so the earth revolves around the sun

I stop, look at the calendar and shake my head in disbelief. Like a typical grown-up, I pause to ask myself "Where did the time go?" Once again, the earth and the sun successfully conspired, meaning another year takes its place in the halls of my past.
I look back on the year and I smile, not because the last 365 days went off without a hitch, more so because I fell from grace so many times I have to laugh.
I could daydream about getting everything right next year but who am I kidding? I am human. My plans won't all work out exactly as I want. There's a good chance I'll walk right when the earth shifts left. But I learned something in the last year. Detours sometimes lead to miracles.
Still, looking forward, the idea of New Year's resolutions inevitably comes to mind. I know better than to make a list and try to check things off. So, I turn to God in prayer.
I ask to move forward in my career, that I might use the gift of words to tell meaningful and powerful stories. I pray for my marriage, that my husband and I continue to grow deeper in love everyday. I pray we can start a family and welcome a baby into our world, a child that will grow to learn the beauty and mystery of this imperfect life. I pray I don't mess up to much.
I have typical resolutions too, things I don't bother God about. I want to go jogging, then work up to running and eventually become one of those people who wakes up early to exercise. I also want to learn to cook the countless recipes I have pulled out of magazines. And I want to look put together, less like a messy hodgepodge who mixes fashion dos and donts.
Still, there's a reason I don't pray for running shoes and an apron. I might not follow through. I don't want God investing to much on my self-improvement schemes.
After all, I hate to run. Those recipes started piling up five years ago. And I really don't care if my shoes match my purse.
Then again, each year winds up being full of surprises. So maybe I'll finish a marathon, or bake a pear tart. Whatever the year brings, one things is certain, the time will go by fast and I'll wonder where it went.

Because Love Is

Because love is something you will find, try your hardest not to loose it. Don’t let fear keep you from giving all of yourself to another. Love is all we really have here on earth. Love is the dance between moments, the glue that holds the pieces together. Love is our connection to the Father. Love is what Christ did for us on the cross. Love is how the Holy Spirit moves in us. Love is what wakes us when our hearts are sleeping. Love is accepting a whole person, their beauty and their flaws, then being there when the earth shakes and threatens to tear it all apart. As human beings, we are all fragile like porcelain. It is love that keeps us from shattering. It is love that saves us from ourselves. It is love that brings us home when we are lost. Because love is what separates us from the darkness, never underestimate its power. Love with all your heart. Love your God. Love your spouse. Love others. Love yourself. How you love will define your life.

Life is a Love Affair

All of life is a love affair.
As children, we are captivated by life’s enduring mystery. We look closely at every little thing and ask questions at every turn. We aren’t afraid of the answers. We aren't afraid to believe in God or step out on faith. We are infatuated with life. When something bad happens, we blame ourselves. Life can do no wrong.
As we grow, life romances us with first kisses, beauty, love and laughter. Life excites us with new thoughts and ideas. We are curious, sometimes to a fault. Then the day comes when life breaks our heart.
When this happens, we act like children. We stomp our feet in protest. We fling ourselves into despair, shake our fists at the sky and wait for life to apologize. When it doesn't, we vow to conquer life, to master destiny.
The more we learn, the more we believe there is nothing left to learn. We begin to think we're smart. We convince ourselves we don't need God. We become self involved.
Then something happens, maybe we fall in love or have a child. Maybe we experience more pain or loss. We fall to our knees and ask God to help us, to forgive us, to welcome us home.
This is when we fall in love with life all over again.