context

landed in the midwest last night. a mere 24 hours later, i feel a little frustrated with myself.

i think i am a creature of habit more than i like to admit, but not in the ways that many people are. i don't have routines. i do not have to always have coffee or read the paper when i get up. i rarely get up at the same time each day. my schedule is too erratic. during the school year, no to days in a week look the same. and yet there are certain habits i have cultivated that keep me in a rhythm throughout the hecticness and randomness of my daily life.

i spend a lot of time alone in the car. takes me forty five minutes to get to school twice a week, next semester it will be three times a week (in january... five times a week). i live 20-30 minutes away from work, but sometimes, it is an hour commute in traffic. occasionally i go from school to work or vice versa and spend more than two hours in the car in a day.

this used to frustrate me, but i have found ways to spend that time well. often i sing. i have cds of songs that i love to croon to (some are jesus songs). i find music to be meditative... even when i am rocking out. singing usually leads to praying. and if that traffic is a moderate level of crazy, then by the time i get where i am going, i have re0charged what introvert batteries i have, spent some time with God, or prayed. california's cell phone law (only talk if hands free) has really helped this out.

i do not know how to translate those times and spaces when i am out of my routine. i do not know how to find space for myself, i don't know how to find time to pray, i do not know how to spend time with God.

i need to find a way to make that space wherever i go. i am inspired by the text that was the scripture for our sunday service:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 thessalonians 5:16-18

prayer is connected to having joy. a sense of gratitude is connected to having joy. God wants us to be able to live in joy. but it takes work. i have to be willing to do the work adn find creative ways for me to do it... habits be damned.

as i am outta my routine for ten more days, let me know if you have any ideas, suggestions, admonitions, thoughts or whatever that may help.