Who is really in control?

The sun is shining brightly in Nashville today and the birds are chirping. The grass is green and the flowers are standing up as if in praise. I am so grateful for days like this. It feels as though there is nothing that can go wrong. It feels as though we deserve this kind of day; that every day should be like this!

Last Saturday was the Music City Marathon. Runners prepare for this for months; some for the whole year, and some their whole lives. There are many dreams and arbitrary walls knocked down during this run: the voices from the past that said you never finish anything, the resounding feeling of overcoming physical setbacks, the dream come true as you sprint across that finish line.

Last weekend the skies looked ominous and 3 miles short of the finish line the run was halted. The sadness was apparent on many faces. This was another setback in life, a disappointment. To many it was another state to cross off of their lists of marathons to accomplish all 50 states. WHY? Why did the weather not cooperate? It was nice the day before and the day after the race.

We are NOT in control. We have have been and never will. There is a much higher power that controls the switches for the rain, the hail, the sun, moon and stars. And He chose that day to open the flood gates.

WHY? The WHY will never be answered. But take a minute to sit back and give the controls back to your creator. He has been at the helm since before the beginning of time, and He does a much better job than any of us can. Let's trust, and know that we are not, and will never be in control, no matter how many plans we make.

If the race finished there may have been many more injuries, there might have been something vicious that happened, there might have been...well, you get the picture.
Drop to your knees and say a prayer of thanks for all that you have been given, and all that has been taken from you. Because, after all, Father Knows best!

A Day in the Life

Yesterday I had the perfect day.
What made it that way?
As I look back on the events of the day it was probably just the fact that I made up my mind to have the best day possible.
I started out at my daughter Jacki's house in Conway, Arkansas and drove to meet my sister and her husband in Branson, Missouri - a mere two hours away.
I loved everything about it - the drive, the hills, the weather, just life.
Was I disappointed? Not one tiny bit!
We hugged, we laughed, we ate, we chatted with people, we went to shows, and we just loved every moment of this life we have been given. One more day.
Too few days are spent in being present at every second. We spend our minutes/hours/days/life living out the past or planning for the future.
Yesterday I lived in the present. It was so much fun - I think I will do it again today!

Welcome today!

I woke up this morning in anticipation. For what? That is a surprise - even to me!
I want to know why I feel this excitement, why I just know that today is going to bring just the people that are supposed to be in my life.
I am going to work at the Southern Women's Show in Nashville for Salem Communications, the local Christian radio station.
What a feeling! To be among all of those women, and to be able to maybe, just maybe, be able to witness about what God has done in my life; what He IS doing. I look forward to laughing, loving and connecting. I am hoping to be able to break bread with one of His finest miracles.
I am excited about today, I am excited about the unexpected gifts that He has in store for me. I am already thankful for what is to happen that I could not plan.
Today I open my life and heart up for the big dream that the Dream Giver has for me.
Today my life will be just the way it is supposed to be.

Today is the Day!

Is it Time to Let Go?

I tried to call a girlfriend on Monday. She answered, but was in a meeting. She whispered that she would call back when she was finished. That was two days ago.
I have called her before and she says she will call back. I believe her every time.
A couple of months ago we had a misunderstanding. It was worked out - very well, I thought.There was understanding and apologies. Just the way that adults work out problems. The end.
I mean the end of the misunderstanding, not the end of the friendship that we had built up.
As Americans we tend to throw away things that are imperfect, that need a little work. We want new and perfection. No wonder we are never happy.
When did relationships become disposable?
When I think back over the past months since our little tif, I have tried to call my dear friend. Most of the time I would get a machine. She was someone that used to promptly call back. Now that I think of it, she rarely called back.
There is a time to let things go, but it is so hard. I guess I don't understand disposing of people. But it is time to let go because she must not have been attached to me the same as I was attached to our friendship. That is a hard realization.
I appreciate my friends that disagree, get annoyed, then love just the same. That is real life. Each disagreement is merely a chance to learn to communicate and learn how to work out conflict. What a gift!
Working out problems only makes you stronger; makes relationships tighter.
But there is a time to let go and let people walk away. That day for me is today.

Where is your strength?

I was reflecting on life and thinking about life's challenges. They can be overwhelming. If we allow them to. This past year has been a really challenging year for me. I feel the winds of change blowing in my life. And now I am ready for them.
When we have challenges many times we tend to act like a chicken and run to the coop to hide. I have been guilty of that time and time again. Probably one of my biggest faults. As a child we were never taught how to face problems head-on. We retreated or got someone else to fend for us. Not real good life lessons.
I realize now that there are other ways to deal with challenges - and that is to allow them to make me stronger.
The eagle - when facing a storm - will allow the storm to lift him up as he stays true to himself and stays strong. The winds will lift him up and make him stronger as he fights what is trying to come against him. His wings are stronger, he knows that storms are only temporary and that he will get through this one just like the last one.
I have decided that I have been chicken long enough. I am spreading my wings and facing each storm.
Go ahead winds...I am ready for you!

Meditation

I thought I knew how to meditate. I had bought Cd's on the technique. I set aside time to meditate.
And then I went to a class with my girlfriend last night and I realized: I do not know how to meditate.
We sat in a room on pillows and got comfortable.We closed out eyes and the leader told us how to focus on or breathing. We sat for 30 minutes and focused on our breathing and controlled the thoughts that were coming into our heads. The leader would ever so gently remind us to concentrate on our breathing. Every time he did this I felt as though he was in my head and he was reeling me back in!!
We sat in total silence for 30 minutes and listened to the sounds around us, focused on our breathing, and became aware of the thoughts that knock against the walls of our brains!
Believe it or not, that was a fast 30 minutes.
After we talked about things that went on, challenges we have, and asked questions, we meditated for a happy 10 minutes and loved on ourselves - in our heads!
Meditation...a great time to get in touch with the chatter in our heads and clear out some space.

The sound of family

My daughter Jacki arrived last night from Conway, Arkansas. The instant that she walked into the house, it felt alive. The furniture that we plopped into felt more comfortable, the house smelled like family and the laughter seemed louder and life was good.
Family has a way of putting life into perspective. The things that we worried about during the day do not seem as challenging, the grocery shopping that didn't get done, well, it will get done. The dirth kitchen floor - not a priority.
Lauren will walk into the doors today and the house will be alive - with her loud, infectious laugh, her entertaining ways and her love.
Katie will be missed - but her spirit will be here - circumstances do not allow her to be her.
Family...the way it was meant to be. The spark of life.
Enjoy every precious moment with them.