LovePilgrim

Indeed the task is daunting, yet if we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear we will be able to see the Love Pilgrims.  These are the souls that live out loud, step forward without looking back and will step on and over selfish motives to be the first to help out.  A Love Pilgrim is a type of hero that puts their love on the line and forgoes the thought of risk.  It is who we all should be every day in every moment as we make the choices that make a way for others.  It is a sacred way, it is the only way.

Keeping the promise to myself (again) today to live (and love-my typo reminded me) with open eyes.  I wish I could control this but things get in the way and stuff fogs my mind.  I am a firm believer in the fact that being aware there is a problem is the first step.  It is another story if you are in denial.  So starting now I keep my eyes and ears open to the truth that is trying to guide me.  Starting today I am being Spirit led and moving forward constantly.  I call it leaving port.  So I push away from the dock, the safe harbor of rest and complacency to the adventure that awaits me.  Join me, please.  I would be honored.

I looked at you in a brand new way today
Stars
They remind me of you
Your gift has been a gift to me
I put those other things aside and see the gifts in me
I offer them to you now
My light is shining because of you
I see myself in this new light
A light that blazes and warms and glows
The me that used to be is gone
That dark, forlorn universe I lived in
Alone and afraid and hidden away
Gone
Indulging in hate trade and non tolerate
Gone
Managing only a few crumbs of myself
Foraging for love and acceptance
Gone
The light shines over me and I am new
The peace prevails and I am free
Free from sedentary time
Free from the no luxury life without wishes or dreams
Moving in to a normalcy that is good for me
Friends and tea or coffee
Wishes shared
Dreams explored
Trails blazed again and again
And free
Free me sees more does more feels more
Free me has energy because I see
More
More love more kindness more friendship
The love pours out on me
The kindness is good and I can recieve it
Now

Those that love me can see it

There was a change in my path moving foward

Others wrestle with it too
We ask why and when and how questions
And then look up at the stars

And say… you know

Your intuition or that thing that you know to be true comes from inside us instinctively. Many of us can hear a story and reason it to be true or false quite easily. Where do instinct and intuition join and seperate? Instinctively we breathe. Instinctively we duck a flying object. Instinctively we gasp at something dangerous. In our hearts we understand both concepts but we tend to fluctuate between what we know by instinct and what we believe by our intuition. We may rely instinctively on a majority to lead us when we know intuitively they are going the wrong way. Intuition tells us we were not meant to be merely followers of a majority but to take the lead and show others how things should be done. And to what or where are we headed? Perhaps lead to respect and enhance the freedom of others as Nelson Mandela. Should we live to empower others as Bill Gates suggests? Maybe our goal should be to stand up in moments of challenge and controversy and speak out about the things that really matter as Martin Luther King Jr. did. Maybe we should just fear less and move forward to new ideas and frontiers like Marie Curie suggested. We can show others that success should always be second to being significant, per Oprah. Arnold Schwarzenegger suggests we set the example of learning from our past mistakes as well as using them to make things better instead of comparing ourselves to others. Movie stars, rock stars and writers all believe in the lead. Instinctively I know that my intuition should be given some notice. Instinctively I am afraid. When I am afraid, intuition loses out and the voice in my head says “so much can go wrong.” When intuition overrules the fear, my heart leaps with “there is so much possibility here.”

Let’s talk about the end. “The end of what?“, you say. Or you say, “Oh that.“ Or you say, “it will be amazing!“ I’m not talking about a play or a Netflix series or a book. I’m talking about the end of life for you and me when we cease to move and breathe here on earth. So what happens in the end? Now you say “let’s not think about that.“ Or you say, “it will be beautiful“ or “I’m not sure what I believe“ or you say “I hope you’re not going to talk about theology.““Let’s wait and see,“ you say. So that’s your plan? Does it really seem like the best idea? It is exhausting to think about. There really is so much information out there that the wait-and-see plan seems like the best plan. Seems like the easiest plan. However deep down we know we need a better plan. Funerals for friends, the birth of a baby and near fatal experiences remind us we might need a better plan. But we are forgetful creatures and we push those things to the back of our mind. We wait again. We slouch and snuggle into the wait and see theology and than something else causes us to think about it. The Plan. And then we settle back in again until next time. It can be a vicious cycle. Here’s an idea to contemplate. Look around at the great outdoors or to that favorite place in mother nature that you enjoy. Think about this. If you can believe In the possibility that this was all created somehow then there is another option. And as a side note it may help to see that when you look at a skyscraper you would not assume that it came together with no help. It’s obvious that a car has a creator. You wouldn’t just assume that the vehicle came together without any help. Now we look out into nature and it’s a little bit easier to see the possibility of a divine creator. Having established that there is a creator now imagine what his plan would be for us. Some type of intimate connection. Some way to show us what we are here for. How would the creator of the universe communicate with us? The perfect plan would involve the creator connecting with us. Letting us know we are loved and treasured and there is a hope and a future for us. Imagine that. The creator caring for us. So here is where we meet Jesus. The plan to connect, communicate and show he cares for us. Perfect. I have heard that the Creator is perfect. So here is the reason for Jesus. He was willing to walk among us and reveal the perfect plan. He did that and than he gave his life for us. All of the created people are part of the plan. The most amazing thing of all is that we can choose. He has a plan and we are all invited. Wait and see means we will keep moving forward in our own plan, building our own “stuff” and choosing to be on our own. Choosing to believe the plan of God moves us into the position of His family. Forever.

Ask someone who has hope: “Hey, where does that come from?” See what they say and be open minded because they have what you’re looking for.

With a right perspective of God we can hope to understand how we can fit into the plans of God.  A friend of mine once shared that he was speaking with an atheist who was very accomplished and had several degrees.  As they spoke the professor frequently referred to his knowledge and accomplishments when arguing the non-existence of a supreme being or God.  My friend took out a blank sheet of paper and suggested that the professor make a mark on the paper that would suggest his own personal knowledge compared to ALL knowledge.  My friend made the comment when sharing with me that he did not feel that his mark on the paper would even be visible but that the professor picked up the pencil and made a small mark on the paper the size of the tip of the pencil.  He said he could see the change come over the professor as he became aware of his small place in an infinite universe.  So on that day this atheist changed from atheist to agnostic and perhaps later an activist for Jesus.  If we see God from a right perspective it can be the beginning of understanding and from there it is much more likely we will see him at work in our lives. Isaiah 40 says: Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way?  Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?

Maybe a small dot of perspective can give us a huge dose of peace.

As the image of them timed out on my phone the screen went blank and the new image was a reflection of my own face. Soft reflective music put me in a melancholy mood about the future. Writing the senior grad ad had sloughed off some of my protective coverings. The ones that help me deal with age. But the older me wasn’t sad. The older me saw a new journey with new places to uncover. The older me was exhilarated. Like a cocoon that had kept me safe the old life was going away and there was not an ancient me but a new me. The new me was so wise and servant minded. The new me was excited about my own tomorrow. The new me saw endless possibilities in my new found freedom from the responsibilities of young children. With young adults as my children the reins are not in my hands any longer. I will still sit beside them in the carriage when they travel and navigate life’s roads but their course is in their hands. I will enjoy more things with them at the helm of their own adventures. I will still point out the beauty so that they won’t be so driven as to miss it. I will still mention the obstacles or warning signs but they will see them too. I will enjoy the ride as they choose their roads and fast or slow I will hang on tightly if only on the inside as to not discourage or frighten them.
The twists and turns might cause me to gasp but I will put out my hand and thank them for allowing me to travel with them once in a while. I hope they will bring me along frequently so I can hear their stories and watch them navigate. Tomorrow waits for all of us to reveal secrets and places and secret places where we’re caught off guard and caught up in it all. Just like the seasons, tomorrow is ever changing and morphing but that’s a good thing because with all the changes come the new things. The new things that take our breath away or make us sigh with relief or laugh out loud or swallow hard or shake our heads or drop our jaws in amazement. New things churn our emotions around inside. That’s what new does. It churns and challenges and changes us. My new time is now and it’s certainly going to be an adventure.