jakorte's blog

Memorial Day Memories and Moments

The last minute invitation to join a GITC cook team headed for southern Illinois fell through.
Trying economic times, holiday weekend plans, graduations, the list of reasons were all legitimate.
Still, I suffered the self-imposed disappointment-pressure that comes with the territory.

So, I accepted another invitation. I was in the mood to work, and the invitation promised that I could.
I missed the lawn mowing, edging, and weed whacking fun, but the promise of using the power washer helped me decide. There was also shed clearing, grocery shopping, inside and outside window washing, bench refurbishing & repainting, flower boxes, and a fence to be clear coat stained.

Why was I looking forward to all this? To distract me from the pressure.

It’s not the uncertainty of my job, or that the 5-year lease on my home is up. It's not that scheduled surgery was canceled for the third time, or the eight pounds the doctor’s scale says I’ve gained in a year.
It’s something else. Not directly related to these circumstances.
It’s the stress on my heart.

The only way to ease the pain is to release all the pressure of built up love that has not yet been given away.

It needs to go somewhere. I come back empty from mission trips.
Sometimes empty is good, especially if I can empty my heart through giving, while at the same time, releasing toxins thru tears and sweat.

In this issue: Pressure, Finding the Deep River Within. Part 2 AARP Walking Guide
Now posted: Mirroring, Slidell, LA, October 2008