Here we are at the end of June, and the Summer of 7 experiment is more than half over. So far we've looked at how much is way more than enough in the areas of food, stress, possessions, and clothing. We've still got to delve into spending (July 7-13), media (July 17-23), and waste (July 28-August 3).
This next week, June 30-July 7, was cleverly designed by my friend Katrina (who made the schedule) as a free week. Halftime. 7th inning stretch. Recess. Summer holiday.
So, taking a break from the play-by-play action, here's Color Commentator Girl to give you some observations about the Summer of 7 so far.
I hate rules. I have been a rule-follower all my life, but I hate those suckers. Bad. I don't even like the self-imposed guidelines I created myself for this summer experiment. (Witness that I quit on clothing week before it ever got started...)
So this just feels itchy to me. It's like Richard Nixon and the Flower Children are rioting around in here. Resist! Revolt! Rebel! Stick it to the man! But I am the man!
Much as I hate rules, I have to admit that keeping the rules for a few days each week has been valuable. It's forced me to experience that LESS STUFF EQUALS LESS STRESS. (For me, anyway. You'd have to try it and see if it works for you, too.)
When I'm thinking I don't have enough, I have to get more. Which means I need more money. Which, for me, means I need a better job. Which I have been trying to find for three years, to no avail.
BUT.
When I realize that I already have way more than enough, I can be grateful for what I have, and let go of the stress of needing more money for more stuff. Don't need a better job. I can volunteer til Kingdom Come. And it's fine. In fact, more than fine. Abundant. Everything I need, and then some.
Look at this stat: I have almost $200 left in my grocery cash this month. Because I have made a real effort to buy only what we genuinely need. It wasn't hard to do. We haven't been deprived. I've just been paying attention (and shopping at Aldi), rather than throwing things willy-nilly into the shopping cart. Easy-peasy. Like making money in the basement. Only it was the pantry.
Here's what I keep hearing:
Receive with gratitude, give freely.
Stop worrying about whether there is enough.
Open those eyes to the Truth. Taste and see that the Lord is good.