I am the Watchman

Happy Monday! A new week! It's also a holiday...LOL I'm not sure which one to celebrate, though. Growing up, this was Columbus Day. I didn't know Columbus personally, but I hear he wasn't a pleasant fellow. So, someone somewhere decided this would be Indigenous Peoples' Day. I'm happy to celebrate Indigenous Peoples. But it is also Canada's Thanksgiving Day...LOL I have Canadian friends and happy to celebrate with them too!

At my new company, this is an observed holiday. But instead of just having the day off, they offer a floating holiday. That means I can either take the day off or work and use the time off on any other day I want. When I woke up today, I decided I'd just go ahead and take today as the holiday. I'll be getting two other floating holidays. So, I decided it would be nice to take today instead of waiting. I don't recall ever having today off...LOL

I ended up spending most of the day praying and reading extra scripture. I took a couple of really long walks. I also sat out in the shaded lounge area of the pool. It was a great day to pray. The weather was perfect for being outside. I'm really glad I took today off.

I don't think I ate enough food today to balance out how much activity my walking was...hehehe I may end up eating a little extra for my evening snack. We'll see. But one thing I've noticed is that I've been hungry quite a bit today. I've eaten what I normally do and the normal amount. So I really do think it has something to do with just how much walking I did.

I've enjoyed following along with the Dodgers this year. They are currently in the NLCS as they won the NLDS last week. Their season began on my birthday...hehehe I hear they are playing at Angels Stadium in March next year. I may plan a birthday trip to go see them...hehehe I really hope they win the World Series this season. Not just because I've become a fan. But also because this was the year I became a fan. It would be extra special for them to win this particular year...hehehe

Up until April in 2020, I had hair on my head. I've been shaving ever since then. Up until early this year, I don't remember when, I've had facial hair of some kind. I've gone back and forth from a full beard and a VanDyke. Because of my weight loss, I decided I'd drop facial hair. Lately, I've been thinking about growing both my facial and top of my head hair. I've asked some people their opinions about whether I should or not. But now I realize I'm asking the wrong people. The person I need to ask is the guy in the mirror...LOL

This morning, I thought I'd give both a try. I wanted to go with a VanDyke. So I shaved just the parts of my face that would support that and then the back of my neck. Later in the day, I changed my mind and shaved my entire head and face again...LOL I keep thinking about why it was I had this idea in the first place. I've received comments about doing it. I then made a post on socials about it; for which I also received comments. I like the idea. But for now, I don't want to do it. I appreciate opinions. In the end, I have to be the one happy with what I'm doing. If they want to be happy about my choices, they need to just be happy that I'm happy, right?! LOL That's how I see it. When I comment on someone's looks, I always tell them I love how happy they look. I never tell them they should change something...hehehe I never want anyone to change. Why would I!?

I achieved the next step for my upcoming trip to California. A while ago, I got my plane tickets. The earlier the better for price. Last week, I bought my Disney tickets. I should not have waited because they upped the price a few days before I bought them...LOL But not enough to make me sick at my stomach, thought...LOL Today, I finally booked where I am staying. Like I did in North Carolina, I went with an AirBNB apartment. Next, I need to decide if I'll rent a car or walk most places and do ride shares to and from the airport and Disney. I may do the latter simply to give that lifestyle a try for a week.

I'm really looking forward to this trip for so many reasons. The number one reason is my Disney adventure with Cherie. I wouldn't even be going if it weren't for that adventure...hehehe As a secondary mission, I'm continuing my discovery of the possibility of living in California. I decided to stay an entire week and do that apartment thing instead of a short trip with a hotel. I'll be working four of the days while I'm there. The rest of my time will be living there and experience things. I'll be in Santa Ana for the majority of that time. We'll see what I think of the place. It is unlikely a place I would want to live, though. But I'm excited to give it a try.

I'm not quite sure yet if I'll be seeing anyone else on this trip. Last time, it didn't work out to see anyone else. I'm having similar trouble working it out on this trip as well. I imagine it will be easier to see my friends and family there if I were to live there. Trying to schedule things for a specific week isn't as easy as if it could be some other random time. At least, that's what I'm telling myself...LOL I'm very flexible. It's so much easier for me to be flexible than most other people. So, I understand that working these things out isn't always easy for other people.

Recovery from the hurricanes is going slowly here. I'm doing really well. But so many others weren't so lucky. And on top of the storm damage, there is a gas shortage. There is fuel. But they can't get to it due to power being out at the port where it is stored. It doesn't impact all of Florida. Just over here in west-central Florida. I fueled up before the storm. But I can't travel far so I can conserve the fuel I have. This is also impacting supplies at restaurants and grocery stores. I was able to get most of what I need from the grocery yesterday. I didn't expect to deal with this sort of side impact to the storm. I'm very fortunate.

The Dodgers lost tonight. The series is headed to New York next for three games. They are now tied one game to one. The good news is that the series is far from over...hehehe

This week, we are going to be watching episode one of season one for The Chosen. We'll be doing a Bible study lesson for the episode. I'm really excited about it. I've seen all of the available episodes already. It is what prompted me to even consider the devotionals we have already done and this Bible study...hehehe I like that I'll be going through the series again with a new outlook on the content. Previously, it was mostly entertainment for me. This time, I'll get to go deeper into the source...the Word of God.

Yesterday, I went through an exercise of writing out I am identity statements in an effort to resolve false identities. Autumn is the one who suggested it and we went through it together. I don't think I did it exactly the way she envisioned...hehehe However, it was enlightening to figure out some of the false identities I've felt for years. In the end of the exercise, it circled back to the meaning of my name.

Gregory means watchful or alert. If I were to put my name into an I am statement, it would go something like I am the Watchman. If I were to paint a picture of what that looks like, I'd say I'm standing at the wall of the town keeping the lamps filled with oil. I'm keeping watch at night. When necessary, I call upon the prayer warriors to fight back the advancements of the enemy as we await the return of our Lord. All of this is figurative, of course.

Tonight, I am making a connection between yesterday's I am identity exercise and this week's The Chosen episode. Isaiah 43:1 ends with I have called you by name, you are mine. God knows my name and He is calling it. I find comfort in that. My true identity is found in Him. It isn't so much that He has a plan for me. It's more about how He is including me in His plan. I have a purpose in that plan. I am chosen, by Him. He has chosen me as His watchman.

Again, I'm glad I took the day as a holiday. The extra focused prayer time is just what I needed today.