Meet me in the the mountains as you have done so many times before, don't look to the left or to the right trying to figure out what is an open or closed door. This world can deceive and lead you away from my perfect plans. Confusion and pain would soon follow like the hot sun creating a dessert wasteland.
You'll find me sitting next to you on the mountain by the fire, as you hike listen to My whisper in your heart as you go higher and higher. I will meet you in the morning with my word to light your way, don't let the outside world interrupt our conversations that day.
Everyone has baggage defining the why behind what they do, I see their hearts and with this knowledge I protect precious ones like you. It doesn't matter if your walking alone or with the one I chose, I will be with you through the highs and lows.
You will come down off the mountain a bit more clear, amazing when you "finally" get quiet what you will hear. Keep doing what you believe I led you to do, trusting those unfounded fears leading you to stumble were not true.
Don't look to the left or to the right, just keep helping those I bring into your sight. Stay in the lane I put you in so I can take care of the rest, be patient precious girl, I am bringing you My very best.
The words in this one will grow and change but not the message, it remains the same. Those days you dreaded have come and gone, look to me, not to others and nothing will go wrong.
Bottom of the mountain in South Africa
Isaiah 43:4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.
Here I can feel the crisp wind of a mountain's breath, filling my lungs while clearing it of life's troubles and busyness. The smell of Honeysuckle is all around, crickets and buzzing bees are my melody sounds.
Here I find my heartbeat in the quiet even if I'm not alone, putting aside to do lists and scrolling on my phone. The quiet begins to grow in my soul, God keeps it there a moment so feelings can arrive to help me write as my soul grows.
Exhaustion and grief bring tears with their torrent of pain, finally slowing down like drips of water after a heavy rain. Laughter follows as I choose to remember good times, then holding hands with my acceptance, I begin to climb.
Wondering as I hike who to trust is not playing a game, waiting for healing, if not, my heart may never be the same. Quietly praying friends who aren't true will go away, leaving room for the tried and true until the end of my days.
Seeking answers from God about the pathways He chose for me, twists and turns topped off with a curve ball I didn't have time to see. Finally, I stop to look at the stars shining in the night, deciding to trust Him because He loves me so much He gave His son's life.
Peace like a breeze from an angel's wing begins to settle in my soul, resting easy because I know in time I will be made whole. Finally, the words start spilling out of your pen, it's ink making these moments permanent and easy to recall again.
Everybody needs a hometown, a place you once belonged. A place to become grounded when life on the road gets long. Where the past and friends greet you, as if you’ve never been gone. A place to hold your soul’s memories, just like an old favorite song.
Old friends, first kisses and high school first loves, these memories slip on like an old favorite pair of gloves. Summer days, summer nights, we raced against time, with fast cars and freedom, and love on our minds.
Everybody needs memories of loved ones long gone. Years of life together before you moved on. Summer nights with lovers and Fall seasons in the stands, quickly recalled by a song from your favorite band. Christmas lights past and old promises of Spring, are one song away from the memories it brings.
Everybody needs old friends who stayed for your show, while some friends like seasons, they come, and they go. Driving through my hometown I often move slow, so memories can catch me from times long ago. The hugs and the laughter with friends who stayed, are the reason time and distance will never keep me away.
As I walk through the lights and all of these rides, sentimental feelings begin rising up inside. Memories of laughter nestled between squeals of fear, while remembering the ones who used to hold me so near.
Some days are like the tilt-a-whirl spinning out of control, other days are like the zipper with so many ups and downs you wonder if you will ever be made whole. The funny house with all the mirrors reflecting different faces, sort of like the ones we now pick from depending on what the place is.
Just like real life, some games are fair and others are not, dependent upon heart of the one running it as to whether or not you have a shot. Balloons for popping with fish swimming around, are effective tools to help the last five dollars in your pocket be found.
Neon lights reflected in little one's eyes, while staring at stacks of stuffed animals appearing to go as high as the night sky.
"Can we go on that one?" followed by "Will you hold my hand", gives us older folks the chance to feel the magic again.
I always hate leaving this temporary magical state, with its dirt aisles and "Fair Game" signs all over the place. One week it's here and then its gone, but for me and the ink in my pen the memories will live on.
The pink flowers I grew for the world to see left me for the ground; they fall softly in cascades of color as the fall winds swirl around. For a moment creating a luscious pink carpet for all the creatures to enjoy, some being picked up by girls while pondering their first kiss under my limbs by a boy.
Each year my pink flowers grow in a unique way, ever changing patterns where the sunlight can play. I proudly grow them up towards the spring and summer sky, while hundreds gaze upon them with admiring eyes.
I long for the painters to come and capture my beautiful pink flowers, before they cascade down and apart from me their color lasts only for a few more hours. So quickly use your brushes before they run out of time, to be held forever pink, enjoyed until the end of time.
There few things as beautiful as a Smokey Mountain River, many childhood days spent swimming in water so cold you shivered. Mom with towels ready always waiting on the bank, standing far enough away so we couldn't splash her with our pranks.
Camping in tents was the way Dad would go, always beside a river so we kids could play in its flow. Hundreds of flutter dams were built, while peeing in the river without any guilt.
Oh how the smell of those woods and campfires fill my mind, sites so big you had privacy as if surrounded by a hunting blind. Running barefoot down dirt roads from site to site, looking for other kids to play hide in seek especially at night.
As we grew older, floats replaced building flutter dams with moats, careful so the current didn't take you like an out of control boat. For those who didn't listen to Dad's advice, you heard their screams for help using words that weren't that nice.
Dad's advice was to stay close to the bank, if he had to come find you down river your butt got a quick spank. He didn't do it to be mean, danger from river rocks in the back of his mind was seen.
As adults we easily float in life's river when we stay close to the shore, but our eyes always wander to swifter currents the minute we get bored. Those sparkling waters entice us with it's flow, so we push off forgetting about the rocks and rapids that could harms us as we go.
Sometimes we find easy places to just float along, other times see the rocks and wonder if our decision was wrong. But that is the place I want to be, staying close to shore was never the choice for me.
Truth be told I got a swift spank to the butt a number of times, especially if I wasn't found downriver by mealtime. Why did I do it when I knew I would get in trouble, and the number of days I was grounded would instantly be doubled.
This wild and unafraid spirit now tempered by God's grace, convicts me sometimes when I pray and its hard to lift my face. That's when God's mercy and grace step in, He gently lifts my face, says He loves me and to begin again.