Contemplating Life

  I have a brother who lives many miles away in Georgia, and I have had the privilege of visiting him and his family a few times over the years. I have such sweet memories of those visits, the greatest of which is the time my brother and I spent out on his boat, just the two of us. (And then there is my brother’s cooking – he is a GOOD cook). But for this blog, I want to recall the memory of a Lazy River. I remember the day many years ago when my sister-in-law and niece took me to a large water park. The whole day was a blast, but for me the piece de resistance was the Lazy River. It was a large water park, and you were able to float in a tube on this slowing moving river of water that meandered around the park. I still remember the feeling of relaxing back into the inner tube and allowing the water to carry me slowly along. I did not have to paddle or fight – there was a source of power that carried me. The water flowing over and around me kept me cool in the heat of the sun, and the

  Today is my birthday. I am turning 62, and I think this will be the best birthday ever. We are not doing anything big or fancy. In fact, the plans I had we canceled because...well... I find 104 degrees intimidating. I decided to stay low-key and low energy today. It will be a simple day doing simple things like playing with poetry in the morning, buying new hiking shoes that I desperately need, and probably having ice cream somewhere because what is a birthday without ice cream? And I think this will be the best birthday ever. I feel that way because of how my heart soared when I woke up this morning. My first thoughts were thoughts of thanksgiving. I have Jesus. I have a Savior Who has saved me to the uttermost. I belong to a God Who is faithful, compassionate, patient, merciful, and who actually “delights” in who I am. He made me utterly complex (just ask my husband) and all for His Glory and His Purposes. I AM LOVED. As I lay on my pillow this morning I pondered many things. T

I see You when I walk In the dust that flies up around my ankles In the tender grasses that wave a graceful “hello” In the clouds that puff and dissipate Across the glorious expanse of the skies In the tracks of your creation That leave their marks on the sandy road Sometimes I temporarily see their presence But they choose to flee Away from my alien existence. I see You when I walk. I hear You when I walk In the melodies of bird song That resonate in worship In the tinkling of the breeze blown leaves As they dance to their own music In the lowing of hungry cattle That is carried across the distance In the cry of a hawk overhead Searching intently for prey to apprehend In the rumble of distance thunder As a storm begins to near. I hear you when I walk. I feel you when I walk In the sun that bakes my body Bearing down like heaviness from above In the sweat that trickles down me Tiny rivulets from head to toe In the breezes that tickle my skin Bring