Gridlock Traffic or the Autobahn?

Years ago, my husband won an 8-day, all expenses paid trip for us to Malmo, Sweden to attend the Solheim Cup with the LPGA women. It was one of the highlights of our lives and besides being there for the Europe/USA Solheim Cup, we were able to venture out on our own pre-tournament. One adventure was taking an overnight ferry to Riedstadt, Germany then taking a taxi that drove the Autobahn to get us to the train station to get to Berlin. What a wild and crazy ride that was, compared to the 3-wheel bike taxi we took in Berlin!

On the Autobahn, there are sections with no speed limit which means speeding cars can suddenly appear out of nowhere and zoom past you at speeds exceeding 100 mph. You may be doing the “recommended” speed of 80 mph and see German drivers passing you as if you were standing still. Oh. My. Goodness. Our driver was weaving around cars like a race car driver.

Fast forward to my living in the metropolitan area of Dallas tollways and highways, and besides the usual daily morning and evening traffic, you’ll find gridlock traffic (no vehicular movement possible).

Life is really a journey, isn’t it? From the fast lanes to the gridlock traffic. On one hand, we are moving about at breakneck speed – connecting all the dots with no interference, getting our to-do lists and our daily routines done and out of the way. We are in robotic mode of getting up, getting on with our day with no surprises and no mammoth undertakings to handle. Sometimes the scenery changes and we might ride with someone new, having fun, enjoying the people and the ride, but sometimes, in retrospect, it may feel like being in the fast lane keeps us from really enjoying the scenery, the beauty of the moments, the kiss that is more than a peck, the hug that lasts more than a moment, the deep breaths and exhaling all the concerns and worries of each day. Today I want you to know that God is calling us to park the car for a few moments and turn off the noise, escape the crowds, and listen to His gentle voice beckoning us to a life filled with joy and great purpose. If we were riding along on the Autobahn this morning and we suddenly realized that it’s not getting us where we need to go, then we know we need to do something. If we are hearing God’s voice calling us to a journey that “notices, embraces and treasures” the moments of the journey, then we need to slow down.

When God is made part of our daily “rides”, whether there is smooth sailing and, in fact, making progress in every area of life, or whether our “rides” turn up with gridlock traffic that halts our best-laid-plans and gives us heart-breaking surprises – it is still a vital part of our life journey. As I mentioned in my post yesterday, we never learn much about ourselves during our times of victory (the times of Autobahn speed and getting to our destination way ahead of schedule), but who we are and what we're really made of are in those gridlock traffic times of challenge when we're forced to slow down and look deep in our hearts and look to God for His support, guidance, and wisdom.

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

It Only Takes a Spark to Get a Memory Going

Over the last few days, I’ve been attracted to watching some PGA golf (certainly not my usual choice for TV-watching). Maybe it was because my son was playing in a golf tournament this weekend. When I turned on the TV yesterday afternoon and the women’s 2017 Solheim Cup was on, my mind was flooded with so many memories that brought precious “in-the-now” moments. BTW – the Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers with teams representing Europe and the United States. The men’s event is the Ryder Cup which is played on the off year from the women’s Solheim Cup. This year the Solheim Cup was in Des Moines, Iowa. The U.S. won yesterday for the 2nd year in a row – 2015 & 2017. I watched the final shots that secured the U.S.’s win and I saw Juli Inkster, the Team Captain, cry tears of joy.

It was in 2003 when our car dealership manager called to ask if we'd like tickets to the LPGA Tournament the next weekend at Tulsa Country Club. Of course we did -- we loved watching Annika Sorenstam, Juli Inkster, Nancy Lopez, Kerry Webb, among other women's golf greats. He went on to say, "And, oh, by the way, Ron, how about playing in the Mercedes putting contest? We need one more for 50 entrants. You and your wife have a current passport, don't you? You could win a great prize!" We didn't know what it was, but my mission was to get him practicing his putting every day until then. And, Ron's Mom gave him some great advice "When you get up to make your putt, take your time, pray, and picture that hole like Goliath's head, then like David, take aim and sink that ball like David sunk Goliath!"

It was the day of the 50-yard putting contest during the LPGA. There were 50 contestants who putted in alphabetical order. Yay -- at last to be grateful for a name at the end of the alphabet. They had to hit the ball in an upside down L (a dogleg left) to the hole. The closest to the hole was 3-feet when it was finally Ron's turn. Like his Mom told him, he took his time. The Golf Network was televising this whole event. Ron stood there, looked at the course, then looked at the ball. He looked at the course, and he looked at the ball. The announcer said, once again "And now, Ron Wuerch!" Like his Mom told him, he had been praying. When he finally took his stroke, it was as though that ball was on a laser course......it made its L-turn perfectly, and.....that ball went straight into the hole. The cheers went up in a roar, and Ron held his arms and hands up like he was a pro golfer winner. What a moment of achievement and celebration. But the best part? That hole-in-one merited us a prize of an all-expenses-paid 8-day trip, flying on the 747 jet with the entire LPGA Team the next day to Barseback Golf & Country Club, Skane, Sweden, for the 2003 Solheim Cup. where they would be playing the European Team. We were beyond grateful, exhilarated, and truly felt God's favor over our lives. It was one of those “pinch me to be sure I’m not dreaming” moments. I’ll never forget my never-met-a-stranger husband chatting with Juli Inkster on the flight to Sweden and expressing that she had always been his favorite female player. So, of course, seeing her as captain of the winning U.S. team yesterday, played that memory in my head like it was on a giant cinema screen.

Since the official games didn't start until Thursday, we became adventurers and went to Denmark, and if that weren't enough, we decided to adventure to Germany, my husband's country of origin. After riding the bus, the ferry, the taxi and train, we made it to Berlin. It was a thrill to see the remains of the Berlin Wall that heralded not only the last days of communism in Eastern Europe, but also the emergence of a reunified and reinvigorated Germany — a country that is now Europe’s economic leader. What a blessing it was to be at the site of the fall -- to be able to put our feet on the place where history was made and a new day and a new beginning began.

So, thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me that little window from the past that I peered through with such gratitude. We celebrated life when we could. We didn’t hold back for another day. We took on this day and another day and another, and I continue to live with that mentality.

I'm so grateful for the treasured memories of the past.....as well as the brand new day, today! What a sweet life it's been -- and as sweet as the journey was in the past, I still get a thrill out of God’s surprises and mercies that are new every morning. Stay tuned – I’ll be sharing about the ones I make today, for some time in the future!

Stir Up Your First Love

As the 50th Wedding Anniversary date (July 8th) of my Sweetheart and I nears, I seem to be "in a remembrance zone". Dear friends of mine, who are celebrating their 50th year, are doing so by rekindling the love they had 50 years ago by purposefully going on all kinds of romantic and fun adventures. They've cruised, traveled near and far, taken lots of date nights and every day they are celebrating those 50 years in special ways, all year long. I love that. That gives me pause for a moment. I think that's what we would be doing, too. I won't get to do that, but I sure can spend sweet time remembering the special times we had in our 44 years.

When we had little to afford us to travel, we made lots of memories camping out and fishing in lots of lakes. We had LOTS of date nights to a movie, a restaurant, a musical (we loved those – “The Music Man” was our favorite and our favorite song came from it “Til There Was You”). Then we travelled in a Winnibego across the U.S. when we were The Master's 4 Quartette. We had four conversion vans over the years and chalked up a lot of miles travelling across the U.S. and Canada (my Sweetheart's home). Both of us being Private Pilots, we travelled many miles in our Cessna 182 airplane. We travelled on commercial airplanes, making many trips to see our kids when they lived in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington. We travelled to many events and conferences, near and far away. We travelled many times to my Sweetheart's beloved Belize and Mexico where we regularly went to share God's love on missions trips. We travelled on a Gulfstream when our son took us on the ride of our life to New York City when his company became public. We were there when he rang the opening bell on Nasdaq. We enjoyed 15 cruises together, the last of which was our dream trip, 5 days in Rome and 12 days on a Meditteranean Cruise.

One of my fondest memories is the trip Ron won at an LPGA Golf Tournament. He putted a 50 foot hole in one stroke. A hole-in-one that awarded us with a trip, the next day, on a 747 with the LPGA women to Sweden for the Solheim Cup. Eight days and nights -- all expenses paid. We made the most of the moments when travelled by train to Denmark and the ferry and train to Berlin, Germany.

Not only did I enjoy "remembering" all those experiences for myself, but I wanted to share them with you to say: "DON'T let the wonders and wows of your todays past you by." Like us, you may not make it to your 50th year to celebrate the years. Make memories today. Make every day count for loving and sharing and rekindling that love that brought you together with your sweetheart in the first place. Get off the couch and go for a walk. Get up early to see the sun rise together. Holding hands, watch the sun set together. Light some candles. Stir up that FIRST LOVE that you shared. STOP and behold the beauty God gave you, before it's too late.

Then, spiritually, let's not move so speedily through life, that we fail to set aside the time needed to stop and behold the beauty of the Lord and to gaze upon the wonders that are found in Him alone. Let’s stir up that FIRST LOVE we encountered with Him.

Psalm 27:4 "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, and BEHOLD THE BEAUTY of the LORD and to meditate in His temple."

SURPRISE Blessings Come in Surprising Ways

TBT -- So our car dealership manager called to ask if we'd like tickets to the LPGA Tour the next weekend at Tulsa Country Club. Of course we did -- we loved watching Annika Sorenstam, Juli Inkster, Nancy Lopez, Kerry Webb, among other women's golf greats. He went on to say, "And, oh, by the way, Ron, how about playing in the putting contest? You and your wife have a current passport, don't you? You could win a great prize!" We didn't know what it was, but my mission was on....to get him practicing his putting everyday until then. And, Ron's Mom gave him some great advice "When you get up to make your putt, take your time, pray, and picture that hole like Goliath's head, then like David, take aim and sink that ball like David sunk Goliath!"

It was the day of the 50-yard putting contest. There were about 50 contestants who putted in alphabetical order. They had to hit the ball in an almost L-layout of the greens. The closest to the hole was 3-feet when it was Ron's turn. Like his Mom, told him, he took his time -- in fact, the announcer called his name twice before he actually hit the ball. The Golf Network was televising this whole event. Ron stood there, looked at the course, looked at the ball. He looked at the course, and he looked at the ball. The announcer said, once again "And now, Ron Wuerch!" Of course, like his Mom told him, he had been praying. When he finally took his stroke, it was as though that ball was on a laser course......it made it's L-turn perfectly, and.....that ball went straight into the hole. The cheers went up in a roar, and Ron held his arms and hands up like he was Tiger Woods. What a moment of achievement and celebration. But the best part?

That hole-in-one got us a prize of an all expense paid 8-day trip on the 747 jet, with the entire LPGA Team the next day to Barseback Golf & Country Club, Skane, Sweden, for the 2003 Solheim Cup.where they would be playing the European Team. We were beyond grateful, excited, exhilarated, and truly felt God's favor over our lives.

Since the official games didn't start until Thursday, we became adventurers and went to Denmark, and if that weren't enough, we decided to adventure to Germany, where my husband's family is from. We took the bus from Sweden, to the ferry that we voyaged on through the night to Rodstadt, Germany, rode the taxi on the autoban to the train station and rode the train to Berlin.

What inspired me to detail this adventure, was hearing about the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall last Sunday that heralded not only the last days of communism in Eastern Europe, but also the emergence of a reunified and reinvigorated Germany — a country that is now Europe’s economic leader. What a blessing it was to be at the site of the fall -- to be able to put our feet on the place where history was made and a new day and a new beginning began.

So grateful for the treasured memories of the past.....as well as the brand new day, today! What a sweet life it's been -- and as sweet as the journey was in the past.....delighting in God and His mercies that are new every morning, it gets sweeter as the days go by; it gets sweeter as the moments fly; His love is richer, deeper, fuller, sweeter -- sweeter, sweeter, sweeter as the days go by.