Just a step, just crossing over the threshold, leads to a new adventure. Step boldly and in faith today. Slainte, Lisa
“Life is uncharted territory. It reveals its story one moment at a time.” – Leo Buscaglia Quotes
Sometimes when I look at something that’s ahead of me, whether it’s a literal mountain hike or one of life’s other hurdles, it looks huge. Gigantuan and overwhelming. But if I can just start, just put one foot in front of the other and begin, little by little it usually gets done. And then looking back later, I realize it really was more of a hill and I shouldn’t have had the big freak out. 🙂 Here are some of our favorite hills/mountains that we have tackled. Step by step. Blessings, Lisa
“It’s not a hill, it’s a mountain, as you start out the climb…” (U2, I’ll Go Crazy, NLOTH)
Carrantuohill, County Kerry, Ireland
“And step by step, You’ll lead me, and I will follow You all of my days.” (Rich Mullins, Step by Step, The World As Best As I Can Remember)
Bray Head Trail, Valentia Island, Ireland
Ahhh…Ireland. Restive music and pictures to soothe your Monday self. Slainte, Lisa
Holding on, letting go, and finding joy and meaning in the midst of it all…life seems to be a balance of all these things. As I grow older, I find more and more that what I need to hold on to, what is constant, is my relationship with God who made me and knows me. Whatever changes in my life, He doesn’t. And I’m so thankful for that.
I’m a musician, a pianist mostly. Everything else springs from that…the vocals, the songwriting. And in the past few months, I found that I have a problem in my thumb…no cartilage from overuse. So I’ve been icing, heating, exercising, resting, bracing the thumb that I took for granted all these years. My daughter and I were talking about Prokofiev the other day, and it hit me…I probably will never play that again. Too much strain on the thumb. And it made me sad. Holding on, letting go, finding joy. Loss is a part of life for all of us, but after the storm of sadness, there is still joy. I can still play the piano, just differently, and I am thankful. I don’t take it for granted anymore like I used to. And I’m not just a musician; I’m God’s child. And one day, all will be made new; no more tears and sadness. And that’s joy.
I thought about not sharing all this, because I never want to be a downer, only an encouragement. But I know that many of you are facing hard times also, and we are here to pray and help each other along the way. Let me know if I can pray for you. Blessings, Lisa
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.” – Isaiah 12:2a
“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh
We found this perfect, beautiful shell on an Anguilla beach on our honeymoon twenty-five years ago. It had washed up from the clear blue sea and rested underneath a coconut tree. Although we felt bad to remove it from its idyllic home, we knew that it would bring back so many wonderful memories for years to come if we brought it back to our home. Carefully wrapping and cushioning it in our suitcase, we treated it as a precious treasure, and the shell made it home, where it remains to this day. When I hold it up to my ear, I still hear the blue seas within it, and I remember. Love, beginnings, beauty, laughter.
Have a blessed day, and if you’re by the sea, enjoy the beautiful seashells that God has made. Another gift. Slainte, Lisa
Think About These Things 