Ocean of Love

This past week I celebrated "Sibs' Week" with my four siblings, a tradition we started after our oldest sister died. As we were in the middle of celebrating the first "siblings' week" our sister, Susie, had fractured her arm as a result of a rapid cancer and was hospitalized. We spent that time together but most of the time in the hospital. 

Ocean

This year, while in the Outer Banks of N.C, my sister, Sheri, shared how the ocean gives her inspiration and recounted several thoughts: how the ocean and waves were always there, just like God's love,  the salty water allows us to float easily and relax just like the hand of God steadying us, knowing He has our back. 

Further thoughts: the sea provides food and water,similar to God providing nourishment for our soul. The tides coming and going, something we can count on. 

The salt water is healing and even clears sinuses!! The waves are fun to play in or just ride on top of providing a one-with-nature kind of mindfulness. That's where she feels closest to God.

Some days the waves are big enough to knock us down and we sputter trying to catch our breath along with firm footing.  Some days the waves are calm and the water is clear blue.  That's how our lives are. Sometimes we are shaken up and it takes awhile to make sense of everything.  That's when she remembers that God's hand is steadying her and helping her to float. 

God is providing what she needs even though it may not be what she "thought" she needed or wanted.  She was able to look back and see that the hard crashing waves made her not only stronger but closer to God. 

Where do you feel closest to God?  Siblings' week brought us more than just being together.  It brought us the sights and sounds of the ocean and one another.  More than that, though, I think we also renewed our awareness that with God, we have an ocean of love every day, not just during siblings' week. 

Home Before the Storm

Bee Hive

My brother, Dan, who is a beekeeper, just came in the house and told me about two bee hives outside.  All the bees, about 80,000 of them, were returning to the hives much earlier because of a storm that is approaching. Otherwise, they don't return to the hive until dark.  It is only 5pm. 

It was so amazing to watch...like planes in the sky coming in to land. All the bees were coming in, none going out from the hives.  You could see them quite easily coming in, circling, even bumping in to me, as they then landed and went into the hives.  

Dan then explained how he had shared this information with the new members of the bee club. They were completely oblivious of this phenomenon, not ever having heard this information before.  I hadn't either. 

On a bigger scale, how many of us see signs and wonders around us on a spiritual level. The bees  certainly have some instinct to tell them the weather is getting bad, enough to head home.  How many of us listen to the quiet whisper of God, or a Higher Power, encouraging us to be a better person? To do the right things, like forgiving others, helping others, to let others know what God has done for us.

When dark clouds of storms threaten our day, our life and our very serenity, where do we go to find safe shelter, to go "home"? Where is our "home" before and during the storms of our life? It is there for each of us, but we each must fly that route ourselves. 

Tie Up Your Camel!

Have you ever had something happen that made you wonder if God was watching out for you? Like your car "dying" in the middle of driving? I really mean "die"...where the steering went out, the motor died and even after you luckily were able to coast into a parking spot, found yourself locked in the car and not one thing worked, including being unable to unlock the doors to get out...in 80 degree heat, all windows up?  

Well, it happened to me!  Honest!!!! I was at the edge of a hospital parking lot with no traffic around and no visibility for anyone to see me. Want to see a panic attack happen fast?  I thought with very little humor, "what a wonderful way to die: right here with the highway over there, plenty of cars back there in the lot, and my cell phone at home!!" I tried everything: considered somehow getting into the trunk to see if the release would pull but the trunk was filled, packed for a trip.  I tried kicking out the window but they are not kick able! 

Then I prayed: "God help!!"  Yea, I can hear it, "why didn't you pray first?" Well, if you've ever had a panic attack, it over rides just about everything...and it did. I was beyond scared!  At least I prayed what I could. But then the amazing thing happened.  I crawled into the back seat in case someone drove by. I could at least wave to try and get their attention. Within a minute a car drove by, me waving frantically, the driver waving back, until he detected something not right.

Thank goodness, thank God, he had a cell phone, called 911, who told him where the manual release is on the inside of the door.  That did the trick, I got out.  Some may say, "wow, what a coincidence!"  I also told Matt, my knight in shining armor, that he came immediately after I had said a prayer. Luck?  Coincidence? It's not what I think! 

My faith says it was God's way of remaining anonymous. Faith is fine but believe me, I am going to check for manual releases in the next cars I get it!  Anthony DeMello, a wonderful spiritual speaker of the past has said, "In God we trust, but still tie up your camel!!" 

"Life's Lessons"

There are times in one's life when all the world seems to turn against us.  Our motives are misunderstood, our words misconstrued, an unkind word reveals to us the unfriendly feelings of others.

The fact is, that it is rare when injustice, or slights, patiently born, do not leave the heart at the close of the day filled with a marvelous sense of peace--perhaps not at once--but after you've had a chance to reflect a bit.  It is a seed God has sown, springing up and bearing fruit.

We learn, as the years roll onward and we leave the past behind, that much we had counted sorrow, but proved that God is kind; that many a flower we'd longed for had hidden a thorn of pain, and many a rugged by-path led to fields of ripened grain.

The clouds that cover the sunshine, they cannot banish the sun.  And the earth shines out the brighter when the weary rain is done.  We must stand in the deepest shadow to see the clearest light, and often through Wrong's own darkness comes the welcome strength of Right.

                                                                Ella Wheeler Wilcox


Molly LaFond is a spiritual director, accepting new clients at this time.  She is able to offer appointments in either of two locations: Two Rivers or Crivitz, WI. She can be reached at 920.793.3530. For more information see: mollylafond.com

Labor Day Weekend

Plaster Handprint

May the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!








Molly LaFond is a spiritual director and is able to offer appointments in one of two locations: Two Rivers or Crivitz, WI. She is accepting new clients at this time. Call 920 793.3530 or see mollylafond.com for more information.