I played the guitar for church this month. As it happens, the callouses on my fingertips have long since softened. The guitar case had a layer of dust. Having not been part of the music team in over a year, I sewed when I might have been strumming. All of this contributed to feeling less prepared.
My voice was rusty. Which is why I spent the week before brushing up on melodies. Happily the familiar feeling came back in time to lead the congregation in praise.
We get better at things when we practice. Do them with regularity. Conversely, neglect is a straight shoot to incompetence. The same effect shows up with complaining, and gratitude.
I recently set a cluster of goals for the coming month. A catchy name seemed fun, so I titled the list Seven Fives. It includes those activities that are easily short changed, yet a part of me wants to give attention to for five minutes each day.
Tidy up
Dishes
Breathe/Prayer
Exercise
Read
Write
New recipe
In admitting this I face that my routines have been disrupted. With the twins in Europe my meals have become sparse. Attention to counters and floors has diminished. Yet the past needn't dictate the future.
It is not that I never do these things. But in placing mile markers I can conquer reluctance. I might even melt the parts of myself that have frozen over.
