Yesterday my husband and I drove for four hours in anticipation of a little surprise we planned at the last minute. Just as it was getting dark we pulled into an unfamiliar church parking lot. I put on my cowboy hat and my husband put on his straw hat. (Our costuming definitely matches our energy level.) We got out a bag of Halloween candy, opened our trunk, and gave candy to little trick or treating strangers as we waited for our own children and grandchildren to happen by our car. I think I had as much or more fun doing the surprising than my family had getting surprised.
This was quite uncharacteristic for me. I have not lived a life of spontaneity and I rarely plan a surprise. The last several months have been different. I can’t believe how many times fun little ideas have come into my mind, along with the heart, might, mind, and strength to actually put the idea into action. I have read Step 11 many many times. “Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord’s will and to have the power to carry it out.” Until recently I thought of this as not only a sober but also somber way of living. Today I finally recognized that these fun, loving, spur of the moment, joyful times I have been experiencing, are part of living in conscious contact with the Lord. I bet life can be full of little moments of anticipation and loving fun. I think I’ll find out!
By Nannette W.
Posted Saturday, November 1, 2008
Copyright 2008 by Nannette W. All right reserved.
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First, I am jealous, second – the thought of spontaneity gives me the cold shivers and fills me with terror and the need to hide. I think I need to work on this as well. The thoughts come but I have never been willing to act on them – they don’t work out the way I ‘plan’ them.