Sliding

I went to Tallulah Gorge and 

   hiked 

      down a treacherously,

          strenuous trail, 

               hopping 

                    lower and 

                         lower, 

                              from boulder 

                                   to boulder 

                                        until

reaching bottom  

          at

          Sliding Rock.  

                                        

Mustering up courage to take my turn on nature’s slide, 

I watched as each person approached the rock's crest and took the slippery plunge down—a hundred feet or more—into green deep waters.    

There were solo sliders, duos, and covies of six or more.  Some maneuvering carefully, so as not to fall, others slipping and tripping just to take their seat at the rock's top.  Some held hands high, others grasped tight against the current 

But eventually, each body—

          once gravity and moss and river took hold—

               surrendered fully to rush of white and incline of stone.  

One single slider with long red mermaid hair sat in Sukasana until breaking her meditation to hold her nose...

A litter of six look-alike siblings, aged seven to eighteen, scrambled to the top holding tank of swirling white water and one-by-one scuffled off the edge like a pistol firing:  one, two, three, four, five, six—oldest brother following last.  A quiet mom stood on the side tall and dry, knowing she was witnessing a memory for at least seven lifetimes...

God’s children expressing unique joy 

     and everyone splashing into deep.

                                                       

It was good to be a kid again—to play, to splash, to holler, to gulp river water laughing—knowing Someone Watching Over Me was near.

 

I will tell them, “God’s love can always be trusted, 

and His faithfulness lasts . . .” Psalm 89:2 (CEV)

Straight Paths

Straight paths.                                                                  

  

     I need them.   

Life throws enough curve 

balls as it is.

But if I'm firm standing on straight paths, 

at least I see which way the ball curves.   

This summer I’ve been on a mini-semi sabbatical, cutting down my work load from 8 classes a week to 3.  Doing this has added 15 hours to each week, more time to check out the curve of things.

  

I wanted to get with God and find out how I was doing.  I wanted to learn what I needed to let go of, what I needed to hold on to, and what I needed to add—to my days, weeks, life.  I knew my mind had some weeds that needed pulling, my emotions needed a nature day or two, and my will—my wishes and desires—needed updating.   

Now, standing taller in my spirit feet,

     stronger in my soul, 

          I've got a new, sunshiny view of the path ahead.  

True, it's full of scenic routes, both visible and invisible; 

     it's sure to hold unknowns; 

          and it will be peppered with people, the biggest unknown of them all.     

But I'm ready for it:  

           With my whole being, I lean on the Lord.

                I depend on God, not on myself, for everything. 

                     God knows what is best for me in every course of action.

                          God makes the road I travel straight and free from traps.  

     My future is bright and I laugh at the days ahead.

     Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall make your paths straight.

I've decided to start blogging.  I have too many journals on too many shelves.  It's time to come out of the closet...

The impetus for this decision:  Reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. 

      So motivated by her powerful style, honest depth, and fresh perspective.  

Reading her words makes me want to write...

Being invited into her heart makes me want to share my heart. 

I so love when hearts speak.

So hear I go.  Yes, HEAR I go.  

I imagine I write to be heard, even if only by my own ears hitting the keys on the keyboard, even if only by my own ears hearing my voice read aloud what I post.

There's something about vocalizing and posting thoughts that makes them more true, more honest, more carefully put together just right... especially when speaking from the heart

I'm smiling.  

This decision to write in this new way makes me happy from the inside out.