“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am absolutely fascinated and captivated by the comings and goings of the sun. I took these photos in February at Sunrise… I was fascinated by the gorgeous moon setting to the left of the lighthouse, while the sun was rising over the opposite horizon.

What a beautiful expression of God’s constant presence in our lives. During the daylight hours, we are blessed by the nurturing presence of the sun. Even behind cloud cover, the light of the sun keeps the world visible.

Then, as the sun drifts down the sky, the moon rises and continues to provide the light of the sun. In many ways, we, as Christians, are moons to the bright light of Christ.

When we choose to live our lives focused on being a reflection of the Christ we love, His light will be reflected in our countenance. Just as a full moon can light up the darkest night, we will shine bright in the darkness for those who are struggling to endure whatever hardship is blocking their view of the Son.

The primary thread for me in living a life focused on Christ is love. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬. This may be one of the most useful directives in the Bible. People who love us are still going to hurt us, mostly without intent to do so. If we don’t truly love them, making allowances for those hurts won’t come easily, if at all.

Another significant focus for me is patience. It’s not just about being able to wait, but it’s about being able to wait well. I’ve watched, and demonstrated, great impatience during certain times in my life. What I’ve learned is that patience is one virtue that has brought me the most peace.

Consider this scenario: a child is out with family and decides it’s time to go home. They ask to leave and are told to wait 15 more minutes. They fuss, sit down heavily on a chair, and generally suck all the fun out of those last 15 minutes, simply because they refuse to wait well.

I’ve watched people I love give up so many important things, all in the name of getting what they want when they want it. The inability to wait well may bring us our earthly desires, but it won’t keep us on the path God desires.

When we choose to do things OUR way, we often lose out on blessings we can’t even fathom because we trust our vision of life more than God’s. We get a sense that we “deserve” certain blessings because of struggles and hardships.

The truth is, we need to be thankful we don’t always get what we actually “deserve” in this life. Selfishness is so prevalent in this world, it’s even gained a new name: entitlement.

About a year ago, I began to shift my focus away from what I felt should be, and began to focus my energy on accepting what IS. I try to approach each day, each thought, each choice, with the mindset of Christ.

As trite as it sounds, my default litmus test boils down to WWJD – what would Jesus do?

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:8-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In spite of more significant loss over the last year, I continue to find peace. I’ve lost two priceless friends, added 30 minutes to my drive to see an ocean sunrise, and continue to struggle with nagging health issues. In spite of all that, the blessings that have come have far outshined the darkness of deep worldly hurts.

I’m part of an amazing family and have absolutely fallen in love with being a grandparent! I’ve got a marriage that is happier and more full of peace than I thought possible. I’m blessed to work from home in a home and a neighborhood and a city that I love.

Without a doubt, I have finally found my place in this world…turns out it’s always going to be where God leads me. I trust that, wherever I am, as long as I’m focused on doing things God’s way and not my own, He’ll sort out the details.