Bright Spot

It was overcast most of the morning.  I had a lot of running around to do so that was fine with me - it made it slightly cooler.  It was still cloudy when I got home and was putting things away in the kitchen.  I was rinsing dishes at the sink when I glanced out the window and saw a large bright patch on the ground in the empty wooded lot next door.  I started to look away, and then thought, "Wait a minute."  I looked back and just could not figure out where that bright spot was coming from.  Obviously, it was the sun, but there didn't seem to be a noticeable break in the clouds overhead.  I stood staring at it for a while, and then went on with my chores.  It's still a little baffling to me, but I like what it did for my morning.  Life has been non-stop hectic for the past week or so, and that patch of light reminded me that there's always a bright spot.  No matter what's going on, no matter how negative a whole day is feeling, when I sit down to write this blog, I look for that bright spot - that moment where God is shining through the grey of my day.  Today, I found Him literally in the bright spot outside my kitchen window.

Talking With Friends

It's been a hectic day, but as I sat here thinking of where I found God I saw the faces of friends I had talked on the phone with.  I've only been selling Avon a few weeks, but the best part is it gets me talking to people.  My order is due in tomorrow so I was calling everyone today to remind them.  Sometimes I was only able to leave a message, but a few times I got someone on the phone.  Whether they placed an order or not, we had a nice chat, and it really meant a lot to me.  So much so that their faces popped into my head when I was looking for God today.  Even people I only contact through email leave an extra little imprint on my day.  Each one was a much-needed bright spot.  I got into Avon for a little extra income, what I'm getting out of it is so much more. On this crazy day, God soothed my spirit each time I talked with one of my friends, and that is where I found Him today.

Blessed Surprise

A few days ago, I wrote about how getting back to a routine provides comfort and security, and it does.   But there's something to be said for shaking up routine, also.  Today, Father Tom decided to wing his sermon because he wasn't happy with what he had prepared.  He was talking about praying for people and asked if we were having healing services today.  It wasn't scheduled, but I couldn't quite remember that because we had missed last Sunday due to our vacation.  He looked around, I looked around; I didn't see any other member of the healing team there so I offered to do it.  There happened to be a priest visiting today so Father Tom asked him to do communion while he did healing prayers with me.  Ann L. was right on top of things and went and got the oil for annointing and brought it to me.  Our impromptu healing service was ready to go.  I always enjoy doing healing prayers for people.  It's sometimes emotional, sometimes difficult, sometimes thankful, but it always centers my focus on God and whoever we're praying with.  I'm usually prepared and pray ahead of time with whoever I'm teamed with that day, but since today was unexpected, it added an extra dimension of grace to my Sunday morning.  And it was special to be teamed with Father Tom today.  He has said he's not sure he has the gift of healing, but I think he does.  I felt it praying with him this morning - a focus, a spirituality, a centering.  You can feel those things when he's praying, and that heals.  I love my routine, but change is good, too.  So it was in the blessed surprise of doing healing prayers today that I found God.

Cast Iron Skillet

I discovered the wonders of the cast iron skillet about two years ago.  I had one a long time ago but never got it seasoned right so it was impossible to clean.  Plus, I just didn't quite get how to cook in it.  Boy, do I know now!  I love that thing!  It cleans up like a breeze and cooks almost everything so much better than any other pan I have.  Today, I seared chicken in it and then added thyme, mushrooms, and onions, and it was the most awesome, delicious meal.   I honestly don't know how I cooked without it for so many years; it's my "go to" pan.  It made us the tastiest dinner, and though I know it's a little out there, I found God today in my cast iron skillet.

Small Stuff

It's very late for me, and it's been a long, arduous day.  It started out just fine, and then something went wrong with my car.  I could tell it was a transmission problem, and I knew it was bad.  We went to two places here on the beach and neither could fix it.  So we tried driving to Elizabeth City, and broke down halfway there.  We got a tow to the Honda dealership and found out it would cost over $6,000.00 to repair. It took them two hours to tell us that.  We wandered around between the extreme heat outside and the overly cool air inside.  Oh, and I stepped in gum.  It was a grand day.  We ended up making the decision to lease a new car.  Jeff had driven behind me so he went home to take care of the pets and do some work while I finished up.  We had gotten there a 1 p.m. - I didn't finish and get back on the road until 8:30.  I was feeling seriously demoralized when I finally walked out of the building to come home.  Then I looked up at the sky and saw a bright pink strip on the horizon as the sun was finally letting go of the day.  It was beautiful... and I let go with it.  It was so big and beautiful, and it put my day into perspective.  It was a long, hard day, but it's really just small stuff.  All I have to do is see that gorgeous sky or the immense ocean, and it makes all my big problems seem small.  I found God today when He touched my heart through that beautiful pink sunset and put all my problems in their place.

Clouds and Sun

There were lots of clouds in the sky this morning so the sunrise was gorgeous.  It occurred to me that a sunrise with no clouds is beautiful, and clouds on a grey day can be dramatic, but the sun shining through the clouds is magnificent!  I guess it's kind of like the light of God shining through our lives.  You can have a good life without God, but let His light shine on you and you become so much more.  I know the sky was so much more this morning.  It was easy to see where "every cloud has a silver lining" came from.  I found God in the magnificent combination of clouds and sun this morning.

Holding Hands

I passed a couple holding hands as I was driving around town today.  I think it struck me because Jeff and I usually hold hands, but it was so hot in Charleston we just couldn't take the contact!  It's such a simple thing to hold hands with someone you care about, but it can mean so much.  It says to the world "We're a couple", and it tells your partner that you care; that you want the connection that the touch of their hand brings.  I applaud that couple for being able to hold hands on such a hot day.  (I love my husband to death, but I know I couldn't do it!)  Their sweet gesture made me think about what it means to hold hands with the one I love, and I found God in that today.

Daily Routine

As much as I love a vacation to get away from it all, there's something to be said for getting back to a routine.  I had to jump back into my regular routine today, and though it was hectic, it was somehow calming at the same time.  There's security in routine; it creates a continuity in your life that makes you feel reassured and grounded.  Our anniversary trip was amazing, and I wouldn't trade it for anything, but the security I get from my daily life is pretty amazing, too.  I found God today in my daily routine.  

Anticipation

We're finally home after the long drive from Charleston.  It was a wonderful trip, but as always, it's good to be home.  All day I've been thinking about climbing into my own bed tonight.  I have some mild back issues that don't bother me as long as I sleep on my memory foam bed.  So for three nights I've had little aches and pains going on.  I woke up this morning sorry our trip was over, but thrilled not to have to sleep in that bed another night.  Ten years ago it would've been fine... but it's not ten years ago.  So I'm sitting here counting the hours till bedtime when I can sink into my amazingly comfortable bed.  I'm finding God today in that sweet anticipation when I lay down my head and say ahhhhh.....

Moss-Draped Trees

We drove out to see the Charleston Tea Plantation today. We really enjoyed the plantation, but more than that, we were enthralled with the gorgeous trees lining the road on the drive out there. They were huge, stately trees dripping with Spanish moss - absolutely beautiful. The wonders of God's world never fail to take my breath away. I took some pictures of similar trees at the plantation, but the effect of driving through a tunnel of those moss-draped trees just couldn't be captured. You just had to be there. Thankfully, I was, and that is where I found God today.

My Best Friend

Jeff and I had a great anniversary day. Charleston is beautiful and our dinner was fabulous. But I think my favorite part of the day was this afternoon. We were sitting on the balcony outside of our room, there was a nice breeze blowing, and we were playing a trivia game. We were relaxing, making up silly answers to questions we didn't know the answers to, and just enjoying each other's company. We're still best friends after all these years. Today I found God in a quiet afternoon with my best friend.

Blank Pages

Our first evening in Charleston was amazing. We had a great dinner (Jeff said his grits were the best he's ever had!), then walked over to the waterfront park. It was warm but there was a strong breeze from a storm brewing and it felt wonderful. We stood at the railing basking in the incredible view and the freedom of being on vacation with nothing to do and nowhere we had to be. It was awesome. Today I found God at that railing looking over the water and the blank pages of the next two days.

Honey Muffins

Jeff and I are leaving for a trip to Charleston, SC tomorrow to celebrate our anniversary.  Whenever we go anywhere I have to make sure I take some gluten and dairy free food that I can eat just in case I don't have other options.  So I wanted to make some muffins, but I couldn't decide what kind I wanted.  I finally thought of honey muffins, but I didn't have a recipe so I knew I'd have to wing it.  I mixed everything together then waited (impatiently) for them to finish baking.  They smelled heavenly.  Then I had to wait (even more impatiently!) for them to cool some.  Let me tell you, the honey muffin experiment was a resounding success!  Oh my goodness!!  They were warm, tender, and so delicious it was hard to leave them for the trip.  But I'm planning to dig into those babies starting first thing tomorrow!  I found God today in the success of my honey muffins.  

Flowers in the Marsh

It's been averaging 80 degrees when I walk in the morning which is usually around 6 a.m.  When it's that hot, I don't notice too much around me - I just want to get home and out of the heat.  But today, there was a wonderful breeze blowing, and it made all the difference in the world.  I got to relax and pay attention to the world around me.  And what I noticed were the beautiful flowers growing in the marsh.  Most of the year, it just looks like a tangle of green, but seemingly overnight so many flowers bloomed.  We own a small bit of marshland and tried to grow some wildflowers there ourselves but to no avail.  God, on the other hand, has no problem at all growing flowers wherever He wants them - even in the brackish, dense growth of the marsh.  It's seems similar to what He does with us; growing flowers of light, love, and peace within us, no matter how infertile the soil of our soul seems to be at times.  I found Him today in those pretty flowers growing in a most improbable place.

Shorts

I needed a new pair of shorts so the hunt was on.  Actually, the hunt's been going on for a couple of years now.  Men can usually just go pick up their size and whatever it is, it fits.  For women, it just doesn't work that way, especially with pants and shorts.  They're too big or too small, or both at the same time.  They're too long, too short, too wide, too narrow... aghhh!!  I've tried on dozens of pairs from stores in our area, and ordered and sent back countless numbers.  But today I found them!  I ordered yet another pair online, they got here today, and miracle of miracles, they fit!  I still can't believe it.  Maybe I'm imagining the whole thing - I should probably go check and make sure...  Nope, they really do fit.  It's like finding the Holy Grail.  It may seem like a small thing to some people, but trust me, it was a major moment for me.  Believe it or not, today I found God in a pair of shorts.

Faux Roses

Impatiens are one of my favorite flowers.  Mainly, because they're so easy to grow!  Last year, I discovered "double" impatiens.  I had never seen them before, and I was so excited.   To me, they look like miniature roses, and I just love roses.  We bought another "double impatiens" this year, and it's loving life.  It's so gorgeous!  It seems to get more and more blooms every day.  When I walked outside today and saw it, I just stopped and smiled.  Those beautiful little "faux roses" make me so happy, and that is where I found God today.

New Faces

We had a several visitors in church today, and it made me realize something.  Every time I see new, unfamiliar faces in church, I feel more connected to God.  I feel a part of a much larger community than the walls of our small church can hold.  And that feels really good!  It makes me realize how many other people in the world love God as much as I do.  Not just the people I see on a regular basis, but people I will never see.  I'm a part of each of them through my faith, and they're a part of me.  Each new face that shows up on Sunday morning reminds me of that, and I find God in every one of them.

Doggy Smile

Another long day.  I finally got home, plopped on the couch, looked down and saw this...

Look at that face! How could you not smile back? Yes, that is where I found God today.

Welcome Home

I was busy with work in the morning, then spent the afternoon with family that's visiting from Maryland.  We finished up early evening and headed home.  I'm usually not out of the house past 4 p.m.  I'm one of those "early to bed, early to rise" people.  So this evening when we pulled into our drive I saw our home in a way I rarely do.  The sun was low in the sky and coming through a large tree in the front yard to dapple the front of our house.  It looked so cozy and welcoming.  It's like God was saying, "I know you've had a long day, so look what I've prepared for you."  It couldn't have felt more special.  I found God today in the cozy dappled light that welcomed us home.

Raindrops

I write about rain a lot because I just love it.  As much as I love a gorgeous sunny day, if I had my druthers, I'd usually opt for a rainy one.  (What is a druther, anyway?)  Maybe it's just because rainy days are more rare.  And after the heat wave last week, they were especially welcome.  This morning, in particular, the rain really touched me.  I looked out the window, and it was falling so gently;  raindrops lightly dotting the pond.  It was so serene and so calming - I just stood there watching it for a while.  It stopped not long after that, but as I went about my day, my mind kept going back to that scene.  Every time I thought of it, I felt my mind ease.  I found God today in the tranquility of raindrops on the pond.

Philippians 4:13

I haven't been sleeping well lately.  I fall asleep just fine, but I wake up way too early and just can't get back to sleep.  Then I spend the whole day with an achy head and feeling slightly groggy.  Well today was an extra busy day, and it felt like all I could do to get through it.  Every time I thought I had finished up for the day, I thought of one more thing I had to do.  Finally, I sat down to write my blog.  It's hard to find God on days like today when every minute seems filled with "stuff".  I know He's there in that "stuff"; I know He's with me always.  But to pinpoint a moment to write about...  I had read one of my devotionals right when I woke up this morning, but I was in such a rush I couldn't remember what it said.  I opened it again and saw one of my all-time favorite passages from Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." How could I have forgotten that from just this morning?  It's proof that we all need to stop, and breathe, and connect with our God.  I just about cried when I saw those words - that's how badly I needed to hear them.  I can do all things through Him, I just need to take the time to lean on His strength a little more often.  That's where I found my God today.

Little Princess

I got my hair done today, and while I was at the salon I saw the cutest little girl getting her hair done.  Her dad had brought her along with her little brother and sister who were playing (surprisingly very quietly!) while they waited.  The stylist braided her hair and then attached a hair ornament that the little girl had picked out when she got there.  The stylist finished, pulled the cape off with all the flourish of a magician, and the little girl jumped down and went to her dad with the biggest smile on her face.  I remember that feeling as a child.  When you get pampered and fussed over and you feel like princess for just a little while.  I found God in the beaming face of that little princess today.

Amazing Painting

I read an article today about Henry Ossawa Tanner.  He was an African-American painter who lived from 1859 - 1937.  The author of the article was enamored of Tanner's religious paintings mainly because he painted angels as light.  Sometimes just light, sometimes with more shape but still ethereal and diaphanous.  He included a few paintings in the article, but the one that was the most powerful to me was "The Annunciation".  It shows Mary being approached by Gabriel as a being of light.  She looks humble, and in my mind, slightly confused as I'm sure she would be.  But it's the overall feel of the painting that I just can't shake.  She looks so real; her surroundings look so real.  It's the humble feeling of the setting that makes the angel and the whole painting so wondrous to me.  I googled Henry Tanner and saw many more beautiful and dramatic paintings by him, but this one is my favorite by far.  Great art can evoke such strong feelings, and today, I found God in this amazing painting.

Heat Wave

It was insanely hot again today.  This heat wave just doesn't want to loosen it's grip on us.  As I was sitting here thinking, praying, and meditating about what to write in my blog today, the unrelenting heat wouldn't leave my mind.  I always ask God to help me to know what He wants me to write about so I'm thinking, "Heat?  Am I hearing You right, Lord?".  Then I thought about how I feel this intense heat is a sign of God's great power in the natural world.  How it totally envelops us... just like His love. Ah hah... there it is.  Just like the heat, He won't loosen His grip on us either.  No matter how far we stray, no matter how we might want to say "Cool it, God, I've got this", He stays... He holds us in His grip.  His great power in the world is just more evidence of His great power in our lives if we only allow it to be.  The heat is so obvious - like a slap upside the head.  Why don't we see His power in our lives just as easily?  I guess that's just part of being human.  Sometimes we need a big sign like a massive heat wave to bring us out of the minutiae of our daily lives and make us stand up and take notice.  Well, I hear you, Lord.  When I feel this heat pressing down on me, I'll think of Your love surrounding me, pushing into my body and out through my pores.  This is a day where God found me as the heat crept higher and higher.

Air Condition

Jeff and I walked this morning, and I don't think I've ever been so hot in my life!  It was only 82 degrees (ha! "only 82" at 6:30 a.m.), but the humidity was 95%.  It felt like a sauna.  I almost never sweat, and I had sweat dripping off my face by the time we got home.  But as soon as we walked through the front door, and the a/c hit us, ahhhh....  Relief!  I don't think I've ever been so grateful for air condition; my sweat-soaked skin was instantly cooled.  Our old air-condition system went up last year, and we put in a new geo-thermal unit which is part of the reason for all of our recent financial woes.  But lordy, lordy, was I blessing that expensive geothermal unit today.  I found God in the cool, dry bliss of our air conditioned home.

"Cool" Sound

I was sitting inside on this sweltering hot day enjoying the breeze from the various fans we have running when I suddenly realized I was listening to something I only hear in the summer - the sound of my capiz shell wind chimes.  It's too delicate to be outdoors so we have it hanging inside.  The problem with that is I only get to hear them when the fans are running, and the fans are only running in the summer!  So it dawned on me as I was enjoying their icy tinkling that I now link the sound of those chimes to summer along with crickets, lawnmowers, thunder...  It's become a gentle sign of the season for me, and I found God in their soothing, somehow cooling sound.  (You can hear them in the clip at the bottom of this post.)

The Frozen Fruit Bar

Today I found God in a comical moment which I know isn't that unusual.  What is unusual is that the comedy was Jeff eating a frozen fruit bar.   I doubt I'll be able to convey the humor - it was one of those "you had to be there" moments.  He wanted an italian ice from Rita's, but we didn't feel like driving out. So I told him I had Edy's frozen strawberry fruit bars in the freezer.  I've been with Jeff for 14 years so I know he doesn't like to eat popsicles because he says they hurt his teeth.  I explained that the strawberry flavor has a slightly different texture and finally talked him into trying it.  He started out just licking it like a lollipop which was bad enough, but then it started getting drippy so he was trying to get the whole thing in his mouth.  And then - horror of horrors! - he actually bit it!  I held my breath waiting for the Owww!!, but instead got hmmm... pretty good.  I was laughing at his elaborate technique, and he was laughing at me watching him so intently (along with my commentary!).  You have to know Jeff, and you really had to be there, but I had tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing so hard.  It was such a fun, lighthearted moment, and a great place to find God today.

Fourth of July

Jeff and I don't really get into fireworks, but we wanted to do something different for our Fourth of July holiday so we decided to change things up and walk on the beach early this morning.  We used to do it all the time, but it's been ages since we've been out there that early.  It was gorgeous.  The sunrise was beautiful, and the breeze was cool and constant.  We saw a few dolphins, but mainly it was the pelicans putting on a show - skimming the water, wheeling up and diving down with a huge splash.  We just stood and drank it in - the colors, the waves, the air like warm silk on our skin.  It was an amazing morning and that is where I found God today.

Talking to Strangers

I had to pick up a prescription at Walmart, and there was a really long line.  Jeff and I settled in to wait and were having a light conversation when the woman in front of us turned around and started talking with us.  We found out she had lived in both Alaska and Hawaii before she moved here, that her husband was in the military, that she was taking care of her mom for the summer, and that her sister had moved to Oregon for the summer.  She was very interesting and before we knew it, it was her turn at the register.  I'm always open to talking to strangers, but I never seem to start conversations with them myself.  I think I'm going to work on that because strangers stop being strangers once you share a few friendly words.  Talking with her turned the drudgery of waiting in line into an interesting break in the day, and that's where I found God today.

Mango Ice

Jeff and I were both going non-stop today so this afternoon we decided to take a break and drive out to the ocean.  It was beautiful, of course, and very calming.  Afterwards, we went to Rita's, and I got the Mango ice.  What a delight!  That icy cold mango flavor on this super hot summer day just felt so good going down.  And the Rita's here in Southern Shores is the best I've ever been to.  Their ices are thick and scoopable (if that's a word!).  Every other Rita's I've been to has ices that are basically slushies.  That Mango Ice was the perfect reward for long day of work, and that's where I found God today.

The Nap

After lunch today, I had a short stretch of time with nothing to do.  So I sat on the couch, and just stared out the window.  I was thinking of things I should do versus things I wanted to do.  The longer I sat still, the heavier my eyelids got.  I could feel a blanket of sleep trying to wrap around me.  I tried to fight it for a few minutes, but then I just gave in.  I stretched out on the couch, closed my eyes, and let sleep take me.  It was fabulous!  I so rarely nap during the day because it disrupts my nighttime sleep, but today I just let myself enjoy giving into that incredibly drowsy feeling.  What a treat!  I slept for less than a half hour, but it was pure bliss.  Not just the nap itself, but that point of letting go.  Today I found God in that blissful release and the welcoming nap that followed.