Finding Joy and Purpose

The one who listens to me, who carefully seeks me in everyday things and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness. (Proverbs 8:34, The Voice)

Swirling mist blurred vibrant reflections on the mirrored lake. Minutes later, little clouds dissipated and an up-side-down forest glowed on the water. 

            Cypress limbs, heavy with last night’s rain, drooped like a weary traveler. Water diamonds gathered on the patio screen and waited to twinkle in the sun. 

            A couple of trees in the forest glowed a brilliant green, but shadows subdued the rest of the woods. 

            Despite the somber mood, cheerful birds sang melodious tunes. A spider web glistened from one limb to another of my oak tree. 

            Isolation brought changes both favorable and unfavorable. For months, I stayed home alone. Normal activities stopped, but I discovered uplifting shows on television. My car rested but biking surged. Walking provided daily exercise. 

            During the pandemic, my time enjoying nature from my patio increased. A collection of birds appeared daily from a tiny hummingbird to majestic eagles. An abundance of vivid flowers graced my garden. My time with God each morning became richer and more bountiful as my faith grew. 

            After days of jumping from one activity to another with little focus, I wrote a lengthy to-do list. Gradually, the list grew smaller. Along with chores like cleaning the garage and purging files, I read many books, and returned to long forgotten crafts. With two butterfly cages, I became fascinated with the metamorphosis of Monarch butterflies.  Even though the Internet kept me connected to the world. But cards and phone calls to  family and friends relieved loneliness. Leisurely days, continued for several weeks. 

            Then Zoom enterer my life with three Bible studies, writers’ group meetings, writing critique sessions, and board meetings. Local charities needed supplies so I braved the virus, donned my homemade mask, and ventured out. After weeks of free time, suddenly, I needed a schedule.  

            When the sun rose and light replaced shadows, life around the lake changed. Likewise, opening up our country took me into a new phase. 

            Living in isolation restyled my life in positive and negative ways. Although I missed being with family and friends, I enjoyed a less complicated way of life. 

            Decisions await. Will I return to an often-hectic schedule or cut back on some activities? Will I continue pursuits I actually enjoy or hang on to stressful obligations? Will I remove the insignificant to concentrate on the significant? 

            In seclusion, I realized what was most important. Praying for wisdom and direction, reading the Bible, enjoying people I treasure, and serving with the love of Jesus give me joy and purpose. God takes it all and weaves something beautiful. 

Loving Father, thank you for working in my life and revealing your plan for me even in the midst of such change and uncertainty. Amen

Missing Another Miracle

Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” (John 5: 17 NIV)

Not again. Hour after hour I knelt on my patio floor to examine the small butterfly cage which held two Monarch caterpillars. One hung from the top which signaled it was preparing to form a chrysalis. The second larva crawled along the side with tiny black legs. 

            As day turned into evening, the brightly striped caterpillar darkened. His long body began compressing into a smaller version. He hung up-side-down but his head struggled to look upward. 

            The plastic top of the cage blurred my view but hour after hour I went onto my patio to see its progress. I longed to watch the larva spin a small, green chrysalis around its body. Before bed, I made one last trip outside. Nothing had changed. 

            Just after dawn, I walked to my porch and looked down at the butterfly cage. A green chrysalis hung tightly to the cage. I missed the miracle of transformation. Perhaps the little critter didn’t want to be watched as he wrapped his body into a chrysalis.  

            Even though I missed the conversion from larva to pupa eighteen times, I marveled at the results of metamorphosis every time. The beauty and intricacy of God’s creation filled me with wonder and awe. 

            His miracles occur all around me. Seeds become exquisite flowers. Bare cypress trees fill out in waves of green. Eagles lay eggs and hatch tiny reproductions of themselves. I don’t observe the entire process of those changes either but the results astonish me. 

            Before Alan died, people prayed for his healing. When the doctor predicted six months of life for him, Alan continued living. For two months, he organized, planned and scheduled an array of things so I wouldn’t have to. He shared his faith with friends, family and even the man who brought oxygen to our house. During that time, I watched him move toward heaven as his faith grew. 

            Only later, did I realize how much he prepared for his journey to heaven and for me to live without him. Because he died knowing he would be with Jesus, I also had peace and strength to get through my time of grief. 

            Over and over, God has placed people in my life who are grieving so I can comfort them. During his final months, I didn’t realize all the changes in Alan or myself.  When I look back, I can see how God orchestrated another miracle. 

Dear Father, thank you for loving us and teaching us even when we don’t see it. You are constantly performing miracles. Help us notice small and big ones every day. Amen   

Conflicting Alerts

I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber. (Psalm 121: 1-3 NIV)

As I tried to fall back asleep, my phone binged. Normally, I heard no calls or messages until after 7 am. My curiosity propelled me from my bed. 

            A weather alert proclaimed a severe thunderstorm warning for my area. At least it wasn’t a tornado warning like earlier in the week. 

            Since I was up, I fixed a cup of tea and headed outside. An ebony cloak wrapped my patio so I could see nothing beyond the screen. Wind rustled trees as I wrote in my gratitude journal. While I read my daily devotionals, lightning flashed closer and closer. 

            Wind rushed through my patio. Rain pelted the roof and dripped down the screens. Thunder rumbled. Another weather alert said there were no longer storms in my area. 

My eyes and ears disagreed. 

            Even though I enjoy sitting on my patio on rainy days, staying during thunder and lightning probably wasn’t a great idea. 

            With a couple of trips to transfer my tea, books, journal and phone, I settled down on the couch in my living room. Not my favorite spot to write, read and pray but safe and secure. 

            While the storm continued, I checked the weather channel on my phone. It showed thunderstorms over my town and a tornado watch for five more hours. How could my alert be so different from the weather channel? 

            Rain slowed. Rolling thunder and flashes of light moved away. A gray dawn crept across the lake. 

            Weather alarms and my own limited observations clashed. Even though I tried to find a clear answer, none came. 

            Likewise, I would love to have a definite answer to the end of the pandemic. When will I be able to visit my family? Go out to lunch with friends? Invite people into my home? However, just as I couldn’t see into the dark morning, I can’t see into the future. No one else can either. Predictions can be made but those don’t always agree. 

            God sees the whole picture when I only see a tiny slice. It is easy to worry about what is coming but better to trust that God has it under control. 

Lord, give us peace as we endure the pandemic. Help us trust you as our protector. Amen

Darkness and Despair

Wind whipped through the trees before dawn. Darkness entombed the lake. 

            Heavy clouds blocked the sun as light crept into the  shadows. Waves rushed across the water. 

            The morning gloom seemed an appropriate setting to read of Jesus’ mock trial, crucifixion, and burial. I read each of the Gospel accounts from the Last Supper until His burial. 

            From celebrating on Palm Sunday to the despair on Good Friday, His followers felt a full range of emotions. In less than a week, their lives went from hope and light to anguish and darkness. Uncertainty for the future. 

            Good Friday appeared to be the end. A ruthless end to a promising, glorious life. Questions filled their minds and hearts. What do we do now? Will we be killed too? Where do we go? Was Jesus lying?

            The present pandemic poses similar questions. We struggle to know what to believe. What do we do to be safe? Will we or loved ones fall to the disease? How do we cope? 

            For people who don’t know Jesus, there is a pit of despair. Fear, anxiety and desperation fill their lives. 

            However, for Christians who know the rest of the story, there is peace in the turmoil. The journey is not easy or without questions but ultimately, we know God is in control. The pandemic clearly shows we aren’t in control. 

            After a time, Good Friday and the pandemic will end. In the meantime, we have silent Saturday which is a time to reflect and trust God. 

            As we wait expectantly for Easter, we can also look ahead to the time when the virus is but a memory. 

Near the place He was crucified, there was a garden with a newly prepared tomb. Because it was the day of preparation, they arranged to lay Jesus in this tomb so they could rest on the Sabbath. (John 19: 41-42 The Voice)

Loving Father, help us trust you in dark times just as we do in good times. Waiting is hard. Don’t let us forget the lessons from our times of despair. Amen

Tears of Sorrow

Like a dark cloak, sadness shrouded me yesterday morning. I missed talking and laughing with Alan.  Being with my family. Spending time with friends. Attending Bible studies. Going to church. Normal interaction with people. 

            For five weeks, I have been isolated and at home with only a few trips outside my development. Working on projects kept me busy and accepting of the situation. 

            But when I awoke at 4:30 am my mind wouldn’t shut off. The magnitude of the pandemic seemed overwhelming. The effects of the virus far reaching. My 96 year-old aunt is lonesome in an assisted living facility with no visitors, church service or eating with others in the dining room. Several friends have health issues and no certain diagnosis yet. Other lonely widows feel depressed. Cousins work in high risk jobs. Families in turmoil because of losing loved ones. Millions of people are out of work. I wondered when or if life would ever be normal again. 

            While I walked across my dark bedroom, tears started. I didn’t try to stop them. For weeks, I dealt well with being sick and isolated. Like a simmering volcano, sadness and tears flowed. There was no eruption but a releasing stream of sorrow that I knew would not last.           

            At 5:30 am, I turned on my computer and saw a devotional from Pastor Matt. He reviewed the message of his Sunday sermon. Fear versus Hope. Just what I needed to hear. 

            When I moved to my patio, I thought of Jesus during the last week of His life. He also felt sorrow and wept over Jerusalem. He prayed and cried out to God. He knew friends would deny Him. Judas would even betray Him. But He continued teaching, loving and praying even as He faced death. 

            Later, a walk outside revived me. Stopping to talk to several friends pushed sadness away. I chatted with neighbors. Friends arrived later for Easter pictures by the lake. Dressing up in a colorful dress, fixing my hair and adding a cute hat, reminded me of previous Easters. 

            During the pandemic, I need to stay connected to God, family and friends. There will be times of sadness and loneliness, which can be acknowledged, but not a place for me to dwell. 

O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. (Isaiah 33:2)

Heavenly Father, give us strength and peace as we continue to face the unknown and deal with the pandemic. Bring people to you. Amen

Is it True? Is it Kind? Is it Helpful?

As I hear and read numerous words during this horrendous time, I am reminded of words I heard long ago. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it helpful?

            Isolation, loss of jobs, sickness and uncertainty cause fear, frustration and anger. Changes occur daily. Unforeseen situations come often. No one has experience in dealing with such a pandemic.  

            Workers on the front lines face unfathomable circumstances the rest of us cannot imagine. Frustration of not saving patients, having limited supplies, exposing themselves and their families to the virus causes constant stress. 

            Leaders from local, state and our nation deal tirelessly as they try to make timely and appropriate decisions. Each one is attempting to make the best ruling with the facts known at a specific time. However, day by day and hour by hour, situations change. 

            Like armchair coaches watching their favorite games and giving unsolicited advice, many Americans feel they know better than the leaders. 

            Of course, many of the decisions can be controversial and perhaps not the best when looking back. However, no one wants more people to be sick and die. No one wants the economy to plummet. Problems occur. But I think they are all trying to do what is best with what they know at the time which is why there are reversals.  

            Instead of criticizing and berating, wouldn’t it be better to band together? Refrain from condemning. Encourage those who are making hard decisions and those on the front lines. Reach out to family and friends near and far. We are all in this together and can’t escape it. 

            Before posting, try to see if it is true which can be difficult. Is it kind? Will it be helpful? 

            As I was growing up, my parents would say, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

            If we all did that, our world would be much quieter. Social media would be less busy. 

            For me, prayer is an important part of my day. Reading the Bible gives me peace and strength to get through. Listening to sermons, devotions and music keeps me from focusing on the dire news. 

            We will get through this and being united will make the process easier. 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34: 4 NIV)

Dear Lord, give us peace and strength as we deal with impossible situations. Bring us together as families, communities, states, our nation and the world. We aren’t in control but You are. Amen

Unobserved Treasures

Unopened buds caught my attention this morning. When I turned the wooden plant tower so the orchid would be more visible to me, additional buds showed up. 

            Three orchids prepared to bloom. Even more astounding was my smallest plant with a miniature, purple flower. Rows of buds joined it. 

            Every day I passed the plant tower without really looking at it. From my favorite chair a few feet away, I read my Bible and daily devotionals. I soaked in the beauty of sunrises, garden flowers, and a multitude of wildlife. 

            As calming and incredible as all of that was, I had missed the treasures close to me. I watered the plants each week and occasionally added fertilizer. But after the routine care, I mostly ignored them. 

            However, with the flowering orchids facing me, I will enjoy the loveliness of the flowers and anticipate additional ones. 

            During our time of coronavirus isolation, lives have changed. For most of us, life has slowed down which gives us time to notice and fully appreciate blessings nearby. Busy schedules may have caused then to be overlooked like my blossoming plants. 

            During this time, I have talked to many friends instead of texting. Joined neighbors on the sidewalk to visit. I have worked in my yard and watched butterflies. Observed a pair of eagles with neighbors. Done long neglected crafts. Read more books and watched educational shows on TV. Danced to country music for exercise. Sent cards for encouragement to those who are even more isolated than I am. 

            What treasures have you rediscovered? Let me know. 

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NIV) 

Loving Father, thank you for the blessings you give to us both small and huge. Help us not miss them. Amen