Darwin and I got this picture done in Branson, MO recently. Oh, it was fun...

Here is a wonderful writing about Hope and Trusting and the Good Shepherd.
I hope you will read it.
Heart Soul Mind Strength: The Comfort of Hope

The Fear of the Lord:

To envisage what the biblical fear of God actually means, imagine a child at Christmas time in a huge department store. The top floor, the size of a whole city block, is filled with toys. When the child emerges from the elevator into this wonderland of desirable objects, her eyes grow bigger and bigger. She looks to the left and to the right, seeing everything her heart has ever desired: skis, T-bears, doll houses, toys, sleds, electric trains, computers. She wants to go in every direction at once. She is so enthralled that she does not know where to start. She wants to grasp everything and take it home.
The biblical fear of God is similar. We feel ourselves invited into a mystery that contains everything our hearts could possily desire. We experience the fascination of the Ultimate Mystery rather than fear of the unknown. We want to grasp or be grasped by the mystery of God's presence that opens endlessly in every direction.
(Invitation to Love: The Way of Christian Contemplation, by Thomas Keating)

thoughts by Jo...
I like this picture of a child... yet, something is missing for me. Knowing God is so much more than seeing all the "treats" He has for us- yet it is certainly part of the picture. I sometimes think we don't think enough about all the treasures He holds for us, waiting for our requests and for His perfect Timing...
I sometimes wrestle with feelings of being overwhelmed with knowing, (not just in my head, but in my heart,too), the goodness and bigness of our God.
It certainly is one of God's mysteries, this thing of intimacy with God ... As we desire to know Someone who we can't see with human eyes until we are Home...
So I go to God and ask Him to give us eyes to see the delightfulness and Fullness of Him... May He help us be in awe of who He is and who we are because of Him.
Today I desire to go to His feet to sit with Him as I seek to know Him, even as I am known.
Yes.
May it be so.
Help us, God.

What makes life worth living...

Have you thought lately about what makes life worth living?
I was struck recently by how often the intense moments of life, (the losses and pains and joys and wonders) cause us to notice what makes life worth living.
Last week brought me an interesting assortment of ups and downs... A niece’s baby was born, a friend heard more about his end-stage disease, another friend struggled with knowing how to deal with emotional pain, I got to process some deep pain lingering from a childhood trauma, a fun trip was made to Omaha with a cousin, a dear friend died suddenly, a wonderful gathering happened for Cursillo... and mixed in with all of these things were work and sleep and eating and doing the mundane things in life.
The seasons of life... sometimes they seem like a hodge-podge of nothing... a recipe which could not be redeemed even if you threw every cream of something soup you owned into it.
But together, those things cause us to ponder important things. Eventually they become the eclectic parts that have been added and stirred together to create the unique creation we will be when our lives are finished and we go Home. Until then, we might need encouragement to believe that our lives are salvageable and valuable.
Relationships are usually what matter most to us.
Who or what makes life worth living for you?
If you have lost someone you love, you know how that can change the landscape of your life.
After our daughter died in 1999, it took me a long time to find my place again in this world. I lost my best friend and my job (caring for her), all in one moment of time. It seemed impossible for me to think that I would ever enjoy life again. Or that I should.
But, I have learned that the grief journey is one of process. It is a matter of putting one foot ahead of the other as best you can, knowing that sometimes you will take 2 steps back. I believe that one of the responsibilities you have as you grieve is to be honest and to notice what you think and feel as your life goes on. You are a different person than before the death occurred. Some people close to you might not understand that, but you must know that one cannot have a huge loss without being affected. Get to know the new you as you face your new life.
Grief, like a raging river, runs through you heart and veins. As you deal with it, you will not only see how your life has been changed by ravages of death and loss, you will likely gain a deeper understanding of what is important in life, for you. Look for ways to get help when the intimidating waters come. If the panoramic view of your life makes you want to run and hide, find high ground so that you can believe that you will not drown.
As the huge, agitated waters recede and diminish… you may find you have more time and energy to sit beside the waters and to ponder the important things of life. I pray you will choose to do that. It is worth the effort.
In grief, it is often quite obvious what has been torn away in the flood-like waters, but it is important for you to also notice the other things the waters might have brought to your heart and new life. In walking along the shores of grief, you may discover nuggets of truth. You may see that you have been spending your life on things which really don't matter, in light of eternity. You may learn that what matters to you has changed, and you may decide that how you face and navigate life needs to change.
Dealing with grief, to me, means that you get on the outside what is on the inside so that you can feel and process what is happening with your head and heart. You may find it difficult to understand the new terrain of your life. Know that the flood waters will not last forever, and that you can take the time you need to examine the changes the river of grief brings to you. Find people who can help, especially if you feel stuck in your pain, or emotionally constipated. Reach out to others who have experienced a similar loss to yours.
You will find your way again, and when you do, I pray that your horizons bring you peace and beauty because you have learned more about what is important for you to do and celebrate in life.