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BE

The last bits of summer sand have just about all fallen off my feet. And as the waves crash to shore and the pencils and pens fill the bins at all the local stores, the new year brings with it the promise of new horizons, new beginnings, and new possibilities.  New adventures meet none in quite the same way as they do for my favorite class of 2018. So as I hug the last young person good bye and leave my words of wisdom in their ears as they exit stage left, I’m full of excitement. Because if I am being truthful, I know that grand life awaits each of them and it’s not because of the grades they will get, or the clubs they will join, or the jobs they will pursue, it’s because of the people they will be. The people that I love get to go BE in the world. They get to be who they are, find out who they are meant to be, and discover that every moment God brings to them is the exact thing they need. The art of being is so profound. Our world tells us that being is not enough. It tells us ...
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Sean’s Lucky Year

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.” Ludwig van Beethoven  My brother Sean loves music. He has more playlists on Spotify than one can count and can tell you anything you want to know about most musicians from Taylor Swift to Gentle Giant.  He loves music...hears it in a different way, even.  Yet, here in his 28th year, he had never once been to a concert. That was until last week. The free tickets landed in our hands. And quite frankly I was not overly eager to go. Yet, we found ourselves in the seats for The Village People and Cool and the Gang at the OC Fair. Perhaps, this WAS Sean’s lucky year. He will tell you it’s because on the 28th of August he will turn 28 and this year started on the same day of the week as the year he was born. I would say it’s more than that. Sean loved the concert. His heart was beating to the music as he encountered life in a new way. He had always loved music, but this was the first time he got to live it. And he ...
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The Meal that Prospers.

Prosper:  to become strong and flourishing “This meal is life changing”, I said in between bites of my sage corn and the chipotle mayo covering my portobello mushroom burger. And I meant it. It was a mouth watering goodness. Every bite had it’s own unique explosion of flavors that left my tastebuds dancing. My aunt always says you can tell a good meal but the number of colors it leaves on your plate. This meal had every color. But more than that, I think what made it so satisfying was the love that sat around the table. The wine was poured, the laughs were genuine, and the hearts each beated into a community of people who cared deeply about one another. That meal was life changing for two reasons; the food was dang good, and the experience was even better. I think we so often want things to be instant. Even in my meals, I fly by the quicker the better motto.   If I can have it ready in minutes great, seconds, even better. But the meal that night, we prepped for over an ho...
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Wisdom, Beyond Our Dreams

Wisdom:  The   ability   to   discern   or   judge   what   is   true,   right,   or   lasting;   insight. My hidden talents are few and far between.  But, if you know me well enough, you  know I am gifted sleeper. I had no intention of watching the Royal Wedding.  I knew full well that it would be happening when I was swept away and sleeping like a princess, and no amount of fluff would convince me to compromise that.  At 3:43 am, however, I awoke from a dead sleep.  Shocked, and barely able to open my eyes, I looked to see it was still dark. As I brought myself to some sort of consciousness, I could not believe my circumstances.  In the middle of the night, I was awake.  This never happens.  Shuffling in the dark, I turned on the TV. I just wanted to see where the festivities were before my snoring was back in full swing.  Plus, it would be fun to see her dress.  I lau...
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Big Shoes, Little Feet

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all. -Oscar Wilde Legend says a giant named Fin built the causeway.  The beauty of it’s creation is stunning. Up and over steps and surrounded by hills, it all kind of takes your breath away. It is a love story left by a creator that you cannot help but be swept into. It is my trip to Ireland. A majestic moment of following in giant footsteps, taking in more than you one’s eyes alone possibly could, and holding on to the collection of postcard like pictures in my mind. I’m more than certain that I’m walking on a path so many carved before me. My grandparents, parents, role models, and friends have all stepped across chasms, I am lucky to leap after.  They have lived in a way I dream to live and done things I merely say a prayer I ever could. They have paved the way for a life of beauty, memorable moments, and breathtaking adventure.  And as I tossed about in the passenger seat up and down the windin...
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Love Survives.

Survive: continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.   In the middle of an otherwise mundane afternoon of work, their anxious joy jarred me away from my computer.  The mother beamed with a smile and looked to her husband to share this overwhelming good news. I waited eagerly to see how I might be able to help them. I could make out most of the words as they spoke to me while gazing back at each other to confirm that their words made sense.  It was probably obvious I do not speak a Spanish. They stretched beyond their own comfortability to tell me this great news. Their daughter had made First Communion in 2011 and they finally decided it was time to part with her dress.  They came to my office to donate it, in hopes that some other girl may feel the pure excitement and love their daughter did the day she wore it.  The mom lovingly pointed out every detail of the dress as she handed it to me to pass on. She then sent her husband bac...
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Persevere

Persevere:  to  persist  in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement Walks with my dog are usually squished in between this and that.  Whether the day is rushed or not, I have a constant clock ticking. It’s a clock that says move faster, go quicker, beat the time you had before. I constantly race against myself to get the things I feel I have to do done more efficiently than before.  It’s a fault.  One I cannot seem to break. When the steps were flying and the dog was racing to keep up with my hurry, an older couple staled us. They looked mature in years, but so young in love.  He wore baggy jogging pants and her wrinkled hand grabbed on tightly to his arm. And they walked quite literally as slow as snails. At first I thought to myself, how inconvenient, right in the middle of my gold medal walking performance, a road block basically stopped me in my tracks. But then, I became captivated at th...
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