Release.

Some people have cooking.  For others its gardening, surfing, scrapbooking, pottery...

We all have that one thing that serves as a multi-faucet creative relief from the strains of  everyday life.  I feel as though it is so important to have that soul-satisfying activity that replenishes your spirit, mind and body.  Some may call it flow, hobbies or otherwise, but the fact is that it is an activity of total benefit for your being.

To be challenged and entertained at the same time is the secret.  Our mind gets bored and runs away with fantasies.  It's the creative outlets that bring us up into performance and help our ideas burst through the clouds in a constant journey towards something higher, something greater, something unknown and wild and satisfying.   I believe that's what these activities are for.

I seem to have a lot of them.   I am a very passionate, creative person and I love spending time alone with myself.  Although I currently don't get a lot of Haley time, I am constantly seeing how much it effects me.  Without ample time to myself I build up angst and flow-block.  It is essential that I have time completely alone to create and free up my mental energy and soul contentness.  It's a spiritual thing.

Writing, reading, painting, running, yoga, golf, swimming.   I want to do it all.  I need to learn guitar too.

I feel that these times are sometimes a form of worship.  It is the utter presence of aloneness and soul-vulnerability with God.  How can we go through the daily grind constantly without ever stopping to let out our inner being of mindfulness.

I need these breaks.  You need these breaks.

I firmly believe God needs us to take times like this for ourselves.

How do you release?

Release.
Release.  That's what it is.  It is a release.  It fills up and builds up until it is set free.  I hear artists speak of this.  Something inside you dwells up over a period of time and then, when it is fully complete...it begs and begs and begs of you to release it.  It is something that cries out to be created.  These depictments are sometimes odd or strange to us, but the more you connect with this creature the more you'll see the purpose and beauty and spirit-filled meaning of it.

Why don't we do more of this in our churches?

Spirit-led.

Spirit-filled.

Holy Spirit.

Welcome him in your place.

I miss those times of being alone with the Spirit always.  Creating a home environment that fosters spirited exploration and exuberance.

God, I don't know what your plans are for me.  I will never know what your plans are for me until they are here.  I am happy yet I am uncontent.  I am full but I am still lacking.  Jesus, I pray that I bloom while I am planted here, and I trust that you will lead me to live a full life if I trust you.  I will not miss out on anything if I am solidly walking with you in the day by day of this life.

Hold me father.

Thank you for giving me time, space and a place to release.