The JOURNEY Continues….but WHERE AM I GOING THIS TIME????
Have you ever begun to embrace the new changes within your life, whether you caused them or someone else initiated them and wonder….WHERE AM I GOING NOW?
WHERE DO I GO NOW?
The road way of LIFE seems to be filled with exasperating situations: LEAPS OF FAITH, UNEXPECTED CHOICES, meeting & making NEW FRIENDS and bidding adieu to OLD FRIENDS you have met along the way and will miss. LIFE IS CHANGE! But we often aren’t asked by life or our Creator if it is changes we want to make are we?
In hind-sight, I see my passion for writing which holds first place now to my love of painting has taken a drastic shift from casual and exploiting the “why’s” of life to a diligent passion to incorporate the insights and wisdom each experience shows me, as lessons from God.
It began about 14 years ago in Traverse City MI, actually on the shores of Crystal Lake, I was relaxing in the warm springtime sunshine at the water’s edge. The only one on the beach…perfect solitude and bliss...Then a young woman with a bandana on her head entered my space of sandy tranquility, my thoughts began surging: “What is she doing RIGHT here, not 5 feet away from me when there’s a whole beach?” “I yearn for solitude and quiet and the sounds of the surf, not talking with a complete stranger that is clad in unusual garb”. “ Why Lord? Why me, why today?“
Beach front on Crystal Lake, Beulah MI
As I feared she introduced herself to me, and I am ashamed with my “seasoned memory now” I cannot recall her name today, but vividly recall in full the vision (picture) of how things were. As she began to tell me “her story” I became more intrigued. She started talking about what a miracle she is and how God has blessed her. At this juncture I had a deep faith, but it was private, I wasn’t used to talking about God with total strangers. She continued. She had been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor ( the reason for the bandana! Aha!) I often glean more from conversations with people then I really want to know. She explained in detail the miracle God had created using her as He healed the tumor and amazed her doctors! WOW!
During the conversation she taught me: “When people are extremely close to God, animals, wild ones come right up to them….they exude a quiet security and peace and love that the animals feel.” Yeah, right I am thinking with my skeptical mind, sure!
Then out of the blue, or should I say out of the water and shoreline, at least 10 ducks and ducklings waddled down the beach from every direction it seemed, and proceeded right to her, surrounding her on her blanket, close to her legs, her feet…trying to get as close as they could. She was not eating any food, or giving them anything….I watched in amazement. The strangest sense of peace overcame me as I watched it unfold, as if I was in a sacred space, calm, peaceful, serene. The ducks stayed while we conversed and soon the sun began to become lower to the horizon, I am not sure exactly how long we talked. She even suggested we pray together….I am thinking this is soooooo weird!!! But I complied with her request not knowing how to refuse after she had shared such an incredible story with me, then she took my hands in hers and prayed an awesome prayer of thanksgiving for her healing and for meeting me, a complete stranger, and gratitude for the visiting ducks.
It was time for her to leave,I watched as she packed up her things and headed off toward downtown Beulah. I never saw her again. I sat still, in awe for a very long time and in fact enjoyed one of the most spectacular sunsets I had seen, and I have seen many, all different and all gloriously painted by God!
I truly believe that was a “fork in my road”, a twist in my path, not expected, not deserved, not requested and yet the beginning of a fabulous journey not as observer of life a total spectator, but as a God loved and inspired participant in His plan, the journey of MY life! How incredible, how magnificent, how amazing You are Lord. Thank You.
I now am no longer afraid of what the future holds, nor do I regret my past, I expect the unexpected, the unusual and the unplanned and til this day, God has not disappointed me!
The journey of my life is continuing, and I know NOT WHERE I AM GOING THIS TIME! But wherever it may be, I am sure God will teach me things I have not yet known.
Posted on January 26, 2012, in 60+ and Single, eclectic perspectives, living a "wonderful life", Mirroring Miracles, My Christianity, Single and over 50+, What is "following your Bliss"? and tagged bandana, brain tumor, calm, choices, decisions, ducks, fork in the road, God, how amazing you are Lord, miracles, painted by God, passion, peace, seasoned memory, serenity, sunset, thanksgiving, unexpected, where am I going, writing. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
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