No Stranger to Danger

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.” –Helen Keller


What I find fascinating about this quote is not the words themselves, but the author. Helen Keller, deaf and blind from childhood, looked fear straight in the face and spoke words that would forever challenge and strengthen the generations who would follow her. She is truly an inspriation to me.

But, for all the respect and admiration I have for Helen Keller, I can't help but celebrate the contributions made by her faithful companion, teacher, and friend Anne Sullivan. As I think about what it takes to be a great teacher, to tred through the muddy waters of education and go head first into the tide just to help a student discover a "light bulb" moment, she takes the cake. How many days do you think she wanted to give up? How many nights did she cry herself to sleep for fear of being ineffective...or from sheer exhaustion? How often did she question her calling or struggle with boredom or wish for a more predictable future? Did she ever believe the lie that safety is achieved only by avoiding danger?


Something tells me that, even when she tried to shrink back into the shadows of security, that little voice inside pushed her back into the light - where getting burned was worth the danger of standing in the sun.

Spanish Stowaway

The cat is out of the bag...and the dog is in the suitcase.  It's like she thinks we're going on an adventure.  And, well, she would be right!  I've hardly been able to contain myself all these months and I hearby publicly apologize to my dear loved ones who swore to secrecy on my behalf.  I am indebted to you forever and ever amen.  But, those days of angst are over as I announce that...

I'm moving to Colorado...and then to Central America!!  Starting in September, I will go through a training program to become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).  After I'm finished, I will begin a year-long adventure of living, working, and serving the Lord through education in a country yet to be determined.  And, yes, I'll be taking Meela :)

As I shared with my friends and church-family this weekend at Harvest Bible Church, this decision is the culmination of a year's worth of praying, talking, seeking, asking, waiting, listening, and trusting in a God who ALWAYS shows Himself faithful to provide answers, clarity, direction, and confirmation.  Oh sure, there were definitely days of disappointments, questions, frustrations, and temptation to quit it all and hole up in some far-away coastal cabana.  But, I'm happy to report that God, in His patient grace-like way, chose to save the best news for now.  I don't know why He does that but, hey, I'm not complaining.

Like I heard recently, though I cannot for the life of me remember where: "It is better to have tried and failed than to live in a constant state of what-if."  

Pack your bags Meela.  We're gonna try.  Together.  

Inspiration for Today

It's raining, cold, and windy today on the Central Coast of CA.  And, I kinda like it.  I mean, we get exactly 10.3 days of "weather" a year so I quite enjoy being reminded that there exists something other than sun and blue skies.  I know what you're thinking.  I really should get out more.

Anyway...on days like today, I like to take advantage of being inside and getting things done in the office that I might normally put off when the weather outside isn't so frightful.  Like cleaning. Or reading of certain subjects. Or turning on the space heater that only gets used 10.3 days out of the year.  Today, as I do everyday, I open up my iGoogle reader to browse the blogs that I follow.  There's Jon Acuff - who provides just enough satire and jukes, I mean jokes, to get me laughing and thinking about deeper things.  And there's my photog inspiration like Kamee June, Jasmine Star, David DuChemin, and Christine Meintjes (along with Kiki and The Pretty Blog - the Doublemint Gum of the blog world).  Just to name a few. And, last but NOT least, are these two business geniuses - Dan Miller and Seth Godin.  I can't tell you how often I'm inspired by their brilliant (and common sensical) minds.  Today is no exception.

Here's what I read this morning from Seth Godin:

    "Art is what we call...

     the thing an artist does.

     It's not the medium or the oil or the price or whether it hangs on a wall or you eat it.   

     What matters, what makes it art, is that the person who made it overcame the 

     resistance, ignored the voice of doubt and made something worth making. Something 

     risky. Something human.

     Art is not in the eye of the beholder. It's in the soul of the artist."


Like the rain beating against the glass and soaking up through my shoes, I can't escape this truth as it saturates my thoughts.  Whatever you do, whether waiting tables, crunching numbers, creating nostalgia, or decorating spaces, I hope you see what you do as art.  And, when you do, may you recognize it as inspired from your soul.

Wuff, True Wuff

She will probably never understand the meaning of my gift.  After all, Valentine's Day is for humans.  Right?  But, that doesn't really matter because the point of it all is to give.  To show "wuff".  To speak another's language.  The blessing for me is watching her excitement - the jumping, the wagging tail, the barking, the unmistakable grin.  And that?  That is her gift to me.  She will probably never understand the meaning of that one either.  But she knows how to give it well.  And, often.

However you give or receive them, may the gifts of this day be reminders of how much you are "wuff"ed. 

Today.  And often.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Boy, Girl. Girl, Boy.

There once was a girl with wild blond hair who's smile was as bright as the sun and laughter as delightful as a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie.  When she grew up, she met a boy whos quiet strength tempered her wild ways.  Kind of.  And then the two married.

There once was a little girl who celebrated everything 5th grade.  Justin Bieber.  Friendship bracelets. American Girl Dolls.  Sleepovers.  Giggles.  Smart.  Kind.  Helpful.  Thoughtful.  She is destined for great and wonderful things.

There once was a boy who melted the heart of everyone he met with wild blond hair like his momma and the charm of his dad.  He knows that Cheerios are the best invention since soy milk formula (or the other way around) and puppies are meant for chasing. And pulling their tails.  He's all boy.  Tractors.  Firetrucks.  Monkey back-packs. On the go. 

And this is their family.  Every one unique and precious.  Loved.

And, then, brother thought it would be a fun idea to pull on sister's glasses.

As he soon found out, that was not a fun idea afterall.
 

Sometimes life will be hard and you'll have to cry a little.  That's ok.  Because, little one, there will always be someone who understands.  Someone to whisper love in your ear.  Someone who will remind you of the good things and who will make you laugh.  Your family is good for this - especially aunties ;)

So, little one, cry when you need to. 

But, when it's all over, I hope you find another reason to smile. 

And this, I'm learning, is how you know when the photo shoot is over. 

Shoes come off.  Keys in hand.  Time to go home.

Thank you, Gabe Anissa Eve and Jaxson, for going with rainy day "plan B." 

When the grass isn't so soggy, we'll go play in the park next time. 

Love.

Letter to Lydia

Dear Lydia,

It was our pleasant surprise to meet you today. You see, our group wasn't supposed to be here. It had been storming and snowing yesterday, quite unexpectedly, and our flight plans had been cancelled. Being born and raised in Bolivia, I'm sure you're used to the weather. But, the skies cleared to the most dazzling blue you've ever seen, so through the air we soared. Well, all except for one of us - she had to stay behind because she became too sick to fly. But, you see, that's why you are along for the ride. We saved that seat just for you!

Oh Lydia, isn't the view from up here incredible?!  Have you ever seen a cloud so puffy or a rainbow so brilliant?  Have you ever seen the forest from above and giggled over how much it looks like broccoli?  Have you ever cruised at an altitude this high and pretended to race the seagulls as they shared the sky with you?  Have your ears ever been plugged as you take off from an airstrip carved out of the jungle and felt them pop as you touch down at a real airport?  Oh, Lydia, there's so much you have to discover!  There's so much we want to tell and show and reveal to you!  But, this is your first time away from home.  So, we will try to contain our excitment for you.

 

I'll bet you're a little scared to be apart from your family.  I saw the look in your mom's eyes as she waited while you boarded the plane.  Her tears matched yours.  You look just like your mom - beautiful and strong.  I'll bet, if we could talk to her, she would tell us stories of the ways you make people smile and laugh and feel good about themselves.  You seem like that kind of girl. 

  

I'll bet the friends you play with on the playground are going to miss you, too. Did you tell them how long you would be in the city? I'll bet they're excited for you! The doctors in the children's hospital are going to be very kind, Lydia. They love to help kids like you feel better. And you know what? I'll bet this next month is going to go by really fast and, before you know it, you'll be back to playing and learning how to write and draw and read and do math. Oh Lydia, you are such a smart little girl.

But, Lydia, I hope there's one thing you know - above all other things.  I hope you know how much you are loved.  I'm not just talking about us - though, in the short time we've known you, we have grown to love you very much.  No, the love I'm talking about is from God.  You see, He's the one who made it snow the day before our arrival.  He's the one who made an empty seat just for you.  He's the one that taught the pilots how to fly.  He's the one who will heal your illness.  He's the one who will sustain you and carry you through life.  We won't be here when you return, sweet Lydia.  But, our God will.  He will always be with you.  He promised.  And, if there's one thing I know, it's that God ALWAYS keeps His promises.  Always.  There are no surprises when it comes to that.

Lydia, you are loved.

Been Doin' Some Thinkin'

When I was a senior in college, I started a tradition of choosing a "word of the year."  It actually started out as something rather simple and a bit silly.  I remember the first word I ever chose was "Joy" - because I woke up super grumpy one day and just knew things needed to be different.  Over the course of the year, I looked for it in everything and expected that the Lord would reveal it in the most unexpected places.  As always, he did not disappoint.  That was the year I won "Most Improved Morning Person" on my floor - an honor to say the least, not because of what it said about me but for what it said about the God who refines me.  That was also the year I met a person who would change my life forever, but not in the way I ever expected, and in a way that would cause me to drastically redefine what "joy" really means.  7 years later, the word still surprises me.

Wait.

Hope.

Fearless.

Just a sliver of the past 7 years.  And then there's 2011...

Dream.  I can't escape it.  My heart longs to be released into the freedom of wondering.  But, not just a stream-of-consciousness-thinking and pondering of "what's next?" - it's the kind of dreaming that you do right before your eyes close at night and when they open again to face a new day with endless opportunity.  It's the kind of dreaming that pushes me outside myself and forces me to lean hard against lines I create.  It's the kind of dreaming that reveals how little I know of my God and all that He is capable of doing - and, though I may catch a glimpse, the greatness of His knowledge will always escape me.  It's the kind of dreaming that allows me to try (and fail) and try again.  It's the kind of dreaming that restores beauty where there was once a heap of ashes.  It's the tiny blade of grass poking through a sea of concrete - reminding us that life can exist everywhere.

So, in 2011, I make no resolutions.  How many of those really pan out anyway?  No, I will just simply dream.  I will take chances - isn't there always a little bit of risk involved when you dream?  And, I will share what I discover here, through pictures.  I don't promise to post every day - dreaming doesn't always involve losing sense of reality.  And I don't promise that the pictures I post will be the best and greatest things you've ever seen.  But, they will all tell a story.  And, when I look back in the end, my hope is that I will see how the Lord revealed His beautiful mystery in this life through the power of a simple dream.