Herculaneum

As we head south for our time of healing provided by none other than the sounds of the waves washing upon the sands from the Gulf if Mexico, we stop off at Herculaneum, MO. I must ask, what would one benefit from naming a town such? Interesting none-the-less & nothing to make it stand out from any other place to recharge a travelers soul.

Here's to the Herculaneum irony in all of our lives. May we each discover random oddities in the humor of our travels.

Good Bourbon

So, shopping for me is always an adventure; actually, my life is an adventure. Anyhoo, when one is making a Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie that calls for 1/4 cup of Bourbon, one must purchase such.

So, standing in Wally World, with no clue about what Bourbon really is, I decide to head to Hy-Vee instead and let their Spirits manager assist me. I know he thinks I am a dork when I explain to him that I am buying the two airplane sized bottles of Southern Comfort to obtain a 1/4 cup for my pie. He proceeds to tell me that the bottles I am holding in my hands are NOT good Bourbon and places within my hands, Jim Beam, which he tells me will make my pies scrumptious.

Off to the checkout lane in the main section of the store, where my young, male checker & bagger obviously do not believe that this purchase is for baking and not drinking, while handing the two bottles to me to put into my purse. Like I plan to sip it and drive with my 10 year old. The nerve. However, no matter how much explaining I did about them being purchased for my pies, they did not believe me. I am crushed. Not really, I find it amusing. Oh, and the Spirits Manager tells me he prefers his Bourbon over ice, no water. Eww! ;o)

The Ocean

Two weeks from today & I shall be inhaling deeply of saltwater breezes! I can just about hear the roar of the waves as they move towards shore & the tinkling sounds the water makes as it brushes up against recently deposited seashells. Dolphin sightings at the beginning & end of most days & hungry gulls trying to assist me with my toast.

Only dry spinners allowed?

An intriguing site here in Springfield, MO; a fitness center that connects to a package liquor store. Makes me wonder what type of disclaimers they make their gym members complete before utilizing their equipment.

The Shedding of the Chameleon

Oh dear spirit, what has become of thee?

The innocent, accepting, trusting nature from birth.

Young child of pain, what does your heart long for?

Young adult, learning to hide thy true self; longing to be known, fearing the result.

Woman, mother now too; looking with love into the depths of your new baby's eyes. Daring to love her with all of your being. Making silent vows to love her with a love like you wish you had known.

Oh spirit, you have been found. Twas love that you needed to draw you out. The unconditional love of another. From One who can love you and did love you and does love you right where you are.

Prayer that works

Too often I hear people say, I'll be thinking 'good thoughts' for you! May I ask what power there is in a 'good thought'? Would you rather people think 'good thoughts' for you or tell you they will be praying a prayer before the very throne of our almighty God who hears our prayers & loves us & comforts us & who heals? I'll take the later any day!

When Love Touches a Beautiful Soul

Today I was reminded of how it breaks my heart for people to feel lonely and unloved.  I had the most amazing opportunity to call and speak with a home bound 71 year old widow.  She is pretty much deaf for all purposes and is feeling the effect of declining health.  To the world, she is used up and not needed.  Set aside so that the so-called lovely and worth-while things of this life can be given attention to.

While talking to this lovely gem of a woman, she told me time and again that my call meant a million times over to her.  She continued to thank me as I told her I am only a phone call away.  It is beautiful what speaking love and kindness into another's heart does.  You could hear the age melting away from her voice.  You could imagine her relishing in childhood memories of being found attractive and worth-while and able to contribute. 

Blessing her with love I would argue did as much for my soul as it did hers.  I wish that our society did not neglect those that have gone before us.  I wish our culture would cherish the richness of what lies within their souls.  For we shall truly be a damaged culture if we do not take time to invest in the elderly and less lovely of our culture or so the world would deem them.  I would argue that they hold more beauty than what our culture cherishes. 

Blessed are they who love others and work to be the wind beneath the wings of those who are lowly.....

How will you spend your day?

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life for many. ~ Matthew 20:28

How often we so easily forget that this life we live is not about us.  How will you spend your day?  Will you spend it absorbed in yourself, or will you look outside of yourself to the life that is going on around you and the needs that you see in the eyes of each person who passes you by? 

True joy is found not in serving yourself.  If that were the case, you would finally arrive at the spot where you feel satisfied.  One can also argue that in service to others you will not find satisfaction either; as you will be faced with the needs that are so immense that you will be ignited to do more, serve more, give more, help more.  But this route of living, you will find is fueled by faith and it is inspiring and it will grow and you will pour yourself out for the good of others and in your exhaustion find peace; in your weariness, rest; in the heartbreak of others, love as you walk alongside them and carry the burdens of their lives.

May you find today, many ways to be the person that God created you to be.  Do not be a complacent consumer; a taker.  Be a giver.  It is the key to true satisfaction.  For as Jesus says in Matthew 10:39, whoever finds his life will loose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  This my friends are the words of life where you find the meaning of this journey of life that we are all on.

Is my life really summed up by an excel file?

As I anxiously await the beauty of a finished pages of the spreadsheet I worked on until the wee hours of the night last night; I find that yet again, technology is not my friend this morning.  It will NOT print!  This spreadsheet holds the culmination of interest surveys that were completed by women who attend my church.  It covers what interests they would have in certain programs and where their greatest needs are as well.  It is a tool that will help the 5 other women and me who are on our Women's Ministry team develop relevant programs for these women; to make the program about them and not just a stab in the dark as we try to serve them. 

I find it ironic that as I work on such, I feel all the more discomfort in the selections I have chosen when the decisions of my life have come to that inevitable "T" in the road.  Why is it that we so often choose to take the route that leads to pain?  The route that takes us entirely away from where we know true happiness is found?  What if we just STOPPED and took the path that would perhaps not be all that comfortable, but would lead us to find true comfort amidst the discomfort. 

I have been told and believe it is quite true, that we feel this discomfort because God is not ever going to let us be satisfied with our status quo.  Our ability to make a nest and settle in for the winter, so to say.  He is continually allowing this discomfort and unease to peak. It is His best tool at getting us up and moving.  To meditate on Him.  He would actually love it if we could be quiet enough for long enough to shut out the noise of this life and hear what He is prompting and prodding us to do. 

Why do we not listen?  I think we forget the universe is not ours. We 'think' we know best.  I mean....certainly we can each create a universe.....right?  Or if not....and the last time I checked...not a soul I have ever had the pleasure to encounter has ever struck up their own tangible universe....why do we act like we are lone rangers on this path of life. 

When will I stop living for something other than what I should?  When will you do the same?  What would it look like if we each lived to fulfill the precise spot in life that only we, as we were intended to do so, took upon ourselves?

So much for my thoughts this Sunday morn.  I give....you win Excel.  I could care less about your silly self.  I'll just present my findings off of my iPad or laptop.  Whichever product decides to be kind to me today.

Cheers from Missouri!

The scent of Fall

Bonfires, wieny roasting, hayrides & good friends. Cupcakes made, good cheer spread & final outdoor activities enjoyed before Winter cones to drive us inside & our socialization becomes a bit less frequent.

I'm thankful for my friends & the time we share with each other. Laughing until you cannot talk; enjoying tales, some talker than others.

In this age of electronic media communication, it takes effort to be our true self outside of the electronic realm. Too often we hide behind 140 characters or less. But others really do need our face-to-face interaction with them. Here's to purposefully finding ways to breathe life & love into those we encounter today.

What makes you tick?

I mean seriously, why even get up in the morning?  What drives you?  What do you hunger for?  Do you see others around you or are you self-absorbed?  Have you ever spent any time contemplating why you exist?

These are all things I ponder...almost daily. Am I happy with who I am; with how I treat others; with the way I love; with my tendency to be self-absorbed; with my contributions or lack thereof into others lives. 

What drives me?  What drives you?  What do you hope to do with your life?  Where do you hope to be at some randomly distant point in the not so distant future?

Let's do....muse together......