I love March! Even though we are still knee-deep in snow, there is a hint of Spring in the air. Am I just imagining it? You bet I am…:)
My Lenten Journey of a Simple Kindness is showing itself to be more of a Blessing to me, than to the “kindness” I show to someone else! But, isn’t that just like God! 
This week I have chosen the quote: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” Mother Teresa
How many “kind words” can I speak in a week? I will include the writtten word in that (i.e. emails). I challenge myself to 100!
May I begin with YOU? “You are an amazing child of God; you have the potential to be all HE has planned for you to be. Now, BE it! ”
I love you.
It took me a few days to understand my heart’s desire for this Lenten Journey. It is simply to do a “simple kindness” each day. I like to think that I am “kind” everyday…but this is different…
This “simple kindness” will be intentional, it will be daily, it will be a blessing (probably more to me than the “intended” …:)
Today, as we are snowed in, will be to call my elderly neighbor and take her a pot of soup.
Tomorrow? Don’t know yet. It is still today 
Walk with me, please, in this Lenten Journey and my continued journey to “higher ground”
What does YOUR “walk” look like?
Will YOU ‘”walk “with me?
“Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the flowers,
Kind deeds are the fruits.
Take care of your garden
And keep out the weeds,
Fill it with sunshine
Kind words and kind deeds.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Today, in the Christian tradition, is Ash Wednesday. It is the beginning of the Lenten season which lasts for 40 days, ending on Easter.
I can not speak to the many traditions of Ash Wednesday and Lent, I can only share with you my own Lenten Journey. I do know, however, that typically a person “gives something up” for Lent.
Instead of “giving something up,” I prefer to “take something on.” It may be a kindness, an addition to my diet or physical fitness plan to improve my health, a prayer time that will benefit a specific population. Perhaps this year it will be an addition to my “journey” that will benefit those who are in need of Blessings in their lives. I know that sounds a bit vague. It is still vague to me-it just seems to be where my heart is taking me…
As this part of my journey reveals itself, I would LOVE to share to with you.
Is Lent a part of YOUR life? Where is it taking YOU this year?
I was chatting with my pastor the other day, about “higher ground.” He commented that “higher ground” is a place of safety…I haven’t thought of it that way…
To me, “higher ground” is taking my heart ‘s work (my “calling?”) to a higher level.
I understand the “place of safety” concept. “Higher ground” is certainly the place to be in the event of a flood, etc; when I googled “higher ground” many safety related websites popped up.
Is it easy to get to “higher ground?” Nope! not for me…We have been pondering our “higher ground” for some number of months now. I have come to the conclusion that this “journey” is a life process, not a year’s commitment as I originally thought it would be.
Will YOU continue the “journey” with me?
Please say “YES!!!”
I am living proof that it is true…
It was February 11, 1985; a cold and snowy day. I remembered my Gramma White saying, “Never let the weather change your plans”, so off I went to do some grocery shopping and to have lunch with some friends at our church.
As I traveled the two-lane snow and ice covered road, heading back home, I could see an appliance van coming toward me. In an effort to give him plenty of room, I pulled over to the side of the road. As I did, my car hit ice, his van did too and we hit each other in a forceful head-on collision. While wearing a seat belt saved my life, it did not save me from harm. I was thrown to the floor of the mini-van; the seat belt staying fastened. The force of the collision broke my arm, my ribs ; injured my knees and legs. The seat belt cut across my stomach causing many internal injuries. Trapped on the floor of my mini-van, my seat belt still fastened, I was unable to move.
Someone, having witnessed the accident, called 911. Thank you!
Now, to make a long story short… The emergency vehicles arrived and much commotion followed. The miserable weather, other vehicles stopping to help, my daughter’s school bus, people trying to assist in any way they could, all added to the confusion. Still trapped on the floor, I suddenly felt the mini-van shift and move. “We” were going someplace – I didn’t know where.
After several minutes of traveling, I felt the mini-van jolt to the ground. Not knowing where I was, not knowing that “we” had been towed to a junkyard; frightened and in extreme pain,
I cried “Dear Lord Jesus, save me”.
Over and over again, I prayed,
“Dear Lord Jesus, save me”.
And He did!
A “man” walking through the junkyard, looking for parts for his car, heard a noise coming from a vehicle. Thinking it was a radio, he walked over to my mini-van. When he opened the door, there I was, covered with ice and snow.
The “noise” he had heard was my prayer for help.
Despite all of our efforts, this man who saved me was never found.
Was he a man or an Angel? I am sure that I know
An ambulance soon arrived. After much effort, the paramedics extricated me from my mini-van and transported me to the hospital. I remember how cold I was.
I remember how much I hurt. I remember being taken into surgery.
I remember being surrounded by family and friends, all praying for me.
I was in and out of the hospital for a number of years. I still have the scars on my body and the scars on my mind – my memories of that day.
But most important of all, I have the confidence of knowing that God has put me on this earth for a reason; His reason., and I pray that I live my life to fulfill His plan, His purpose, His reason; for He is my Maker;
And God doesn’t make junk!
~ Janet Simpson
I have been away for a few weeks; still on my journey, but with a little different focus. I have needed wrist surgery, for some number of months, but chose to try the experimental procedures before agreeing to it.
After trying everything the doctor had to offer, I finally agreed to the surgery…
The origin of my wrist problem was born almost 25 years ago. The birthing process began with a car accident (the story of junkyard Janet)->broken arm->surgery->oops! we nicked her radial nerve->tendon transfer->and now, that tendon became frayed and needed repair again…Bummer!
Why am I telling you all of this? For three reasons:
1. Because I have not been able to work-out for two weeks now and I am not a happy camper. My life is totally out-of-balance when I cannot, at the VERY least, get out and RUN!
Or is it out of balance? Where does my true balance come from? The Word of God…and that is always with me.
2. When I went into pre-op, and the surgeon saw my blood pressure of 80/60 and resting heart rate of 42, he thought I needed an EKG before he could give me a general anaestetic. My husband contributed, “but she is a triathlete!” The surgeon replied (with a smile) ” then, off to surgery!!!” I felt “validated” that all of my hard work had payed off for my physical well-being in a surgical risk! Yes! I will be back!
3. At first I did not think that this was part of my “journey!” It does not fit with nature, simplicity, education, gratitude Or does it…
~Nature + simplicity + gratitude + education = a true journey.
The nature of the beauty of the sunrise as we drove to the hospital early that morning.
The simplicity of of my hospital gown? True, but I will come up with something better than that! The simplicity of my prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, guide the doctors and all who attend to me this morning, that your perfect Will, will be done.
Education, of course, as I learned the intricate working of our bodies and how they heal.
Then, of course, gratitude! I am so grateful for the gift of healing and of friends and family and all of those who have attended to me these past few weeks!
This has, indeed, been part of my journey…an unexpected detour, but it has put me right back on track, looking at my Journey to Higher Ground with fresh eyes.
How is YOUR journey going? Have YOU had a chance to look at it with fresh eyes?
How are you doing with your “Perfect Days?” Have you engaged your “imagination?” Are you ready to “kick it up a notch?”
I am! I have learned, of course from my grandchildren, to play “beyond my wildest dreams!” Now that takes “imagination!”
What would my “perfect days” be like, if they were beyond my wildest dreams?” I am ready to explore them.
Are YOU?
Let’ do it together
My coach, Jo, and I just had a brief email discussion about “imagination.” Last night I had emailed her: Jimmy and I have been playing “let’s imagine.” Oh to have the imagination of a five year old. Her response was: you do if you allow!!!
Jo is absolutely right! I just need to ALLOW myself to BE a five year old and imagine…. Wow! Thanks Jo!
I am going to re-visit my “perfect days” and ALLOW myself to just BE.
This is exciting!!!
Do YOUR “perfect days” reflect YOUR “imagination?”
How far can YOU s-t-r-e-t-c-h it?
While you are stretching, check out Jo’s newsletter, whch just happens to be on Imagination!
On my way to campus yesterday, I drove past a chiropracters office; on his sign outside it said: “If you want to become who you want to be, you have to give-up who you are.” Wow! That stuck with me all day!
Are my “perfect days” who I want to become? It certainly has been fun creating them! As soon as I have completed each one, I will go back and find the common denominators. Then, I will ponder becoming “that” person…
How are YOU doing with YOUR “perfect days?”
Is this the person YOU want to become?
I have been trying to concoct what “my perfect day” would look like! As hard as I have tried, my day would have to be many days long to fit in everything I want to do…Finally, I decided that they are MY days, so why not have different kinds of “perfect days?” That opened up a whole new way of thinking about them.
What are the “kinds” of days do I want to have? Spiritual, Family, Athletic, Educational, Celebration. Those are the ones that popped into my head. These are NOT going to be PURE days. The “athletic ” days can also include family, etc. Just the focus will be on, perhaps, competing in an Ironman Triathlon AND living-to-tell-of-it. Now, THAT would be a PERFECT day!
I have a notebook that is titled “My Perfect Life.” I am going to start compiling all of my thoughts, dreams, prayers and my wildest imaginations into this notebook. I am excited!
What does YOUR perfect day look like?
How about YOUR perfect DAYS!
