It’s been a little over a year since anything new has hit these pages. Since last year I changed jobs from working in ministry in a parish to becoming a full time student in a clinical pastoral education (CPE) program in a large teaching hospital in the City.

During this year there have been several pauses.

Last summer there was a slight pause from the garden while I worked on some speaking engagements that took up some creative energy.

pause to reconnect with a forgotten knitting project

In the fall I worked full time at my pastoral care job while completing my first unit of  CPE. In December the opportunity to become a full time chaplain resident meant pausing from full time pastoral care to become a full time resident. Life became fuller and a little more complicated when the required 24 hour on calls became a regular part of my schedule

 

It seems that doing the work I love more than anything also means that some of the other things I love doing have needed to take a back seat. This means that time for fun things with friends happens a little less frequent. Weeknight dates with my husband seldom happens since I’m now up with the birds.

What I’ve gained is seeing the world through a different lens. Early morning commute means that I get to see the sunrise almost every morning. A different pallet of colors creeps across the sky each morning and cloud formations are new each day. Yesterday the grey sky clashed with the sun and created a vertical rainbow that looked like it was plucked straight out of heaven sticking smack-dab into downtown Chicago. One day last week I watched as a pair of coyotes straddled the intersection into a field of prairie grasses close to the highway entrance.

pause for an overdue walk at the lincoln park conservatory

Because my commute is so long I’ve taken to looking for beauty each morning and finding something new and fresh for my eyes to discover every day. The pause from leaving home each morning to getting to the hospital gives me time to reflect and refresh each morning.

Beginning a whole new career at this time in my life has given me a new energy. Being with my patients and providing a listening presence to people in crisis and in the muck of grief may not be everybody’s dream job but it happens to be mine.

So I ask you, friend…

In this changing season from winter to spring, what are you noticing?

What practice that you follow renews your energy?

What causes you to stop during the day to pause?

Is there a natural ‘reset’ button in your day that you use to help you focus?

 

Here’s to making this space a more regular place to ponder!

Thanks for stopping by for a pause.