It's not about making it good.

I went on a mindfulness retreat earlier this year.

I was unplugged for 5 days and didn't talk for 4! At first my body twitched wanting to talk or to check my phone. But after awhile, I began to just be. To live in the moment and appreciate all that was around me. If I'm focused, I can bring back those feelings of being one with God...even for just a moment.

At one point on the retreat, our guide had us do mindful drawing. We were to draw an object without looking at the paper. I choose the above lamp. The first time I did it, I wanted it to be good. I was tense as I drew. The drawing was horrible and I felt like I failed mindful drawing.

I don't like to fail. It messed with the mindful zen I was experiencing.

So I tried it again. This time, I freed myself from the pressure to make it look good and focused on the lamp. How it curves. How the light shines. How illumination is important. How the shade angles.

It felt free. And guess what? The drawing was beautiful. Not "good" but beautiful. There was beauty because I was one with the lamp in that moment.

That's what happens when we are one with God and one with each other. We create something beautiful. If we set out to create something "good" then we neglect who God is or who the other person is. We don't see them because we only try to see what might be "good" in our eyes. But when we are one with God and/or one with each other, we see the good that is already there and we add our own goodness to the mix and create something that is truly beautiful. And something that beautiful is always good.

Until Everyone Hears,

Dr. K

Galatians 5:22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;