Wasting Time

I don't know if there is a Query like, "Do I use my time wisely?" But I spend way too much time reading political sites on the 'net, and very little time actually doing anything to change the political situation.

Simplicity

Where do I find shoes that I can be sure were made by fairly paid workers?

The Surfaces of Things

Anne Lamott talks in her new book "Grace, Eventually" about the untidiness of her family, and how important it was to have a neat public appearance to disguise the problems of her family. She finally learned when she grew up that taking care of the surface of things could also be a way of nurturing their insides, not just putting on an appearance.

This has been a great help to me this week, and I have been trying to clean and straighten up more, just to make our lives easier, and free up energy for what is truly needed.

Gifts

I spent the week before Easter at my dad's, and spent some of that time trying to get my sister to agree to let me de-clutter her house, without success. My sister in fact turned the tables on me, asking to hem my slacks (all of which get frayed). Sometimes accepting gifts is harder for me than giving them!

There's a spiritual lesson for me there, too. Do I need to spell it out? :)

Please hold my sister in the Light

My sister is facing some medical issues, around an autoimmune disorder, that she did not even know she had until two weeks ago. Please hold her, and my father and me, in the Light as we wait for the results of the many tests she'll be having this coming week.

Discovering Alexandria Meeting

On a short trip to DC a few weeks ago I discovered the Alexandria Friends' Meeting, right across the road from Fort Belvoir. I was at Fort Belvoir with my dad trying to get one of his prescriptions filled (the pharmacy turned to be closed) but on the way out the gate my dad said "There's a Quaker meeting here somewhere... oh, there it is."

So I stopped off, they were already having a meal of bread and soup. My dad was not up to getting out of the car but a Friend there brought dad out some bread and coffee. I am looking forward to attending the Meeting there with my boys, worship starts at 11 which overcomes the boys' objections to getting up early on Sunday, errr, First Day. And it's only about 15 minutes from my dad's place.

Verbal nonviolence and being irritable

One of my hardest to solve personal problems is being irritable: I yell at my kids, I yell at my wife. I don't mean "angry shouting" as much as just being "loud" and cranky.

This is a form of violence, and I can hardly claim to be nonviolent as long as this is such a large part of my personality. I don't have any leanings at all to physical violence, so I don't think I deserve any credit for not being nonviolent that way. I don't like alcohol, so it's easy for me to be against drinking, I don't like gambling, and losing :) , so it's easy for me to disapprove of gambling.

I would be happy to have advice on how to be less irritable. Relaxation techniques and more exercise are the obvious remedies, but any suggestions would be very welcome to me and my family.