This morning I got off to a decent start albeit a little late.  I got to visit an ailing friend and exchange great conversation about the spiritual life and Christmas cheer.  

My son and I got to enjoy the pleasures of raking and bagging leaves most of the day.  There was a moment when he became obstinate and decided that he was incapable of doing the work.  He feigned weakness and inability to get the leaves in the bag.  Then he threw down his shovel and sat on a bench and pouted.  I let my anger distort my actions and I griped at him too harshly.  I also started giving him punishment (removal of electronic media privileges 2 hours at a time) and escalated too quickly.  I caught this and realized that my resourceful thinking was drained and I couldn't discern the right attitude and action objectively.   I thought about calling out my wife and turning the situation over to her.  But I asked for the right thought or action and felt compelled to step away for a few moments.  After a little while he reluctantly got up and complied.  We enjoyed the rest of the time working together.

In the afternoon I took a walk with the dog and the three oldest kids.  We went to the park and the school and the track.  I stopped the committee in my head at one point and took in the open field, the season, the sky, and the voices of the kids.

I thought a little about the middle way today.  I thought about a correlation with the narrow gate.

Thanks be to God.