The Romantic Now

The knight rides his white steed over impossibly green hills. He rides toward the hard stone of the castle’s protection, but mostly, he rides to see his love. He needs to make sure she is safe before the battle. His horse senses his need; his hooves seem to fly over the soft ground.

Aaahhh….the romance of the past. As I think of scenes such as this, it is all glory and grandeur and amazingness. In reality, the knight was probably cold, exhausted, and underfed. His body hurt from the hard days on horseback. The castle would be very cold and dark when he arrived. But his love…..that is the same as in my daydreams.

Love has the ability to transcend conditions, circumstance, history.

People of the past had no idea that their reality would be romanticized in the future. They just knew they were living and doing the best they could.

Challenge to myself? To live today as if it were a movie. Glory, grandeur, drama, love. Because life does have all of that. If I will just open up my eyes to see it.

Our home is our castle, now. The romantic now.

The saying, “Write your story well” comes to mind. So true. Let your character soar today.

Blessings, Lisa

Images: Donegal Castle, Ireland. 2015 Ed Lyons

Hiding Our Humanity, or, How to Miss the Best Days of Our Lives

I am attending a family wedding soon. This is no ordinary wedding, in fact, it is a veritable gala. 😉 It is very easy to get caught up in the nerves of trying to fit in, trying to be whatever it is that I think is expected of me in order to be a presentable human at this event. I struggle with attempting to mold my personality, my core self into the mold that is presented to me.

What to wear? What to say or not say? Will my ankle hold out? All these questions stem from insecurity and from too much navel gazing. Too much thinking about myself.

We are all humans. We are all aging, thank goodness. Aging means we are still blessed enough to still be on this beautiful planet, and still able to praise our beautiful God and Savior Jesus Christ.

I am praying hard to not fall into my old traps of self-consciousness and people pleasing. I just want to be me, the me that blesses and encourages others, that is interested in their lives. I am praying that we will all enjoy each other’s differences and quirks and personalities. That we love all the ways that humans are created, that we stir each other on to more love for our God.

Most of all, I am praying for a lifetime of love and commitment and caring for the two lovebirds tying the knot. I am praying for all of us to surround them with love and excitement as they look forward to celebrating the best days of their lives. Every day. For as many years as God grants them on this earth, and in eternity to come.

Looking up and out, Lisa

Love Remains

All the things we chase in this lifetime

Money, fame, popularity, success

Only one thing remains, only one thing stays

Love

Love can cross mountains, love can swim oceans

Love transcends time, distance, difficulties, lifetimes

Love never ends

Love remains

c2022 Lisa Lyons

My greatest memories, hopes, futures are all about love. The people I love, and the people who love me. The God I love, and the God who loves me. I am so grateful.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…….And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13

I’m feeling sentimental this beautiful morning. Tell everyone you love that you love them. Do not wait. Give them a hug. Encourage their hearts.

Love in Christ, Lisa

The Secret of Flight

The little bird learned to fly early. She loved the wind, the air, the sun on her wings.

As she grew, scales and packages and weights were added to her back. She realized that she did not enjoy flying as much as she once did.

Her father saw the packages and weights, and started to remove them, one by one. Each day she flew a bit higher, a bit lighter.

Until the day all the burdens were gone, and she flew as she once did. High, soaring, free.

The wind carried her, and she sang a sweet song.

If your wings are sagging or heavy today, lay down your packages and weights at the feet of Jesus. He will carry them.

Love, Lisa