While pondering the passing of 2009 and the new year quickly approaching I had decided to try something different.    Rather than give up something for a resolution I would add something.    My buzz word for 2010 is going to be focus.    Focus on the things that surround me and keep my eyes open for new areas of focus.    I have broken down my goals and picked a few daily tasks that I will try to accomplish each day.    At the end of the day I will review my list and see how it goes.    This is not like a chore list since it is things that I want to do.    Too much time is spent on what I ought to do.   So in 2010 I want to allow myself some time to take in new things, expand my creative side, and enjoy the journey along the way!

Today a friend posted a message about observing.  The words rang so true for me:  ”take it in, notice, think about it, question it, learn from it”.   

 It reminded me of my Observation Jar.    A few years ago I was in charge of the discovery area for Vacation Church School.    Each day I had something new to discuss with the kids.    It was fun to put the jar together and as the week went on the kids were talking about it so much that all the adults came over to observe as well.

I asked the kids “what do you see in the jar?”   They all agreed that it was birdseed.   We talked about the difference between the words ‘see’ and ‘observe’.   To observe is to watch attentively or take notice.   To see is to perceive with the eyes or to understand.     You might see a picture hanging in your house but one day you  discover something in the picture you hadn’t noticed before.   

The wow moment finally arrived as I told them to put the Observation Jar on its side.  

Inside the jar were 27 items.   The older kids made a list to see if they could find them all.     It did appear that the jar was just full of birdseed but upon further oberservation it really was much more than that.

 We are still growing as the caretakes of all that God created.  This lesson was to remind us to love God, love others, and love the earth that God made!   I think we all learned alot by the lesson taught by the Observation Jar.

So in my focus plan for 2010 I want to observe something new each day, look beyond the mere appearance and take the time to notice.   

Wishing you all the best in the new year….