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From Piling to Packing

Tomorrow I head to the Holy Land so today is the day the piles get whittled down and contained. ¡Ojala! It helps that Philippians 4:13 was read aloud during the service this morning.

Israel, Palestine, Jordan. I’ll even add Turkey to my life list because we change planes in Istanbul on Saturday afternoon.

Tomorrow is the day my blog posts will start serving as my travelogue. I will repost on Facebook for the two week duration of our pilgrimage. I am looking forward to that.

Heart Healing

I had two heart healing experiences yesterday:

1. My friend, who is a medical doctor, called from New Zealand. Her understanding of elevated blood pressure—as we age and what we can do about it—had such a calming effect on me.

2. We learned our friends had donated to the cathedral in our honor because our 40th anniversary is coming up on Easter Sunday—April 9, 2023.

Who knows if healing will show up on my blood pressure cuff today or not. Peace and quiet in my mind is better anyway. Plus all these subtle wiggles of joy as I breathe and write again today.

Why do I scare myself like that, knowing basically All Is Well?

Post Script

I have many Jewels in my life. A Grand Happy Birthday to one of them❣️

My Diamonds

I got to play with each of my kids this weekend. They are loving, creative professionals—a musician and a host. Fun to be with and very generous.

After nearly 40 years of marriage, they are my finest gems.

Thanks be.

2/25/2023 2:34 am

Dear The Darkness,

You are ever near, waiting for me. In these wee hours, I remember the words they recite at Compline: “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking who he may devour.” But the words that precede it are “be sober, be vigilant”. I’ve spent the last 24+ hours in solitude and it was both sobering and escapism.

I feel much joy in the freshness of my bright new kitchen and renewal of my bathroom vanities. Yet I was wrapped in darkness as I retreated to sleep during waking hours, leaving me awake during sleeping hours. Oh Darkness, how you tempt me to despair. To fear of time and that which I do not yet see. I know you are near; I see you as you are.

And so, I shall remain vigilant at this sobering hour. I shall not fall in battle to your war on my hopes, your fire on my faith. There is always God’s Light. Even in this silent moment where I do not feel it. I trust that this moment too shall pass.

With patience,

Awaiting The Light