walking amongst

Today we walked amongst the shiny happy people

The smiling 

singing 

joy filled

Jesus loving

people.

and it was nice..

It seemed a NICE thing to do..

the being with the Jesus loving people..

It doesn't SEEM like it would be when you are 

Dark and Twisty…

it is a good thing to walk amongst the Shiny Happy people.

Walking amongst the shiny happy people, in their land

can either be BLINDING to your eyes,

be PAINFUL to your soul,

or be wonderfully refreshing…,

like the splashing cool fresh water on your war torn face..

Well..we were refreshed..

but starkly reminded..

that we are

VERY

and

it's ok.. this place

that we are in..

it's not like we WANT to be here

but..

It IS exactly where Jesus has us.

It's a result of the trial we are in.

It's PART of the trial we are in..

It's the way to 

MORDOR.

We aren't IN the Shire anymore.

Our travels with Jesus just now,

are over different terrains…

they are arduous

and challenging

and dark..

and our humor

our perspective

our very selves feel different ..

when amongst others..

but because we ARE ALL going through it..

we don't even notice the change.

but we did today..

we noticed..

the dark and twisty

when we were amongst the shiny happy

selfie taking

church cheering

Jesus loving people.

Christ Jesus, 

Our Savior is still present..

still our Center..

Still our focus

our all in all.. 

I say OUR.. 

thinking.. believing..

 that I write for my family..

but I can in all honesty

only FIRMLY speak for me.. ever.

HE is my focus, MY center, 

MY hope.

and I loved my time amongst the sparkling, glittering people.

Our world has glimpses of sunshine..,

and bursts of laughter..,

and explosions of passion.

We FIGHT for family time,

and card games,

AND 

quiet time,

study time

and dinner time

and 

truth is..

absolutely nothing is easy right now.

nothing.

but it really IS just a season.

rainy season right?

With out a little rain, there would be no blossoms ahead in the spring..

no roses

no lilacs

no sunflowers,

lilies,

no fruit on the branches..

no veggies in my garden…

but for now..

it's pouring rain…

but my Father in Heaven PROMISES me..

and someday..

when we pass through this trial..

when we get to the other side of THIS trial..

and the darkness turns to dawn..

the twisty in me..

gets straightened out..

even just a little..

and the dark

might also become 

shiny

a little sparkly..

and happy

and lovely

and clear

it will be lovely…

and

hanging out in the

land of the 

joyful

bliss

smiling people

seems like a great goal

to 

steer the ship towards

when the seas are stormy