It's a beautiful, late-summer day here in Iowa.
The humidity is high; the sun, too ...
The crickets are chirping.
You can almost hear the corn growing.
And I have the day free.
I can't describe to you the joy.
I have a list of things I wanted to do ...
It started with sitting on my porch, reading the Psalms,
writing,
praying,
thinking,
rejoicing.
Then, I picked up a book I was in the midst of ...
called, "Flunking Sainthood" by Jana Riess.
Started reading the chapter I was in the midst of ...
about Jana's attempt to spend a month focusing on
"Benedictine Hospitality."
Which is (boiled down) the treating of every person as if they were Christ.
I was so happy reading about this other woman's
attempts to be hospitable.
I had really good hospitable thoughts, and
even some hospitable "feelings."
HA!
Then I sensed the Holy Spirit of God say to me,
"Perfect time to call your mother-in-law..."
And I said,
"Um, that is not on my list."
And God was just silent.
As if to say ... "Really, Alice?
You are such a player."
And then I said out loud ...
"I'll call her tomorrow!
Let me get back to this book on hospitality."
So, you know what happened, right?
I called my mother-in-law,
and we had a great Saturday morning conversation.
And God said.
"Now ...
read your little book on hospitality."
I love God.
And I kind of love hospitality.
But I'm still a player.
Maybe the next chapter is on that ...