This little light?

As I watched the opening ceremonies of the olymics I found myself in awe of the flame, as were over hundreds of thousands in the stands in London and millions glued to their tv sets. Where and how will this flame ignite the others. One by one, each held the flame...the next generation...the great ones to come. Their flames grew from one to several, and kept spreading on to the one great flame and united them all. It was glorious. I couldn't help but think how we all have a light. I remember the song, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine", and even as I just watched my mother perform singing this amazing little song, she was so much brighter than the light she sang about. Her light, was far from little. She was glowing. We have so much to offer in our hearts. God gave us His light, if we chose Him, and are we shining. Are we spreading His light by being who He has seen is amazing in us? Just like the petals slowing emerged into the sky for the whole world to see, if we put our "little" lights together, and share the light, they will toss their embers to another, and another, and soon the whole world will see...what God already does.

Taking out the trash

I don't know about you, but I don't really like taking out the trash. It's smelly, and when the sun is out that garbage can is swarming with flies, and carries a foul odor. I was just having a talk with some friends about how we keep garbage in our lives. We make mistakes, we are human afterall, and it's hard sometimes to own up to them. But, what if we were to keep hiding the garbage in our homes, instead of getting rid of it. It would be pretty ugly, and there would be no place where we could go without having to deal with the smell. It would become  unliveable. It's the same in our lives, and in our hearts. If we are hiding the garbage of our hearts, our mistakes, then other areas of our life will start to "smell". There won't be any getting away from it. It would follow us everywhere we go. As we clean out the garbage in our lives, and own up to it, we will realize that without it, our lives are sweeter. God's sweet aroma will linger longer, and it will be a great place to be. If we walk around "stinky" we are only creating a smell around others...and they might start to stink too. If we walk around with God's aroma filling the air around us, not only will they smell the sweetness, they will see Him, and want the same fragrance lingering around them. So, what are you waiting for...take out the trash, and set out the bouquet on the table.

A Different Perspective

On a recent family vacation, we were travelling along the Oregon coast, and I had a few moments to myself to ponder as my youngest lay asleep at my lap. I looked out the window from our bus and watched as the trees rushed past me. A warm familiar comfort came back to me as I pondered my love of trees. To me, they are like the voice of God. "I am here, I am strong, , I will protect you, I will shelter you from the storm, light comes through me, and you will not be left in darkness. I am the color of life, I am beauty." I was reminded of possibly why I had such a fondness for trees. My Dad used to go for walks with me, and he loved trees as well. On one particular occasion we lay on the grass looking at the trees from the ground up, and he decided to share a life lesson that never left me. He explained that life can depend on our perspective, we might see it for one thing, while another sees it for something entirely different. When we looked at those trees that warm afternoon I saw life in a different way. Those trees fanned out wide, over me, and I could see how the wind made them dance. Every walk since I take a few moments to stand under one and look up and see it's splendor...God's splendor. When we look at life straight on, we only see one side, we don't see the full picture, the true story.

If we take the time to look from another angle, or keep our eyes looking up, we might be surprised what we find. We might find comfort in what we find. We might find... there's more than only what we see.

The Interuptions

I have always been intrigued by the saying, "Life is what happens in the interuptions when you are waiting for life." I might have that wrong, but the thought is, that whatever you are hoping life to be, is really not what life is...life is the interuptions. I am in a season of life that I just have not wanted to be in. I expected that I would be a stay at home mom, possibly with a baby on the way, and with my husband in a full time job, but that is not our life. Life is good though! Only good because of all the amazing things God gives me everyday. I am not trying to sugarcoat how hard it is to accept what is right now, but it's the truth. God is in today. If my focus becomes what I expect of tomorrow then I only long for my "what if" or "if only". I am finding myself in the inbetween wondering what do I really long for, what are my true desires. Do I dare desire them? Am I focused on the right thing? Or is there even a right or wrong about my focus? My husband and I had a great conversation with friends tonight about that very thing. Is what we desire or want merely whisked away because it is a "right or wrong" desire...or do those desires never come to be because they are "right or wrong"? It's a good question to ask. As put my our friend, if our desires are not right or wrong what do we do with them. I hardly say that answer is simple. I know, without any doubt that it is okay and even designed in us to want. If we didn't have any desire, then what would woe us to our maker. Is the ache within us just a symptom of what God is longing to fill? I think yes. What we do with our desire is meant to lead us to a deeper passion for Him, and after we are filled I am still sure there are things we will want, but the desire to have those "things" will not be as great.

 So, do I give up on my longings? No...I give all...my feelings, my wants, my desires, my pain, my hurt, my frustrations, and my heart's cry up to my God. Then even when the question of "if" or "how" isn't answered, at least my question of desire will be.

God's Sending Angels...on my trip home.

Last week I just returned from a wedding of a dear girlfriend of mine. It felt so sureal to be next to her just days before the big day, and I had never met her fiance. Needless to say, I was a little nervous, but assured by my friend that he was a good man. I concure. The moment I met him and watched his eyes gaze into hers I knew he adored her. We ran around doing errands, but taking the time to soak in the sunshine on her front step and take some moments to let God do some shining too as we gave the day to Him. The rehersal dinner was followed by go karts (which I started out first, and ended up near last...how that happened is beyond me), lazer tag...our team won..go red! I got second place, and another bridesmaid got first. So fun! The day of purple and pink begun, and the wedding day went off without a hitch...okay, they did get hitched, and we did forget the rings and the license at the house, but when all was said and done, they said (and sang) "I do" and became one. I was honored to stand by her and share in it all.

If only my trip home was one of ease and wonder, and full of wonderful surprises. That...it was not...full of surprises...it was. First of all, I missed my plane. The strange part about that, was I was there in plenty of time to make it. All of the Economy, Domestic, and International were on the same line. I joined them, and then realized there was a kiosk where I could just digitally check in. Out of order. Back to the line...announcement....if you think you might be missing your flight there is a check out...outside. Outside??? I go outside....at the desk, "Sorry, maam, missed your flight." 7:30am, back in line...for "special" services. Don't know how special it was, except that it had all of us who missed our flights in it...well I guess we are special aren't we. I knew already this was going to be a long day. At home it was too early to call because of the time change, so I waited...to see what would transpire before giving my hubby the details. The lady at the desk checked my bag and gave me my boarding pass (7:49am...flight leaves at 7:59am)...opps, that's right, you missed your flight. Got a few tickets for standby, guaranteed to leave at 1:59p. First standby 10am. Paid for bag, but couldn't get a connecting flight...left with bag, but forgot to get money back.

Thankfully security wasn't a problem, only 5 minutes there, even though you have to nearly strip down before you go through, and drink all your hot coffee in one sip. Now...I wait. Grabbed a hot latte, and a banana for breakfast and when the lines when through to board for the 10am flight I got on! Now, I can call my hubby...wait, I have to turn off all cell phones??? No service on the plane...plane phone not working. Are you kidding me!!!! Anxiously counting the hours that my husband would leave to pick me up as I land in Chicago and he has no idea where I am...and no cell phone (story for another blog about stubborness). Land in Chicago, finally my phone works...no answer. Now I am in a panic...call friends, they didn't get my digital texts sent from thousands of miles high. Seriously!?!? I knew by then he was on his way to pick me up around the time I would hope to catch my next flight. Tears came fast now. Who? What? How? I called Seattle airport...they hung up on me...yes, yes they did. Ralph! he lives in Seattle...of course he would help me. He would drive out and tell him that I was not on that plane and keep him and the boys company while they waited. I could finally exhale. I fell into a pile of exhausted emotions at the airport charging my phone at a community tech wall and just prayed, God hold me, this is just too much to handle. God sent me my first angel...Ralph. He assured me he would call as soon as they connected. All I had to do was wait. I just sat there trying not to make eye contact, as I did there were some concerned looks. Then it hit me...look at the departures board...rather, an angel whispered to me...go now! As I did, I realized that there was a sooner flight departed now! In the other gate! I ran without eating lunch as fast as i could and made it on standby. "Ralph, I am on my way home, should be there by 3:30p". I was supposed to be there by 11am, but it was better than the possible 7:30p. He was on his way to the airport to tell my hubby. Back in the plane...no service. Had pringles for lunch...hate my allergies sometimes. Met a wonderful elderly couple married for 40 years, they held hands and fell asleep next to me. Just like I want to grow old.

Home...by 4p. Husband waiting at the top of the escalator...more tears and a huge embrace. It's good to be home. Tried to get money back from bag...$25. No can do...maybe some emails, long wait...fine, just want to get home. OR you could just get a travel voucher. Great! Here it is for $50...thanks to Jim my other angel of the day. God was in every moment. That wasn't easy, but He was there. I would do it all over again, because I am always amazed at how God shows up, even when everything is falling apart. At the end of the day, I was with my man, the one I said to, "I do", and I hugged my boys like it had been weeks since I saw them. Ending my day with an unexpected dinner with friends was the perfect ending to a very long day.