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             All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”

            He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

            The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 

So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. (I Kings 19:5-9)

 

Today’s a sabbath day, and I’m taking a necessary break from Psalm 119 because today is also today. Yesterday was the end of my last 40-hour week at my job, at least for now. My full-time job has become a part-time job. I knew this day was coming and I’m celebrating because “I made it!” but it’s one of those artificial but significant changes in my life. Today is my time to be “fed by angels” in preparation for the 40-day trip. It’s also the first of the days of being “fed by angels” while I prepare for the next phase of my life, whatever that may be. I suppose that means that it’s a prep time for a prep time.

Several words have come to mind with regard to this time. The first is “Care.” I need to improve my skills in caring, both for myself and for those around me. Part of that may involve the word “listen” or “attend.”

Another word is “Process.” I need to focus on what I am doing, and not on fretting about the product I want at the end of the process.

A third word is “Learn.” I know this isn’t exactly a new emphasis for me, but there are some subjects I want to learn about: gardening, (self)care, nutrition, hope, writing…

One of the processes I know will continue is my effort to simplify my physical life. I’m going to keep making boxes that will place limits and organize. I’m not sure what shape all this will take. In some ways, there isn’t much that will change. In other ways, there isn’t much that will stay the same. I know I have a ton of books to read.

Another word that comes to mind is “Core.” When exercising one of the key areas to work on is one’s core. I need to figure out how this translates into other areas of my self-care.

In other words, life is about to get exciting and busy.

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