Life's Path

Today's "pic of the day" symbolizes life's path. After attending a funeral today for my uncle I was thinking about the journey each of us takes in life and how each life path is effected by the choices we make and the forks in the road that we take.

My remaining extended family are comprised of older individuals and I wonder if they reviewed their life journeys today during the funeral? If so, did they think about how their lives developed as compared to how they thought their lives would be when they first started out? What changes would they have made, what experiences would they not trade for anything, what regrets did they have and what dreams did they fulfill?

I think a lot of times we get wrapped up in the day-to-day stuff and forget to strive for the things we once had passion for as the daily burdens monopolize our time and talent. We need to remember that God has a purpose for us.

"Without a strong sense of calling and purpose, life is nothing more than routine busyness...The purpose of our lives is to let others see what God is like as they watch and experience His love through us...Our purpose is to show others less of us and more of Him...The Christan's purpose is to promote God's plan." (Daily Bread, May 21, 2007).

Healing & Fruitfulness

During tonight's Grey's Anatomy, Meredith's character said, "...a cut lets the healing process begin...the cut goes through the healthy skin so what's unhealthy can be found and removed." My pic of the day is inspired by this thought that just as my mom "cuts" the weeds and prunes her flower garden (at left) we cut unhealthy areas of our life and if we don't, then God does so that we will be more fruitful.

The Grey's Anatomy quote made me think about my dental implant especially since I made my appointment today to enter phase III of my dental implant procedure. First I had the bad tooth extracted, the surface looked healthy but underneath was the infection. Several months later after the extraction site had healed, the dentist had to cut it open again and place the implant below the surface to fuse with my jaw bone. Now, several more months later, it has healed again but I am still without a tooth. So, the dentist has to go back and cut the healthy skin once again to place the external part where the crown will eventually be positioned.

I think about how many healthy looking "cuts" are made to begin the healing process. For example, I've talked to several students this week contemplating "cuts" in their own lives...dropping one major to pursue another career path; having to give up one plan when realizing the deadline has past; and having to step back and trim obligations all to heal in a variety of ways.

Where do you need to make cuts so that you will be more fruitful?

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:2 (NIV)

Battle

Today was a battle - plain and simple. I feel beat up mentally from the battle I endured. The closest pic I could come up with to represent this (besides two rams crashing horns) was a pic of Caerphilly Castle that I took in Dec. '05 when my husband and I were last in Wales. I think of all the physical battles that were carried out among the outer and inner walls of this castle and how it still stands today. Somehow that gives me inspiration that I will still stand tomorrow.

I'm going through some personal legal issues right now, and other battles, and I feel like my entire day was consumed by attorney phone calls and backstabbing betrayal with no end or answers in sight yet. In addition to that, for the first time in my life I was notified that I've been selected as a potential trial juror to serve for one week during the time frame of 03/01 to 04/30... smack dab in the middle of one of the busiest times of the year for us at work! What can I say, I'm "legaled out" today! However, I like the quote I heard that, "There is no price tag on justice." In addition my Internet decided not work tonight and it took me two hours to make this post, now that is dedication.

I've taken some awful piercing blows from every angle of my life over the past two years and recently over the past two weeks to the point that even my mother said tonight that it is "too much". I keep thinking that tomorrow has to be a better day and remain hopeful that even though I've taken some blows, that a turning point is right around the corner with some answers to my legal questions and offerings of a peaceful life.

"You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NIV)

Light within the Dark

My "pic of the day" is inspired by an ordinary object that has been transformed into a beacon of illumination. This evening I happened along a tree fully draped in multi-colored lights from trunk to tips. The tree is nestled in between the outer walls of a local church and lights up the street corner as it greets passersby. As I pulled into the church parking lot to take a picture, I noticed someone else was already there with the same idea. As I walked up to the tree I became immediately aware of how trampled the ground was where others had been drawn to the light of this tree as well. It made me think about how this tree was transformed into a bright beacon drawing many, and how we too can be transformed with the light of Christ.

"See to it then that the light within you is not darkness." Luke 11:35 (NIV).

On a side note, I heard the weatherman say that this was our 12th straight day with below zero temperatures. It was supposed to be a high of 30F day, but on my lunch time walk it sure didn't feel any different than it did when the temps were sub zero or in the single digits.

"The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen." Job 37:10 (NIV)