of raspberries and simplicity

"my life can be so arranged that i can live on whatever i have.

if i cannot live as i have lived in the past,

i shall live differently; and living differently does not mean

living with less attention to the things that make life gracious and pleasant,

or with less enjoyment of the things of the mind."

-e. roosevelt

i was driving down 33 to ruth’s house, glorying in the beauty of the west virginia mountains. i pulled over and stretched out my arms, wondering why God had brought me to this beautiful place. i arrived and began unpacking. after shuffling boxes until i was ready to drop, i had to ask myself why God moved me to this place. i then discovered that the library did not have my free wireless access, and that i had to open a new bank account. ‘twas then i groaned, ‘why, God, did you bring me to this place?’

expectations. deceitful things, aren’t they? sometimes merely another word for my selfish wants. by believing it’s my due to receive certain things in life, that a few ‘trifles’ are owed to me, all i have left are disappointments galore.

i like eleanor’s quote up there, but it seems to me that psalms 16:11 says the truth even better. “thou hast shown me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures forevermore.” His presence equals joy, no exceptions allowed. It does not say that friends equal joy, or family, or even cheesecake and chocolate. it’s all about surrender, about resting in His omnipresence.

how comforting.

so even in the midst of adjustments, in the middle of the surprises that change brings my way, joy is guaranteed me on a life warranty! i decide to stop groaning and start smiling.

ruth and i picked raspberries today, heaps of ‘em, and we are going to have shortcake for breakfast. my room is almost in order, and i even found the perfect nifty shelf at walmart for $9.88! and when i brooked my nervousness and went to a youth retreat thing tonight [brave, don’t you say] i even enjoyed myself.

so there. simplicity. and joy. i’m learning.

this moment to hold

we have this moment

to hold in our hands, and to touch

as it slips through our fingers like sand.

yesterday's gone,

and tomorrow may never come,

but we have this moment today.

this song was a sentimental cliche in my younger years;

therefore, i've never liked it much.

but these past few days have shown me that it speaks the truth

and there are some feelings-

as one comes to the end of a chapter in one's life-

that cannot be expressed in any better way.

this moment we have...let us hold it tenderly, carefully, and with love.

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wherever you are

are you standing at a crossroad
wondering which road you should take?
and you're dreading the decision
and a possible mistake.
but the will of God won't lead you
where the grace of God can't keep you;
and you will never be out of His care.
remember that the Lord's already there.

you are waiting to hear thunder
and see lightening in the sky;
oh, but God can work His wonders
through a still small voice inside.
so keep listening and learning
and continue on the journey,
following the One who is the Way;
for He's the only road you need to take.

wherever you are,
wherever you're going,
God is right there beside you seeing and knowing.
wherever you go He already knows
what lies ahead and what's behind;
you'll always find He's never too far
from wherever you are.

-mccullough and lindsey-

oh, the places we've been

special night, dad.

and in honor of father's day,

i just wanted to say

that your involvement in my life is superb.

i cannot measure the quality time

you have spent with me.

you treated me to a first date at age 13,

you were my personal escort to a writer's conference,

you took me to street meetings

and even man-handled a tow truck ride on the way home.

you cleared out an office or two to give me space for my dreams

and you've believed in me when i have forgotten how to believe in myself.

love you much.

in others' words

"how far you go in life

depends on your being tender with the young,

compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving,

tolerant of the weak and strong-

because someday you will have been all of these."

george washington carver

don't let me lose my wonder

don't let me lose my wonder

by keith & kristyn getty

i've seen days melt into nights in circles of lights,

i've watched a spider spin a star between the window box flowers,

i've heard you laugh and cry in a single sigh

and a story form within.

don't let me lose my wonder,

don't let me lose my wonder.

i saw her broken dreams inside but helping others fly,

i saw his eyes without a doubt though other lights faded out,

and though her calling roared, such graciousness poured

from the vision of her soul.

don't let me lose my wonder,

don't let me lose my wonder.

a baby cried through the dark beneath a jeweled spark,

i knew Your voice upon the hill and heard my lostness still,

i found my home in the light where wrong was made right

and You rose as the morning star.

don't let me lose my wonder,

don't let me lose my wonder.

this song, mariah, has taught me about Wonder...but you show me much more.

stepping down the rainbow sidewalk

you dart away

to teach me that Delight is found in picking tulips.

we go swinging at kerry park

and i meet Happiness

in the breeze that teases your curly pigtails.

at the tweet of a robin,

at sunshine and puppies,

when holding tight to a friendly hand...

you smile at what Life is all about.

and you show me

that the meaning of life is not a dutiful acceptance of 'my lot',

but rather, about Trust.

i thank God you remind me

each day was not meant to be a struggle.

instead, Joy herself greets me at unexpected moments

and in unwonted places

when i look through the eyes of one very special little girl.