To Shear a Sheep

Yes, I do realize that this is not a sheep.  It is my sweet dog, Fritz.  He is furry, no doubt about it.  Furry enough that as I was walking him in the yard soon after we got him, our neighbor called out, “What are you walking that sheep for?”  Much laughter on his part ensued, and much to Fritz’ chagrin, that joke continued for a few years.

Anyway, giving him a haircut is always a major undertaking.  I could take him to the local doggie hair salon, but I’ve always just cut him myself at home.  He’s the jittery type, and it gives us lots of one-on-one time.  Plus, I can cut him just the way I like it, not too short.  (as long as he holds still of course, always a major variable!)

So, these last two pictures are my buddy and me after the big haircut/bath experience.  He is frantically licking his wet paws in these pictures, trying to get them back into normal Fritz form, I guess.  Bless his heart.  I love, love my dog, and I bet all of you have a great dog/cat/animal story of a special one in your life.  Please share; I’d love to hear them!      Slainte, Lisa

Shhh….It’s a Secret!

What is it about secrets and secret hideaways and secret treasures that makes us want to know more?  Most of us have an intense desire to know what’s in the box, what’s in that unreachable garden, what that whispering person said, what lies after this life.  The odd thing is though, finding out the answers is not always as satisfying as we imagine.  There is something thrilling and exciting about not knowing, about waiting and imagining.  Sometimes the expectation of the secret itself is the treasure.

The older I get, the more I am learning to enjoy the unknowable, the mystery, the secret.  My children can tell you of many times when they ask me an unanswerable question, I shrug my shoulders, smile, and say, “It’s a mystery.”  And that’s half the fun; life would be utterly too predictable and boring and overwhelming if we knew it all.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God.”  – Deuteronomy 29:29a

Treasure the mysteries and secrets.  Trust God to work out the ending.

Slainte, Lisa

The Bovine Ladies of Portmagee

These cows are the cows of a certain Portmagee, Ireland farmer.  These cows are unafraid and unwaveringly trusting of that farmer.  In the three weeks that we stayed next door, we watched these cows walk up and down the roads, going from one field to another, never checking for oncoming cars, just assuming that they will stop.  And the cars always did, sometimes for 10 minutes at a time.

This post is really part two of my prior “Leap of Faith” posting.  These wonderful mooing bovines had so much faith in their “shepherd.”  (Yes, I realize they’re not sheep, but you get what I’m getting at…)  Their leader said move out of this field, and they do.  He knows that there is better and newer grass over yonder; the cows don’t know that, but they trust him and go.  Now, the interesting part….we are smarter than these sweet cows, right?  Yet, God will try to lead me and I resist.   I pull against the change and plant my feet wide in protest.  May God be patient with me, and help me to trust and not fear.

Slainte, Lisa

Thinking about doing

A conundrum of a title for a conundrum of a problem….how to get a dreamer to move to action.   As a writer and musician, I have no problem with the dreaming and thinking part.  I love that part: planning, thinking, creating things in my mind.  The rub?  The nitty gritty of actually doing everything, moving out of my mind and into real action.  So I am hereby inspiring myself into motion this morning with a few good quotes on the subject.

-“Words may show a man’s wit but actions his meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin

-“Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.” – Mark Twain

-“It’s not what you’re dreaming, but what you’re gonna do.” – U2

-“Start where you are; use what you can.” – Persecution Project Foundation, www.persecutionproject.org (check it out; help the Nuba/South Sudanese people today!)

-“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:17

Hmmm….I better get moving.  Have a wonderful day!  Slainte, Lisa