Write
Connect
Converse
Examine
Think
Contemplate
Wonder
Trust
Realize
Read
Plan
Dream
Hope
Weigh
Inquire
Triumph
Mature
Resolve
Release
Indulge
Rejoice
Anticipate
Plan
Determine
Consider
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…(Colossians 3:23 NIV)
(These are among the things I did today. How about you?)
Fly high
Above the earth
Wings spread to their full width
To catch the uplifting currents
Always.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…(Hebrews 12:1 NIV).
(The above poem is a cinquain, a form I will be exploring a lot in the next little while.)
Airborne
Beautiful clouds
Direction
Endless, fantastic glory
Happiness inspired
Joy kindly, lovingly manifest
No obstacles
Perfect quest
Rising
Soaring
Trusting
Unbelievable variety
Wonder
eXcitement
Youthful zeal
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:6-8 NIV)
To often I’ve been known to jump without a parachute.
Thankfully Grace caught me every time.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t have things to learn.
I do.
Jumping repeatedly without a parachute…
Definitely a bad idea.
So what does this jumper have to learn?
As a spender,
I need to learn to save.
As a impulsive individual,
I have to learn to think things through…
At least sometimes.
As someone who loves the potential of cyberspace…
New friends, new knowledge, new opportunities…
I have to remind myself
I still need to live in the real world.
As someone who loves socializing online,
I have to limit my time doing so.
I have work to do.
A family to take care of.
Friends to interact with – in person.
As someone who recently had a tire blow when traveling 60 mph,
I have to remember everything can change
In an instant.
Have I done everything I can to prepare for big changes?
Not yet.
A good place to start…
Do what I know to do.
Learn what I’ve yet to learn.
And definitely
Fly every day.
“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother” (Proverbs 4:1-3 NIV).
They say it’s wise to
Swim with a buddy.
I say it’s also wise to
Fly with one.
Usually
It makes the journey
More enjoyable.
The shared joy and excitement
Lift us to newer heights.
If one of us begins to
Lose altitude
The other can
Encourage and strengthen
So we can again
Soar above the clouds.
It’s wonderful
To turn to our traveling companion
And say
Do you see that?
Today
I was reminded that
Putting our goals out there
For our friends to see
Holds us to
A higher level of accountability.
Enjoy the flight, my friends.
And remember
To fly with a buddy.
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together (Psalm 34:3 NIV).
Once again I asked my friend Heather for permission to post one of her poems. Since my hubby is a musician and I recognize music’s power to give wings to my heart, this poem speaks volumes.
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV).
Up at 4:15.
Brainstorm picture book ideas.
Download the rough draft of a friend’s TidBook.
Discuss a possible writing opportunity…
And the future of paper publishing.
Watch episodes of a favourite show with S & D.
Wander around Port with hubby.
Watch more episodes.
Receive message from middle child…
Back at college for his fourth year.
Try to figure out what to write here.
Realize most of my life is about
Domestic flights.
And for that
I will be forever thankful.
An extraordinary ordinary life
Is fine by me.
Love you guys lots and lots and lots.
The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways…(Proverbs 23:24-26 NIV).
I fly forward.
I fly back.
I fly forward.
I fly back.
So
What’s the solution?
Choose a destination
And don’t stop flying
Until I get there?
Sometimes.
I can then look back
Over my route
And rejoice
In how far I’ve come.
There are other times
However
That just isn’t practical.
There are tasks that need to be accomplished
Simultaneously.
And when that’s the case
I have to make short flights.
Say London to Toronto and back again.
Take
For example
The reading I have on the go.
If I divide the number of pages in the book
By the number of days until my deadline…
Self-imposed or otherwise…
I can read x number of pages per day
And set it aside.
A commuter hop if you will.
If I divide my responsibilities
And conquer today’s goals
I’m still on my way
To The Destination.
When it comes to goal-setting, I’d like to refer you to today’s post a http://janetsketchley.wordpress.com/
Do I deserve the updrafts?
The blue skies?
The breathtaking landscape?
Do I deserve the sunshine?
The warm breezes?
The strength to fly?
Do I deserve the company of fellow fliers?
Their friendship?
Their support?
Do I deserve to know the Flight Path?
The Flight Instructor?
The Ultimate Destination?
Not even a little.
But my thankful heart soars
Because of GRACE.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ… (Ephesians 1: 7-9 NIV)
I’m no ornithologist
But I did grow up in the country.
I’ve never seen a mother bird
Carry her little ones
Into the skies.
Sure
She tends to the nest
The eggs and the hatchlings.
But
Before they seem ready,
She virtually abandons them.
She has new responsibilities.
It is no longer up to her
To tend to their needs.
Yep,
It’s the same for me.
Now that my hatchlings
Are all grown,
They have to fly
On their own.
I can be here
When they need to talk
Or if they want to
Bounce ideas off me.
But I must allow them
To learn to fly on their own.
My job now
Is simply to be
A good example
And to love them
For always.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV).
Free2Soar 