Lent Day 30 (Day 376 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 95, 102, 107; Exodus 2:1-22; 1 Corinthians 12:27—13:3; Mark 9:2-13

Scripture standout: Ps. 95: "For the Lord is a great God,
   and a great King above all gods. 
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
   the heights of the mountains are his also. 
The sea is his, for he made it,
   and the dry land, which his hands have formed."



His Deed/The Day: Today is the final day of Coking — this side of the Atlantic, that is! I'm going to try to blow out this Lenten exercise with another personal best of four Coke giveaways this morning. Then, I'm putting Coking on pause (although I have to admit, it has been REALLY fun and is something I might consider continuing.) 


**As a little sidenote: I was at Publix this morning and founding a Coking target right away: the nice chubby-chatty bagger who helped me out to the car. He was ECSTATIC!!!! Definitely, the most positive Coking response I've gotten all week: "Oh, I LOVE Coke!" he screamed, practically breaking his finger nails off trying to rip the pop top off. "I was just thinking that now was about time for a Coke, thank you!" As I'm backing out of the parking lot I see him slamming the thing by the grocery carts. Score!!!***


We're leaving for the south of France this afternoon and will be in Nice by Saturday. I am going to miss the kids and my little routine of a life very much, but am looking forward to being in another culture and setting. It will be nice to be reminded of this world's scope and beauty!


I won't be blogging for this almost final week of Lent. BUT be assured at least eight French citizens will be deeded by something in my toolbox — whether it's a mildly icy little glass of Coke at the local cafe or stopping for a madame to cross the street. I hope you will, too! Bon jour!


Deedsclosure: Deeding is not an English-speaking only endeavor. Holding a door or sharing a smile or, ahem, passing out a Coke does not require language or too much cultural awareness. I do not speak French. But I can make sure I don't slam a door in someone's face. There is no language barrier to putting others first. 

Lent Day 29 (Day 375 of experiment)

Scripture: Ps 69:1-38, Ps 73; Exodus 1:6-22; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Mark 8:27-9:1


Scripture standout: Ps 69: "³³ The LORD hears the needy "


Ps 73: "²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God. 
   I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
   I will tell of all your deeds."

1 Corinthians 12: "²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

Mark 8: "³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."


His Deed/The Day: I packed three cold Cokes this morning — out to break my personal record. After chapel, I saw the Po Po — he was getting something out of the back of his patrol car. I rolled up on him and extended a Coke. "Well, I'm not really a Coke drinker," he tells me, holding the can — reluctantly. (This is where I imagine myself saying, "Boo! Then what do you drink — Joe Mama Soda?...and telling him where he can shove the can) Then he says, "What, do you just pass out Cokes to people?" Unashamed, I nodded. That's right, I said to myself with personal conviction. I. Pass. Out. Cokes. (at least during this week of Lent)


I continued down San Jose to drop something off at The Bolles School — apparently, I did not include our 2012-2013 tuition contract with the moola we sent them last month. Small oversight! There was a landscape maintenance man in a golf cart working on a hedge near the school's entrance. Let's just say, I was down to one last Coke. Sweet!


Last stop, the Starbucks to hang up a poster for one of our church ladies who is throwing an antique and garden party. On the way out, my Coke-dar went berserk over the small, Mayan looking worker man smoking and weeding and sweating in the corner of the parking lot. I 86'd the final Coke.


Fresh out  until tomorrow...


Deedsclosure: Relish in and be grateful for those moments when you are deeded my "a part" — a friend, neighbor, family member, stranger or colleague. Parts is parts! (remember that ad? If you don't, it is below for your reflective enjoyment:)

I am a lucky girl — I've got some goooood parts. There are several people in my life who love to dole out deeds to me. David does them daily — picking up my slack in the kitchen or life in general. Right this minute I'm looking at a framed white board from him that says "I love you because..." and he changes the message from time to time. It currently says "...you have a great laugh and beautiful smile." Awwww! 


Lindsey, my best friend and RB (running buddy), is another culprit part when it comes to deeding this 40-something part. Last night, in fact, she brought over a French goodie bag to help send me off to the land of frogs. In addition to packing two fabulous chunks of stinky cheese and a bottle of French Chardonnay, she included some helpful French translations that I might need to pull out over there: "More wine, please...Do you have something for my sister-in-law's toe fungus (a ruse...clearly it's for moi but the thought was there might be some powerful OTC that isn't allowed here yet! Smart thinking!)...Excuse me sir, would you like this Coke? (har har)... and..."More wine NOW please!"


I am grateful every day for friends like Lindsey and David and all the many others who help me out. I just need to remember to tell them more often. After all, parts is parts! 

Lent Day 28 (Day 374 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 101, 109:1-4, 20-30; Ps 119:121-144; Genesis 50:15-26; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Mark 8:11-26


Scripture standout: Genesis 50: "¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them."


1 Corinthians 12: "⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work."


His Deed/The Day: I think I need to Coke myself as today's deed! I'm feeling a little annoyed, tired and under the gun to get life wrapped up before we leave the country Friday. And truthfully, I'm not even sure if I want to untie, unplug and unroutine myself right this minute. Routine is such a comfortable place. Sigh. (but going to the Cote d'Azur ain't punishment either! Hello?!?!?)


I packed two cold Cokes in the car cooler bag this morning. One went to the Regions Bank teller with the glittery green eyeshadow. She slid my receipt out, and I shoved a cold Coke back in. That's one smile in the bank! The second Coke went to another deserving, hard-working person — our mailman. I saw him right before I had just about hung up my Coking endeavors for the day! He seemed genuinely grateful as well — he was actually wiping sweat off his brow when I wheeled up Beastie up over the curb and extended a frosty Coke can out my pollen-swathed window. It was commercial-esque!!!


Deedsclosure: Fresh out of Cokes today? Pen a quick email to someone you haven't seen in a while, or someone you admire from afar. Tell them how much you admire their gifts or service. 

Lent Day 27 (Day 373 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 97, 99, 94; Genesis 49:29—50:14; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Mark 8:1-10


Scripture standout: Mark 8: "⁸ The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over."


His Deed/The Day: I want to leave a Coke for my next door neighbor, but I'm scared to. She's a screamer and a simmering stew of venom — a Coke would do her right — although, she's more like opening a shaken up can of Coke.  I thought about sneaking across her lawn this morning and leaving an icy cold Coke by her front door — and bolting. "No way," was my smarter self reaction. Smarter self shared disturbing visions of secret cameras and booby traps and flood lights —  I contemplate a better plan.


One emerged — using Ben and Marley as Coke mules. They could shuttle cold Cokes to their teachers and coaches! Teachers are totally worthy! A much better choice than the lady next door (surely God has something different planned for that situation). This idea came to me in those last moments of clarity before sleep sets in. Coke-muling could be my ticket to deeding success. Involving the kids would put the desired distance between me and the awkwardness of shoving a Coke in someone's hand — and perhaps teach them a lesson, perhaps win them an A! How smart was I?


I thought of ways I could use their Coke-muling skills for the rest of the week.


Ben and Marley, however, would have nothing to do with it. Not. A. Thing. After the befuddled grimace and "whatever mom" glare, they told me why they refused. "Mrs. Body only drinks water." Ben had a more practical excuse, "No thanks, it will get all shaken up in my lunch box." Both gave me the lemon-faced, "Why?" But the clincher was the reality of the whole ask — "the coaches and teachers want us to eat healthy. Cokes aren't healthy, Mom."


So there I was, stuck with an icy cold Coke to give away once again. After I dropped the Coke-less Wonders off at school, I went on a couple of errands — my little red friend right beside me. By the grace of God, there was a sign-waver out bright and early trying to encourage people to file their taxes. She was dressed in a Lady Liberty costume, dancing her a** off! Sweating. Perfect. I rolled down the window and handed her the Coke. She seemed genuinely glad to have it. 


Operation Coke Mule failed. But maybe Coke-deeding needs not involved a third-party.


Deedsclosure: One of the main messages with daily deeding is that you should "just do it" and not talk yourself out of every opportunity. But let me insert a caveat here. There is ONE question you should always ask yourself before deeding someone. One question only. "Is it safe?" For example, today I passed a great many construction workers on the side of the road who would have totally gotten a lift from an 8 a.m. Coke. But in all cases, it was difficult — unsafe — to stop, roll down the window and make the transaction. I see a group of male bums all the time hanging out at a local gas station. As much as I'd like to share Cokes with them, I'm not so sure the exchange would put me in the safest position. Consider my neighbor situation, it honestly would not be safe for me to approach her or traipse through her yard. Safety first. THEN, just do it.

Lent Day 26 (Day 372 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 89:1-29; 2 Samuel 7:4, 8-16; Romans 4:13-18; Luke 2:41-52


Scripture standout: Luke 2: "⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^[a] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. ⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart."


His Deed/The Day: Today I am copy-deeding my friend Suzanne — also known as Miss Honeycutt, Miss Honey, or the Lady of the Duck Pond. What a loving and committed friend she is — to me and many others (both web-footed and toed). Hardly a week goes by when Miss  Honey and her husband Papa Joe aren't planning a potluck supper for the neighborhood, or helping a stray duck get out from the middle of the duck pond on which they live, or bringing ice tea out to someone sitting on the park bench, or just listening to someone's story, or preparing for a community fundraiser or just plain ole doing nice things for others. In my mind, she embodies community spirit and "loving your neighbor." Just the other day, she and a group of volunteers (a group called Suds of Love, they visit a laundromat once a month — maybe more — with fists full of quarters and a lot of the Holy Spirit) staged a surprise baby shower at the laundromat for an Afghan woman newly arrived here who was pregnant with her first. Miss Honey's & co's deeds have no end!


Not sure if anyone else saw this, but Suzanne shared a most awesome Coking idea a few days ago. It bears repeating. Her 'tis:

Queen of FunMar 18, 2012 05:31 AM

A few weeks ago I had to disclose to Papa Joe that some man in the neighborhood must want me to have their baby because every week our garbage cans are walked back up the drive to the carport.
He didn't act all that nervous but sometimes he stuffs his feelings.
This week I discovered who it is while I was in the kitchen looking out the window.
It is the sanitary engineers! AKA the garbage men.
Sometimes I leave out cokes and a couple of bucks for their lunch just to let them know how much I appreciate them taking all of my sins away.
It takes so little..................

Ripping the page straight out of Suzanne's playbook, I have two cups of ice and two cold Cokes ready to put on top of my garbage cans today. I'm actually really excited about this one! Those guys get out there so early on Monday mornings, slinging the nasty around. Yuck. Their trucks stink and garbage is copious. But they always wave. They seem happy. Maybe it's because they get paid a lot — I think they do, more than you'd expect. But let's be honest — the work literally stinks. Love your sanitation engineer today!


Deedsclosure: See someone else doing a good deed! Don't be above copying them.


(Morning addendum: I put the Cokes on top of the garbage cans when I left for my morning run with RB. When I came home an hour later, my trash cans had been rolled back up the driveway into their cruddy corner. Neither sleeping Ben or hunting David can claim responsibility for this kind, early morning act. If two cold Cokes draws such a display of gratitude from garbage men, imagine the potential impact and returns it could have on others! I am totally going to Coke more people this week!)

Lent Day 25 (Day 371 of experiment)

Scripture: Ps 107:1-3, 17-22; Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21


Scripture standout: Ephesians 2: "¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."


His Deed/The Day: Passing out cold Cokes as my daily deed was not as easy as I thought it would be. Let's just say I need some practice. When Marley and I loaded up for the big beach outing yesterday, I packed two ice cold cans of Coke in my little travel cooler. I put it right next to me in the car, so I could grab one in a jiff. I beamed with a fresh, new Coke jingle in my brain:

Or better yet...this slightly different one. Check the jeans on these 1979 babes!

My little scene was set for adding some life to someone's day with an ice, cold Coca-Cola.

This is the part when I began talking myself out of all the opportunities that presented themselves like that "bonk the gopher head" game at Chuck E. Cheeze. "Oh look! There's a grumpy looking guy waiting for the bus! He could use a Coke and a smile...but I can't stop that quick so never mind."

We pressed on toward the beach, but it was my secret wish to dump the can sooner than later.

"Look! Whoah! There's a sweaty guy working on that building's lawn! Totally, OK, let's turn around so I can toss this at him....Oh crap, never mind, there are two people actually. Crap. OK turning around again, there has got to be someone else." Then, as I was driving away... the thought that I actually DID have two Cokes, and wasn't I the selfish grumpuss for not offering mine up right away. Sigh. Grumble. I drove past a gaggle of Asian women walking with umbrellas, but figured one — or two — Cokes wouldn't help them much. I floored it on toward the beach.

As I drove 70 miles an hour down the expressway to the ocean's edge, I had this thought: it's impossible to deed — or Coke — people when you're driving this fast and furiously. Hmmm, deep thoughts: when we are busy, busy, busy, zip, zip, zip doing our thing —is deeding unattainable? Maybe.

Surely the drive alongside the beach would provide some opps! "Hey, yes, a bum — who is peddling the other direction. Never mind..." or the St. Patty's day revelers..."Trouble is, they probably want green beer...not this Coke."

I even saw 20 or more students with signs saying "Car Wash for Jesus." And still, I couldn't lose the Coke. I think I might have said dang Coke, or worse. I was tired of scrutinizing everyone as a potential Coke target.

So we went to the beach. And I drank one of those dang Cokes. Marley and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon at the beach.

Yet, the other Coke sat in the cooler bag — now lukewarm and only slightly cold to the touch. It was not the icy vision of that morning. On the drive home, I saw the dang car wash for Jesus kids. There weren't any cars behind me, I was in the right lane. I rolled down the window. "Hey, ttsssssssssss! Tssssssss! hey! Here you go!" I chunked the Coke at her and she said, "God bless you."

Done. Whew! But not easy by any stretch. I'm going to try again today and see if it gets better.

Deedsclosure: Looking for a little low hanging fruit to help you through Lent? Here's a doozy: the newspaper. Most mornings, everyone has one on their front lawn — at least in our neighborhood. I learned this do-gooding delight in the early mornings after my run. I noticed, and you might too, that the newspaper tosser sometimes doesn't get much distance between the street and the front door. That's a long, cold, potentially embarrassing morning walk for someone in their nightgown. Work that pitching arm and toss a those papers on your neighbors' front porch. Know a neighbor who's out of town? See their newspapers piling up? Go hide them somewhere on the porch. Easy.

Lent Day 24 (Day 370 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 87, 90, 136; Genesis 47:27—48:7; 1 Corinthians 10: 1-13; Mark 7:1-23


Scripture standout: 1 Corinthians 10: "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."


Mark 7: ¹⁵ Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” ^[16]"


His Deed/The Day: For some reason, and I'm not at all sure why, I have this 80s commercial jingle running through my head. Don't you just love random thoughts — especially ones that bring back memories of those crazy, tube socks and tight jorts wearin' 1980s? 

I started to wonder if somehow this jingle might somehow fit into daily deeding. I'll take it — perhaps this is a little inspiration for the final 30 days of the experiment.


Let's be real, as in Real Coke. A cold Coke tastes super duper good when you're hot and tired. I grew up in a family that bottled Coca-Cola — it was around all the time! We bled Coke. I thought Pepsi was the ever mysterious "p-word." If you didn't stand up for your Coke allegiance at Mr. Gattis or Chili's and snub the server's offer of Pepsi in lieu of Coke, you came very close to being off the family team. Coke, as it were, was it.


And it still is! Who doesn't appreciate a cold Coke on a warm day? So for today's deed, and maybe for a few others during the next 30 days, I'm going to reclaim my Coke heritage. I'm going to buy a six-pack of cold Cokes and pass them out to people who look like they need one. 


Deedclosure: Keeping an item, a gift, like Coke in your car is something to consider for daily deeding. I have several friends who buy $5 gift cards to the local grocery store and stash them in the glove box for those "moments." In fact, just the other day I was getting in my car and this guy in the parking lot asked me for some spare change. If I'd just had a gift card or — geez, a cold Coke, even — that would have been better than the uncomfortable no I gave him before zipping off on my afternoon errands. I have another friend who kept small brown bags filled with snack bars and little do-dads, some water and handwritten notes of encouragement from her children. She'd hand those out if someone asked. I have not been good about keeping "deeding dollars" in my car, but I should. Perhaps this first step with the Cokes will help me manage that a little better.

Lent Day 23 (Day 369 of experiment0

Scripture: Ps 95, 91, 92; Genesis 47:1-26; 1 Cor 9:16-27; Mark 6:47-56


Scripture standout: Ps 91: "⁴ He will cover you with his feathers, 
   and under his wings you will find refuge;"

PS 92: "⁴ For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD;
   I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
⁵ How great are your works, LORD,
   how profound your thoughts!"

1 Corinthians 9: "¹⁹ Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible...²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some."


His Deed/The Day: Ahh, it's 6:39 and today's deed is done — which is great because this is going to be one of those days. Marley still has a high fever. This is the seventh day, and I've never seen anything last so long. I'm going to call the doctor in a minute from the parking lot of the Northside Best Buy, where we will be sitting for the next couple of hours waiting for a ticket to buy the new iPad 3. This is Ben's deal. He got one for Christmas from an aunt, but decided to wait until the new one came out. He's literally been asking us everyday for a month when the new iPad's coming out and what our plan is to achieve it for him. Now the plan is hatched, and off we go to stand in line like all those techno geeks. All for the love of a child, right?


Oh, the deed. I had the opportunity to tell a teacher of the year semifinalist how beautiful she looked at last week's Teacher of the Year presentation. She really did! Sparkly black gown, big smile — lots of hugs and waves. I wish I could tell every teacher how pretty they looked. Every one of them were dressed in their finest and looked so happy and proud. I hope a small compliment will help Ms. Fitch have a little lift in her morning.


Deedcslosure: Empathy and sympathy: they are two strengths every mom uses daily. I have felt sorry for Marley all week — it is God awful to be hot, and cold, and sweaty and shivery and yucky. I've been hugging her a lot — dodging coughs and hacks — to show her how I know. I know you feel terrible. I've been there. Let me (and my hand four-pack of Motrin) be in this with you. I think being empathetic and sympathetic, depending on the situation, are deeds in themselves. Because to be in both states, a person has to put themselves in someone else's shoes. When you're in that place, someone else's hot sick hacking shoes, it's a whole lot clearer how to best help them. And sometimes that's just being present, and sorry, and to be present some more.

Lent Day 22 (Day 368 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 83, 86; Genesis 46:1-7, 28-34; 1 Corinthians 9:1-15; Mark 6:30-46


Scripture standout: Ps 86: "⁸ Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; 
   no deeds can compare with yours.
⁹ All the nations you have made
   will come and worship before you, Lord;
   they will bring glory to your name.
¹⁰ For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
   you alone are God."

His Deed/The Day: Yup! You got it! More nursing Marley back to health for today's deerderly do! But I have a new — much healthier — perspective on it today. With just a spoonful of sugar, I'm ready to make some medicine go down today. I'll be a regular Mary Poppins! Read below.


Deedcslosure: Feed the person standing beside you. Could it be that simple? Today it is easy to reach out around the world and throw $50 at an orphanage in Uganda or to a skateboarder nonprofit group helping children n Kabul, Afghanistan (true, 'nuff...such a thing exists!) And it helps, a worthy gesture indeed. Not to mention, with today's global connections we MUST be aware of and help meet needs of all humans on this planet.


But maybe our daily calling to be a good servant begins with those right around us. I liken it a little bit to my work. I am the editor of two community newspapers. Our coverage area are the historic neighborhoods flanking downtown Jacksonville. We publish stories about baseball games, about school fundraisers, about parties people are having and local city council issues. People LOVE reading our papers! We've found a nice little niche. It's simple to find out what's going on in India or Germany or Alaska — but the stuff people really want to hear about, what they're neighbors are up to, is far less attainable. We have found success by focusing on the issues that are close at hand.


This resonated with me today. It's the daily devotional from the Episcopal Church's Forward Day by Day. Enjoy, and don't forget to feed the person next to you!

Mark 6:30-46. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”

Tip O’Neill once said, “All politics is local.” He knew and articulated that politicians can speak of national and global issues, but they will not succeed unless they understand and respond to the priorities of their constituents.

As the Son of God, Jesus taught us the global. But one gift of the Incarnation is that Jesus understood the local issues. As a human being who experienced hunger, he understood that local need. When his disciples wanted to send people away for food, Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.”

We can talk about the cosmic and the theological all we want, but people are much more moved by the local than by the global. It’s convenient to talk in grand terms about theology, but it’s more important to think of the person standing beside us. Of that person, Jesus tells me plainly, “You give them some-thing to eat.” 

Lent Day 21 (Day 367 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 119:97-120; Ps 81, 82; Genesis 45:16-28; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 6:13-29 


Scripture standout: Ps 119: "¹⁰⁸ Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, 
   and teach me your laws.
¹⁰⁹ Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
   I will not forget your law."

1 Corinthians 8: "But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. ² Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. ³ But whoever loves God is known by God."

His Deed/The Day: Complainer alert! Prepare for the beaching to begin. We're leaving to go to France next week. And I'm on deadline for two newspapers — plus for turning in my first-ever long feature for The Florida Times-Union. Oh, and the kids are on spring break. P.S... one's been sick since last Friday — hack, hack, hacking on me and being super chatty and sitting all up close to me and stuff. 


(All I want to do is maximum strength Lysol myself head to toe...a few times I've wanted to say, "OMG take a step back!" or "Stop freaking coughing," or flipping out watching germy little fingers slip slide all over my iPhone throughout the day. Geez!!!)  


Did anyone ever read that book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? 


Today's deed was pretending that I wasn't tumbling down that slippery slope of flipping out. Today, I took the kids to the pool for a little fun in the sun so we could get out of the house that I've been holed up in — being coughed upon — for what feels like a century. In fact, we brought a friend. And had a very profitable lemonade stand. And all the while, I typed on my handy dandy little MacBook pretending I was holding it all together, trying to stay focused on my mountain of work and be a pleasant mommy — and answer the persistent questions with the warm, sweet preface, "Yes, honey?" Honey my a**. Harumph.


Deedsclosure: Karma got me back today. I was on the receiving end of a perfectly executed, "Let me know if there's anything I can do for you today, OK?" I deserved it. I let that doozy of a non-deed slip right out of my mouth this week. And while I tried to redeem myself with a little Frosty delivery to the person I bludgeoned with the do-gooder-bad, it didn't take those words back. Just another reminder: Take "let me know what I can do for you" out of the vocabulary completely. Just do something that might help and move on. I mean seriously. Who is ever going to respond to that question with an actual request?


Can you tell I'm annoyed? Is it that time of the month?


Here's a little deeding idea. Take someone's kids for the day. This is especially well received by mothers of young children. Be the one to ask. My mother-in-law asked if she could take my children today — and offered to let them spend the night. Oh. The holy grail of gifts. Oh yes. The overnight. I was salivating with desire to have a quiet house so I could work in peace. But with a sick child and another that has been the victim of drive-by hacking all week, I couldn't do it. Her husband is old and a little frail. That's the last thing they'd need, to catch the crud. But it was an exceptional offer. Taking someone's children for a spell, ranks up there as one of the Best. Deeds. Ever.

Lent Day 20 (Day 366 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 78:1-39; Genesis 45:1-15; 1 Corinthians 7:32-40; Mark 6:1-13 


Scripture standout: Ps 78: "³⁸ Yet he was merciful; 
   he forgave their iniquities
   and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
   and did not stir up his full wrath.
³⁹ He remembered that they were but flesh,
   a passing breeze that does not return."

His Deed/The Day: Litter. I picked up some at the park on the way home from my run this morning. I'm a trashy gal like that. Picking up trash is another one of those easy deeds. You have two choices when you see it. You can either 1) pick it up and throw it away 2) or walk away. If there's a trash bin nearby, why not pick it up so someone else doesn't have to?

Deedsclosure: Here's an interesting observation from 366 days of daily deeding. When you focus more on others and how you can be a tool to support your community of humans, self falls away in a very physical sense. Now in my case, this is also coupled with the fact that I am turning 40 this May. Physical changes are obviously part of that aging process as well. Nonetheless, this experiment has shown me that I am indeed "a passing breeze that does not return."


My hair's gotten longer, my eyebrows shorter, my skin has gotten darker and I have more break-outs. Where I once stood in my closet nekkid for hours admiring my many clothing options for the day, I now often pull on the same pair of jeans I wore the day before — or my go-tos, the comfy brown velour sweatpants that I "hemmed" 10 years ago with a pair of scissors. As I mentioned a few days ago, I harbor ungodly amounts of material in my ears and one of my toes has a fungus. And you know what? I really don't care! Do I still take care of myself through exercise, eating right and spending time in good conversation and fun with people I adore? Absolutely! I feel great! But I am definitely less concerned about my appearance than in year's past. I attribute this to seeking daily deeds. There simply isn't time to worry about falling apart when you are neurotically seeking to meet someone else's needs at least once each day.


Here's something else to ponder. God gives us a wonderful reminder during Lent that we — and all of our stuff — are just a passing breeze. It's called moth season. Remarkably, the moths get busy every year at this time. Season of Lent = Season of Moths. The little eggs that have been festering in your sweaters, wool rugs, taxidermy or fur coats get restless this time of the year. They begin hatching and giving little air shows as a monster movie-like reminder that "We're Alive!" If you live in Florida, and you live near the water you can't escape them. They're lurking somewhere in your house — gnawing on your stuff. They're God's little devil angels whispering the important Lenten message,    ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6)"

Lent Day 19 (Day 365 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 80, 77, 79; Genesis 44:18-34; 1 Corinthians 7:25-31; Mark 5:21-43


Scripture standout: Ps 77: "¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the LORD; 
   yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
¹² I will consider all your works
   and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Mark 5: "³⁵ While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” ³⁶ Overhearing^[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”


His Deed/The Day: I caught myself this morning, making one of those "nonsense deeds." I told a family member whose children and husband are sick, "let me know if there's anything I can do for you." Uggh, the dreaded phrase!!!! I have been doing daily deeds now for one whole year. And STILL, that selfish sentence tumbled out of my mouth, to a family member no less!  "Let me know what I can do for you." If I could erase it from my word bank, I would. Don't ask. Just do it. Instead of lobbing out the passive ask, I should think about what I can do to make that person's load a little lighter today — and just do it. Epic fail, as my kids would tell me.


I plan to drop off some smoothies at their house this morning after Marley's doctor's appointment. There. Done. This nasty bug won't leave here, so we're going into the Lion's Den — that germ-ridden, nasty, festering place called the pediatrician's office. Hopefully, it will yield some relief for poor Marley who has  had a high fever since Friday afternoon. Then, it's smoothie time.


Deedsclosure: Today let's talk about those rare moments when someone actually asks for your help or support. As a daily deeder, these moments are celebratory to me! Yes! Now I don't have to worry that a good deed won't transpire today!


Let me share a hard and fast rule with you. When someone asks you for help, here's one of three answers from which you can choose as a response: 1) Of course 2) Sure 3) Abolutely.


Did you see any footnotes or stars or buts or unlesses in there? Seize this awesome chance to be an angel to someone else. This is your big moment! Don't ruin it or over analyze it or try to figure it out by responding with how complicated your schedule is — and with parameters about when you can do it, or if you can do it. Or worse yet, a no but.... Don't do it on your terms. Just do it. Reconfigure your own plans, put the asker's schedule and needs first. I am here to attest after a year's worth of daily deeding, that people RARELY ask for help. Don't worry about being a door mat or run over or taken advantage of. Chances are, you won't be asked again and again and again. These little moments don't happen often. They truly are a little job offer from above. Seize it. Just do it.

Lent Day 18 (Day 364 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 19; Exodus 20: 1-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22


Scripture standout: John 2: "²⁰ They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken."

His Deed/The Day: Relief. I am a busy, busy beaver this season with work — thankfully! My Teachable Moments project for the FTU has unfolded into some overview features, one of which is due this week. And The Resident is full bore into summer. But I also had two volunteer projects hanging over my head: to write copy for the RPDS silent auction program, to write a press release for our church antiques & garden party and to write another Solace for the Children Jacksonville newsletter for email.


Volunteering your time and talents seems easy when you agree to it. But when it's go time, whew! You wonder why the heck you raised your hand! Not really. In my case, I can and like to write. Both groups needed some things written that takes me two seconds flat to do. So in the end, I'm so happy to be able to do it.


What are your talents? If they are second hand to you, can you lend them to a group or individual in need?


Deedsclosure: Let's talk humility. Deeding is impossible without it. Here's a quick reminder: you're not all that, the world does not revolve around you and your problems and no one really gives two hoots about the way you look, act or behave. Seriously!


I anti-deeded someone yesterday. I'm here to admit it. For the past month, I have been unable to hear properly — all sounds have been cloudy and lately, I've had a pressure in my ear that's been annoyingly painful. I assumed I had a major ear infection. Taking all pity on myself, I drove to the Solantic minute clinic to get fixed — and receive some sympathy.


Instead, I anti-deeded the male nurse there. The chubby one whose legs swished together when he walked. The one with squeaky shoes and a fly girl attitude. He snapped on his lighted scope and looked in both of my ears — without remorse. I think I heard him chortle. I think I heard him mutter, "OMG." He may have whispered "nasthy!!!" He left quickly, but as the door slammed I heard him tell the doctor he was going to do something-blah-dee-blah. I fixed my hair and composed myself.


When he re-entered, the chubby male nurse with the squeaky shoes was holding a syringe and a small tub. Without remorse, he tugged on my ear lobe and asked me to hold the small tub underneath. Then, the tingling, powerful gush of liquid firing into my ear like a pressure washer. Then silence. Then the embarrassing peak into the tub. Well no wonder I couldn't hear!!!! I looked at him, embarrassed that I'd focused on his chubbiness and squeaky shoes. "Now that's sexy," I said, feeling NOT all that. And the chubby male nurse turned on his sassy white squeaky nurse kicks, and left the room in a huff.


You may think you're squeaky clean and hot, but you're really full of it. In my experience, at least.

Lent Day 17 (Day 363 of Experiment)

Scripture: Ps 75, 76, 23, 27; Genesis 43:16-34; 1 Corinthians 7:10-24; Mark 5:1-20


Scripture standout: Ps 23: "¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me."

Mark 5: "⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. ⁷ He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” ⁸ For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” ⁹ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
   “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
 ¹¹ A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹² The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” ¹³ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned."


His Deed/The Day: And then there were two — Ben's not feeling well either today. While making jello will not be on the list of deeds, it will be one of those days that includes some back scratching, soup-making, cracker plating and pleasant servitude.


Deedclosure: Let's be real: even if I wasn't at the tail-end of a year-long experiment in daily deeding, I'd still be there for my sick kids today. That's what moms do: they're on the job, especially when sickness or sadness hit. Which leads me to a little deeding tip: By virtue of who they are and what their job description details, Moms are natural daily deeders. I would bet each mother's list of daily do-goods for their children or husbands is long and varied.