Marigold

Here are some thoughts which were written one week ago as I enjoyed my special day at the beach:

I am sitting by the ocean at a restaurant called The Crow's Nest. Since it is mid-afternoon in the late Autumn season, I am the only customer at the restaurant. So, I am enjoying dining outside, listening to the waves, and writing in my journal. And, the chicken quesadillas are delicious!

To say that I am savoring these moments would not even begin to tell the story. While this special day at the beach is a birthday gift that I gave to myself, I am very aware that every day is a precious gift from God.

It is such fun to watch people. Since I am here in the month of November, the beach is not crowded. The majority of the beach population on this day consists of senior adults and their dogs.

As I walked on the beach this morning, I met an older couple from Canada. While they were an interesting pair, the family member who caught my attention and completely fascinated me was their dog. "Marigold" is an 11 year-old golden retriever who seems to live a fearless life. When a ball is tossed into the ocean, Marigold sprints after it with abandon, jumping the waves until she retrieves the prize. She pursues that prize with courage and uninhibited joy.

I observed that Marigold would sometimes lose sight of the ball. When that happened, her owner would make an effort to get closer and talk to her as he tried to give guidance about the location of the prize. Because of the sounds of the crashing waves, Marigold could not hear her owner's voice. When she briefly came out of the turbulent waters, she was able to hear the direction from her master, enabling her to get back on track in her pursuit of the prize.

Oh, how true that is of our lives! When we are in the midst of the turbulent seas and the crashing waves of life, it can be difficult to hear our Master's voice. He is trying to give us direction and guidance. But, until we take time to remove ourselves from the distractions and the noise, we can't hear His voice. While our Master has the power to quiet those crashing waves, He sometimes chooses not to do that. Maybe He wants us to take a step toward Him so that we can hear His voice.

I learned that Marigold's body was designed for the purpose of retrieving. God has also designed me for a purpose. At this time in my life, I am not sure

what is being tossed out into the waves before me. But, I am confident that God will equip me with exactly what I need. And, like Marigold, I want to go after that prize with courage and joy!

"I wanna live with a fearless heart;

Courage that's coming from trust in God.

It's constantly guiding me, though the road may seem dark;

I wanna live, wanna live with a fearless heart."

(Fearless Heart by Point of Grace)

Philippians 3:14 - I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Balconies and Bars

At this moment, I am sitting in a white plastic chair on an 11th floor balcony, drinking French Vanilla hot chocolate, eating cheese crackers, relaxing, and thoroughly enjoying the ocean. This day at the beach is a birthday gift that I gave myself. And, God is so gracious to provide the sights and sounds of nature. The vastness of the ocean never ceases to amaze me. And, oh how I love the sound of the crashing waves!

If I sit on the balcony as I am now, I view the ocean through black bars (which, by the way, I am grateful are there since they protect me from falling eleven stories to my death!). However, if I stand on this balcony, I can enjoy the ocean with no bars obstructing the view. It seems significant to me that, to remove the obstacles, I need to change my position.

It occurs to me that we sometimes sit in our current circumstances and view the world through obstructing "bars" that we have created for ourselves.

I am very aware that a solution may not be an "easy fix". But, I am convinced that, in some life situations, a good start is to change our view.

Maybe this will involve choosing to develop a different attitude which will help us see the current circumstances through new eyes. While the scenario may be the same, getting in a position which removes the obstructing "bars" may help us see more clearly how to handle the situation.

One week ago, I received a good six-month medical report, after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. What a blessing and a relief to learn that, six months after surgery and radiation treatments, there were no signs of cancer! But, yesterday I shared with friends that I am thankful that I was diagnosed with cancer this year as it put me in a position which changed how I view the world. I notice things that I might have missed before. Even though my life is not perfect, there are no self-created "bars" obstructing my view.

On this day, I am choosing to position myself to see clearly and to be thankful....for this time at the beach on a beautiful sunny day in November, for another birthday, for the ability to walk on the beach, for good health, for an earthly family and a Heavenly Father who love me, for friends who value me and who accept me "as is", for encouraging words which sometimes arrive through songs or from chance meetings with strangers, for opportunities to serve God, for teachers who taught me to read and write, for a job that I enjoy and that gives me opportunities to make a difference, for money to pay my bills, for a home....the list of blessings is as vast as the ocean!

Are there "bars" obstructing your view of life? If so, think about how you can position yourself to see more clearly. There is an ocean of blessings that you don't want to miss!