Fresh Focus

The water trips over the rocks, the pebbles and the stones.
All of them different; none of them clones. The rays of the sun filter through the trees this lazy afternoon. My attentions are drawn to the buzzing busyness of the bees.

Bears in the stream..... playfully, their paws they dip.
Fun and fascinating to watch; wisdom should prevail.
Keeping your distance...that is my earnestly offered tip.

Nourishment for waiting babies, carefully carried by winged mothers headed for nests, purposefully positioned in the high branches of the trees. While little ones feed, the feathered choir sings a song that blends in perfectly with the orchestra of the wood.

Water trickling, tripping, gurgling, and bubbling;
 joining the wind flowing through the leaves of the trees; 
sounding like an open air symphony.

In the bushes are creatures wishing to remain unseen, 
anonymously making their way, rustling as they go, 
the scaly, the furry, the slithery. What or how many, 
I could not exactly say. I just know they surround me night and day. 

Berries, ripe and sweet, burst in my mouth and slide down my throat. They are superb, they have my vote.

The sun shines, the stars twinkle, the clouds roll by in 
darkness and in light. It's incredible, it's a breathtaking sight. 

What a world we live in; so many wonders, 
such brilliance to see. The details, depth, and variety, 
how can it be. Personally created, formed and planted. 
It's all there for you and for me. 

With admiration, notice..............
With gratitude, take in your surroundings,
With open eyes and fresh focus.

From the swiftly traveling hummingbird, to the speedy
lizard, sunning on the wall. From the classic rose to the 
blossoming lotus. The gift to engage all your senses, 
that of sight, taste, touch and smell; don't forget the amazing
gift of hearing as well. They all come from the giver of 
all things great and small.

He made it for you and for me. The effort it required.....
He didn't mind doing it....not even a little bit.....not
even at all.

  

I Dared

In, out, up, down, turn around.

Sunlight filters through the curtained window.

Darkened sky in contrast to the moonlight so bright.

Through the day I walk, through the night I dream.

To get through this life, it takes a village, it takes a team.

Lonely hearts, forgotten, invisible souls, the world passes

by in a frenzy, in a rush. Lost, alone the people drift,

the voices in their heads never quiet. They refuse to hush.

No place to lay their heads, to call their own. 

No people, no home.

Hope adrift on nothing solid they stand.

Another day to get through. Their hearts scream,

"I don't think I can." 

Fear grows, anger flows, 

confusion mounts, unrest rises.

What is needed the world cannot provide,

it is the gentle, loving hand of God from 

which no person present, past, or future

can hide.

Lost, alone, shaking; no sense is this life making.

The bottom is where I reach up to,

so many opportunities wasted.

Second chances; I have had more than a few.

One day I dared to reach up

to stretch with trembling hand

to the one extended toward mine.

He took hold with a firm and loving 

grip; not even a split second had gone by.

It was a deep breath I took, followed by 

a long awaited, relieved sigh.

On that day, I found out I was not forgotten.

I was seen and I was loved. Hope rushed in,

fear ran from me, fast and furious. 

Peace took up residence in my heart.

My mind, for the first time, was at rest.

Thoughts flowed with clarity like cool 

mountain water. Clear, clean and unobstructed.

The world marches on in confusion. 

Cruelty marches on in abounding quantity. 

But me, I found the secret. It is no secret at all.

I have discovered I have worth, value, and purpose.

I am safe now, tucked under God's protective wing.

The joy I now feel makes me want to shout, to sing.

God's hand extended, waited patiently for me. 

I dared to reach for His. 

It was the solitary act of faith He required.

It was the only thing.

Summer Sweet... Drifting, Dazzling, Reflecting

Sweet Smell of Summer

Drifting on the evening breeze.

The sky grows dark

The stars begin to dazzle

Quiet settles in

Conversation gives way

Comfortable silence arrives

These moments we have been

enjoying all our lives.

Memories of summers past 

take a stroll across my mind

and turn my thoughts to days

of cool watermelon and endless

laughter.

The days of dreaming,

expecting, and planning 

all the while 

skin browning, tanning.

Yesterday's dreams

Today's expectations

Today's realities of making

that dream a tangible,

touchable truth.

Tomorrow's reflections

on the sweet hand of God

guiding my steps, encouraging

me forward into the incomparable

middle of my dreams come true.

Sweet Smell of Summer

the mix of morning dew

and freshly cut grass

filling my nose.

Beautiful summer, beautiful day

A person just can't have too

many of those. 

It Was A Matter of 35 Cents

Sometimes a week consists of routine happenings that bore us to tears. Sometimes a week is filled with sweet surprises out of the ordinary. And then on those rare occasions a week can be extraordinary....filled with life altering events. They prick the heart, challenge the mind, all the while giving your body and your emotions a test of endurance.

I sit here on this Monday afternoon reflecting, absorbing, 
and digesting, or at least attempting to do so. The last few 
days..what has transpired is life.

On Tuesday morning I selected from my closet the most 
cheerful skirt I could find. Nothing dreary would do today. 
I refused.

After double checking the directions, we hit the road to gather with a group of people, some of them strangers to us, the rest loved ones.

We met that humid morning to say goodbye to a friend, mother, grandmother, aunt, and sister. Bittersweet, tears, laughter, and togetherness. The conclusion at the end of the day was that she lived her life well and long. 

Not one person in attendance would be left unstung by her absence.

Charging into Wednesday, it was time to switch gears. Time to head south and lend a hand. There was a wedding to prepare for, cupcakes to bake. It took many hours and multiple days, but the task was completed and the challenge met. What is the big deal in baking a few hundred cupcakes?

Emotions once again, ran high as the hours ticked ever so close to that breathtaking moment that turn a boy and a girl into a husband and a wife.

Transition from life to life eternal and transition from single to committing your heart to another. A beginning of life, not as we knew it. Adjustments all around.

So it begins. Our life story unfolds one day at a time, like an orchid unfurrowing its petals, slowly revealing beauty.

Births, weddings, funerals and the life we live in between.

I was stopped short the other day, going about the business of life between funerals and weddings. An encounter not to be ignored. I stood, looking into the meat case, deciding how much ground beef to buy. The young man that stepped forward to help was a new face to me. I pointed to the ground beef and asked for one pound. He set to work with precision; ever so carefully measuring out an exact pound. 

He was so exacting, it was an amazing thing to witness. Through conversation, he told me it was his first day, only helping out, not usually his department. In his heavy concentration, he had forgotten to print the label before he wrapped the meat in paper. This caused the price to go up. Not much, but this earnest young man was striving to be fair and do the best job possible. He reached into his pocket and handed me the difference. It was a matter of 35 cents. Honesty and honor still exist.

It touched me and gave me pause, for between weddings and
funerals in life, you have ordinary tasks and responsibilities 
that can catch you by surprise and make the ordinary... extraordinary.
                                                              

In my case, it was a matter of 35 cents.

Tiny and Mighty....Mightily Loved

Tiny and mighty, Determined, Daring, Gentle,

America became her home. Italy was her homeland. Her family, they were her heart. Tiny she was for certain, reaching a height most people achieve by elementary school. Her delicate frame and sweet countenance could fool a person, mistaking her as weak, helpless, a push over. I caution you not to be fooled. 

Strength is found in more than muscle. Although, she did have mighty strong little arms.

She weathered the storms in life, in circumstance, in relationship. She never quit, she never backed down. She was determined to move forward in life, though the waters ahead indicated a rough sea; a decidedly bumpy ride.....She dared to believe for sunshine.

The privileged people who knew her, loved her and
were influenced by her,were witnesses to the fact that she knew peace despite circumstance. Steady and undisturbed in the middle of  life's challenges. She took God at His Word that she could trust Him in all things, at all times, forever.

Life is made up of hello's and goodbye's to someone they love.....It is always too soon.

We will love her forever. Fortunately our goodbye today will only be for a time, just for right now. For in just a little while, we will say "Hello" again with open arms and joy uncontained. 

The tears will fall, but as we learned so much from this tiny, mighty force of nature, after the storm comes the sun. After the tears, we will once again find our smile each time our hearts turn to the memories so cherished.

Lena

May 20, 1921                     July 14, 2015

Take Flight

What is an expectation?......Most people are familiar with "That which I have feared most, has come upon me."   Anyone heard someone declare, "I knew this was going to happen." directly after something truly awful has transpired? Or "It was only a matter of time."

What is in an expectation?......Power......Often our energies, in thought and deed, as well as our words, focus on the things we fear, hate, or need least of all in our lives.

My mind's eye has always pictured a drunk driver focusing on oncoming headlights, veering into danger and destruction.

Of course the happenings in our lives might not continually reflect the drama of a catastrophic event. As life goes, a subtle, nearly imperceptible chain of happenings can have an equally devastating result. A series of choices, a slow shift in mindset that takes you down a road in life you never intended to travel...One day you look up, look back and realize, for the first time, "I know how I arrived at this place, but I have no clue how to change course. I feel stuck, afraid, confused and utterly helpless." All completely understandable.

The answer is found, though it often feels like it is hiding, in a series of new choices and a not so slow shift in mindset, a fresh expectation, and your words. What do you want? What do you need? Say so!! 

Our words, if you need a visual, are like little birds carrying messages. They take flight the moment we speak them.

The best thing to remember is to be intentional. 

Focus matters......Words live......Thoughts move us

If you feel stuck today, if your dreams have gathered dust and hopelessness stares you down like a watch dog, I encourage you to look straight into the face of that hopelessness and right out loud say, "I'm not having any part of that!" Dust off those dreams....they belong to you, they were meant for you alone to make them a reality.

No U turns in life....so go forward. Set aside regret and begin again. 

Life, the one you were meant to live.......Awaits you!!!

A Day, A Week, A Month, A Decade

Time is a curious companion, never inconstant, always with you. Silently it passes by bringing change. Always on the move, yet never leaving your side. When I was a kid, I went out one afternoon viewing the world from the back of a horse, enjoying the mountains as we trotted along. Then it happened, the horse reared up and took off alone, for I was suddenly deposited on the ground with a terrific force. I could not move, the pain was intense, but my legs were not responding to my signal. Hoof beats sent a vibration through the ground, returning closer and closer. I tried to remain calm, but braced myself that I might be trampled. The good news was that I had landed in between two boulders instead of ON one of them. I could have died that day; I didn't! My inability to walk could have been permanent instead of the several weeks of recovery I did experience.

That was so many years ago, it can be measured in decades. My injuries did leave a mark, and pain has been a frequent visitor, never letting me forget that day, but it didn't stop me from life until a month ago. I was given no choice but to be still as could be. That old pain felt fresh as the day I fell. So, I slept and healed while I convalesced, our constant companion passed by several days that turned into weeks.

With a little bit of a smile, I read an e-mail from a dear friend. She declared that she still loved me in spite of the fact that I had not sent her a "Whisper" lately. So I apologize for the silence to my friends and anyone else hoping to hear a fresh "Whisper".

I'm here, I will keep whispering. It would be so nice to hear a word, a thought, or an opinion from you out there, the few, the faithful. Talk to me.......