Present in the Present.....

Research shows that those who have a clear cut goals are more likely to achieve favorable results. Those who write down their goals increase the probability for success by 50%. Goals are great! Goals are necessary. We need them to give focus and vision to our future. If we did not have goals we might end up like the farmer who wanted to take a trip,but never left the farm because he did not know where he was going. He had no map or plan. He only drove up and down the driveway for a week. He put a lot of miles on his pickup truck- but didn't really enjoy the trip! There are those who have a dream to "do something- someday". They plan for and save for a vacation ,an education, a new house or a special occasion. They may dream of marriage ,a family or a new job. They work, dream and wait for the day that their dream comes true. They might even think that their life is not worth living until that dream comes true! The goal becomes everything, the focus is on the future alone. It is often easy to become so centered on our "some-day" that we neglect to enjoy and treasure our today!! Today is the day that is set before us-today is our banquet-our meal-our daily bread- our manna! As the children of Israel traveled through the desert in search of the promised land, the Lord provided them with all they needed to survive and thrive. He provided bread and nourishment for them each day. The provision of bread, however, was just enough for that one day. They were given strict instructions not to gather more than what they needed for that day. If they took more than one days portion- the extra would get moldy and full of worms. They were required to live in the present!! To be fully present in the present each and every moment is not something that comes easily to most people. To be fully engaged in another's life is a precious gift that is not given by many. We rush, we hurry we have places to go and people to see- we have things that need to be accomplished and deadlines and appointments to be kept. We must travel through life on fast track speed- for we do not want life to pass us by. If we stop-if we get off the treadmill, hamster wheel or merry-go-round ( you pick your mode of craziness!! )... well, who knows what might happen- we just might miss something! We may miss a promotion, an opportunity to get ahead or make an extra dollar. After all, we are working for a goal- we have a plan- we are on a course for success...and we will NOT be sidetracked!!! Wow- I am tired just thinking about the craziness! Life is busy, there are demands on our time and our resources. I am a mom, a wife and a grandmother to two beautiful little boys. I work, take care of our home, am involved in ministry and I have hobbies and friends. I often feel that I am on the hamster wheel too. But, I am making deliberate choices for a short time each day, to get off that wheel- stop- breathe- and focus. It might be a walk, a time to journal and reflect, or just a time to sit and to be still. There are parents who are always yearning for the next stage of their child's life- if they are crawling, they wish for them to walk. When they are walking, they want them to be talking, when they are in preschool- they look forward to elementary school. Then soon they are spending countless hours driving them to school and sporting events, anticipating that soon they will be able to drive themselves...the kids go off to college and those same parents then wonder where all the years have gone? I too am guilty of wishing away some of the craziness and challenges of raising my children. But, I am thankful to several moms, including my own, who learned through their own experiences and impressed on me when my children were small, that the days and years would go quickly- and not to become so caught up in all that "must" be done- missing out on the moments that will never come again. The laundry will be there tomorrow, the dust will reappear shortly after you shine the furniture and of course the dishes multiply with every tick of the clock. My husband and I have a dream of packing up our RV "someday" and traveling the country. We talk, we dream, we shop, we count the cost (ouch) and we dream a little more. We are not sure exactly how the dream will look when it happens or when it will happen- but we know it is still a few years "out there". Now, if we were to allow that dream to become the focus of everything we did- we would miss so much of today! Our youngest son is going on 16 years old and will soon be driving a car and having a job. ACT tests and college visits are in the very near future. The time we have with him will become less and less- the opportunites that we have to pour into his life will become fewer and fewer. Soon, all of the shoes in front of my back door will be stacked and in order. Lunches and backpacks will not be strewn about my kitchen. The phone will be silent and there will be no empty pizza boxes and pepsi cans on the counters. BUT- today there are shoes in front of the door, the pizza and friends are everywhere. There will be cross country meets to watch and I will be the "crazy mom" at almost every event- cheering and yelling wildly for my son and each of his friends as they run by! There will be marching band perfomances at football games to watch,band concerts and festivals to attend. I will pay for band camp and school clothes and incredibly expensive running shoes. I will "ask for a turn" on what I think is still "my" computer because he is busy IM ing all of his friends. I will enjoy today- I will smile when he asks if five friends can spend the night in our camper- I will hug him and be amazed that he is mine. I will enjoy him today, and I will connect in whatever way I am able- I will chose today...to be present in his life and the life of his friends! I will not forget my goals and the dreams for "someday" but I will choose to enjoy every moment of every day! I WILL not wish away today- because I am thankful for today- I am looking forward to tomorrow but, I WILL choose be present in the present....today!

Knowing About Just KNOWING!

It is hot, really hot today! It seems like it has been hot forever. Of course, it has not been, but today, it seems like it has been! The weather man tells me next week it will be better- that the forecast is changing in the next few days. Sometimes, I don't believe the weatherman- I joke with my husband (who happens to love weather) that it is not a forecast- but an educated guess at best. They have a great deal of fancy equipment and maps... But I am not sure if they are any more accurate now, than when in years past, the farmer would watch the sky- and predict "Yup sweetheart, I do believe there is a storm comin' in!! "Today, with all of our technology and advanced education, many people do not see a real need for understanding about "just knowing". Knowing is what is inside of a person...the part of you that just "knows" when something is not right, when you sense that someone is hurting and needs a friend, when there is a "feeling" deep within your heart that senses and understands at a different level than what is seen with our natural eye.The knowing that is within each of us has been called many things.....a conscience, a feeling, an inner voice to name a few. God calls it "Himself"- his Holy Spirit- the very essence of God! How can that be? His word tells us that we were created in his own image- man and woman he created us- in his own likeness we were created! Amazing that something so complex and beautiful as the Spirit of God could be within you and I!! His spirit will cause your "knowing" to become sensitive to his leading and the direction he has for your life. His spirit will increase your understanding of his word and of his ways. His spirit will bring meaning and value to who you are- and the call that he has upon your life! He has given to each one of us a measure of grace, exactly what we need- exactly what He needs. He has created you with a plan and a purpose- and seed and a a vision. Take some time today, to listen...to wait- to hear.

Running Our Race

What does a runner do before a big race ? Well, first and foremost, they run. Wow-imagine that ? They get up every day and they run. They lace up their shoes, they stretch, and they start putting one foot in front of the other. Every year in our town, the first weekend in May brings what is known as the “River Bank Run”- it is a marathon of such caliber that it draws runners from all over the world. However, the majority of runners that compete that day are not world class athletes, but they are the “regular people” the ones who beat the street in an effort to improve their physical condition or to accomplish a goal of running a road race . Now, let it be said, I am not a runner…I have tried to be- I have even ran on occasion…I love to walk- I even have begun to enjoy my daily circuit training at one of our local ladies only workout clubs…but I have yet to run the River Bank run. My daughter Amanda loves to run,and my son Griffin also runs cross country and distance run for our local high school. Amanda competed in high school and well…let’s just say she did not race at the top of her field. However, she ran for the personal challenge, the friendships she developed and the physical and mental strength it developed in her. Now, as a young mom of the two most incredible little boy in the world (yes- I admit it I am biased) she still runs. She runs for many of the same reasons she did before. She amazes me. She runs when she feels like it, she runs when she does not, she runs in good weather, and in the rain. She chooses to put on her shoes because she has a goal. She desires to remain fit and strong, she receives a sense of accomplishment when she finishes her run for the day. She runs alone- no one sees her finish. There is no one cheering her on at the end of the race- only herself- reaching for the goal that only she can see. But, it starts first by putting on her shoes. She kneels down- and laces them up- stretches out muscles that are tight and begins to run…slowly…with endurance and with steadiness….the goal is not to beat another…but to race for the sheer joy of the moment. To press thru to the other side and accomplish the task before her. But it starts with the shoes. Where are your shoes? Have you kicked them under your bed or are they lost in the back of your closet…are there other things piled on top of them? What do you need to do to find them?? There are times in our life when we must set aside time to dig- to search for that which is lost and what we need to find. Maybe you did not lose your shoes, perhaps someone else hid them, or piled their baggage on top of them. Whatever the reason, today is the day to begin to dig them out- to search high and low for your shoes! You need them- you can not run without them. Your journey will be hindered and you will limit yourself if you are not properly equipped with all that you need. And, the first thing you need are your shoes!! There are many different types of shoes in my closet. I have sandals, clogs, slippers and dress shoes. I have casual shoes and special occasion shoes. These are all great shoes- and all are useful and valuable to me at certain times. If I choose to go on a long walk (or run ) I need my athletic shoes- the ones with the flexible sole and the supportive cushioning. This past weekend my husband and I went to hear a speaker at one of our local colleges. We were unsure exactly which building it was being held in so we choose the first parking lot we saw, and began to walk in the general direction we thought we should go. We found a friendly college student to show us the way. Now SHE had running shoes on, my husband his comfy walking shoes…and me open toed- platform type (very cute mind you) sandals. Needless to say- they could both walk much faster than I, who kept falling further and further behind !! Finally hubby noticed I was no longer next to him- actually unbeknownst to him, I had been behind almost from the start!! I could not keep up because even though my shoes were very cute, they were not meant for the type of travel we were embarking on at that moment. I wished I had chosen to wear a different pair that night. By the time we reached our destination my toes were crying for mercy! The gospel writer Paul, uses the analogy of running a race several times throughout the New Testament. He encourages us to run in such a way that we are not disqualified- so that we finish our race. So that we do not miss out on the reward that is set out for us who run the race and finish well. There are several different types of races that a runner may run. There is the sprint that a runner runs where it is hard, fast and focused. The runner does not have time to make up for a slow start or to win if he falls. There is the relay- where the runner and his team mates must work together in incredible rhythm to accomplish the goal of a smooth hand off of the baton. If the baton is dropped, the runner is disqualified. Their race is over until the next time. Then there is the distance run. The runners start out strong, but not always fast- they run steady- keeping their eyes on the runner in front of them- working to pass them, one by one. Not looking at the whole field, not seeing those coming behind- being aware of the other runners- but right now, it is about them- their goal…one by one..the focus- the race. Many of us fail to run our race because we loose our focus, we look behind at our past and become paralyzed to move forward or perhaps we never leave the safety of the starting blocks. After all, if we don't start- we won't fail. Today, I am making the choice to put on my shoes, and run my race. I would love a partner or two to run with me. How about it friend? I'll wait while you find your shoes!

Almost Two

An "Almost Two" knows how to breathe! No one teaches them how...they just know. My grandson Jayden is teaching me about breathing. He doesn't know it ...he just does He teaches me to breathe deeper and deeper every time I am with him.Almost Twos just KNOW about breathing. They know about stopping and they understand about looking! They see the world and are fascinated by even the smallest things! They want to know and experience it ALL !!Everything is a wonder for Jay. He has not "seen" it before and doesn't want to miss any of it. He doesn't understand that the sun comes up every day and that the dog will wag her tail again tomorrow...and that we can have honey and crackers again another day. Instead he sees a sunrise and exclaims with great wonder and amazement, "Pretty Nana- PRETTY ! " He laughs with great delight when the dog greets him at the door - he is sure that her greeting is just for him, because he is so very special. He savors his crackers and the peanut butter dripping with honey by licking each finger and cherishing the wonderful stickiness of the moment.When he is happy he is happy all over...he has not yet learned to fake a smile...when he is sad- he is sad all over...he doesn't know what we big people know..... about pretending not to be.Every fiber about this child is real and genuine. He has been created by an incredible God..and deep in his spirit he KNOWS he is special. No one has told him any different. His self image knows no limits... he is unconditionally loved by everyone who knows him. He stops to breathe every moment of every day!!We can learn much from the "Almost Twos" of our world if we choose to - breathe deeply- laugh often and cherish the small things- all of the moments that make today. Experience the sunrise ...watch it happen and unfold in all of its glory! Lick your fingers and savor the moment....look for the stamp of "The Creator" upon your life and those around you.