Staying Alive…..While I’m Alive!

Staying alive….ah ha ha ha….staying alive! Thanks for the song, Bee Gees! I’m living and loving this quest for seeing God in His majesty and brilliance – from my little Frisco, TX world to this spacious and magnificent slice of heaven here in New Mexico. I’m paying close attention to God’s way of opening my eyes to more and more beauty in this land that I love. I refuse to stop living and I refuse to stop learning.

You can see we’re still here in Red River, NM, and yesterday my cousins became my tour guides. I’m encouraging them to set up a business here because they sure do know what’s here to see and do – even though they’ve only been visitors just like me. Their jeep was the perfect vehicle to traverse from here to Questa to Taos and then, an out-of-the-way, but their determination for me to see, was the Rio Grande’s Gorge Bridge. I just had to get my picture taken there. Then we followed the path of the Rio Grande River along the winding gorge and road to where it meets the Red River and they become ONE.

That place is called La Junta Point which means “meeting or joining” in Spanish, two rivers converge. You can see here to the left is the Red River, that begins in the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) mountains at the highest point in New Mexico, Wheeler Peak, 13,161 feet. Then, to the right is the Rio Grande River that begins in the San Juan (St. John) Mountains of southern Colorado and running for 1,885 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. La Junta marks the widest and deepest part of the Rio Grande Gorge – pictured below at three-quarters of a mile wide and a steep 800-feet deep.

Not only did I get an enlightening geography lesson, but I, once again, became captivated with the creativity of our Creator. I threw the question out to my cousins “Do you think God was responsible for this?” We all agreed – it had to be the meticulous and astounding creativity that exceeds anything that man could do.

So, Donna, get to your God-inspired reason for today’s blog! I’m glad you asked! Here’s my take for me AND you: if life has become monotonous, dull, boring, and you find yourself satisfied with social media, the evening news, and your recliner chair, then I urge you to consider getting into God’s creation. Capture the beauty of a sunrise, the glistening of a lake or two rivers converging into one. Sit beside a stream and watch the little critters that scamper around you. Breathe in the fresh air. And, breathe out the negativity, the boredom, and anxious thoughts.

So, Donna, get to your God-inspired reason for today’s blog! I’m glad you asked! Here’s my take for me AND you: if life has become monotonous, dull, boring, and you find yourself satisfied with social media, the evening news, and your recliner chair, then I urge you to consider getting into God’s creation. Capture the beauty of a sunrise, the glistening of a lake or two rivers converging into one. Sit beside a stream and watch the little critters that scamper around you. Breathe in the fresh air. And, breathe out the negativity, the boredom, and the anxious thoughts.

A Highway to Connection

This photo is of the highway that leads in or out of Red River, NM where we’re enjoying a week of glorious weather, fishing, sight-seeing, and quality family time. Reconnecting with my childhood buddy, my cousin and her husband, has meant so much to me. And, Staci and Larry have reconnected with them after many years and distances apart. We've been sharing many family stories that included God's blessings in our lives.

Connection is sure no problem in an RV park. Everyone is super friendly as they walk their dogs, drive by in their ATV or stop to get advice for best fishing holes, places to eat, and places to see. We’re connected by the mere fact – we’re in this place together.

We’ve all heard the phrase “Misery loves company”. And, I think it’s true. It’s easy to find “miserable” company these days because so many are, well, miserable, and those who are, seem to thrive on it. And, polar opposite are those who believe “Joy/Happiness/Peace/Gratitude loves company”. I prefer "connecting" with that latter group.

Here we are in unimaginable times. But, we have connected to others like never before because we have things or situations in common: isolation, loss of connection, social-distancing, keeping the family entertained or having to wear a mask in public or having to wear it all day. As unthinkable as it has been, many of us have found solace in the fact that we’re not alone in this. It’s not just my family or yours or theirs that is facing all these challenges. It is all of us – in some way. We’re connected. Many of us are more connected than ever.

And, you know what? Deep inside me, I sense that our sovereign God has been in control. Once upon a time we put up fences to keep us separated from our neighbors. We drove into our garages and shut the garage door behind us. We didn’t even want connection. We were self-sufficient and really didn’t need or even want a connection with others. And that separated us from grieving with those who grieve, from feeling pain with those in deep pain or from the connection of someone who lost a child or a job or a parent. Maybe it's you that has needed connection.

It seems we are becoming more transparent. We are sharing what hurts us, what misery we’re enduring, the good ideas for connecting with those who can encourage us and giving joy and comfort to others. Sharing, caring, and connecting with others is the answer to depression, suicide, despondency and fear.

I titled this blog “A Highway to Connection” for a reason. And, connection we can have by reaching out to someone via text message or email or Facetime or “old school” telephone is a great way to start. Romans 12:5 puts it this way: “so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” I’d say that’s the highway to connection that we ALL need!