I choose Snoopy.
Snoopy will be my symbol for 2025!
What have you been learning so far in 2025?
Especially liked your Four Somethings. Living in the moment is often all we can handle. Looking for what is not here or looking back at what was distracts from the here and now. When the here and now passes us by it is no longer available to us and is no longer available to us.
Hugs and Blessings
Glad you like this practice. I find it helpful to do and yes living in the moment is all we can do at times. you are so right.
I’ve always loved Peanuts since I was a child, Jean, and Snoopy is my perpetual favorite, too! He is all those characteristics you said here, and I’d like to add that he has a great sense of humor. Don’t we all need to laugh more? And the quote by Henri Nouwen is perfect. We do need to remember to be still in the moment as we embrace the present, knowing God is with us in every time and every place. Blessings!
Sense of humor. That is a great addition to remember about Snoopy!
Who knew that Snoopy could be a great inspirational figure?! But you’re right, Jean. He has many endearing qualities! / I just finished Rod Dreher’s book, Living in Wonder, Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age. I underlined insight after insight (he’s widely-read and included many quotes), and also sprinkled question marks here and there–things I wondered about or wasn’t quite sure about. Here’s an example of a quote that offers food for thought: “A Christianity that places mystery, wonder, and awe in the center of its worship and spiritual disciplines is a Christianity that can endure” (229). It’s all about relationship, isn’t it, and experiencing the mystery, wonder, and awe of God. Nothing else can satisfy.
It was fun thinking through the different cartoon characters! And I do believe Wonder if an important practice for all of us especially now. I will have to find that book. Thanks for that suggestion.