beWARM

If Utah’s Zion National Park is not on your bucket list, it very well should be. The breathtaking beauty of the sandstone cliffs backed by blue skies etches itself in your memory, and permeates your being. Such glorious vistas!

Immersed in outdoor nirvana, I am awed by nature’s magnificence – but also have the utmost respect for its inherent dangers.

We hiked to Observation Point, a steep climb rewarded by a spectacular view at the top. My fear factor was highly challenged, as the path, though plenty wide, at times had a sheer drop-off on one side. I could barely look down. Heart pounding, I hugged the “safe” side of the trail while praying for secure footing.

Our other option that day was Angel’s Landing – not quite as much elevation gain, but with one “perilous” section that “should be avoided by people with a fear of heights.” I decided that the only Angel’s Landing I ever want to see is the one I (hopefully) will encounter in the hereafter, thank you very much.

Coupled with the reminders for safety on the trails were flash flood warnings. Apparently these are quite common in this narrow canyon where storms can send water crashing through, causing an instantaneous and dangerous rise in the water level.

In such an instance, trying to outrun the water is futile; getting to a higher place is the best protection.

This natural phenomena is one thing – but how about the flash floods of life? You know…those times when situations or events overtake you with such force that you don’t know what hit you? Raging currents rush in,  turning your world upside down with dizzying force.

After we recover from the shock, we look back to see if we missed the warning signs – if only we had paid more attention!

If we’re fortunate enough to recognize impending tsunamis in our lives, we can get to higher ground to avoid those life-threatening overflows.

What would you be standing on in that elevated spot?  Would you be grounded in love…faith…hope…mercy…forgiveness…compassion? Holding fast to any of these can help sustain us through all kinds of trials.

If we’re caught in the torrents by surprise, we have to trust that God will provide the strength we need to stay afloat.

And, after the storm, we can look to His warm, radiant light to heal our hurts and revive our hearts.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.   
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you. ~Isaiah 43:2  New Living Translation

Each day comes to me with both hands full of possibilities. ~Helen Keller

Picture this:  The volume button for your inner voice is turned off, your mind dust has settled, and your resting pulse rate is at an all time low. Your hands are empty, open, and facing the ceiling.

Not a common state for anyone to be in these days.

Sitting still has become a rarity as we rush about our lives, every hour weighted with our seemingly endless doings. Moreover, if our hands are facing up, we are most likely embracing an electronic device, engrossed in up-to-the-minute happenings.

I am the first to admit to such foibles.

But something within keeps nudging me to seek stillness in the midst of this noisy world. In my attempt to be more receptive to God’s promptings, I continually make time for contemplative prayer. Such a luxurious indulgence, sitting quietly with Him.

These treasured moments restore my internal settings, defragmenting my scattered mind. I face the remainder of the day feeling expanded, able to enjoy the simplest tasks.

In Jan Johnson’s book, When The Soul Listens (which I highly recommend), she discusses the “palms up, palms down” method of centering, described by Richard Foster.

You begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic desire to turn over any concerns you may have to God. Whatever it is that weighs on your mind or is a concern to you, just say, “Palms down”. Release it.  After several moments of surrender, turn your palms up as a symbol of your desire to receive from the Lord.

This is your opportunity to ask God for His grace and assistance with the concerns of your heart, large or small.

There are alternate ways to enter into contemplative prayer; some use a simple word or phrase to help turn their minds toward God, silently repeating it when distraction occurs.

Whatever the method of choice, God appreciates your efforts.

I encourage you to open your hands to Him. Treat yourself to some alone time with The One who so desires your company. Share your deepest concerns and fondest desires.

Enjoy the sublime silence, and the soul-filling peace.

Listen for God’s voice. His gentle murmurings help you see more clearly.

And they might begin to change the topography of your heart.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. ~Hebrews 12:12-13

There is no greater measure of a woman’s worth or success than the extent to which she serves as the heart of her home. ~Nancy Leigh DeMoss

If it weren’t for our Mothers, we wouldn’t be reading these words right now. Through them, we entered the world – fresh, new, and full of promise. God gifted them – and us – with the miracle of life.

A mother’s heart is formed long before the birth of her first child. Somewhere deep within is the seed of a flowering love that blossoms in joy when a newborn is embraced. Could she ever have imagined life without this precious being in her arms?

Hope, dreams, and imaginings permeate…who will this little person become?  More important than whom he or she resembles, what thoughts will inhabit their minds and hearts?

Thus begins the great voyage of discovery.

For those of us who are Moms, we know full well the emotional landscape  of our profession. No amount of study or preparation can adequately prepare for the heartspace required for nurturing, let alone the physical and mental stamina necessary for the moments interruptus that ensue.

Somehow, each in our own way, we manage to thrive…and amazingly, so do our children.  Personal sacrifices of varying degrees come with the territory. We continually reach and extend to our children, always hoping we are imparting all of the best of us to them.

In return, we pray that they will learn to forgive our less than perfect moments, and hold fast the memories of family that knit our hearts and souls tightly together.

My thankfulness abounds in both directions.

My Mom is a treasure. Her quiet, enduring and gracious love has been a source of  both strength and comfort to me.  Her example serves as a guiding light.

Emily, Kristy, and Abby…my beautiful daughters, each blessing the world with their lives – and teaching me some lessons in living fully along the way.  I am honored to have birthed these women of grace.

Enza, Theo, and Vera…more flowers of my heart that have burst into bloom. I am so grateful to be able to experience the extension of our family, and enjoy my role as Nana to the fullest!

Mothers…hearts wide as the ocean…love that never ends                         …patience extraordinaire…forgiveness abounding…
…this bond can never be broken.

God’s call to mothers is a simple one – to love our children unconditionally, as He loves us.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.      ~1 Corinthians 13:13

If there is a time to dig deep spiritually, this is it.  Now is the Week of Weeks, the Holy of Holies.

The enormity of God’s sacrifice – and the intense, tortuous suffering Jesus endured on our behalf is beyond comprehension. I wince at the thought.

And yet, the reality of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection astounds.

Though He walked in obedience, I sometimes wonder what Jesus was thinking. Surely there might have been a moment when He wished otherwise, perhaps for a less sensational exit.

I am haunted by the images of thorns, nails, that heavy cross.  I doubt I could endure such weight, such horrible hurts.

How I react to the bumps and bruises of life could use adjusting – some tutoring from The Bravest One who submitted.

Could Jesus have known the agonies ahead?

In my small existence, the unwanteds enter, sometimes discreetly, other times catching me off guard,  knocking me for a loop.

Words, undesired, undeserved.  Decisions made, out of my control, affecting life-directions. News from afar, not good, slicing the heart like a machete. Fear that paralyzes, doubts that disintegrate trust. Body parts whining for attention, victims of age and overuse.

None of us is exempt from such entities.

Oh, that I can better receive the unexpecteds, the real and inconvenient truths that interfere with joyful ways. Life’s messy moments, barging in.  And just when things are going so smoothly.

Jesus, with stamina miraculous, experienced the worst injustices imaginable, all so that our sins could be forgiven. I stand in awe of this gift of God’s grace.

The words of Jesus as death closed in are the most remarkable: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” ~Luke 23:34

I think of the moments when I fail to embrace life’s undesirables with thanksgiving, with faithful acceptance.

Father, forgive me, for when I do not know what I am doing.

Father, forgive me, for I when do not trust what You are doing.

Father, forgive me for wondering if it’s really You who is engineering the doing.

Thankfully, God forgives. I welcome His generous mercy.

…and pray for the ability to gratefully receive all He sends.

After spending time with our youngest daughter Abby, I invariably come away with some fun and fresh menu ideas. I love learning from my children!

Since her high-school days, Abby has regaled us with her culinary artistry – and we, the ever-so-eager samplers of her inventive creations, have benefited from her knowledge of healthy eating habits.

In her teen years, when she used to whip up  salad dressings out of whatever stocked our pantry, we used to say, “You should sell these, Abs!”

Who knew we could predict the future?

Mom’s subjective bragging rights aside, Abby’s Table sauces and her Wednesday dinners in Portland are fresh, yummy, and clean – no fillers or preservatives here. And…they are gluten-free – a necessary element for many diets these days.

Most people in need of such a diet have been diagnosed with celiac disease, which, simply defined, is “a disease of the digestive system that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food”. (from freedictionary.com)

One theory as to the rise of celiac disease has to do with the methods used to breed modern varieties of wheat, resulting in a less “gut-friendly” grain.

Which got me to thinking about the diet of my soul and mind.

Am I ingesting meaningful thoughts for thriving – or have I been content with non-purposeful pablum? Do I stand true to my convictions – or have I, over time, allowed mental modifications to adjust them to the current social climate?

What in my life is interfering with the absorption of nutrients of the spirit?

Let’s name a few… busyness, unnecessary worry, electronic devices ( though I am still trying to Opt-Out more often), simple lack of discipline.

Excuses, excuses… so easy to make; and yet, think of the benefits of committing to “pollutant-free” mind food.

Clarity…peace…discernment..rest…

Free of toxins, these blessings optimize  our “ingesting” capabilities, allowing our expanded and clearer minds to absorb all things good.

Quoting again from freedictionary.com: “As more is learned about celiac disease, it becomes evident that it has many variations which may not produce typical symptoms. It may even be clinically ‘silent,’ where no obvious problems related to the disease are apparent.”

The same holds true for souliacs. We can quietly, unknowingly, contaminate our minds and hearts, with potentially harmful, even devastating effects in the long-term.

Let’s not succumb to Mindless Fluff. Junk-food, be gone! Let’s be thoughtful and intentional when making our spiritually nourishing selections.

God’s Word is the perfect place to start.

But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. ~ Psalm 81:16