Friday Five: Lifesaver Edition

KathrynJZ writes:

In honor of BE Three I thought I’d offer up a Friday Five of lifesavers. I’m going on our cruise (are you?) because I am excited about meeting up with my blogging buddies again, I am interested in the speaker and because when I went on the first one my life was saved (okay, that may be a little over-dramatized but if you saw me getting on the boat and then the difference when getting off the boat you would know of what I speak).

I don’t expect – or need – another life saving moment but I want to support the conference.
Of course lifesavers can come in all sizes and with far less drama. I would readily admit that I have considered a person (children’s sermon substitute), the location of a bathroom, and a beverage (the last diet coke in the back of the fridge – score!) all to be lifesavers at one point or another.

And so today I ask you – dramatic or fairly common – what have been/are your lifesavers:

1) Your lifesaving food/beverage.
My life is saved daily by my morning cup of coffee. It makes me so happy, there are no words. I also really love ice cream. I’m not sure it’s life giving so much as comforting, but it’s really fabulous.

2) Your lifesaving article of clothing.
A scarf. I am super into brightly printed scarves as a way of tying outfits together and creating unique color combinations. Scarves make me happy and give me energy, and can keep a girl warm in a pinch.

3) Your lifesaving movie/book/tv show/music.
The book that has saved my life the most was Parker Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak. The idea of listening to your life and following its direction and to do any less is to commit violence to yourself was something I needed at the time I read it. Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline brought my relationship with God to a completely different level when I first read it nearly 20 years ago now. I re-read it every few years and I always get something new out of it.

Currently, life-givine music comes from Mute Math and Snow Patrol. They’re making my heart happy right now. As far as worship music goes, my all-time favorite is Rita Springer.

4) Your lifesaving friend.
I have had lifesaving friends at various points of life but the two that have been most consistent over the longest period of time are my mom and Lilyan. I would be nowhere without either of them.

5) Your lifesaving moment.
I have lifesaving moments all the time. Most consistently they are when I realize I have more choices that I thought and then make a healthy one.

(If it helps, try the phrase ‘life giving’ instead.)