I am back! This post will be brief, as I am tired and 4:30 am comes all too quickly, but I wanted to write something. Anything. I need to get back into writing. I need to create a habit.
I’m not good at habits of doing things. Habits of failing or forgetting to do things–or putting things off, yes. Perhaps this is why I so often challenge my congregation to do something for a certain amount of time, because I so want to create those habits as well.
This past Sunday I challenged them to give a set amount away each day in October. Same place every day, different place, doesn’t matter. Organization, neighbor, random person on the street, also irrelevant. What matters is the habit of giving and the mindset that even as we get our financial lives in order so that we might strive towards tithing, we cannot forget to still be generous. I also suggested that everyone begin and end their days by thinking of something for which they are grateful.
I’m off to a rocky start. E and I did gratitude at breakfast, but I forgot to have him name something at bedtime. I forgot to have him choose where to give. I’m going to do my donation right after I finish this, just under the wire.
But a rocky start doesn’t mean the game is over. I’ve got 30 more days to work on the habit of giving, plenty of time to get it right.
At the same time, I’m going to try posting every day too. Perhaps there will be little of substance, but that is not the point. The point is to just do it, and make it a routine so I don’t even think about it. And hey, if you follow me on Twitter, feel free to nudge me if you notice I’m falling behind. Community creates accountability, another way to make a new habit stick!
Happy October, ya’ll. Here’s what it looks like around my neck of the woods:
Yes, you can be jealous. My town is crazy beautiful.
birch & raven 