This is one of my favorite pictures. I love looking out into the seemingly endless lake. A beautiful bridge, begging me to, “come out here, trust the path, and experience something new”.
Life is like this bridge. It is always calling us to trust ourselves, keep moving forward, and to come and see what lies ahead. We have to make the choice to transverse the path, embrace the journey, accept the unknown, and overcome our fears. We will never reach the next destination if we don’t step away from where we are.
Be present in every experience. Share more hugs, thank you’s, and definitely more, ‘I love you’s.’
As I encourage you to keep moving forward, I also need to emphasize the importance of being present in the moment in which you are living. Enjoy where you are sitting/standing, before lifting your foot to take the next step. Don’t live each moment in search of the next moment. Be present, fill yourself with each moment.
Life is a series of steps, moments that are strung together like Christmas lights. Pay close attention to each step (light), so that you can see the beautiful connections and make sure that all the lights (experiences) shine through.
As a Christ follower, I want to be an extension of Christ in this world. Look back at the picture of the lake. When you look into the water, you see your reflection as you walk along the path. You may not see this clearly because you cannot look down and walk forward simultaneously. But hopefully you will stop and take a moment to catch a glimpse of yourself, you are growing & maturing. Despite all of life’s bends & turns, you are exactly where the creator intended you to be. We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 1 Corinthians 13:12 MSG
Live to Learn
As much as I speak of life, I have a keen sensitivity to time. My life on earth is not eternal. There is a date and time already identified in my history for me to step away from this realm and enter eternity. I faced another opportunity to ponder this reality recently. A dear friend returned to be with God. She was a big sister and auntie. Our families have been close for a lifetime. She was a vibrant individual who made my life as a teenager magical. She was the precursor of the escape room. I could always count on her to get me out of the house. Her Volkswagen Bug was the welcome wagon that picked me up. Dozens of us young people would cram into that Beetle on our way to a event. Looking back, we couldn’t fit that many people in the car today, ‘legally‘. Every memory brings out a big smile. This beautiful person was instrumental in me becoming who I am today. She represents a magical season in my life; one where relationships were genuine and lifelong. I am shedding some tears as I reflect on the many years of memories she encompasses. They are happy tears of gratitude to have had such a divine experience on this earth. I am learning that life and death are experiences that fulfill the circle of life.
Life is yet, unveiling who I am
Within my inner being, I am kicking and screaming, ” I get it now!” As I reflect on my life, living is about the journey. We live the best we can moment to moment. We live with the hope of even better moments ahead. And, one final admonishment, always remember that you are a gift given to this world. You are uniquely designed. There is no duplicate. When the creator designed you there was no mold. You are uniquely one-of-a-kind.
Hopefully you can see why I love this photograph. Why it is 2023 calling me to be brave, step forward, stay on the path, and grasp the goals and dreams still unfulfilled. I am committed to step out on the bridge and yield to the call. I promise myself to write more, to be more present with blogging from the heart, as I live life to the fullest. Come. Join me! Happy Holidays!
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