Do you know...

where hope lives?

Hope lives in your heart's desire. Hope lives in the dreams you have for your future. Hope lives and can be resurrected, in my experience, when we experience freedom. Freedom is not doing whatever we want whenever we want. That's license and it's unfortunately standing in as an imposter for the real definition of freedom which is to know that which is good and that which is evil and to choose that which is good. To always seek to know the good and then to choose it is to experience true freedom. Only then when we are resting in that which is good are we able to go where hope lives.

I'll tell you my experience of discovering where hope resides. Maybe you've experienced this too. You know that for many years we lived beyond our means financially. We had stable income so we thought getting ahead of that first paycheck (and then a few more) was something from which we could easily recover. (I'm not going to harp on the reasons not to get into debt so you can keep reading.)

But what we didn't realize until we were out of it was how it limited our ability to dream. It limited our power to act in the world in such a discrete way that we didn't realize until we were out of debt and starting to build wealth for the first time in our marriage that we had stopped really dreaming. It wasn't others that came in and scoffed at our desires for the future, we just did it for ourselves because the mountain of obligations we had already made with our spending power made doing anything except paying bills seem impossible. We didn't even try to dream. But dreaming is where hope lives. If we can't dream we can't hope.

What's keeping you from dreaming? What are the desires of your heart? Discover that and you'll find out where hope lives.

Looking Great

I wonder if there are others who struggle with this: You spend weeks working out, eating right, keeping the mindset strong all with great results. You're staying within your 2lb/wk goal. You're on track for the longterm goal set for a year out. You're making mini goals and meeting them. Everything's going your way. Then........someone says the dreaded words you knew were coming............, "You look great!" Then someone else does, and someone else and there you go, suddenly your illusion of being completely invisible is shattered. Now you look great and you don't know what to do with that.

I drew out a timeline, a linear history of my weight gain and struggle therewith and discovered that for the last eighteen years every time I've tried to remove weight and I get to the point where it becomes noticeable, I, in very discrete ways begin to quit. What's in that?

I'm hitting that point now, but this time I'm standing with my eyes wide open entrusting this mystery to the Father who for all eternity has a plan for this very situation. All I have to do is wait for Him to reveal it.

Abundance

We went to Sioux Falls for an overnight getaway this weekend. I've never experienced such a refreshing and enjoyable time. So many times I think we need to go someplace we've never been to really have fun and renew our spirits, but that wasn't the case this time. It was kind of spur of the moment and every single detail was delightful. The kids all helped get us ready to go, they cleaned their rooms, we got good accomodations for Bill etc. and all the activities of the last twenty four hours were enjoyable for each of us. The kids played so hard they all slept the entire way home. And I'm off to take a short nap before Mass.

When I think of the abundance we experienced this weekend, abundance of joy, relaxation, fun, peace, delight etc. I can't help but think that this is only possible because something has changed in my heart. It's not that we have never had experiences similar to this before, it's that I am more able to receive them.

Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints for this grace.