Live Courageously!                                           

What's on your high school ring?  Since I graduated from a high school that has a lion as a part of its insignia, you will find a lion on my class ring.  A lion represents not only royalty because it is the king of the animal world but also strength, bravery and courage. Courage is much more than intelligence. To live courageously, intelligence is involved but the resolve to push past fear is required. Courage is not the absence of fear but it is making the decision to do and be whatever it takes that will make one a better person and the world a better place in spite of the cost and the feelings of inadequacy.  To be courageous does not make us exempt from failure or social disapproval. 

When I graduated all the seniors had a lion on their class ring.  Today, the students have a choice as to whether or not a lion will be displayed on their class ring. It is the same with courage- it is a choice! Will we choose to push past the fear to become a better person and be a part of creating a better world or will we settle for the easy, safe and familiar?  We don't need a ring with a lion on it to live courageously but we do have to make the choice!

How are you living courageously?  When was the last time you were afraid?  What did you do?  How do you want to live so that you become a better person and are a part of creating a better world?  Who have you seen live courageously? What does it look like?  Are you choosing to live courageoulsy?  Live Courageously!  Live Tall!

"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar."     Raymond Lindquist

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."    G.K. Chesterton

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays!  It reminds me of the importance of attitude and how thankfulness is best when it is year 'round!   I am thankful for growing up in a family where I did not learn until years later that we were not all "blood" family!  People were welcome and received in our home for Thanksgiving regardless of who they were related to.  There was always enough food- even if there were last minute "family" showing up.  I don't know how that happened but it did!  We did not have a dining room but a big kitchen table.  As big as the kitchen table was it never held the whole crowd.  We would be climbing over people with TV trays in the den and other rooms just to get to the kitchen where we could set our plate.  If you did not like loud crowds and chaos then you probably would not have enjoyed yourself!  I am thankful for the good times and love that was shared along with the good food. 

Times have changed for me, holidays have changed.  Most of my family members have left this world and others have married and moved on to celebrate Thanksgiving around different tables.  I know some families that will be celebrating their first holiday without an important loved one present.  Some have empty nests and their grown children are with their in-laws. Death, divorce, distance of miles and distance of hearts can separate us from physically being with those we love.  Holidays can be hard for some of us when things change and don't remain the same as we have experienced in the past- especially if they were good experiences!  However, we can still choose how we want to live gratefully every day!  We can still celebrate the love we share with the people who are with us now.  We can open our hearts to new people who want to join us at the table or being invited to join others at a table other than our own.  We can even change up the menu or venue and create new memories that may become a "tradition" one day!  Who knows?

Whatever the case, as I prepare for the Thanksgiving Holidays I want to make sure that my favorite decoration of all is in place before the holidays arrive- a thankful heart.  And I'm thinking- low country boil....who knows!  What about you?

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."                                                                                               Melody Beattie

If Someone Would Listen, What Would You Like to Say?

Who listens to you?  What difference does that make in your life?  Well- for those who are "listening"  

through this blog, I would like to say that this blog stuff is new to me and I am frustrated!  I am at the INTERNATIONAL COACH FEDERATION Conference (which is an incredible organization) and getting to meet people from ALL over the world. Having a blast!  I learned today through a workshop at the ICF conference that the reason I am probably frustrated is that I have thought of the social media as more talking than listening.  More of a monologue than dialogue.  No wonder I'm frustrated! So if anyone is "listening" to this- talk to me!  

Tell me- IF SOMEONE WOULD LISTEN, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY? And of course- any wisdom on blogging please share because I'm listening!

I will be in Guatemala from Oct 9-16 serving on a Faith in Practice medical mission team. I have been looking forward to going for several months. This is the first time that I have had to pack a week's worth of belongings in 2 carry-on bags. This is the first time I have ever had to put all my liquids in a quart bag for travel. This is the first time for me to go to Guatemala. This is the first time for serving on a medical mission team. This is the first time for serving with team members that I will be meeting for the first time at the airport in Atlanta and Guatemala. So many firsts! There is something that is exciting about first times and then there is something scary about first times. Most of the time to live our dreams means to do some things for the first time! What are are doing for the first time toward living your dream?

It has been an incredible experience to receive the prayers, financial support and encouragement toward living this dream. However, there are always those who are not thrilled when we live our dreams. My cat is not happy about this at all!  

Thanks to all those who have been a part of helping me to live this dream! Thanks to all those who serve to help others in foreign lands on a daily basis! Thanks to Faith in Practice and all they do to make lives better!

www.faithinpractice.org

They are Living Tall!

"Dreams come a size too big so that we can grow into them." 

                                                                                   Josie Bissett

Years ago on a Sunday after I had finished preaching, I was getting in my car to leave when a little 5 yr old boy approached me.  He was amazed that I was going to get in the car and drive.  He immediately turned to his parents and said, "I want to drive like her!"  He saw that he was at least half my height and figured that if I could do it then he could too! Obviously his dream was big for him and he would have to grow into it! Today, he is driving.

One of my dreams is to one day write a meaningful book.  Another dream- I would like to see the Northern Lights. One of my bigger dreams- to give "Seed Money" to at least 100 people to use towards living their dream.  What dreams do you have today that aren't yet a reality but you are growing into?  

ARE YOU MOVING FAST IN ALL DIRECTIONS?

I saw a beautiful, bright orange and deep black, furry-looking ant while I was relaxing on a Sunday afternoon near the waterfront.

It was a sunny, breezy day spending time with friends and watching the ships come in from the ocean into the Savannah River making their way to the ports. Suddenly this creature appeared and was darting all over the place.  I began to chase her wanting to get a picture so that I could figure out exactly what kind of FAST MOVING bug this was.  I didn't think I had captured an image of it but found when I uploaded the pictures and zoomed in--there it was!  I did catch a picture of it!  Posting the picture on Facebook, I asked, "What kind of bug is this?"  I soon learned that it is a "VELVET ANT" or a "COW KILLER ANT" which is a female wingless wasp!  It is known for the powerful sting it delivers.  I quickly learned that it is a good thing I did not catch up too close to the COW ANT!

Sometimes we live life like the female wingless wasp--FAST MOVING and running from one place to the next.  We even chase after things that end up not what we thought they would be--and getting stung!  What would it mean to slow down. spend time with the people we love, and doing those things which matter most?  What is it that you are chasing?  Let's stop the chase and begin Living Tall!