So Long, Farewell, Adios, Goodbye Red River

In the “Sound of Music”, when the Von Trapp family sang that song (with Auf Wiedersehen instead of Adios) as their final number at the German festival, they escaped to freedom in Switzerland. This morning, I, too, am singing that song, but it's not because I'm escaping a negative situation to find freedom. It's because I am saying “So long, farewell, adios, goodbye to Red River, NM.” Also, saying “see ya’ later” because I’ve vowed to come back here where it has been a sweet haven of refreshing from the Texas heat, as well as reconnecting with my cousins after many years -- finding joys in simple walks, talks, excursions, eating, and simply celebrating God’s blessings of life.

I’m so ever grateful to Larry and Staci for giving me this trip that will last a lifetime in my thoughts and memories. I’m posting here some of my favorite memories to take with me! I love this “until next time” sign that we’ll see as we depart for home. And, oh yes, I’m hoping there will be a next time.

Now, here’s the thing. While this was a great week of outdoor fun and family reconnections -- going home is up ahead (just in time for the cooler temperatures there) and I’m as excited to get home to my sweet spot in Frisco as I was to get here. C.S. Lewis once said, “One who has journeyed in a strange land cannot return unchanged.” And, he was right. I do feel changed – refreshed, rejuvenated, filled with the awe and wonder of this last week’s encounters – beautiful people, captivating stories, and encountering Christ everywhere I roamed.

The world tells us to cling to what we find here, to try to find life in the “temporary”. But to quote C.S. Lewis again, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” His quote is, of course, speaking of heaven – and yes, we were made with eternity in our hearts.

In our personal lives, we have all transitioned from one place to another, but I have found that the safest, most blessed place to be on this earth is the constancy of our relationship with God and the solid place that He provides for us on a daily basis. When I’m tempted to whine a little bit because I’m an orphan and a widow going home to my “alone” place again, I always come back to the truth that I am God’s beloved adopted child, and my forever home is with Him. He is my rock no matter where I am or who I’m with.

When my heart might yearn to be back in Red River – a truly sweet spot on this earth, or in Austin with my family there (especially like yesterday which was my son’s birthday) or in Tulsa with my dear friends and family there – I always remind myself to seek my heart’s true home in God. We are called to be strangers and aliens here (1 Peter 2:11), but always loving and blessing the places and people God gives us, because we know we are just passing through. Our aching for home is really our aching to be home with our Savior. That, my friends will be our reality and will forever be our “home sweet home”.

Hey, It's Good to be Back Home Again!

It’s almost two weeks in Austin's super-hyper-mode. I woke up this morning thinking “Yikes – my yard hasn’t been watered in two weeks! I didn't pack enough vitamins! A stack of mail and lots of projects await me at home!" But, oh, the joy in Austin that peaked over the weekend when my family was altogether for Mother’s Day! I'm so grateful! Did this soul so much good to have all this love around me! Here are a few pics of the fun! There has been no-social-distancing amongst us all – unlike my little quiet, solitude world back home! But, I'm singing with John Denver "It's good to be back home again!"

My home represents for me....my space, my bed, my pictures, my refrigerator, my pantry, my shower, my TV, my computer where I can type my next blog with peace and quiet, my cozy chair where I spend time with the Lover of my soul -- where "in His presence is fullness of joy"!

Yes.....there really is no place like home sweet home, but, wherever I am is really home -- because where He is, I'm HOME! I’ll drive into my garage later today and these words will ring loud and true for me: "You're not alone. You're coming home to Jesus." I mean that in the most literal way. Yes, I may be alone....but I am not lonely. That said, there is an important distinction to be established. There is a world of difference between solitude and loneliness, though the two terms are often used interchangeably. Loneliness is marked by a sense of isolation. We sure know that word from our quarantine, don’t we? But, it is possible to be with people and still feel lonely.

I've chosen "solitude" -- the state of being alone without being lonely. It is a positive way of appreciating ME. I have learned that my place of being alone is often where I find myself absolutely wonderful company. But, even more so, my aloneness and solitude is so incredibly heartwarming when I know that my Savior is there with me. He doesn't demand the remote control and His clothes don’t take up too much room in my closet. He doesn't care what food I'm eating and doesn't mind if I stay up late, or turn in early. He is such a gentle and loving friend that He doesn't even mind if I don't talk to Him that much, but He sure is ready to talk when I give Him my full attention.

This place of refuge with Him is so satisfying. It replenishes my soul and weary body. If I had chosen "loneliness" 9-1/2 years ago, I would have been discontented and sad, but I chose solitude that awaits me and my Best Friend. It's been a blast and a blessing to be with my family -- and I'm thanking God so much for this sweet time, but in a few hours, I’ll open the door of my home and I know it will invite me in like an old friend. Yes, there's no place like home.

No Man is an Island, so Why Try to be One?

My Austin family recently acquired four more goats to add to the family's five goats, making it now a 9-member herd. One of the new goats was a loner from the start. He didn't hang with the rest of the herd and stayed at least 20-feet away from them. The family kept trying to bond them all together, but that one just wanted to go-it-alone. When they went out to feed them on Thursday, that one straying goat didn't come in with the rest and when they found him, he had been attacked by what they think was a mountain lion. A proper funeral and burial were given by the family with a gravesite covered in stone. No matter the species, it's not easy to deal with a loss in the family.

Remember the story in the Bible of the shepherd pursuing that one little lamb that strayed from the others? He left the 99 to go after that one who was also a bit rebellious and a loner. That shepherd knew that little lamb could fall in a pit or be prey to a predator. (Luke 15:4). God created the animal kingdom to be together and the human kingdom to be together. We all need each other. We need each other for caring, tenderness, hugs, touch and emotional support; connection, sharing love, learning and growing emotionally and spiritually; companionship — sharing fun and laughter, play, adventure and everyday life; for having each other's back. We thrive when we feel connected and supported by each other, and we suffer when connection and support are not available. We had these needs as babies and we never lose them.

King Solomon spoke to that in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 "Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his friend. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Like that precious little goat, some of us prefer to be loners and go-it-alone. But that's not what God planned for the human race or the animal kingdom. I’m sharing this today because I’m thinking about those who prefer to be alone for one reason or another, but the fact is, we need each other.

English poet, John Donne penned those words: "No man is an island", which paved the way for that beautiful song:
"No man is an island. No man stands alone.
Each man's joy is joy to me. Each man's grief is my own.
We need one another. So I will defend each man as my brother, each man as my friend.

I love my independence, and, particularly, this sweet season of life that I'm in. But, independence isn't what God called us to. We need each other. He didn't call us to live on islands by ourselves or to roam by ourselves. We are here on this earth, at this time, and this place, to touch others and affect others by our actions and our words. We should be INTENTIONAL with our daily interactions. Every time we walk out our door to this world, we are carrying the LIGHT to brighten our world and other people's lives with God's love and peace. We can leave an imprint on every person we meet -- even in a small way -- but, nothing is small in God's sight when we allow His light to shine in and through us. We just might be a difference maker for someone today! So, let's get out of that "island mentality", and get on the "crowded places mentality" -- where we get to rub shoulders with others, and perhaps our LIGHT will rub off on them and they will start "shining", too!

Alone, Lonely or Solitude