It was right there in the front yard...one droplet of water clinging to a leaf no bigger than a sewing needle. One droplet teeming with life reminding me of God's artistry.

One of the curses of being female, much to the dismay of our male counterparts, is that we have the capacity to feel a large range of emotions within a small period of time. Like within seconds! My husband was hopeful that once I passed the menopausal stage I would find an emotion and stick with it. Now what fun would that be? Besides, in order to have stages there must be something before and after...right? So, now I'm in the post-menopausal, empty-nest, testing ways to counter the effects of gravity, wondering why I'm not further along in my spiritual life, starting to talk about my health issues over dinner with friends stage. Did I mention my feet hurt?!

So, what's been on your mind lately? Have you been troubled, deeply moved, irritated, discouraged, encouraged, freed, convicted, challenged, or blessed in the recent past? Oh let me count the ways!

I've been troubled over friends who are battling cancer. Deeply moved by the men and women we recently met in China who have commited their lives to Christ despite intense persecution. Irritated with the constant barage of paid political announcements. Discouraged about my lack of faith. Encouraged that my lack of faith doesn't change the truth that God is crazy about me. Freed from crud that used to weigh me down. Convicted about sharing Jesus more boldly. Challenged to let go of my strategies. And blessed with relationships of great depth. However, I've also battled with less lofty thoughts. I can wrap my brain around something so insignificant and park it there for hours.

Wouldn't it be dandy if you could install an easily accessible switch, perhaps artfully hidden behind an ear, that would turn your brain off and on? I think I'll work on that. Hey, if they can transplant a heart, give you the face of a twenty year old, how difficult can it be? But until then, I'll stick to the solution God gives:

"Friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things, true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practise what you have learned from me, what you have heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." (Philippians 4:8-9)