Reflections on things past...

May 5, 2011

I am reading a book just now by Ken Gire, Windows of the Soul. Though I have not found the book entirely compelling or life-changing, there are some words and exercises which I have enjoyed and found of valuable use. One suggestion from the book was to make a list of things in your childhood or adolescence that brought you joy. So in a stream of consciousness type pattern (please excuse the poor grammer!), I started making a free form list of things that came to mind from childhood, adolescence, and even now. Things that brought or bring me joy.

It was a fun exercise and insightful into whom I am and how God has worked his mysterious ways within me to fashion the man I am and am becoming. Reading the list helped me focus more on my strengths and skills, it and brought back great memories.

I would encourage you to make your own list. It may be helpful as you think of vocation or life goals.

Things in childhood, adolescence, college, and even now that brought and continue to bring me joy…

Exploring in the woods

Going to the Wabash river

Building snow forts and igloos

Playing in the barn, building tunnels with straw bales and swinging by ropes onto mounds of loose straw

Summer days planting the garden and watching with eager expectation as things grew

Helping mom plant flowers in spring and summer, and autumn bulbs in the fall

Playing with toy animals, fences, barns

Acrobatic endeavors and gymnastic stunts, climbing trees, jumping, and balancing acts

Telling stories and making up songs to audiences of cows and pigs on nearly a daily basis as a child growing up on a farm

Playing games like Tripoly, rum, and others

Writing book reports in which I could be creative, including when I dressed up like Mowgli or designed a cardboard Christmas tree complete with lights for some book called The Littlest Angel(?) – most of these creative book reports and projects were for Mrs. McClung in junior high

Competing in track and cross country – pushing my teammates to work harder, strive for excellence, setting goals, the bond of a common goal

STAR (Students Teaching About Resistance) and JEDI (Junior Educational Development Institute) – teaching others about alcohol and drug use and trying to help them take a stand against it, being creative in approach to teaching other peers and younger students

Dancing and acting – school musicals and show choir

Learning, studying for exams and such and doing well

Cooking and baking, being creative in form and style

Visiting relatives and sleeping at their homes in the summer – especially going to the Vagedes house, or spending time with Randy, Sue, and Mark

Going to Canada with my family and relatives every summer – a week-long joyous time of playing with my cousins, swimming, fishing, playing cards, camp fires, laughing, great home-cooked meals

Playing volleyball or tennis, often alone and against the side of or on the roof of the barn

Time spent with friends, especially in high school – laughing, playing board games or card games, watching videos, going to Pizza Hut or Wal-Mart in Portland

Traveling to Australia – a new and exciting adventure with friends old and new as part of a USA running team in high school

Watching my friends and sister play sports, especially volleyball, trying to encourage them and support them

Playing club and intramural volleyball in college

Watching the Olympics and hearing inspirational stories. I also LOVED watching the Iron Man every fall, particularly I liked the stories behind some of the people competing – overcoming great odds and rising above what they initially thought possible to achieve some goal, or dream, or mark of attainment.

Classes with Dr Pohlman – exercise physiology based, more so her kindness and care for students than the actual subject matter, though I did like that too

Baking sweets for my roommates and friends in college as a study break for me

Working at SAMBICA – time spent encouraging kids and being encouraged by amazing full-time and summer staff

Exploring the Pacific Northwest and all its beauty and creativity

Reading encouraging or inspiring quotes, all the way from elementary school up until now – especially Henry David Thoreau’s quote that was given to me on the front of a congratulatory card from Grace & Ken Tobe and family after we won the state cross country title in 1996 and the Desiderata by Max Erhman that I used to read every day and still find inspiring to this day

Watching people do what they are passionate about – whatever it is, but seldom witnessed in this success driven world

Sitting in coffee shops and books stores, not so much for the coffee, but more so the surroundings, the laid-back atmosphere inspiring creativity and thought, the intoxicating smells and mellow music, watching others pause to catch up with friends or study for exams, inviting and alluring you to spend hour upon hour within

Hiking along streams or in mountains, especially in the Pacific Northwest, but also the trails of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia or nature preserves outside Baltimore

Walking and watching, greeting, taking in the sights and sounds that are often missed when traveling by other means

Cooking for friends and inviting them in to my home, welcoming guests and friends, as my honored brothers and sisters – I delight in them feeling at home and at rest within the boundaries of the environments I have tried to create

Listening to others talk about their lives, not so much talking on my end, but merely just listening to them tell their stories

Being able to help people, whatever that ‘help’ may be

Teaching Sunday school to first graders and four year olds

Speaking to groups of people, young and old, about my experiences in a way that will hopefully inspire and encourage them to pursue their own dreams, goals, and desires

Visiting friends at their homes, entering into their environments and meeting their families – hearing stories about who they are and the past that preceded them

Learning about new cultures and customs different from my own

Talking to people about God and the love that he has for them. Especially telling others about the sacrifice of Jesus and the immense love and humility that he displayed.

Encouraging and inspiring others to achieve more then what they originally think they are capable of, challenging people to dream and dream big, setting short term and long term goals

Making cards or gifts for people that involve creativity and color

Planting and thinking about gardens, plants, flowers – planting seeds and then watching things grow and sharing the return seeds with others

Stories about people that have accomplished great or unusual things, especially stories about people that have devoted their lives to helping others or pursuing their dreams or passions in such a way that has benefit to many

Seeing friends or family after a long period of separation, especially when you have continued to pray for and think about the person amidst your physical absence

Witnessing or hearing others tell about coming to faith, coming to believe in Christ and desiring to give their life to him