Forty Plus Miles

            Here I feel it, the pressure in busy living. Here it washes over me, and it's all I can do to stand. Here I adjust this vision (or perspective) of what I'm looking at, ask two questions, and all begins to change slowly, "What is good?", and I answer. "What else is there?", and in seeking the answers I find some relief. The pressure will come again, but this is how to hope, always remembering to filter it all through the Bible and prayer as you ask and answer these questions.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

         I suspect the title of this post may make people cringe, even be dissuaded from reading this post; it's not what some may think though. It's not about "clickbait" (something that gets people to click on something, for any who are unfamiliar with what that is), nor is this about getting people to give money. The more I consider what generosity really is, the more inclined I am to be more generous.           Not too long ago (I don't remember exactly when), I heard a pastor talk in a sermon about how generosity is MORE than giving money. Generosity can take many forms. It can be our time, attention, understanding.....and this is ONLY a few of the ways! I keep thinking about this and find myself led to be more generous. I don't have a ton of money, but I find myself practicing generosity with other means, one of them is with giving my writing away on here. This doesn't necessarily mean I'll stop writing and submitting elsewher...

       More pain, more challenging, still he had to try, he was going to try. Each attempt nearly crippled him, he was going to do it though: enjoy life in the moment.          One toss, then another, each time he was tempted to stop, still, he refused to be defined by these limitations and embraced living here and now.          They smiled, watched as he showed them all what being alive was all about: being fully present in the moment given (however that was given). Not focusing on the difficulties, yet not ignoring them either. He played through the arthritis, embraced life and time with his family, in the moment of one hundred years young. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog (including this story) has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Tha...

           One word entered his mind: try. Backward then forward he made his attempts at growing, at reading. It was often a jumbled mess, but growth is seldom easy, especially with dyslexia.              Little by little he read, every chance every day. One word then a sentence. One sentence then a paragraph and slowly but surely he understood.             "Don't give up.", he told himself each time he read, tempted to do just that. Every word read was freedom. Every word understood was growth and he found joy in the journey. With word, sentence and paragraph devoured he thrived, and eventually taught others how to also...others with dyslexia like him.             One word changed it all: try, and this is what he told everyone he shared his story with. "Try. This was my one word that changed it all. What is yours?", he would conclude with all he shared ...

        They sat, in the darkness and silence, waiting, wondering what would happen. In the void they remained, anxious, simply wanting an answer; then she rose. A light pierced the tension with the flick of a switch. She looked at an indicator, mustering all the hope she could, still it wasn't enough. Negative told her no, told them no, and they went and sat for a moment, silently.          "Would it ever change? Would there ever be a third to their little duo of marriage?, they both wondered. A T.V. was turned on, and they watched, together in silence, while they were finding "us" and didn't know it.          It was days and they returned to life, left the disappointment the best they could, and dared to hope again. Another day. Another eight hours. Another moment to....become three. A few more days and they were sitting again, found in the void of waiting, of great tension, and a light pierced the unknown. A simpl...

           Night after night the lights pierced the dark all around. Appearing as stars that blessed humanity with hope, they made themselves known after each sunset. One by one they flew through the cool air, gathering in community where they lit the way.             On one such evening, children ventured into this unknown void of light, guided only by these magnificent wonders.....these fireflies.            In all the gathering lights moving here and there, one such creature moved among them, one of their own. In the community known among them, his little light was lost, being dimmer than the others; still able to shine, nonetheless he didn't shine bright enough to be different......or so he thought. Regardless, he made his best attempts, every gathering, to make his light known.             On one such occasion, a boy with thick glasses made his way to hi...

 The Little Things The little things seen, thinking on this little good , of little good still.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

Been wanting to learn about (and write) hiakus (a poem of three lines, five syllables in the first and last lines, and the middle line being seven syllables). My first attempt is below.  To write a haiku, Words of five I write twice here, To write seven between. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

 One day, Thursday, keep going. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

            Setting the scene, grace in serene. Setting the place, to rest past the race.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

 Time to.....create again, dream again..all while praying again.  Time to....think again, listen again..seeking Jesus before and after creating again. Time to...pause again, rest again....remembering it's okay again..okay to stop and rest; and in this rest there is freedom and restoration toward completion again.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

 Time, rhyme....maybe sublime? Building, filling, fortified foundations; through time, a rhyme, not sure yet if it's sublime. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

         It's cold, then hot, and constant pain throughout. An old injury rose up in my back yesterday and it's taken all of me trusting all of Jesus to lead me through. Four cities and seven stops later and I was able to finish them all by the grace of God. I only had one I didn't have to crawl underneath, and through it all I was able to make it.            The sad part is I didn't expect to make it. One, two, and I hurting, but for the grace of Jesus I was okay....ish. I did most of the stops by lunch, and even had some time to work on writing projects. I didn't expect to get that far, and I probably should have. I probably should have had faith enough in Jesus to EXPECT He'd empower me, help me through, but I didn't. I thought it being humble ("I'll just hope for these."), and then it grew. I didn't wanna believe too big, thinking I'd be demanding of Jesus, but this is what He longs to draw this out in us, grow that trust throug...

        In the cold we adjust, faster in it, slower through, stopping in the warmer places to stay warm. In the frigid we waken, a reminder for us all to be active or become frozen within. In these bitter tundras intentionality calls to us, speaks to us of good still here. We cherish the warm food or drink, the warm places going to, and the waking we get from uninvited seasons of life that call out loudly what's important in the cold.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

           We've seen alot of ridiculously turbulent weather lately in our area (apparently other areas are experiencing it also), and between the changing temperatures and climates it can be alot; especially for someone like me.             Several years ago (before 2020), we had SO MUCH rainy and stormy weather it broke me inside. Every storm wrecked my peace, and every cloudy and rainy day nearly owned me completely...but God; but God sustained me. Through it all God held me, Jesus held me and empowered me to overcome; though the scars and wounds have remained. Slowly I'm finding healing, and I've seen Jesus work in me, yet storms of all kinds put me on edge still. I find it hard to maintain peace.              I used to think I was going crazy then (and sometimes still even now), but I was experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. . I was in need of healing through it all, an...

          I am a naturally energetic person (normally). Growing up this level of energy was misunderstood. Some labeled it hyperactive (or ADHD), while others noticed I had a hard time with focus. Last night at playtime with our son this hit me hard: it was focus I lacked then (and sometimes still do), and this has channeled this energetic side of me into something constructive (that and aging).             Fast forward forty some years to now and I see our son with this energy level. I see how there's an opportunity to help him harness this wild gift for something constructive and good. The irony though is I can't exactly nail down HOW it was focused then. Usually the moments I get to help him with this is when the insight God has given me tends to just come out. I can't plan it, schedule it, or own it in anyway. As I consider this rather frustrating fact, I strangely find grace and freedom here though. How I find it is by lis...

        A moment to pause, release pressure, and breathe. A time to rest, if only for a short time, still I'll take that time. Here. Now. In a few minutes I'll gather myself, release (as best as I can) the pressure to the Heavens, to the feet of Jesus, and continue forward; if only for a moment I'm grateful for. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

         Through waters deep and rising I'm wading, flailing arms all about me. It isn't pretty, but I'm treading water somehow. Through fast flooding canals I am pushing on, seeking the dry ground of the shore I have almost forgotten. Through the deep tides of a busy day, of ridiculously wet weather, and the constant conversations my body keeps trying to have with me of my age and the pain it feels from work I am moving forward slowly.          Through waters I am travelling, seeing the dry ground of rest and restoration and I am making way furiously, to find renewal and abundance from the bad weather of life; more than just these persistent storms we've all been walking through outside.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed...

           When you see zero, be ready. When nothing good seems to appear, be ready. When it all seems against you, be ready. Be ready to create (whatever that is for you). Be ready even to let go if you're led to; notice how I didn't say perfect. Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support! 

          As forty-five approaches, I find myself even more reflective than usual. Looking over those old days I compare them to now. This can be stressful, even defeating at times (if I'm being fully transparent), yet, there is a redemption even here.             Then, I didn't take that many risks. Then, I lacked alot of confidence. Now, I step out more in faith for bigger. Now, I am growing in confidence. Am I always a risk taker, bold enough to face anything? No...but I'm willing to take more risks now then before....good risks. Do I always have confidence in everything I do? No.....but I'm learning to walk more in the presence of Jesus where I find my self worth, and here, confidence isn't as much of an issue.               I may not be one hundred percent in growing since I was younger, but I'm better than where I was and this kind of comparison is truly healthy in moving toward com...

 For a moment, emptying this full cup, one of pressure under pressure; writing to rest....for a moment, hopefully.  Sidenote: If any of the writing on this blog has made a good impact on your life in someway (EVEN if it was something you may have enjoyed reading for a particular reason), please feel free to share this blog with someone else who could be blessed also. Thank you for your support!