Adventures Await Outside the Port

When you were a kid, did you play the “I Dare You” game? I did. I remember when friends would “dare me” to jump into the deep end of the pool or jump off the high diving board. They were trying to force me to do something that I was afraid to do, but I yielded to their "dare" and realized I had nothing to fear. In one sense, the word "daring" can seem reckless, but on the other hand, it also means being "bold". If we are inclined to stay within our "comfort zones".....or, as a ship, to safely stay in port, then we'll never enjoy the thrills of conquests and victories....just because we weren't willing to be "daring" and "bold".

I have a case-in-point. I enjoy being a Resident Representative for my community, Hyde Park at Tulsa Hills. I meet potential homeowners and tell them what it’s like to live here. I’m qualified because I was one of the first residents to build a home here when there wasn’t anything but dirt and earth-moving equipment, back in November 2012. There were three of us who built our homes at the same time. It was a gutsy undertaking when we ventured out believing that what the developer was telling us would be reality. He said there would be streets and sidewalks, a beautiful clubhouse that would have all kinds of amenities: tennis, swimming pool, billiards’ room, dining area, library, work-out facility, dance studio, 6-hole putting green, and pickle ball courts. He said this community would be about lifestyle: right-sized homes, maintenance-free yards, gated entry, close to all kinds of shopping, restaurants, and services. AND, here’s the amazing, step-out-in-faith bottom line, WE BELIEVED HIM though we saw nothing but drawings of lots, their locations, as well as the location of the clubhouse. The perfect scripture for that kind of belief is "Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists." Hebrews 11:1

When I heard about this unique, first-of-its-kind 55+ community in Oklahoma, it was exactly what I was hoping for. So, I took the plunge to sell my home, but even before I sold it, I knew this place was for me, but it would take a leap of faith. In essence, I got out of the safe harbor and launched my ship to the open seas.

Now we have fifty homes in this community, a gorgeous clubhouse with all those amenities in it,, as well as wonderful neighbors who have become dear, life-long friends to me. I get amused when people come and are not willing to venture out of their comfort zones though they love what they see here. They see the finished homes, the clubhouse, hear the testimonies of residents, yet they aren’t willing to venture out, even though now there are so many “knowns”, unlike when I ventured out and there were so many “unknowns”.

I'm quite sure that God loves it when we rev up our engines and venture out into the oceans of discoveries and live life with no regrets. This move was definitely brave and bold, but as it turns out, it's given me adventures of a lifetime living here, travelling with neighbors, socializing and living an active, full and fun life with these neighbors. My faith really paid off.

I’d say, if you’re stuck in some rut and really desire change, then be willing to change, be willing to venture out into the seas and oceans of discoveries and adventures. God built us for bold living. Let’s be bold, brave AND beautiful and set sail for the awesome oceans and seas of life.

Ever Felt Like You Were Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall…. OR a Glass Window?

While up at our Hyde Park clubhouse on Wednesday, I kept hearing a bird banging into the windows, over and over again. On Thursday, one of my friends sent this text to me: “Drama at the clubhouse today -- a female bird keeps flying into the window from the maple tree -- male just moving from fence to branches watching her -- she must feel the mating dance is a fate worse than death. I'm sure she sees her reflection. It would be laughable except that she will likely succeed in breaking her neck.” LOL!

I was up at the clubhouse again yesterday and I captured this looney bird in action with this photo. She is definitely a "head banger"! Maybe that's where "bird brain" came from. LOL! Of course, this would be my inspiration for today’s blog. We’ve all been there. We’ve tried to accomplish something and so many interferences kept us from it. We’ve tried to teach our child a skill and it seemed hopeless. We’ve tried to lose weight only to gain more than we lost.

As I type this post, I'm up at the clubhouse and that crazee bird continues to bang into the windows, but she will not break through that barrier no matter how hard she tries. I’m watching her and she’ll bang into it, and then fall to the ground, but she recovers and goes at it again.

Albert Einstein is credited with this quote, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I would highly suggest this bird AND those of us who keep riding a "dead horse" fall into that category. It's time to dismount and get a fresh new horse and a fresh new idea....that comes from "in all our ways, acknowledging our ALL-KNOWING Father God.

We will continue to bang our heads against a brick wall or a glass window as long as we are deceived into thinking “It’s my way or the highway”, I can make this happen, I am invincible and when all along, God has the open door and window for us to step through. He wants us to “let go and let Him” be our source of wisdom, knowledge and strength.

Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In ALL YOUR WAYS, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths”. My interpretation “And He will keep you from banging your head against the brick walls and the glass windows. God knows the way in, through, over and under to the answers we need.

Before -- Barren; After - Oasis -- What is Your Before and After?

BEFORE -- I was the first to receive the "Certificate of Occupancy" to move into my new home back in Nov, 2012. When I bought my lot in this new community -- only dirt and earth-moving machinery were here – no streets, sidewalks, or other houses – just signage with a photo of what would be here in the future. I simply trusted that the developer and my home builder were making a promise they would keep.

AFTER -- and, here we are – just two years later, and you can see the progress by my house and the other houses on my street. And, now, there are paved roads, sidewalks, many other houses throughout the subdivision, a huge clubhouse with pool, tennis courts, pickleball courts, library, dance & aerobics room, fitness room, etc., beautiful landscaping throughout, and lots of friendly neighbors who have joined me.

I could have taken the safer route to purchase here AFTER the roads, sidewalks, other houses, and the clubhouse were all in, but then I wouldn’t have been able to choose this lot which has a lovely lake view (and my grandkids love that it's stocked with fish -- fishing poles are always ready to go in my garage) -- a lot that others refused, because they wanted to "wait and see" if what was promised, would happen.

Oftentimes, in life, we are presented with opportunities that just seem “too good to be true” and we prefer to take the easier, more cautious, proven, no-risk route and, when we do, we may also live with regrets when we see others who were willing to venture out into the great unknown. "WAIT & SEE" just shouldn't be a part of our mode of operation! We have just one life to live – why shouldn’t we be living it with all out gusto? I’m quite surprised at myself, actually. When my husband/business partner was here with me, we’d make these decisions together, but here’s the really awesome thing – Jesus (my partner/counselor/guide) said “I come to give you life and more abundant life.” Why shouldn’t I take HIM at His Word – He who NEVER promises something that He doesn’t deliver on. Living in His abundance continues to produce BEFORE and AFTER pictures in my life. And, He always delivers on His Word. What may be barren, desolate and “just dirt” in your life – could be a flourishing oasis once you take Him at His Word and live with complete and total trust in Him. I know He does it daily for me!