The Work Is Connecting with God

Jodi was over five hours into her “nap” (with the aid of anesthesia).

My mind wandered to hope for the future for my son and his wife— for better days of health and more easily available happiness through the ease of living with less pain and discomfort. 

At Bry’s lead—
We headed back to the waiting room in the neurological surgery wing.  
A short time later—
The surgeon emerged. 
I silently watched as my son greeted him and took in the update. 
These were just words to Bry…
I heard that the surgery was deemed successful and that through 3D imaging they didn’t have to cut into the brain to the degree they initially expected. 

Bry took in the message. But to him— These reassuring words were just that. 
He wanted to see Jodi. He needed to see Jodi. 
I was amazed by and grateful to witness his love for her. 

The neurosurgeon had completed his portion of the surgery—
But Jodi needed to be stitched up and cleaned up. 
It would be another hour before they took her into recovery. The wait continued. 

Bry opened his laptop and put himself back to work. 

As a kid, my parents taught me to work. 
My husband and I, in turn, taught our kids to work. 
No one can out-work them. 
They didn’t always like it. 

When the boys were in middle school, we bought a 2½  acre parcel of land and had a house built on it. 
Over the next six years, we had 80 tons of landscape rock delivered. 
The rock was large (4-6 inch diameter) of black basalt rock. 
It was pretty—
But you couldn’t shovel it. I had boys… not men, yet…
Teenage boys who began a bit undersized.
Each rock had to be placed by hand—
First onto a saucer connected to a rope. 
A saucer full of rocks would then be dragged to its location somewhere on the 2½  acre lot. It was then carefully dumped and nestled around the plants. The process was repeated countless times. Hours each weekend we “did rocks”. Gatorades and pizza flowed freely. 
It was a lot of work- mostly silent work. There was little instruction. It was simply an exercise in physical grit and mental toughness. 

I’m grateful we didn’t have the money to hire the job out. 
My oldest would often say “No one I know has to work this hard on the weekend!”  
He didn’t mean it as a compliment. Sometimes I felt bad. 
Except that my husband and I, and our young daughter (as long as she’d last) worked right along with them. They were not sent to work alone. We worked hard— together, as a family. 

So it’s not too surprising to see my kids turn to and lean into work…
They know its value—
Physically, mentally, and even spiritually—
It’s how you grow, and how you get done what you set your mind to do. 

Lets explore this idea in regards to spiritual work.

A few days ago, I did a hike that was familiar. It’s the one I often hiked a few years ago when I was going through a bit of a struggle with God. I was driven and relentless in chasing down a specific answer from Him.
I worked to earn the answer-
I tightened up my spirituality where I felt like I could put forth no greater effort in being eligible to receive God’s guidance in my life.

God was silent.
I felt like I was undeserving of His silence.
I tightened my efforts, repented of pride, distractions, and faithless moments, and tried again.

I tried again. And again. And again.

Why was God holding out on me?
I thought we had a pretty good working agreement and track record.
He tells me the path to take.
I take it.
And yet–
I was ready to move in any direction, pivot from any expected path…
I was seeking something from God-
Anything…
And there was nothing…

I was reminded of a lesson I had been taught by God—
His timing is part of His plan.
In fact, it’s likely the most important part when it comes to each of us and our individual progression.
Spiritual work is a discipline in understanding God’s will.
Begging for an answer and even feeling like I’ve worked to be deserving isn’t the spiritual work I need to do.

The work is connecting with God—
-Understanding who I am as His daughter
-Understanding my purpose in Him.
Efforts to seek direction when God’s timing isn’t in line with my desire for an answer usually lead to frustration.

Working to connect with God leads to peace, feeling His love, and increased patience in understanding His will and His timing.

What I’m being told today is to be deliberate. There’s no specific course of action. Only that God is telling me to be deliberate in my decision-making. Again, the work involves connecting with God versus seeking a specific answer in a specific direction. When I connect with him, perhaps I am able to better understand what he needs me to do without being told exactly what that looks like.

That feels like leveling up 😉

Sometimes it’s hard to be told by God what to do because it seems like a hard ask.
Sometimes even harder to do it.
But in my experience, it’s even harder when God simply tells me to be deliberate in my decision-making and isn’t giving me the “out” with an answer at that juncture.

It’s a level of spiritual work.
I endorse it.
I applaud it.
But living it-
I’m working on finding the joy…

During Jodi’s surgery, Bry distracted himself with work, until the surgical coordinator returned to the waiting room confirming Jodi was in recovery. She would be sent to the neurological intensive care unit-
Room 7326.
Bry was told to give them some time to get her settled and then he could meet her there. 
He went straight to the room. Our walk took us past nearly every room in the intensive care unit…
It was sobering to see so many people…so sick…
Before long, a CNA chased us out and told us to give them time to get Jodi hooked up to the wires, monitors, and connections that they needed to care for her. 

Ten minutes later, the same CNA came and retrieved us from the waiting room and brought us back to Room 7326.
It was there that I witnessed the sweetest post-surgery reunion. 
If love can help heal…
Jodi was in the best hands possible…

-JC

Toasted Coconut cookie Bars

1 cup soft butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 
1 cup quick oats, blended to powder form
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 ½ cups toasted coconut (I prefer sweetened), divided
1.5 oz. grated milk chocolate bar
1 ½ cups chocolate chips
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and extracts; don’t over mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Gently stir in 1 ½ cups toasted coconut, grated chocolate bar, and 1 ½ cups chocolate chips. Sprinkle 1 cup toasted coconut into the bottom of a 9” x 13” greased or parchment paper lined aluminum baking pan. Spoon cookie dough on top and gently pat down. Sprinkle the top with remaining ½ cup toasted coconut and ½ cup mini chocolate chips.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40+ minutes, or until the center is set.
Let cool. Cut into squares. Share!