How To Live

In my usual morning routine I set up my space with coffee, laptop... music playing softly and begin a search for music before I begin writing in my blog. This gives me time to get into the 'zone' and contemplate what I should write about.

Some days are easier than others... and here is what I've learned when it comes to writing...

It is like talking for me... as soon as I open my mouth or set fingers to the keyboard, words pour out like so much flotsam and jetsam. At times my focus is razor sharp and others... well, its a little like what I imagine herding cats would be like. Helter skelter comes to mind, frustrating and infuriating also come to mind. Trying to marshal my thoughts into some semblance of order so that the readers can understand the message can be a daunting task.

Working through the healing process dear hearts may seem insurmountable, however, when pushed through can reap the benefit(s) of purging, settling, discarding and organizing thoughts that heretofore seemed impossible to navigate through and around.

Invariably the tears come, this too is healing... let the storm rage, let the dark clouds drift in...

With each tear I imagine hurt and damage dropping away...

With each tear I imagine God's heart and love for me pouring in...

With each tear I envision God breathing life back into the dry rocky ground...

The empty wasteland that in my minds eye I see spreading out for miles and miles... no greenery, just desolate dry ground.

I envision the love of those around me, the pure love of my grandchildren and the unfailing love of a son who never gives up... pouring into that bleak and damaged land with a wailing, screaming battle cry taking back what was taken away... stolen... dug up by the roots and thrown to the side to wither and die...

What I saw in this kaleidoscope of ever shifting sands and pitfalls was a rainbow of colours just resting beneath all this barren land, just waiting to grow up and out of the rocky soil, the grainy dry dirt... and what waters this soil are our tears, the tears of God's heart....

What waters this forsaken dead place?

love... compassion... kindness... grace...forgiveness....

To us and from us.... with every kind word... a green shoot appears...

To us and from us.....with every kind deed...the blooming of an exotic flower.. thrusting up to drink in the sun...

a hug from a stranger... the love of a dog... the purring of a cat... a dinner invite to visit with a new friend....conversation with old friends who know who you are and love you where you're at.

This.... all of it.... soaks into our dry bones and waters our very souls.

That dry desert will not stay a desert for long dear hearts. As we tend to our wounds and begin the process of healing, whatever that may be for you, you will find yourself gazing in awe at the growth visible in what you believed would be a wasteland forever.

oh... we will never be the same again, however I've come to realize that this is ok.

Coming out the other side of the pain, the torture, the hyper-vigilance and fear is a new you, coupled with the old you. Stronger, wiser and full of grace for the pain of others,

Full of grace for your pain.

Full of love and empathy and God-given, hard-earned experience.

You dear hearts have much to give... so much. Not yet perhaps... in this time of healing it is hard to fathom being useful to anyone...or yourself much less anyone else.

We shy away from the thought and yet when out amongst people you will see yourself naturally gravitating to the broken with a smile, a soft touch, a hug or a kind word.

You will find those broken finding their way to you. I promise you this... it is good, oh yes... it is good for your soul to take that time to surround others with your love.

Luke 6:38

give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

One day we will stop, turn and look back at the desolation in the path at this time in our lives and in awe and wonder at the power of God's love, we will see exactly where we were carried by the loving arms of the Father.... carried by the love of family and close friends...

and fall to our knees in gratitude and a thankful heart... one day.

That day may seem so very far away or perhaps you, like myself, can see so clearly the moments where we've tripped over that rock, stepped into a hole and fallen... and have been helped back up to place one foot in front of the other once more. each time a little stronger....

Do not give up on hope... hope gives us wings to fly, gives us the strength to rise and meet each day with grace and mercy. But the greatest of these is love:

Corinthians 13:13

'For there are these three things that endure: Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love. ... '

Stay strong dear hearts for you are not alone, never alone....