Finding God's Fingerprints

The past two days I have felt tired, sleeping more than usual. The past week was crammed with several activities, conversations, occupations. Today I felt adrift, disconnected, and drawn down.  The turn from enthusiastic and productive to melancholy snuck up on me, and I began grasping for internal, then external support to level up.  Classical music stations did not soothe. Cooking was too ambitious. Listening to talk shows and current affairs while on errands left me anxious.  Facebook was folly.  A movie/ video seemed avoidant and indulgent. An Oreo McFlurry did not satisfy. Petting the cats was too passive. Reading required too much focus. Talking over the phone felt distant and hollow.  I needed help to jumpstart this necessary mood shift.

A memory arose; a conversation when someone asked me what contemporary woman I most admire.  I had given a very lame response. My "admired" person was just a shallow flicker of an idea at that moment, which the inquiring person knew much more about than I ever did, and I was ill-prepared to defend my choice. Oddly, the memory directed me to think of women I really do admire... Hilary Weeks for her musical lyrics that resonate within me. Sheri Dew, and Barbara Morgan Gardner, who share gospel insights with firm testimonies of prophets, the role of women, and priesthood power. Before long, I was sewing together quilt blocks with Emily Belle Freeman (via Time Out for Women videos on YouTube.) Emily has developed a genuine love of the scriptures and possesses a gifted ability to tell scripture stories in a way that inspires, bringing the characters to life.

Finding God's Fingerprint was followed with Serving Together to Find What is Similar.  

I felt inspired by the messages of hope and hospitality, I was writing recording a couple of quotes from these talks when I received a text inviting Van and me to join an "Empty Nesters" family home evening.  After clarifying that I would be a party of one since Van works Monday evenings, I made a quick fruit salad to share, secured the pets, and waltzed out the door to play "two truths and a lie" with a group of church acquaintances and friends.  It was evidence of God's Fingerprint rescuing me from my downward slope. The game Two Truths and a Lie is not my favorite.  I feel a bit like an understudy to the part of Miss Bates at the picnic in Jane Austen's Emma.  However, learning tidbits about other Empty Nesters was the beginning of connection, and the invitation is what I needed today to release my funk. And I am grateful and thanked my Heavenly Father for showing me that he is aware of my needs,

Now, I want to move forward learning more about the afore mentioned women and how they developed the talents I admire.

Til next time....