So, how much down time do you usually take in a day? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? None? I am a huge advocate for down time. Everyone needs a few minutes a day, that are just theirs, when their minds can just wander, and let all the business of the day float away. This is what biking does for me. I had stopped biking for a couple weeks there, and during that time I have to admit, I could feel the tension growing within me. So I have started back up again. Everyday I get about 25 minutes in the morning, and 25 minutes in the afternoon of complete alone time. I am coasting down the side walks of Tampa, either heading to work, or heading home. My brain is allowed to just wander and go where ever it wants, and get rid of the baggage from the day.
This morning while riding, I couldn't help but wonder about the people driving along side me. Some of them sipping coffee, putting on make up (which drives me nuts), singing along to something, or listening to the news. But they all looked rushed. They are rushing to their job, and probably have little to no actually down time. I was reminded of a great book by N.T. Wright called, Reflecting the Glory.
This is technically a "Lentan" Devotional but I find its readings to be quite wonderful throughout the entire year. These readings walk us through Lent and the Passion, reminding us of the gift we were given at Easter, and to take some down time. They remind us to "reflect." Let our minds wander and process, reflecting on what we are doing and why. But they also remind us to 'reflect' with our lives.
How do I reflect with my life? Well, there are only 92 days left until we celebrate the birth of our Saviour. As that time approaches, on my bike rides, I am going to be thinking about reflecting, and how my life reflects the gifts that I have been given on that Christmas evening...
PeaceLoveCoffee!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
American Red Cross
Yesterday marked the first day of a new adventure in my life. For a while now I have desired to get involved with disaster relief. I have felt this call on my life ever since the Katrina disaster, which was now 5 years ago. Right after that I moved to Tampa to begin my EMT training, which was completed. I then started to move towards nursing so I could be a more experienced member of a team, but that dream was put on hold for a brief time. No longer. Recently I made steps to completing my RN, and last night was my first step in getting involved with disaster relief. I attended my orientation for becoming a volunteer of the American Red Cross, and it was wonderful.
I learned an immense amount about the history of the Red Cross. One interesting piece of information is that the International Committee of the Red Cross actually was started by a Swiss gentleman named, Henry Dunant in 1876. Five years later Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. I had always thought the entire organization was founded by her. It fascinated me to hear how this business man, Henry Dunant's, story. While traveling through northern Italy on business, he stopped in Solferino one evening, and witnessed a great battle in which 40,000 troops were left wounded or were killed. Struck by the immense suffering and lack of medical attention, Dunant organized the local towns people and devoted himself to helping the sick and wounded. He wrote his entired experience down in a book titled, A Memory of Solferino.
I plan on picking up this book, when I have a chance! :)
I left feeling very affirmed that this was the right organization to be joining. So many areas to get involved with, a host of classes available for me to take, with an organization that is recognized the world over.
There are a lot of areas in which they need help and assistance. I asked for the Health and Safety Services Team and the Disaster Team to contact me. Janie, our instructor yesterday evening, informed us that the leader of these teams would be contacting us over the next week to discuss with us openings they have and where we can get involved. So that is the next step.
PLC!
I learned an immense amount about the history of the Red Cross. One interesting piece of information is that the International Committee of the Red Cross actually was started by a Swiss gentleman named, Henry Dunant in 1876. Five years later Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. I had always thought the entire organization was founded by her. It fascinated me to hear how this business man, Henry Dunant's, story. While traveling through northern Italy on business, he stopped in Solferino one evening, and witnessed a great battle in which 40,000 troops were left wounded or were killed. Struck by the immense suffering and lack of medical attention, Dunant organized the local towns people and devoted himself to helping the sick and wounded. He wrote his entired experience down in a book titled, A Memory of Solferino.
I plan on picking up this book, when I have a chance! :)I left feeling very affirmed that this was the right organization to be joining. So many areas to get involved with, a host of classes available for me to take, with an organization that is recognized the world over.
There are a lot of areas in which they need help and assistance. I asked for the Health and Safety Services Team and the Disaster Team to contact me. Janie, our instructor yesterday evening, informed us that the leader of these teams would be contacting us over the next week to discuss with us openings they have and where we can get involved. So that is the next step.
PLC!
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