Days that last: 31 Days of Mindful Moments

It’s that time of year again-the 31 Days blogging challenge hosted by The Nester.

I like to use this as an opportunity for self-reflection. Last year, my theme was Being the Person.

This year’s theme is Mindful Moments.

This theme was inspired by my focus for the year to be awake, present in my surroundings and the world around me. This has been challenging. Distractions are so easy to find in this world. I was inspired by Jen Hatmaker to take moments out of each day for refection and gratitude.

Mindful moments.

As a social worker, I am often greeted with the harsh reality of the world around us. Sometimes I float through my days as a way to escape the tragedy I see around me.

But this escape doesn’t protect me from pain.

I see it every day in my real world too. The struggle to survive another day is very real for those close to me.

I also realize that when I am having some of my best days, some of you may be experiencing your worst.

Those of you with your desperate prayers are so close to my heart. You remind me that I need to love deeply. Your story inspires me to be awake.

So for the next 30 days, I am going to be purposeful about these moments of reflection and gratitude.

I am going to use verses from the hymn, Lord of All Hopefulness, as my source of meditation to keep me centered. I heard this a couple of months ago, and this beautiful music has brought some clarity about how I can create these mindful moments throughout the day.

For the morning:

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

For mid-day:

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,

Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

For the evening:

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Before bed:

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,

Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Each day I will share a meditation from my day and explain how this maybe influenced my attitude or day. My hope is that at the end of these 31 days, I will have a new routine of mindful reflection and gratitude.