Reasoning

As I sit and breathe in deeply, enjoying the moment of freedom away from overwhelming clinical data, information, books, medical treatments, signs and symptoms, the list goes on and on and on...I am reminded of last year this time being in Sri Lanka, contacting international organizations and visiting fellow believers in Churches in poorer areas of the country.

It's no surprise that this season has become about giving and receiving, which brought back memories of children in Sri Lanka, who were so excited to get gifts of school books, pencils, lunch boxes, and cups for Christmas! My heart breaks when I see a list of Sketchers sneakers, Polo shirt, X-Box 360, Wii something or the other and all I can remember are the vivid images of little ones smiling with great joy over their presents of handkerchiefs and chocolate.

Oh well, whatever your reason may be, Christmas is a joyous season. I do enjoy the ambience of the lights, trees, and merry songs, yet what makes me smile is the knowledge of my hope and faith in a God who loves me and you so much that He sent His one and only Son to live among us in flesh. The greatest sacrifice, to give us a hope and an everyday joyous life.

A child's happiness and joy captured as they open that gift with a shout and laugh that jumps out from their very depths, is probably what God intended for us to experience every single day of our life.

Although times may be rough or you may not have all that you want or need, it's really not about that, life is never really about stuff. Putting my contentment and belief in stuff or success will lead me nowhere. I would rather believe in something much bigger than I am, so much bigger that I can surely know that whatever comes my way, I have a deeper peace and joy that can not be shaken nor does it last for just a season.

Merry Christmas, God loves you a lot!

Remember

The wind whipped around, seemingly circling the valley carefully, as if planning an attack. He tried to keep steady, straightening his shoulders and pushing forward against the wind. His foot slipped slightly away from the path. It felt as if pushing against a wall; walking through this valley. All he knew was that somehow he had to keep going on. The sun was going down, the mountaintops barely visible in the fading light. Hands closely crossed together over worn out clothes shaking violently, his eyes dejectedly swept over the dirty ground. He then felt himself being knocked onto his side by the raging blows of the wind. Was there maybe an escape path he could take?

A long and lonely road lay ahead, stretching out as far as his eye could see. Rejection swept over him swallowing up his worn out body. Was there hope somewhere down that road? Was there a possibility or a chance or a glimmer of the reality of a dream that once was? Too hard, too hard it was to understand, to comprehend or imagine what lay ahead. 

“Oh remember! Please, dear God, help me remember, those words, those words I heard so long ago. Something about this…what was it I so quickly forgot? Breathe, just breathe, I hear it now, a quiet whisper in this raging wind. My ears are ever so tuned, vigilantly seeking out that sound, that stirring. That, that which brought me so far, a beauty I could not resist, words that quenched my soul. Power so overwhelming, I ran, ran towards its source. I remember now.” A look full of far away happy memories flooded his face, creating a change if ever so slight. Remember. So simple to forget, too easy to let the dreary years of wandering and crashing wind try to break his spirit down. Like a sudden burst of water from a spring gushing out of nowhere in that forsaken wasteland, his eyes lit up. Words long forgotten now came rushing to his memory. Around him raged the wind but something changed; now the battle began. A warrior returned, his shield and weapons poised for victory. 

Insight to Hope

The words of hope caress the heart with whispers of love. 

The promises of the past hold hope for the future. 

Longing for peace to fill her heart to find contentment in what she is. 

Will it ever be? 

Is it an idealistic view that she holds onto? 

Is it the hope of a simpleton that she clings so dearly to? 

The puzzle is too big. 

It is too wide for her eyes to behold. 

Her life is unfolding into something she cannot understand. 

It is in the moment that she wants to live in but yet in the future that she wants to be. 

A step forward is taken with carelessness but yet with such fearfulness it appears as if it were done with caution. 

Is it herself that holds her back from the dreams that live within her now? 

Or is it careful patience that directs her footsteps into the places she is to go? 

How can she know until she has reached a destination? 

It is with patience she hopes? 

Yet she wonders if it is patience that holds her back. 

Is it a dream or a hope of a dream that is inside of her?

Are there any others walking on this same path in this way? 

Or is it a lonely road to which she takes? 

Only Truth will direct her. 

Only love will be beside her. 

Only passion will drive her. 

Only desire will pursue her. 

Only faith will save her.

The people are calling out to her from the depths of her heart. Her land is drawing her in. 

There is a chasm between her and her calling. 

She is looking for the bridge. 

She sees that there is a path, a path so faded that it is barely visible. 

It is the quiet whispers that guide her. 

It is a silent breath of wind that she feels around her. 

It seems as if strength is seeping right into the very depths of her bones, embracing her every cell. 

This wind of strength is what keeps her on this path. 

It seems as if someone has gone before her through this very same way to foresee the danger so that she can be prepared. 

It is a weapon for her to use this strength that consumes her. 

It is not her own. 

No it cannot be hers for she is just a mere child with ideas and words too big for even her to ingest.
Allowing this wind to direct she takes that first step onto the well trodden path that is unfamiliar.
Within her emotions rise and swell like the storming ocean. 

There is only a light at her feet so each step is gingerly taken one at a time. 

She knows it is the wind that has already known the way as it has gone through, above and beyond her knowledge of the way. 

It swirls all around her changing directions but never deterring away from the path.

She cries out to help. 

She sees the need of so many all around her. 

Her heart can barely hold the cries within. 

Where is she going? 

What is she doing? 

Is she on the right path? 

It is hard to keep listening to the quiet murmur of the wind. 

It whips around her with whispers of direction only her heart can understand, the barely audible passages of a secret knowledge. 

It is with a hand that is outstretched for someone greater to take hold of that she is able to struggle back onto her feet to put forth another step onto that path of her destiny. 

It is with a deeper courage and hope within of seeing her truth that she is able to survive with another breath of life. 

All around her are words. 

Words of hope, mockery, strength, pain, hurt, love, guidance, comfort, and life constantly around her. Guiding her, strengthening her, and building her slowly into what the wind wants. 

It directs but she chooses. 

It is with choice her life takes turns along the path hopefully never deterring away from where the wind directs.