In Marilyn McEntyre's book, Make A List: How a Simple Practice Can Change Our Lives and Open Our Hearts, she suggests making a list about nearly anything. I wrote about this book a couple years ago, which you can read here. She gives lots of ideas for lists, some serious and some fun, including: Things to let go of, What's new in the garden, How to cope with a steady stream of bad news, How to enjoy what I have, Books to read, Favorite films of the past five years. McEntyre writes that lists are mirrors of what matters to you, lists are a way of listening, a way of loving, a way of letting go, a way to practice prayer. One morning several weeks ago, while still lying in bed after a night of little sleep, having forgotten my practice of practicing not worrying, I remembered her book and her encouragement to make lists. Let's make a list instead of worry, I told myself. My brain started making a list of lists to write, and it felt joy to be occupied with something other than worry. Try it yourself: pick a topic and just start.
“Thou takest the pen – and the lines dance. Thou takest the flute – and the notes shimmer.
Thou takest the brush – and the colors sing. So all things have meaning and beauty in that space beyond where Thou art.
How, then, can I hold anything back from Thee.”
— Dag Hammarskjöld, Markings
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