The Constant State of Renewal

We live in an era where technology accellerates and improves at a constant hum. And us poor humans wish we could live in that constant state of refurbishing, being rebuilt, reinvented, renewed. For longer life, better power, more RAM, higher speed.

But alas, we aren't super-computers, iPads, or Blackberries. We're people. And frankly, we wear out. Get tired. Give out.

What we need is to be refreshed. Like a cool drink of water after a long hike. Or a swim in crisp, blue lake after spending hours working in the hot sun.
What refreshes you?
This picture is an ideal illustration of refreshment to me. It was taken at the Matanuska glacier in Alaska when we lived there. One look at the mountains, glacier, and beauty in that photograph and my mind and soul are refreshed. I imagine it is the view out my window as I work.

But what about when you are bogged down by the tasks of the day, the deadlines looming, or overwhelmed by the path you must travel? Kayla and I are in the middle of Revisions on our first book together, No Safe Haven. And of course, life has a way of happening. We've had scads of wonderful company, swim events, and projects. Now, I'm beginning to feel the press of the task in front of me. So as we work and head for the finish line, I look at this next picture a lot.

It's a great cover isn't it? But more than that - it's a reminder, a refresher if you will of all the other people working behind the scenes to help make it happen. So even though Kayla and I may work in the office alone for hours on end, our faces glued to the computer screen as we revise, we are not actually alone in this process. And as tired as we may get, we know there is an end in sight. A time when that cover will actually encase this beloved manuscript, like a present wrapped for Christmas.

What are other ways you can be renewed and refreshed by the simple things around you? A hug from a friend, or loved one. A glance at the birds flying in the air, or the beauty of flowers. A smile. A kiss. An email. A good book.

I think the main point is to find the time to refresh. Even if it's a glance at a picture, or taking the time to savor a cup of coffee. We may not be able to refresh ourselves as rapidly as technology, but we can definitely do it better :)

This blog was a refreshment to me, so guess what? It's back to work I go...
Revisions...revisions...revisions...

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Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. She's also the President of the Colorado Springs ACFW chapter. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 700 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family's story have garnered national media attention for many years, but most recently her family was chosen for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, and Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER which premiered in 2008. Her story, Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy, is available now from Tyndale House Publishers. And be watching - Coming in March 2011 NO SAFE HAVEN is the first book in a three-book series set in Alaska, written with daughter Kayla from B&H Publishers. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband of eighteen years and their two children in their truly “extreme” home.
Check out Kim's Website to order her books!