I’m very excited to again this week join a talented group of women who connect each Friday in an online, unedited (so excuse all errors) flash mob free-write based on a one-word prompt from our fearless leader Kate Motaung. My timer is set for 5 minutes; let’s see where the word “measure” takes me.

Oh, Kate, what a hard word, for me at least!

One one hand, I don’t like to measure. 

When it comes to hanging pictures or other decor on a wall, I prefer to eyeball it, whack a nail with a hammer, put up the item, and walk away. 

But when it comes to other people and myself, I must admit that I am all to eager to grab my trusty guide and measure away. 

I measure using a variety of standards — what they are really doesn’t matter.

You see, it’s not my place to measure the worth or value or right-or-wrongness or anything else of other people.  And in all fairness to myself, I have gotten better about measuring others. But I still have to rein in my natural tendencies far too often.

It is my job to judge myself, though. 

It’s my responsibility, I believe, to measure myself. My conduct, my thought patterns, my speech.

As a Christian, the guide by which I measure those things should, of course, be Christ.

But that’s not always what I use. All too often, I measure myself in some way against other things.

I measure my sense of style (and I’m using that term very loosely lol) by that of women whose style I admire.  And I’m comfortable with that.

But frequently, I find myself measuring my actions, thoughts, and speech by what I think is appropriate.

Sadly, that sometimes isn’t a very reliable . . . 

Oops, there goes the timer, and I need to stop right there.  This blog is not intended to be a lecture but rather a conversation. I invite you to share your own thoughts about the word measure. What do you measure?