Wildflower Writes

Hunting for Fun

2021-04-05T20:34:00.000-04:00

Photograph by Sean Woods

I came home from work, tired and hungry. I dropped my stuff by the door and noticed an orange plastic egg on my TV stand.

I was pretty sure I hadn’t left that there, but I had left my son watching videos on the couch when I left for work that morning.

Turns out he had hidden 13 eggs for me to discover. Suddenly, I was laughing as an attempt to turn on a lamp dislodged another plastic egg. A game I had dismissed as being too juvenile for my teenage family members was now making my Monday.

I forget how important it is to play and have fun. When I was visiting some friends the other day, they asked me what I do when I’m not working. I struggled to think of something I do just because I enjoy it. When I do take the time to do something fun and relaxing, I have better energy and motivation to do the important stuff. Maybe the fun stuff is just as important.

Looking in the Right Place

2021-04-04T21:26:00.001-04:00

Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash

As the sun sets on another Easter, I reflect on a week honoring Jesus’ last days on earth, including his death and resurrection.

One of my favorite parts of the Easter story is when the women go to finish preparing the body, and upon arriving at the empty tomb, meet a couple of angels. They ask the women: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

I wonder how often we don’t find what we’re looking for because we’re looking in the wrong place. We look for a sense of worth in the opinions of others. We look for meaning in the words of celebrities. We look for fulfillment in how well we perform at school or work.

When we seek all the good things of life, such as love, security, and meaning, in the world, we’re looking in the wrong places. The world is like a tomb. It is only an empty shell without Jesus.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He is the source of all good things, the only way to know and be reconciled to God, the path to abundant and eternal life.

If you’re not able to find what you need in this world, maybe your hope lies beyond this world, in the hands of the Creator of heaven and earth.

Step Toward Hope

2021-02-02T20:44:00.004-05:00

Photo by Alexander Milo on Unsplash

There’s a quote by C.S. Lewis- You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.

Words like this remind us that a situation is never hopeless, and we’re never helpless. In every dark place there is still light to be found. In any kind of pain, there can be healing. No matter how powerless we feel, we can always choose our attitude and our response.

Change is hard. It requires courage, persistence, and faith. And it always seems like the initial steps don’t matter, don’t make a difference. The fact is, if you take 2000 steps, you’ve walked a mile. It’s just a matter of continuing in the right direction.

Whatever is in your way right now, don’t give up and don’t lose hope.

Sweet Surprise

2021-02-01T21:02:00.002-05:00

Photo by Dennis Klein on Unsplash

I had just come out of a meeting with my supervisor. My next few weeks of work were pretty much lined up for me, and I was feeling stressed.

Over the course of the workday, three different co-workers popped in my office to offer me sweet snacks, including Rise ‘n’ Roll’s infamous cinnamon caramel donuts.

This never happens. Some days I hole up in my office and will only see someone on the way to filling up my coffee cup.

I’m not sure if everyone was feeling the first of the week/ first of the month optimism, but I love that I work with people who are always thinking about how they can improve someone else’s day.

I’m not a big Valentine’s Day fan, but kindness and love are always in style.

Healing

2021-01-30T20:08:00.003-05:00

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

As a former athlete and musical theater participant, you would think I’d be graceful and coordinated.

This is not the case. I’m kinda clumsy. In fact, as a teenager, my church youth group nicknamed me “Niagara” as in, “Niagara Falls.”

I’m not better. I still have a scar on my thumb where I tried to open a cinnamon roll can with a knife. I have several burn scars from my stints in food service (and one from a fireplace). I’ve tripped four times on my morning jog- once while running from zombies (long story).

The last time I tripped, I stepped off a sidewalk onto an uneven brick-paved road. I tried to jump up and continue my run, but I had scraped up my arm and leg and hurt my ego as well as my body.

I walked home and cleaned myself up. It was ugly to look at. It hurt to walk. But every day the wounds shrunk and the pain was less, until only a scar was left.

The pain after my fall let me know I needed to clean up and bandage my wounds. After that, as long as I continued to take care of myself, it healed with time.

All pain has a purpose. It tells us something is wrong and needs to be addressed. Even if you do everything right, life hurts sometimes. As long as we don’t let the infection of bitterness or self-pity to set in, time will heal. Even if it leaves a scar.

Little Light

2021-01-29T20:25:00.001-05:00

Photo by Michael Henry on Unsplash

The microwave beeped. The lights went out. All was silent. Another power outage.

I resigned myself to getting ready for work in the dark. A single flashlight provided just enough light to make sure my clothes matched and my hair was tamed.

At some point I wandered to the window in another room to observe the darkened neighborhood, eerie in the predawn gloom.

I realized I could see the furniture in the room, which should have been impossible with no electricity and no lights. The tiny flashlight from two rooms away was emitting enough light for me to see where I was going.

Sometimes we think our light isn’t very bright, that the good we do is unnoticed or inconsequential. In a dark world, every light is important; every light is seen. Keep shining.

My Heroes

2021-01-28T19:43:00.004-05:00

Photo by Benjamin Suter on Unsplash

I’ve heard it said, “Never meet your heroes. You’re sure to be disappointed.”

I’m sure that’s a fair warning if your heroes are celebrities- actors, sports stars, or musicians. Given the percentage of people who are jerks in the world, a celebrity has as good a chance as any to be kind… or not.

My favorite heroes are unsung. Single parents who are making it work. Underappreciated service workers. Pastors and chaplains. People who get up every day with a smile on their face and brighten their world.

I’ve met some of these heroes. I’ve never been disappointed. The more I’ve learned about them, the more I’ve been humbled, amazed, blessed, and inspired.

If you’re worried about meeting your heroes, maybe it’s time to find someone else to look up to. As we know, not all heroes wear capes.

Fragrant Offering

2021-01-27T21:18:00.002-05:00

Photo by Heather Ford on Unsplash

I didn’t want to cook tonight. I knew it would require defrosting. I finally decided garlic butter chicken sounded good. Half an hour later, I had chicken baking in the oven. As I relaxed in the living room with my mobile game, the scent of garlic wafted in. One tablespoon of the chopped root had soon overtaken the whole place.

I think acts of kindness are like garlic. It doesn’t take much to flavor someone’s day, to bring a smile to someone’s face. Even if you’re not the direct recipient of the kindness, the spirit of it can permeate the air.

Kindness starts as an attitude, a belief that all people deserve the benefit of the doubt. It also implies that we have the power to make a positive impact on other people. The only thing left is to open our eyes to look for opportunities to be kind to others.

In my opinion, almost everything is better with a little garlic.

Slow and Steady

2021-01-26T20:16:00.000-05:00

Photo by Joel M Mathey on Unsplash

I love the story of the tortoise and the hare. I love knowing that slow and steady progress moves you closer to your goals, even if it takes some time.

Time is so relative. A boring afternoon can stretch on for weeks, and ten years ago can seem like yesterday. Ironically, “time flies when you’re having fun” and time drags when you’re struggling.

It’s important to remember that “this too shall pass.” It doesn’t matter what it is, it won’t last forever. Terrible twos? They only last a year. Winter weather? Spring is coming. Rookie status? Experience will change that.

On the other hand, like the tortoise, it does take an effort to make progress. We can’t repeat the same habits and behaviors and expect different results. Positive change requires intentional effort. One step at a time.

Risk it

2021-01-25T20:45:00.004-05:00

Photo by Cade Prior on Unsplash

Two different podcasters today told me I should be more vulnerable.

One was a pastor, encouraging people to confess their faults, fears, failures, and feelings in the context of authentic relationships. To be a person of integrity, you have to be real with people. Without taking risks in relationships, you can’t grow as a person.

Another was a therapist, counseling a businesswoman how to mitigate a conflict. Part of his advice was to acknowledge what she agreed with, and to take responsibility for her part in the conflict. This requires humility and honesty.

Vulnerability is hard. The word itself means susceptible to harm. If you open yourself up to others, you’re more likely to get hurt. You’re also more likely to know that people like you for who you really are.

As any adventure enthusiast would tell you, the greater the risk, the greater the reward.

Superheroes

2021-01-24T21:54:00.002-05:00

Photo by Elias Castillo on Unsplash

Who’s your favorite superhero? Superman, the squeaky clean, bullet-proof alien? Batman, the dark knight with all the cool gadgets? Spiderman, the quick-witted, acrobatic teen?

What is it about the idea of a person with superpowers that draws us in? Is it the ability to help others? To exceed human limitations? To ensure instant justice?

What if there was a superhero who could defeat any evil plot that a villain conceived? According to a sermon I heard today, that’s kind of how God works. Whatever Satan can throw at us, through circumstances or the actions of others, God can redeem it for good.

Without denying how painful tough times can be, working through them can make us stronger, wiser, and closer to others. In time, it can give us the opportunity to support and comfort others in similar situations- to become a hero for someone else.

No person or situation is beyond God’s reach. And just like a good superhero, He’s always there when you call.

Sampler Platter

2021-01-23T19:07:00.002-05:00

Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash

I love working with ideas. I enjoy working with people. Words are my favorite tools. I don’t enjoy working with my hands much. As I tried to create something for a Christmas ornament exchange last month, I kept muttering, “I hate crafts.”

So it is something of an accomplishment this afternoon when I put together a bookshelf all by myself. I followed all the directions, used real tools, and it looked like the picture when I was finished.

Jay Shetty suggests trying one new project or hobby a month to discover one’s purpose. He calls it sampling. It’s similar to the way your mother may have insisted you try new foods. You don’t know what you might like unless you explore something new.

Very few of us can say we took on the career we wished for as a child. We grow and change. We can’t know what it is we enjoy doing, what brings meaning and fulfillment unless we try out different things. Many of us still don’t know what we want to be when we grow up.

We always have choices, we always have new things to learn.

Imperfect on Purpose

2021-01-22T19:59:00.003-05:00

Photo by Christopher Paul High on Unsplash

I’m a sucker for a personality test or a strengths inventory, even a “Which Disney princess are you?” quiz. Incidentally, just because I like to whistle while I work does not make me Snow White!

I’ve yet to see a weakness inventory. I would guess few people would want to take a test to tell them all the ways they fall short. Sometimes, even our strengths can be weaknesses when taken to extremes. Realistically, no one can be perfect.

Why is it important to know our weaknesses? I’ve always thought it was to eliminate them or mitigate them somehow. And I do believe that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness- that God uses the weak to shame the strong.

Today I heard an additional theory I had never considered. On Rick Warren’s podcast this week, he suggests that we are made “imperfect” on purpose, designed to be in community. Without our weaknesses, we wouldn’t have a need to connect with others. Like puzzle pieces, our strengths complement another’s weaknesses; our weaknesses rely on another’s strengths.

Maybe that’s why we’re stronger together.

Your Why

2021-01-21T20:38:00.004-05:00

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

I am amazed when I follow the stories of talented individuals who achieved success with a lot of personal sacrifice and hard work.

As inspiring as they are, it’s everyday people who beat incredible odds that really challenge me. I watched Night School, a documentary that showcased students attending an Indianapolis Excel Center. Excel Centers are adult high schools- where you take in-person classes to earn your high school diploma, rather than take a High School Equivalency test. Working for Goodwill, I’ve heard heartfelt success stories, but I wasn’t prepared for Greg’s story.

Driven to become a better dad and provider, Greg begins taking classes to get his diploma. His search for a better job is further complicated by his criminal record. His brother ends up in the hospital with a gunshot wound. His 3-year-old daughter is epileptic. Each obstacle is gut-wrenching, but he doesn’t lose his resolve, even when he finds out he can’t get his record expunged for another 3 years.

Simon Sinek talks about how important it is to find your “why” in life and in business. Greg’s “why” had a cherubic face and joyful singing voice and he couldn’t give up on her.

May you find your why, and may your journey also inspire others.

Fernweh

2021-01-20T22:41:00.002-05:00

Photo by Rohit Tandon on Unsplash

I have a painting on my wall. My son created it to accompany his Bob Ross costume last Halloween. And yes, it has happy trees. And mountains framing a waterfall.

When I look at it, there’s something I’ve heard described as homesickness for places one has never been. The German word for it is “fernweh.”

I’ve lived in three midwestern states. There’s always been woods to explore, but no mountains. Every time I’ve been on a trip through mountains, there’s a sense of wonder and mystery and curiosity. When I traveled to Colorado on a school trip, I climbed every rock I could. Every time I got to a peak, there was a higher peak to climb.

It should have been discouraging, to never reach the top. At the time, it was amazing. I thought I had seen the whole picture, but it was just the beginning, just a limited view of the larger landscape.

I used to think the goal was to “have it all together.” I believed once I had reached certain milestones, my life would be complete. Instead, each milestone brings a whole new landscape of possibilities. Sometimes it feels overwhelming. But maybe it’s about choosing my own adventure.

Plug it in

2021-01-19T21:27:00.000-05:00

Photo by Diego PH on Unsplash

I used to live in a place where light bulbs had a ridiculously short life. I don’t know enough about electricity to know if it was the way the house was wired, or the dollar store bulbs, or if there was another reason some light bulbs had to be changed after just weeks of use.

It’s difficult to tell if a bulb is “good” until you actually screw it into a fixture that is turned on and is connected to electricity. By itself, a light bulb can’t brighten a room. It has to be connected to the power of electricity for it to work.

I think too many times we try to shine out of our own power. We rely on willpower to keep going on, long after we’ve lost the joy, purpose, and vision that sparked interest in the first place. The truth is, we’re not meant to live life alone. We’re meant to be connected to one another, as part of a larger fixture. We’re also meant to be connected to a Higher Power.

Like the variety of light bulbs available for different purposes, God created an infinite variety in people, for a variety of life purposes. But we can’t accomplish those purposes if we’re not plugged in.

Po-ta-toes

2021-01-18T20:48:00.002-05:00

Photo by Christopher Williams on Unsplash

In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Sam is trying to convince Smeagol the value of potatoes: “Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew. Lovely big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish.”

Potatoes really are versatile. Sam didn’t even mention potato skins, tater tots, gnocchi, hash browns, home fries… my grandmother even made leftover mashed potatoes into cinnamon rolls. If we can do all these amazing things with potatoes, just think what God can do with you!

Sometimes it seems, in the grand scheme of things, among 7 billion current earth dwellers, across thousands of years, our contribution is so small. But only God has to worry about the “grand scheme.” Just like a thousand individual paint strokes come together to create a masterpiece, you have a part to play. You may represent a scattering of snow on a mountaintop or the shadow of a tree, but the painting is not complete without you.

We may not get to see the big picture, but we can be a unique part of it. There never has been and never will be another YOU. God can do amazing things with and through you if you let Him.

Daily Bread

2021-01-18T09:37:00.007-05:00

Photo by Vicky Ng on Unsplash

I love bread.

Since spending more time at home due to COVID restrictions, my mom has been turning out all kinds of wonderful creations- rye bread and potato bread and some kind of Cajun bread with coconut milk. I never visit her house without a slice of homemade bread.

This is partially because she needs someone to eat the bread before it goes stale. There’s a limited shelf life on home-baked goods. Bread is best when perfectly and freshly baked.

Living in the moment is like indulging in that warm slice of fresh-baked bread. It’s crackly on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle. Unfortunately, we spend way too much time focusing on the past- stale, moldy bread, or bread that’s been eaten and digested. It offers no nutrition in the present. Or we focus on the future, bread that’s still a batch of dough rising in a bowl. We don’t know what it will turn it out to be, and it’s not fit to eat right now.

The gift we have is now. Today. We can long for better times in the past or the future or we can be fully present and make the most of the “bread” we have in our hands.

Be Kind

2021-01-16T20:11:00.001-05:00

Photo by Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash

I was recently “gifted” with some of my old papers- elementary school report cards, nursery school art, and a Sunday School certificate signed by Mrs. Betty Engle.

As a child, I saw Betty as not only kind, but elegant and charming. She had a grace beyond a typical Midwesterner. I was a little jealous of my friend who was able to call her “grandmother.”

Ms. Betty passed away this week, and I wonder if her grandchildren and great-grandchildren felt what I have felt after a loved one passed away.

My world was upended. I would never see or speak to this person again (although I did ask God to give my grandma a message). Yet, almost unceremoniously, the rest of the world marched on. People in the grocery store acted like nothing had changed. People laughed and planned fun things. It seemed wrong for them to act normal when I was in such pain. Of course, strangers had no way to know how I was feeling, and no reason to act differently.

Rev. Dr. John Watson, a Scottish author and theologian, was thought to be the first one who wrote, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” All the faces we see on a regular basis: at school, the office, the grocery store… we don’t know what people are going through. We can be patient; we can be kind. We don’t know how much a kind word or gesture can mean to someone who is struggling.

Game On

2021-01-15T18:56:00.004-05:00

Photo by Alex Lian on Unsplash

I’m a sucker for a good match-3 game. It started long ago with Candy Crush and even though the games change, the concept is the same. Match like colors according to the requirements and advance to the next level.

I’ve discovered that as I advance through the more difficult levels, I can get distracted by the amazing combinations I can make of four and five colors, hoping that by clearing large sections of the board, I’ll meet my goal. It doesn’t work that way. I have to be intentional and strategic in how I use my limited number of moves, or I’m stuck at the same level.

I think life is like that sometimes. We get caught up in the busywork, the day-to-day distractions, and before we know it, we’re in the same place we were a year ago. I listened to one of my favorite podcasters, Darren Marlar of Weird Darkness, talk about his five-year anniversary. What started as a hobby became one of Podcast Magazine’s top ten! He just kept taking it to the next level.

I hope that in five years, I can look back amazed at where I’ve come from, the “levels” I’ve beaten to get to where I am. Like the game, I have to learn from my mistakes and make intentional choices and keep moving forward.

Just Breathe

2021-01-14T20:35:00.006-05:00

Photo by Isabella and Louisa Fischer on Unsplash

I like to breathe. The intake of oxygen, the expelling of carbon dioxide… it keeps the blood moving and all the organs functioning.

Then this nasty microscopic virus (of the common cold variety) interferes with the breathing process. Armed with Kleenex, antihistamines, decongestants, cough drops, vitamins, lip balm, anti-bacterial wipes, tea, and soup… I settled in for a long night (or two).

Before the cold hit, I took breathing for granted. I didn’t even think about it. It just happened. It was easy, even automatic.

So many things in life are like that. You don’t realize how you took your health for granted until you get a diagnosis. You don’t realize how much you enjoy someone’s company until they move away. You don’t realize how it feels to be trusted until you fall out of someone’s good graces.

I think that’s why gratitude is so powerful. It provides insurance against those life disappointments. If you live in gratitude, you express appreciation in the moment, and don’t have to worry about leaving good things unsaid. You’re humbled by the good gifts you’re blessed with, rather than comparing your situation with someone else. You share what you’re given, because you want other people to feel the same gratitude.

Today, spend some time counting your blessings. Enjoy what you have in the moment.

Brain Power

2021-01-13T19:07:00.003-05:00

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

Our brains are powerful! I heard about a research study where basketball players of equal ability were divided into two groups. One group practiced shooting free throws; the second group visualized themselves making free throw shots. When the two groups were compared, they showed the same amount of improvement over the time of the study.

The brain strengthened the same neural pathways whether the players practiced physically or in their minds.

What you think determines your existence (I think therefore I am). It can also set the whole course of your day, which by degrees can set the course of your life. It can determine your beliefs. What you believe determines what you do.

It seems simple, but it’s not easy. Apostle Paul talks about taking your thoughts captive. They can run rampant if you let them. It’s important to think on purpose. To focus on what is true and good and hopeful, rather than the junk you consume on social media or television. What you think becomes who you are. Who do you want to be?

Shadows and Tigers

2021-01-12T21:31:00.000-05:00

Photo by Pacific Austin on Unsplash

Trying to run in the winter is always a challenge, especially since I prefer to workout in the mornings. The combination of pre-dawn darkness, below-freezing temperatures, and slippery sidewalks make the goal of putting in 10-15 miles a week a difficult task.

This morning, as I dodged an icy patch while running over a bridge, I thought I glanced something moving over my right shoulder. It turned out that a flag was flying in front of one of the tall streetlights, casting a flickering shadow over my running route. It was nothing to be afraid of, it was literally just a shadow.

The Chinese have a word, zhilaohu, that has been translated “paper tiger.” It’s used to refer to something that has the appearance of a threat, but really has no ability to cause harm. Like the flitting shadow that startled me on my run, many fears that keep us from reaching our goals are not real. They have no substance, but they stand in the way of us becoming our best selves.

What paper tigers do you need to stare down, to see they aren’t real? Where do you need to be bold, to act in spite of fear?

Always a Way

2021-01-11T20:50:00.004-05:00

Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash

I heard a story today about a young pastor and his family who were planning a move to their new church two days before their first Sunday. It was an 8-hour drive. Everything was packed. The truck was rented.

Then, chaos. The truck broke down before it even got to the house. They got it up and running, but it broke down again on the way. After a hotel stay and much discussion, it was decided the only option was to tow the moving truck and its trailer with the family car all the way to its destination.

Unfortunately, they weren’t able to get to the church by Sunday morning. Everything that had been planned by their new congregation had to be rescheduled. All they could do was move forward and plan for the next week.

You would think that working around canceled plans would be second nature to us by now, but it’s still disappointing when we plan on something and it falls through. Especially when it’s beyond our control.

I’ve noticed that people, like this family, who are able to take these disappointments in stride, adjust as needed, rely on the help of new friends, and move forward with a positive attitude, end up better off than before. They demonstrate a strength of character that I aspire to. And part of their strength is their reliance on God to provide a way, even when the way isn’t clear.

Meant to be Messy

2021-01-10T22:49:00.002-05:00

Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash

I like it when everything is in its place and messes are mitigated. This weekend, though, was busy. The time I usually spend catching up on cleaning and chores was spent doing important things with important people. Now it’s Sunday night, and tomorrow morning the workweek begins, and I’m already feeling behind.

The fact that messiness is acceptable seems to be a theme today. We sang a song in church- “Maybe it’s okay if I’m not okay, ‘cause the One who holds the world is holding onto me.” I heard a story about how Jacob, the Hebrew patriarch, had a really messy life.

Life is never how we plan it. Sometimes that means wonderful surprises. Sometimes it means terrible disappointments. Somehow, understanding that perfection is not meant to be attainable in this world makes dealing with and cleaning up messes more palatable.