On the move

On the move we were having the adventure of our life. MIMI had arrived to have fun exploring. We skyped London and Paris and we never even left Marin. Two little boys almost 3 and 1 and a half keep you moving, constantly climbing and unpacking treasures.  Kudos to mom and dad for just moving in and 3 days later boarding a plane to New Orleans. They did manage to unpack the kitchen and boys rooms.  We would scout out the new neighborhood. 

We grabbed our balls and hit the yard. Boys love ball. All I could think of was where had the time gone between now and the time his dad was playing. He was doing a great job raising his boys to love football. It would be a challenge to train them to be KC Chiefs fans in the thick of SF  NINERS.    Where had the time gone? They were with Payton Manning's dad who had quarterbacked when Hoppa was at Tulane. 

Reading and art always creates imagination.  For me, remembering when their dad was drawing and then chasing a ball became alive as we decided to paint dad a birthday present of his Chiefs. How could I forget that Thanksgiving meal nearly 34 years ago when after turkey and mashed potatoes 

indigestion set in suddenly I found myself delivering my little butterball the next day on Nov29!  We continued to muse, read and scribble. The project nearing completion and baby wanted to climb up on the space and read.  Clear the deck, it is time for a new project time does fly when you are on the move.

Our first run around the new block we decided to look for lions and tigers. We had made pretend pizzas in the backyard and we were ready to stretch. We were on the lookout. Suddenly all eyes went straight ahead. What was strolling across the path some wild bird.  We got closer just in time to see the fanning of his feathers.  Thoughts turned to yesterday at the preschool Thanksgiving feast where i had proudly sampled  a meal with my little guy. WE talked about the turkey and dressing. The creature strutted off to the brush out of view...could it be TOM?

We were still having fun when we returned unlocking the treasure chest of imagination and decided to bake. Oh those cookies and muffins were yummy.  We were going to read stories, take a bath and bed. Tonight maybe Cole would put Mimi to sleep.

We  awakened after 6.  We slept in today but wanted to go to the park and maybe take a new path and discover if we could find Tom again.    What a park to slide and splash through the puddles and chase for ducks. We were discovering how fun it was to roll down grassy hills after the move from the cement of the city. Time was getting closer to dusk  so we loaded up the stroller boys and gear in tow. When we crossed the pedestrian bridge over the marsh we were looking for the short cut. We turned the corner and looked in the distance, Cole shouted," oh my look ".  What or who is in the intersection straight ahead?  We ditched the short cut and sauntered to the light.  Yes, we had found our wild bird he was walking across the road.  Where will Tom end up this Thanksgiving?

The journey

We were in the Galilee, where Jesus crossed to the other side. We took a day to stay back from the tour and regroup from jet lag. This day our devotional was in full view. Denise and I were crossing that day  our spiritual sea.  We were amid flowers up to our waists on the other shore where we sailed. Leaving yesterday's  fears and surrendering expectations we faced hope. We believed.We had touched Jesus . We felt his warm embrace as we said yes to who he said he was. Could we imagine a diagnosis when we returned of cancer free? Our special surprise trip to Israel was more than we expected. It was here that we learned to daily trust. Our daily bread became our healing grace. 

How could we doubt the love the Father had for his son when we felt his certain grasp of our feeble hands pulling us on THE JOURNEY. Under the city of David, in the exact spot that Jesus life and cloak was gambled for we saw in the rocks a reflection of his face when water was poured on the rocks. Looking down at his face I heard him say, "you always say yes, but". My heart exploded as tears gushed. I could not leave. Suddenly the place was filled with a silent surrender. I slowly made my way to the light above ground. This was the very spot in the via Dela Rosa that Jesus humbly said YES. In his humiliation, justice was denied so that I could stand today without shame. On this tour called THE JOURNEY we were exploring with other political activists from America what liberty and freedom really meant. Who in this generation would stand up for the rights of the unborn? How had this man named Jesus given up his own rights so I could be free? How could I stand in the gap for America? Where is my assignment  to protect liberty and the pursuit of justice? These thoughts went through me the remaining week. 

Here was my dearest friend with a diagnosis of malignant, much like my nation.  I was walking these steps Jesus walked in the pursuit of her healing. This is freedom. We had a choice.  Grace showed up when our faith was weak. It was not what we did but merely our response to his voice for freedom. Jesus says everything in the natural is subject to change. We were constantly reminded of the cost. 

At the place where David faced his fear meeting Goliath thoughts within me shifted. We too picked up our  five smooth stones.  I walked down the path alone searching for my stones. One of the stones was fear of the future and regret for having not stood strong in the face of popular opinion. The fear of man instead of the fear of God will always cause personal and national erosion. I found a smooth rounded stone to tell the story of faith in the face of danger to my small grandsons.  Today, Mimi walked where David had used his sling shot. I was mentally etching a picture to tell the story. Teaching children early about compromise in the face of danger so they too, like David will stand up and be counted.  We must not compromise anymore in our stance for what is right in the face of grave danger. This battle is the Lord's and we only fight in his strength. We fight from grace for healing. We are called for such a time as this to maintain CHRISTIAN principles. We must not loose focus. Remembering the devotional, we must keep our eyes on Jesus . He is our hope.  We will see our Goliath's defeated. The best is yet to come. This is Gods land. Ezekiel 36:22  He will have His way. They will know He is Adonai!