What is your "right now"?

Joining in late for last week's Five Minute Friday post over at Kate Motaung's blog. The prompt for last Friday was "lose". 



In 2012 I got accepted to a grad school in Seattle into their Counseling Psychology program. I would have been a non traditional student, for sure, but I have felt called to help others in this way since my college days.

Because of circumstances beyond my control, I was not able to move from Iowa out to Seattle, WA with my hubby to attend grad school. 

Four years later, I am now unsure if I even want to go to grad school.

What gives? What makes you lose your focus, the purpose that seemed like it was burning a hole in my heart and (soon to be burning a hole in my pocket)?

I don't understand it at all. 

I have no desire right now to look into local programs. 

I read something from the Tiny Buddha website yesterday that one of my Facebook friends posted about purpose.

That nothing has to be done in a hurry. And, just because we don't know what to do right now, doesn't mean that "right now" doesn't have meaning.

That, to look at what is "right now" beckoning me, or calling me, is what I could do, that the "right now" can be my purpose.

Right now, my intuition, my gut is calling me to paint. I've been experimenting with acrylics and mixed media for a little over a year. 

I love what I've learned both on and off the canvas as I take bold, brave, courageous steps to make something out of nothing.

I'm not sure where this is leading me, but this is my "right now".

What is your "right now"?

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Blessings to you!

Anne

Who are you listening to?

Who are you listening to these days?

So many voices, so many noises vying for our attention. 

Our devotion. 

So many “good” things drawing us in.

But, whose  voice are you listening to?

There is a still, small voice.

Inside.

Those who believe in God might say it is God’s voice.

Or our intuition.

That voice is usually right.

Don’t ask me how. 

The Creator wired us that way.

Just as in nature, the robin knows when to build her nest, and what to build it out of.

We have intuition that we use without thinking many times. But, at times we need to use it and we don’t hear it.

It takes being still to hear that still small voice.

Like an effervescent spring-- those little bubbles of air rising to the top--as we stop and listen, and allow the cacophony of noises and chaos to roll past us as a ship on the sea, we will hear. 

We’ll hear things that our souls desperately need to hear.

You are worthy.

You are enough.

You don’t need to do such and such to be worthy or 

important.

You are valuable just for being you.

Listen to your heart.

Love is an open door.

As we are still, that still small voice begins to speak and we can actually hear it.

We might do better if we hear it,

then to actually heed it.

We will hear and rise.

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Thanks for stopping by today, friend! I'm linking up with a group of writers for Five Minute Friday over at Kate Motaung's place. Anyone can join in. Head on over there to read how, and to see what other writers have written on the prompt, "rise". 

Blessings to you today, friend!

~Anne

On a February morning

Last year's flower stems quiver in the cold.

The bird bath is frozen over.

The still six-inch deep snow in the yard is now marked by bunny and bird tracks from the past few weeks.

Even when the outside temperature hovers near zero degrees, the birds are chirping.

How can this be?

Did their Creator create them with an innate happiness and contentment no matter their circumstances?

I can learn this.

The giant evergreen outside my front window stands strong in the winter wind, home to Black-capped Chickadees and squirrels who dare to chance the weather to visit our bird feeder.

No matter what goes on in my world, this nature world keeps a live tempo.

The sun rises and sets. 

Snows come.

Snow melts.

Birds fly and nest.

Oh, I so want to write of it, and more!

I want to write of nature.

I want to write of me and my world.

I want to write beauty.

I want to write.

I want to notice in order to write.

So, in order to someday write, I write it down now.

Maybe in the writing of it now, it will prepare me for writing then.

And, then.

Blessings to you,

~Anne

Linking up today with #TellHisStory and Coffee for your Heart, and Three Word Wednesday

Listening to the white

The branches bend and twist under the weight of the freshly fallen snow.

The frozen birdbath wears a top hat of white and each winter-dead twig is twice its size with heavy snow.

The bird feeder we just hung last week wears a thick layer of white frosting on the top, like an elegant wedding cake ready to be delivered.

Each little perch is covered with a blob of snow frosting that I hope Mr. Cardinal will just quickly flick away when he comes for breakfast.



Oh, I hope the wind doesn't come up for awhile. 

It's predicted. 

Heavy wind gusts that will threaten this haven of winter white today.

Even now, the wind comes in bursts and causes the snow covered branches to lose their white covering as an avalanche of snow falls, wind-beaten, to the ground to add another layer to the parked cars, sidewalks and streets.

The flakes that fall are small and delicate today, unlike the fat, heavy ones that splatted decidedly on our windshield last night.

How can such delicate, small flakes fall in such a way to make a winter landscape thick with beauty?

The white quiet beckons me to sit here at my window a while longer.

I'm safe and warm here.

I'm hidden from the cold, but wide open to what our neighborhood has transformed into today.

Welcoming gifts

The blue jay came to visit on my huge pine tree this morning. He sat on a branch that had a bit of snow on it. He pecked at the snow as if to get some of the moisture it held, even though powdery. 

He hopped to a different branch within my sight and I silently gave thanks that he didn’t fly away yet.

Not yet. 

I saw his visit as a heavenly gift. Just for me. Who else would be watching this close to my uncovered window? No one.

In another instant, he flew away. Probably to go find some seed somewhere, (because I’ve been too much of a pansy in this cold weather to go and hang the suet ball I bought before Christmas.)

But, he came to visit my tree anyway and to take a drink of the cold snow.

Why?

Was it grace that brought him here?

Was It just a coincidence?

I don’t believe in them.

Coincidences, I mean.

I welcome those serendipitous moments that freeze in time like a photograph in my mind.

I choose to see those happenings as a divine intervention in my day to bring me joy.

I don’t deserve them.

They are given free, at just the moment I need them.

Maybe it is a moment I least expect, but extravagant kindness is shown from a benevolent Creator.

I’ll be looking for Mr. Blue Jay to visit again soon.

But, in the meantime, I will welcome gifts of grace wherever I find them.

Won’t you?

Thanks for stopping by for Five Minute Friday on Saturday, friend!

~Anne

Linking up with the gang at Kate Motaung's place for Five Minute Friday! Head on over there to see what other writers have penned in five minutes of free writing on the prompt, "welcome."

I welcome YOU here, friend! Come for a short visit, or stay awhile! Blessings to you!

God's dimmer switch

Ever wonder why dawn and dusk come gradually and not all of a sudden?

Evening comes and the sun gradually sinks lower and lower on the horizon until it's hidden from our view for that day.

It's like the sun goes to sleep in our part of the world 

so we can, too.

Then, while we're fast asleep, the earth is turning, turning, turning until the sun starts to gradually come into our view again. 

Gradually showing more of herself to us in our corner of the world until she's in plain sight. She's giving us a full view of herself so bright we're told not to look directly at her brightness.

Why the gradual, slow sinking and rising?

Why didn't God decide at the beginning of time to make these transitions sudden, like a light switch being turned off and on? 

Instead, he made sunrise and sunset on a dimmer switch.

Slowly, 

gradually 

light rises and falls at the start and end of each day.

I wonder if he knew (because he made us after all) that our souls would need to keep up with our bodies.

Thanks for stopping by today, friend!

Blessings to you!

I'm linking up today with Coffee for Your Heart, Three Word Wednesday and #TellHisStory.

When you need to enjoy the journey

Last week I awoke on Tuesday morning to one of the most beautiful snowfalls I've ever seen. It actually took my breath away, it was so beautiful and peaceful. 

Six different writings poured out of me that morning. Several of them inspired by the snowfall. I posted one of the snowfall poems last week. I'd like to share another one.

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I wake slowly.
Snow falling slow motion outside my window.
Like God is taking fists-full of snowflakes and tossing them down to earth on pillows of air.

Normally, the snow might bother me.
I'm not a winter lover, not really.
I hate being cold.

But, today, with the huge snowflakes coming down on pillows of air,
I am tempted to go out in it.
Tempted to let a snowflake land on my face
Tasting one, just for the sheer fun of it.
Feeling it melt on my tongue.

It's making blankets of white.
Painting our yard with a cloud-like frosting
Hiding the brown, dormant earth underneath.
At least for today.

This snow is pure
innocent
peaceful
beautiful

A reminder that my life doesn't have to move at the speed of light.

It shouldn't.
Rather, I want it to move and be as the speed of this quiet snowfall.

Moving at a pace where I can notice more
Moving with grace and beauty

Pausing,
resting in order to breathe

to enjoy life
instead of moving as a speeding train.

Enjoying the journey,
and not just obsessing over the destination that isn't here fast enough.

Blessings, friend.

In praise of really good conversations

I have a quote on my fridge that says,

 “ever have a really good cup of coffee, only to realize it was actually just a really good conversation?"

These are the kind of visits I long for. Where I really think it was just the brew I’m drinking, but it was really the equal, heart to heart give and take between you and i. We, each sharing our joys, sorrows, struggles and surprises. Giving voice to our dreams of the future and our visions for where we think God might be wanting to take us next.

I see these kinds of visits happening in the coffee shops and restaurants I get to frequent. I often wonder if the two or more people in conversation are feeling satisfied with it. I mean, really soul filled, not with just food, but with the company they are keeping.

I am so blessed to say that I do have friends like this. Where the give and take is easy. There is sharing from the deep places, not just skimming the surface.  And, these are the conversations I will continue to seek out.

Next time I go to the coffee shop, I’m going to look around. I’m going to look in faces to see if I see satisfaction there. Hopefully I will. Hopefully, I’ll see face to face and not screen to screen.

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I'm linking up today with other lovely writers at Lisa Jo Baker's blog for Five Minute Friday. We write for five minutes straight just for the fun of it. No backtracking! 

Come on over and visit, or better yet, join in! Today the prompt is "visit".

Thanks for stopping by,

Anne

Dare to Be: Contemplative {Day 6}

This post is part of a 31 Day series on the topic Dare to Be and linking up with about 1500 other bloggers on hundreds of topics. Come on over to The Nester to check that out!



On a day not too long ago, in my morning reading/journaling time, I started to ponder all the aspects of Jesus' humanity. I believe He is fully Divine and was also fully human when He walked this earth. 

This of course is too lofty for my human mind to wrap around. 

I think that's what got to me that day.

I wrote a poem in my journal I'd like to share with you on this Sunday. Pay attention to the descriptions of how Jesus' humanity is just like you and me, in that even though He is fully God, He had a body just like ours. 

The Humanity of Jesus

All things are in God's hands and under His feet.

His eyes look to and fro throughout the whole earth, searching for those whose hearts are turned toward Him.

His arms are opened wide beckoning all to come to Him.

His legs walked this earth

And also carried him as He carried the cross.

His eyes wept real tears at the death of his friend, Lazarus.

His arms held children close to him while he said, "Don't hinder these."

His mouth spoke words of truth, love, joy and peace.

His cheeks felt the heat of anger in the temple.

His hands broke bread and offered it to his disciples as a symbol of his own body breaking for them.

His lips drank the wine as a covenant was spoken.

His head wore the crown of thorns meant for a criminal, not the King of Kings.

His hands and feet took the nails.

But before that, they touched the sick and walked towards the hurting.

His lips formed the words, "Father forgive them."

What a wonderful Savior!

{This poem is based on descriptions of what Jesus did and how He is described in the Bible, mainly the Gospels and some in the Old Testament.}



May you have times in your life for contemplating just who Jesus is to you. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Blessings, friends!

~Anne

Click my button for a list of all 31 Days posts! Thanks for stopping by!

no earthly explanation

Lord,

my heart is utterly full

yet weeping.

how can this be?

many are your thoughts toward me
many are your benefits for me
many are your gifts to me.

why would you even think of me?
why would you love me?

you have made me a little lower than the angels.
yes.
mind boggling, but true.


many days, with no seeming reason to sing,
I have a song in my heart
from you.

many times, in the quietness of my house,
but in the swirling busyness of my mind,
and the sheer laziness of my will,
there is peace.

your peace.

there is no earthly explanation.