Dear Friends,

For those who missed seeing Tuesday's Touchstone, I am resending this message about my taking a rest...

For the next three months, I am taking a summer sabbatical, which means I'll be sending a touchstone message only occasionally during June, July, and August, instead of every day.  

If you wish to know how I came to this decision, I tell that in a short story below, after offering a way to obtain past touchstones.

First, thank you for reading Today's Touchstone messages, sharing them with others, and sometimes writing your reactions back to me. I hope we'll "meet" again in September. To those who just joined in, I thank you and welcome you. I will be sending occasional messages.

Until daily emails resume, you can access the 3,200+ touchstones I have sent since 2012. Anytime you wish to read one or more, click here to reach the archived touchstones. (At: https://archive.aweber.com/todaystouchston)

Also, for just $0.99, you can read my e-book, Opening the Twelve Gifts: A Touchstone Sampler. For that, click:  Touchstone Sampler

NOW: HOW

Last week, while searching unsuccessfully for a bird bath at a local garden center, I spotted a small gardenia shrub on sale for $5.00. In the past I have not had good luck with gardenias. But since gardenia was my dad's favorite flower, I thought I'd give this little one a try in honor of my dad this Father's Day.  

Upon arriving home, I planted the gardenia with love for my dad and hope for the plant.

Two mornings later, I was surprised to be greeted by one fully-opened flower on the young plant. When I bent low to the ground to savor the scent, I heard, for the second time in my life, these words within myself:

What you do with your time and talent
is critically important. Pay attention.

When I heard those words the first time, I was sitting next to my mother's hospital bed, shortly before she died. It was 1996. At that time I understood the words to mean I was to stop saying "someday" and get to work on publishing The Twelve Gifts of Birth.

This time, however, from these words I understand it is time for me to step away from work, at least for awhile. I sense that, for my body and my soul, I am to rest, be refreshed, and listen for what's next.

Keeping in mind that we each have our seasons to work, to rest, to rejoice, to grieve, to hurt, to heal - and many more purposes under heaven - What might these words mean for you now?

At all times, through every season, let's listen to the callings from our hearts, our souls, and our bodies and use our gifts as we follow the path of our life journey.

With love,
Charlene

"For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1