Finding the God-thread

As my mother and father prepare to move out of state, I find myself looking back at old memories a lot lately, so I've been writing...

"But examine everything carefully; 

hold fast to that which is good;" 

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NASB)
 

"Be still, and know that I am God;" 

~ Psalm 46:10a (NIV)

Our lives are like a tapestry, the threads skillfully woven together to create a unique work of art.  Among the threads we are able to see ourselves, the people that surround us everyday, and God, The Tapestry Maker, Himself.  Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”   This bold statement implies that we are unable to grow toward greater understanding of our true nature unless we take time to examine and reflect upon our life.  The writing process can help us examine ourselves more closely, allowing us to see our life tapestry and the God-thread that shapes it with faith, hope, and love. 
 
Sometimes His threads are easy to see while at other more turbulent times they are the underlying threads, naked to the human eye, prompting our doubt to ask, “Where is God?” Finding the God-Thread is about taking a deeper look at every life story we write in order to “see” God.  Perhaps He was in the ray of sunshine that brightened your dark day.  Perhaps He was in the arms of a friend that knew you really needed a hug.  Perhaps He was in the lesson you learned from a difficult experience developing your sense of perseverance and character.  Regardless of the situation, He is always there.  Faith allows us to see the God-thread of hope woven throughout each life experience.     
 
Just remember, we’re all flawed.  Everyone has darker moments. No one leaves this life unscathed. We screw up. We shame ourselves. Tragedy happens. We've all suffered physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual hurt.  And yet not every story is for public consumption. You don't get points for pulling skeletons out of the closet and rattling them in your unsuspecting readers' faces. But the main goal of the writing process is to learn. If you learned something that might help someone during difficult times, it might not hurt to share.

Memories from the Lake

Skin still damp from swimming in the lake most of the day, we donned sweat shirts and blue jeans as evening faded to dusk. My brother, and sister, and I huddled as close to the fire pit as we dared attempting to roast marshmallows without getting our fingers too burnt or too sticky. Sweet tooth satisfied we sat in silence as the fire crackled, embers glowing white. The flames cast their hypnotic spell, and the scent of wood-smoke crept into our clothes like a sacred lullaby.

Crickets chirped their evening song. Gentle waves lapped against the lake's shore. The small rustic cottage where we stayed as guests of a dear friend sat at the top of the hill. And the view of the lake bathed in moonlight was nothing short of childishly romantic. Some nights we would sit for what seemed like hours, mesmerized by the peaceful view, wishing on the stars above that this little spot on the hill would never change.

Inevitably change would come, but we would always hold dear the memories of that place where time stood still and perfect peace surrounded us so completely.