The season for renewal

As a yoga instructor, I often remind my students that spring is not only a time for renewal of God's great earth, but also a time for renewal of our minds and spirit. This is a time to get rid of the things that no longer serve a purpose in our lives and to make room to invite in something new. This spring's reflection has been a tough one for me. With so many that have so little, what are they even able to get rid of? Is there already room for things in their hearts and minds that are ready to be filled? Or am I just wrong to assume that because they don't have these things, that they are not filled? Yes, Jacinda, you are wrong.

We are working through some house projects right now and I have learned that there is nothing like purging each and every room to renew one's spirit! As we moved every piece of furniture away from the walls to paint our baseboards and many photos off the wall to paint our rooms, a fire lit in me to get rid of the items that no longer serve a purpose in this family. Besides the endless dust bunnies that certainly don't serve a purpose (except to remind me that I must clean my baseboards more often), there were so many clothes, toys, trinkets, and other odds and ends discovered that I could just kick myself for ever buying them in the first place. Did we really need that 107th Nerf gun? Just how many organization bins do I really need to fill my obsessive desire to sort everything? Why did I need yet another set of measuring cups just because they were way cuter than my last ones? I mean, I am certainly no baker!

My daughter and I have the opportunity to travel to Kenya this summer with Oasis for Orphans. This mission is near and dear to me, as we host a child there and have been volunteering with them for many years. They have grown so much that they are about to open a third orphanage in southwest Kenya to continue their efforts to find a sense of family for so many abandoned children. In addition to providing funds for education support, my heart wants to send them each and every extra toy and craft item I have for those children's enjoyment. Oh, and I would love to send them all electronic toys - new and old - that my children really don't need. However, when I visit with those sweet little ones, they have more joys and smiles in one day that I often have in one week. Who am I to think that they need any of my "stuff" to fill their little souls?

Now, let's not pretend that every kid doesn't really just want a new toy every once in a while. Who wouldn't? The fact is that their gratitude for a sense of family and connection is far greater than their desire for anything tangible.

So, I still have all of this stuff. I cannot just simply ship it off to Kenya. And not just because the shipping cost would be more than my mortgage, but also because there are so many people right here that are in need. And while they might not "need" my photo frames, what a blessing that might be for someone looking to display a family picture. Or for the woman who is starting a new job and is looking for a professional wardrobe to get her through until she can afford something new. I send my items off to local charities with love and a prayer over them that they may bless someone and renew their spirit, even if only for a moment.

With those "things" I am donating, I am challenged with what else I can unload to allow renewal into my spirit. I can unload selfishness. Comparisons. Self-doubt. Anxiety. Frustration. THESE certainly no longer serve a purpose and will most definitely allow room for what God has in store for me.

My prayer for myself, my family and for you is that you are able to feel a sense of renewal with every beautiful new bloom that you encounter this spring. In true yogi form, I offer you a meditation below and a prayer for your refreshed spirit.

Most mindfulness meditation encourages you to to observe wandering thoughts as they drift through the mind. The intention is not to get involved with the thoughts or to judge them, but simply to be aware of each mental note as it arises. Christ does not encourage us to clear all thoughts from our minds to have emptiness but the Lord instead, invites us to understand our thoughts, offer them to Him and bring new life into our hearts.

10 Minute Meditation

Close your eyes.

Take a deep breath in through your nose.

Exhale long enough so that you are ready for a new deep breath.

Begin to count your inhale for 7 seconds. Hold for 5 seconds. Exhale for 8 long seconds. Repeat through the meditation.

At first, with every exhale, imagine that your negativity is disappearing through your limbs. I like to picture this as a dark color (black or gray). It dissolves through your hands, feet, and the crown of your head.

With every Inhale, imagine that a beautiful, brightly colored energy is being welcome back in through those limbs; maybe white or yellow (I choose bright ocean blue for this sometimes).

Now with every exhale, imagine that the black/gray colors are negative thoughts and energy and are now disappearing through your limbs. Get rid of those feelings that do not serve you.

With every inhale, the bright colored light turns into self-love, encouragement, joy, warmth. Invite it in. Imagine it is God's great love.

Namaste and God bless you.