I  vacationed with my son in Seattle over the past week and it was spectacular. I experienced so many fascinating gifts, from kayaking across Union Bay into an aqua garden of beautiful snow white water lillies to watching a full harvest moon rise at a Japanese moon viewing festival. Enjoying all these lovely events with my son was the greatest gift of all! But the most marvelous experience we encountered led me to write a short story that I would like to share.

My son loves Mt. Rainier. He hikes the jagged parameters surrounding this mountain quite frequently. Before I arrived to visit, he found a beautiful eight mile hike that we could climb, up to a viewing point at the peak of one of the nearest foothills. I enjoy hiking and love the mountains, so I was very excited.

I did pretty well the first few miles. The rocky trail twisted and turned between thick  mossy pines which rose mightily to the sky. It led us around sparkling clear aqua lakes where we stopped to snack on the fresh huckleberries we picked along the way. After a couple of long hours and many steps, we finally arrived near the peak of the foothill. The forest broke, which provided the chance to look up to the viewing point which was our final destination. As I gazed deep into the clouds and saw the stout, wood building nestled between the pines at the top of the foothill, my heart stopped. I looked down across the 6000 feet of jagged earth that already lied below us. My legs were beginning to ache and my heart was pounding. As much as I wanted to get to the top with my son, I was not sure I could make it. I almost told him to go ahead of me and I would wait for him there along the trail.

But I decided to go for it. The sign said just .9 miles to the top. It looked so much further, but we decided to keep going. My son told me to use his hiking poles which would make the journey ahead easier. And so I took a deep breath, grabbed the hiking gear, and regained my resolution to make it to the peak of the trail.

Shortly after we began climbing again, the beauty of nature’s miracles began. We smelled the scent of perfume. It flowed with the wind across our trail like a faint, but elegant floral garden. It was the most beautiful scent I have ever enjoyed. Then, around the next bend my son said, “Mom, look down.” Flowing down the mountain side, we  saw the first of several huge fields of lavendar flowers. This sight was especially amazing for me because my favorite color is lavendar. When I was little, my mom painted my room lavendar and got me a ruffly spread of lavendar flowers for the canopy of my bed because she knew how much I liked them. I had forgotten after all these years. After all, my own son is 20 now.

We passed several more fields of lavendar on our way up to the peak. My legs continued to burn, but I knew if I kept climbing I would be glad when I finally reached the top. After another hour or so, we reached our destination at last, and I have never seen the earth and all her majesty in the light and glory that I experienced at the top of that trail. We saw mountains and pine trees rolling together for miles. We were so close to Mt. Rainier, it almost appeared as if you could reach out and touch it. On either side there were cascades of mountains, and in the distance, Mt. St. Helen. The earth was heavenly as far as the eye could see. We sat on the peak for a while, and just listened to the sacred and profound silence of nature’s wonder. It was truly amazing. In that moment, I knew my hopes and dreams were satisfied.

Later that afternoon as we journeyed back down the mountain, I reflected on the great beauty we can discover when we push ourselves. If I hadn’t continued even though I was not sure if I could make it, I would not have seen the mighty mountain surrounded by fields of lavendar. I would have missed one of nature’s most magnificent gifts.

I continue to learn as I travel along my journey, and this taught me that I can continue reaching for the top, even when I do not think I will make it. So many times in life, our blessings are just right around the corner…

Keep living, dreaming, and discovering. It is worth it!                      

Fear is miserable. It holds us in a dungeon where we lose faith and hope. If we remain in these chains, we slowly die. Fear poisons the soul.

But, how can we escape fear? How do we break free from darkness when there is not enough light to see our way out?

Trust is our light when we cannot see. It guides us to freedom. It brings us closer to God. God is love, and there can be no fear where perfect love exists.

Some women have a hard time trusting. It is not easy to rely on something we cannot see. It is even harder to have faith in something we do not understand. Love and God are not concrete, visible concepts. They are abstract.

Yet if we can learn to trust, fear disappears and so does confusion. Our vision clears, and we clearly see our way. Trust is developed over time with practice and patience. Each time we feel overwhelmed, or are frightened by life’s tragedies, we can trust God to see us through. He takes care of each and every detail. His love is strong enough to turn the worst situations around for the better.

Placing our lives in God’s flawless care frees us from the painful grip of fear. Focusing our thoughts on love brings us comfort and peace. We do not have to remain in the dungeon unless we want to. We hold the key. We can let trust lead us to the light.

                                                              Taken from A River of Hope

                        Available at any bookstore through Ingram Distributors.

An excerpt from A River of Hope 

We are sometimes called to journey through tragedy. Our situation might seem impossible. Perhaps a loved one has been hurt, or maybe we are facing financial difficulties. We might even be going through tremendous physical or emotional challenges. Whatever the case, there are times in life when the journey leads us through dark valleys. We don’t think we will make it through, but we can. We can hold on to the truth that a miracle awaits on the other side. We are headed toward a new dawn.

In order to reach the miracle, we must continue walking. Step by step, we can make it through anything! It is not easy, and we may want to stop all together. It is good to remember that we do not journey alone. There is one who will carry us through the hard times. He leads us through the dark valleys. We are sojourners of an eternal faith that will help us through this world. God is our friend and trusted guide.

We will be amazed when we reach the other side of the tragedy. Our eyes will fill with tears as God’s mercy and grace pour out the many blessings he has been gathering for us along the way. We will be enlightened with an understanding that smashes all doubt and fear. We will utterly know the reason for our trial and embrace an appreciation and gratitude that can only be given from heaven above. We can surrender all pain here. It is over.  

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Hold on… Have faith… Surrender…………   A miracle may be just around the corner.

Some of us try to force things. We struggle to get ahead at work, perhaps in a business venture, with an important project, maybe even with a special concern at home. We do not realize that success comes naturally. Things work out best when we are doing what is in front of us and leaving the rest up to God. We do not have to swim upstream. Good fortune finds us when we surrender to the eternal flow.

Sometimes the harder we strive to make things happen, the further we drift away. We create strife. We become tired, and yet work against exhaustion. We can stop this unproductive behavior. We can reject desperation and join our hearts in peace. We can trust that God will take care of us when we unite our spirit with his. He will help us reach our goals if they are to be achieved. We can become willing to give him a try first.

We can discover that success happens naturally. It is much smoother than we can imagine. When we are working from our heart and participating in our God-given purpose, we are blessed beyond belief. Hard work becomes a valuable gift that has brought us closer to our created destiny. Through toil and trouble, we discover those things that we are meant to do, and those that we are not. We find our path. We can live our best journey. We can embrace our destiny! 

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Today, let us surrender to the stream of life and enjoy our many gifts.

From: A River of Hope

Against the Grain

Have you ever felt as if you were going against the grain? We can become so tired! It may feel as if  we are working against our very being. We are burned out. We are so caught up in doing what everyone expects of us that we have little time for our emotional and spiritual needs. Our soul dries up. It becomes hard and distant. The light of our journey dims.

When we feel like this, we can remove ourselves from whatever is going on in the moment and take some time to replenish. We can take a deep breath and picture the love of God shining upon us in a warm glow. The longer we bask in the warmth and glory we find in his sweet and sacred presence, the better we feel.

Taking the time we need to rest and replenish leads us to the river of hope. Peaceful and tender waters flow across our spirit as if to say, “Welcome home.” We feel the fresh breeze of heaven brush across our weary face. There is no need for fear. Faith and love abide in this special place of tranquility. Our spiritual fiber is restored. We are recreated in God’s luminous energy. We see the light of destiny and are ready to begin again. 

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In the upcoming week, let us remember to take the time to rest and replenish, in the comfort and peace of our higher power.

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Good news, A River of Hope is now available in bookstores!!!! Just as your local bookstore owner. They can order it by title through Ingram Distribution.  

Life is a journey, and our journeys are designed with many challenges. During our lifetime, we experience many different seasons. Some of them are good; others can be excruciatingly difficult. We might feel as though we would rather give up and throw in the towel. We succumb to the negative emotions of depression and anxiety. Answers and solutions slip beyond reach. These are the times when we feel weak and frail.

And  yet, through utter frailty and feelings of defeat, we are able to begin the process of restoration. We are able to clear away imperfections and build true inner strength. We can let go of our illusions. We can surrender false pride, perfectionism, self-will, and ego. In turn, we can embrace all that we are truly meant to be. We are children of love and grace-beautiful, marvelous creations of a master Creator who will never let us down. He never gives up, even when we do.

And through our frailty, God works mighty wonders. Our Creator will help us build unshakable inner strength when we accept our weaknesses and remain in our fragility without running the other way. We can develop a quality of character that does not break or bend when the road becomes rocky. Eventually, we learn to hand our emotions to God, so that when we encounter challenge, He can remind us of the way, the truth, and the light. His way is truly awesome, and we can trust in his guidance. He will continue to reveal more of his truth as we journey in faith.

Yet another passage from  A River of Hope

A Passage from A River of Hope

Some of us get caught in ruts. We are comfortable sticking to what is familiar to us. The thought of trying something new or doing something different can be frightening. It is important not to be overcome by a reluctance to try new things. When we are asked to do something challenging, even though it might scare us, we can muster up the courage to try.

In fact, some of the very events in which we hesitate to participate could be exactly what we need at this particular time in our lives. It is truly amazing how people affect our journey. Some of our acquaintances are like angels. They are messengers who guide us in the right direction. They tell us what we need to hear and coach us to do things that will be good for our character. They encourage us to develop along our chosen path.

Although avoidance might be our first reaction when presented with a new challenge, let’s try to be more open to it. Assuredly, our lives are enriched when we meet each unique opportunity with a willingness to participate. We gain in maturity, develop self-confidence, and discover wisdom.

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Today, let’s try to embrace the nuances that life has to offer. This will help us grow.  

A passage from A River of Hope

We want to fit in at work, in family circles, and with friends. We all have a deep inner need to be liked and accepted. We like to go with the flow. We get more affirmation this way. We don’t always remember that the most enriching form of emotional reinforcement comes from within. After all, how important is fitting in? Is that desire causing us to compromise our higher values and truest convictions? In an effort to conform, what sacrifices are we making, and are the costs higher than we are willing to pay? You cannot begin to put a price on spiritual health and happiness.

Conforming to the attitudes and expectations of those around us can lead to regression. Goals and dreams we once held high may soon disappear in the rat race to be someone we are not. When it is more important to us to be accepted rather than expressive, we are in trouble. Self-expression keeps us vital and creative. It opens the door to future opportunities.

Breaking the cycle of conformity is not always easy, but ultimately, it is the key to spiritual development. It is refreshing and empowering to be who we are with no reservations or inhibitions. Instead of following the crowd, we can be open to the guidance of divine direction. We may feel backward. More times than not, it might even feel as if we are now bucking the crowd, and yet we can have the peace and confidence that passes all understanding. We are putting forth the best of who we are. We are impacting the universe…    

From  A River of Hope

This world is filled with judgemental people. At times, we may even catch ourselves joining the bandwagon of destruction. It is not healthy to give our opinions where they do not belong. We all have a special journey, and many of us are doing the best we can. When we judge others, we are interfering with the flow of energy. We are disrupting the stream of life, whether we realize it or not.

The good news is we can surrender our own judgemental behaviors and attitudes. Instead of asserting what we feel is right or wrong about others, we can welcome the unique personalities of everyone we meet. We learn a little something from each person who crosses our path. We are born to enrich one another. As we live and communicate in openness and understanding, we grow and develop. We evolve along the path of destiny. We become who we are meant to be.

We can also learn to ignore those who judge us harshly. We are all incredible people. We are divinely inspired, hardworking, and diligent. No one is perfect, and yet we can be confident that we are the best we can be right here in this moment. When we feel torn and weighed down by the negative attitudes of others, we can choose to affirm our inner spirit. We know deep down that we are okay. We can move forward and upward!

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Today, let’s surrender the negative force of judgement and embrace the energy of love. 

Excerpt from   A River of Hope

Resentment is a deadly character defect. It eats away at peace and serenity until all that is left is a painful hole. Sometimes it is hard to tell how our feelings of resentment even began. Before we know it, hate sweeps us away, and with it, goes our precious spirit. We cannot lose this. It is all that we are. There must be a way to release these negative feelings.

One way to reverse the downward spiral of resentment is to pause and pray. Whenever a situation, person, or event angers us, and we feel our blood pressure rising, we can stop and ask God to remove our unhealthy attitudes. It is amazing how quickly he comes to the rescue when we ask for help. Our spirit is washed clean and our minds refreshed. We can let go of those people and things we don’t agree with and move on. It is wonderful.

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God, please cleanse my heart of resentment. Show me the way to peace…………………