“Hope in God! For I shall again be thanking Him; in the presence of My Savior and my God!”
Psalm 43:5
“And He will…make you shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his Hand.”
Michael Joncas
“Who gave Himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age, as our God and Father willed – to Him be Glory for Endless Ages!”
Galatians 1:4
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“Doghead is easy to learn, you just have to speak from the heart.”
L.D. Marchell
As some of you may know, through the tragic loss of my Mom, Chert Dog saved not only my Father’s heart, but my brother, John’s and mine too! There is something about unconditional love from an animal, so altruistic, pure, peaceful and kind. Angels brought to us in various forms, to be embraced and cherished or relinquished forever as we are all given that chance to choose the highest and best for all concerned.
It is during these most tremulous times that we are being given the opportunity to make new consciously aware and awakened choices with our most precious gift of life. Allow for your new preferences to include:
“…Whatever is true, whatever is kind, whatever is lovely, and if there be anything worthy of praise, think then on these things.”
“The transcendental state of Being lies beyond all seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting – beyond all thinking and beyond all feeling.”
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
There are sacred moments in time where all the senses are so attuned that you feel saturated in the love of the Universe! It is places like Highland Lake which have brought that sense of awareness in timelessness. Prior to having internet and cell service there, it seemed to magically bring you to a place of peacefulness, wonderment and awe as moments seemed to span lifetimes!
There is a glorious Willow Tree named “The Lady of the Lake” whose graceful limbs with lacey leaves reach towards the heavens! Her hour glass womanly figure-shaped trunk has weathered many a winter’s wind and basked in the summer’s vibrant glory! An earlier limb was used for children to swing out into the lake as they would splash cheerfully into the water! Through the years, she had to relinquish this part of herself to the past, full of memories of her lifetime!
On the pathway walking around Highland Lake there is a stoic moss covered tree known as “The Lord of the Forest” whose stately presence breathes embodiment to all of nature.
Further along the pathway around the lake, there is a section where the stream and pond flow out into the lake. Oftentimes you will see turtles and bullfrogs, together with dragonflies and you may even encounter a fairy or two!
As you continue along the pathway, the senses of sight, taste, smell, hearing, feeling and knowing are awakened in the freshness of the fragrant, soothing air. It is moments like this which span our awareness of time and we become one with all that is around us and within us. This bliss full state of consciousness allows for incredible insights as the mind drops into sacred heart-centered alignment and inner knowing. You may see a spiritual rainbow cone, or even an orb or two!
Peaceful mornings and throughout the day, the lake transforms her appearance into something new! There is much to be learned from her deep lesson of inner knowing.
Cloud formations pass throughout the day, bringing colorful rainbows, angelic wisps of glistening crystals, as the sunlight reflects brilliantly off the textured glassy water.
And so after a splendid sunset, the campfires begin to emerge surrounding the water’s edge. Oftentimes, the fireflies will gather around the sloping hills as the crickets and peepers and tree frogs begin their harmonic evening melodies which accompany the sparkling starts lighting up the gradually darkening vast evening sky.
Sunfish Sailboats sport around Highland Lake with moments of gusty winds and other peaceful doldrums. There is a gentleman who has configured a way to sail his rainbow colored sailboat around the lake using just the one arm that he has – remarkable the ingenuity of the power of invention, determination and necessity!
Then there is the early morning choir of birds singing, as the stillness of the morning air and water invigorates the soul. Timelessness revisited.
Various boating activities and music festivals as well as floatilla competition are just some of the many activities at Highland Lake. Not to mention the fireworks! They simply begin on the Fourth of July weekend and continue throughout the season!
And so our lives are to be lived to their fullest, richest, reaching for the stars, pressed down and flowing over! As my Mom would say, “Keep Joy in your life, Jesus wants it that way!” and as Grandma Marge would say, “Happy, Happy, Happy!!! Joy, Joy, Joy!!!”
“Rejoice in the Lord always! And again I say, rejoice!”
“In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
Isaiah 3:15
Yellow, one of the three primary colors in an artists’ palette, it is often used as the color of sunshine, optimism, enlightenment of creativity and symbolizes spring. It communicates our third chakra’s empowerment and is the center of our very being. Being a Pilates and Yoga Instructor and Creative Coach, this is where all our emotional health and wellness, confidence and ability to believe in one self centers from. As a pianist, it resonates to the letter “E” of the scale and uses sight and fire to create confidence within as music can sooth the soul.
It’s luminosity has actually changed the yellow hues of our planetary sun into a brilliant diamond of crystal prisms of dazzling white light. Yellow was my Mom’s favorite color, and ironically it symbolizes that angels are in our presence.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Hebrews 13:2
In memory of Connie A. Mitchell Marchell whose anniversary will be this Easter, and ironically she passed on Easter 22 years ago. Who many have called an earth angel, whose unconditional love, generosity, pure, open heart and sparkling smile radiated God’s Love, Joy and Peace and touched everyone on her Yellow Brick Road Pathway. She would oftentimes say to me that “Sometimes God allows our hearts to be broken so that He can beautify our souls.” Sunflowers are one of the many things which remind me of her essence and presence in my life. I do believe that these flowers cry tears of joy, too.
“All in good time and measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.”
Luke 6:38
“For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 15:17
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence and anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.”
Nature is our truest guide in learning regarding matters of the heart.
“…Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud…
It does not hold grudges, and will not notice when others do it wrong…it rejoices whenever truth wins out…”
The seasons teach us the various wonders of our own symphony of life.
“…When you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him…”
Bleeding love into its very essence, blooming into a joyous rhapsody.
“…Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now…”
Delicately displayed, the heart is either embraced or crushed, so let us love and forgive one another in order to live in joy and peace.
“…There are three things that remain – Faith, Hope and Love – and the greatest of these is Love.”
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. He discovered a pearl of great value, and sold everything he owned to purchase it.”
Matthew 13:45-46
As luck would have it, the irritants in our life seem to bring forth illumination. It all comes down to our intentions, out thoughts, our alignment and our perspective in perceiving the various components within the dynamics of the situation one is experiencing. Just as a diamond is created from a chunk of coal under pressure, the sandy particles within the oyster shell manifest an illustrious pearl beyond measure.
Have you ever wondered why our intuitive sixth sense understands that these changes and new beginnings in our life are unique opportunities for enlightenment; yet the naysayers surrounding any personal new choice in our lives are determined to deter your inner knowing? In all areas of our life, it is vital to listen to inner wisdom and take care of your heart. Linear thinking no longer applies to our highly vibrating, multi-dimensional journey which is why there is no going back to the primitive tool set. Our new being yearns to quantumly soar among the winds of the unknown, to explore new potentials and believing that all things are possible. It takes great discernment to stay focused and grounded as these new particles of chaos need to be welcomed and embraced as our friends; whereby these very crystals of sand are intrinsically allowing for the deep, inner-core work we are pursuing to reveal a radiantly iridescent pearl beyond measure.
