Another week in the bag means it’s time to look at what’s been been lighting me up and lighting my way this week.
After two weeks dominated by a family tragedy, this was a quieter week on all fronts. For the most part I just kept my head down, focused on getting back into good work habits and my running routine, and keeping up with my daily Lenten posts here. The runs definitely ‘lit me up’, as they’re great boons for both my physical and mental health. I was fortunate not only for good weather more generally — hello, Spring temperatures, we’ve missed you! — but also specifically in that it started to rain after both of my runs this week. Work was filled its usual ups and downs, but I was able to play cheerleader for a couple colleagues doing amazing work as well as turn some frustration into a more productive and creative direction. And that always feels great!
My writing has probably been what’s been most lighting me up this week. It’s been so wonderful spending time with the incredible men and women in this Ways of the Saints Lenten series. It’s always sad yet comforting how many of them lived through pretty awful times, and in so doing demonstrated how to be faithful in the midst of such times as those, and these.
And it’s great to be so inspired in this aspect of my life, because the usual things which leaven my life, books and music, just weren’t doing it this week. For whatever reason, my reading was pretty dismal, with my reactions to the books I read ranging from “that was a waste of time” to “good, but not what I was looking for.” Fingers crossed for a better reading week ahead! And, after an amazing new music week the week before, last week was pretty bleak. So it just hasn’t been a bright week for me when it comes to entertainment! But the process of finding and experiencing new books and music is still always exciting and life-giving.
Those are a few of the things that have been keeping me going and brightening up my way this week. So what’s lighting you up?
Matthew Root 