GRATITUDE

I could never have imagined what was in store for us when I posted the first of my Lenten Series on Ash Wednesday in late February....together we have gone through REST, RENEWAL and TRANSFORMATION leading up to Easter Sunday.   But the story continued...  CHALLENGES, INSPIRATION and PERSPECTIVE until Pentacost when we were reminded of the Holy Spirit as our fortress and shield for PROTECTION.   Seventeen posts over the past three months, our world has changed... and so have we.  

In the past week, as our country has come under attack and I realize more than ever the importance of the Holy Spirit in my life as my fortress and shield.  I pray that our country will heal and with the lessons of Jesus Christ learn to love one another as He loved us.  

Personally, the past three months have taught me some very valuable lessons, and I think the "re-boot" of my life will be a good thing for me and I am thankful that through all of this my loved ones have remained safe and healthy.  I am grateful for the opportunity and honor I have had to share my thoughts, fears and hopes for our future with you.  I so appreciate all the comments you've sent my way during this time.  Sometimes is was those kind words that helped get me through the day.
It is when we give, we receive...so thank you!!  

I am truly blessed!

As I've said before, National Parks will always be an inspiration to me and hopefully in late August or early September I will visit this one.  My daughter lives in Seattle and is surrounded by three National Parks!  We plan to spend a few days at Lake Quinault Lodge in Olympic NP, one of her favorite places!  This is a sketch I did for her birthday in April.

I'll be taking some time off from the blog until then... but will see you back here in the Fall.  In the meantime, you can find me on Instagram @bjmcgregor_art. 

PROTECTION

"But I will sing of your strength in the morning, 

I will sing of your love;

For you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 59:16

A National Park that doesn't get too many visitors each year is one of my favorites.  Dry Tortuga National Park is located on one of the last islands in the Florida Keys.  You can only get there by boat or plane from Key West.  

Located on the island is Fort Jefferson, it was built during the years 1846-1875 but never finished.   Standing guard at the intersection of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and the Atlantic it was "the most sophisticated and undeniable symbol that the US wanted to be left alone. Though never attacked, the fort fulfilled it's intended role.  It helped to protect the peace and prosperity of a young nation."

This coming Sunday, May 31st is Pentacost

It celebrates the day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and believers in Christ to guide and protect them until the 2nd coming.

This day is said to mark the beginning of "the church."

The Holy Spirit is our fortress and guide.  

In the last three months we have experienced life as we could never have imagined. We have lived with uncertainty and fear of the unknown...but as Christians we are blessed to know that in ALL things, we are in God's loving and capable hands.  So now, we go forward in a new way.  Knowing we are protected and guided by the Holy Spirit in all that we do, and to the glory of God.

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"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

PERSPECTIVE

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

James 1:2-4

"You can only gain perspective from a distance"

 Not too far from the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, near Asheville NC is a short hike to Craggy Pinnacle.  From here you have a 360 degree view of the Smokey Mountains ...and like life, sometimes it's easier to see the "Big Picture" when you're not smack dab in the middle of it.

So here we are.... communities are opening up again, people are getting out and about while practicing a new way of life.   There's still so much we don't know about our future and what it will be like.  What will school be like for our kids next year, church services, work environments...  What will our vacations look like, our weddings, our funerals?

I feel like God has pushed the re-set button on humanity.  When my computer acts up, I just turn it off and reboot... kind of like what we've been doing these past few months...and now it's time to reboot.  Power on!!  

 In my lifetime I've watched us step farther away from the values we grew up with... families, patriotism, selflessness, prayer, giving back to our community, even talking with each other seems to have been replaced by texts.  Our focused has turned more inward and impersonal.  I don't think that's a good thing, and not what God intended.  We need family, need community, we need to be part of something bigger than ourselves. 

There's so much going forward that we don't know... but there's so much we DO know.  All things will work for good, to the Glory of God.  

This Thursday is the Day of Ascension.  Jesus spent 40 days on earth after his resurrection teaching his disciples, knowing it was up to them to spread the Good News.  The way of life for centuries had been turned upside down with the resurrection of Christ.   I hope and pray we're learning the lesson.  To value family, friends and our freedom.  We can each do our part, share this Good News and with each other make this "new normal" of our lives a credit to Him.  

AWARENESS

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

Genesis 1:1, 1:31

ARTIST POINT AT YELLOWSTONE FALLS  -  YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

It was very, very good!!

I remember many years ago when my daughters were young taking them to the Butterfly Exhibit at the Museum of Natural Science in Houston.  We went down corridors and through several doors until we found ourselves in the midst of a tropical paradise... supposedly filled with butterflies, but where were they?  The harder we looked, the less we saw... but when we relaxed and became one with our environment, the forest seemed to open up and we saw thousands, everywhere!  

I kind of feel like that's how I've been the past few months.  At first I was glued to the TV, reading every article and obsessed with the rapidly spreading Coronavirus. Tunnel vision.  Then I relaxed a bit, and decided to focus on the here and now, and by staying at home and social distancing I feel like I have been renewed to the world around me, my world... in my backyard, or along the walks in the woods with my pup.   My mind used to be so busy, I don't think I really absorbed where I was and now that I've relaxed and settled into the rhythm of the day, the flowers are blooming bigger and brighter, I feel the breeze blow through my (getting longer by the day!) hair and the sounds of birds in the morning seems like they're singing a symphony of the Hallelujah Chorus! 

Earlier in March, during Lent I posted of Renewal.  And here we are in the thick of it, in every aspect of our daily life.  As our communities start to open up what an opportunity we have to see and do things differently than "before."  What was working and what wasn't?  Cities around the world are boasting of blue skies instead of smog... tiny fish, scuttling crabs and multicolored plant life can be seen in the canals of Venice, even the people I pass along the way seem friendlier, if even from a distance.... our world is going through a renewal process as well. 

I can already see a shift... in an awareness of what's around us and with that I want to go forward with this as my mantra...

Be kind and respectful to myself,

Be kind and respectful to others,

Be kind and respectful to our planet.

Peg P, from Hendersonville, TN is inspired by music, in particular the old hymns we loved to sing as children... I bet you know this one!

"For the Beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over an around us lies:

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise."

ANGELS

"He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

 Matthew 4:6b

ANGELS LANDING  -  ZION NATIONAL PARK

When I asked what inspires you, the overwhelming common denominator on most of your responses was about The People... our everyday Hero's! 

The people on the front line of health care and those on the front line caring for our safety, in the police and fire department, they are putting their lives at risk every day for our well being (in good times and bad!)  We are inspired by families taking care of young children or their elderly seniors.  The people that have been furloughed from their jobs and spend their time distributing meals to those in need.  I could go on and on....   We have always stepped up to the plate in times of need!  This is America!  It's what we do! 

These are not the only Angels among us.... our neighborhood kids are contributing by painting rocks to inspire us along the bike path, or making face masks to distribute to nursing homes... Our churches are distributing encouraging notes written by their congregation to seniors living facilities, the skies the limit on the possibilities!  So often we think it's the big things that change the world, but it's also the small things that collectively change the dialog of our day.

These "Everyday Hero's," are the angels among us. And you can be too... Look around for the opportunities, big or small, of ways you can be an angel to someone else and make their day a little bit better.

Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love.

Watch and listen to 
"There Are Angels Among Us"  

by Alabama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_4Xfj2LRSA

CHALLENGES

"I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:13

EL CAPITAN  -  YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

We face challenges from the day we are born until the day we die.  From learning to tie our shoelaces, to getting back on our feet after a divorce, to getting the news of a difficult health diagnosis... we are not defined by the easy, carefree days, but it's in our challenging times and how we deal with them that makes us who we are.  

For Lisa, she was inspired when thinking of her difficult times and overcoming the challenges that she has had to face in her life, knowing that she and God worked together to accomplish the unimaginable outcomes.  Resulting in gaining a peace that can only come from God.  For her, even a game of tennis that is challenging and competitive, helps drive her to be the best she can be!

I see photo's of El Capitan at Yosemite NP and wonder how in the world someone could climb the face of that granite monolith.   It seems insurmountable.  Life can be like that too...  problems arise that seem to be impossible... we say "how will we ever get through this, over this, around this?"  But with God by our side, we can!  

Always!    

Sometimes the way is straight forward, climb up the face of your "challenging situation."  Sometimes we take the meandering trail and eventually get to the other side.   Sometimes we just fall apart, and Christ will carry us the whole way.   Each challenge will bring its own direction, but it makes no difference, the result is the same, and we can rest assured that Christ will give us the strength to get through whatever comes our way.

We're all in uncharted territory right now, and we can't even imagine the challenges that will come our way in the near future or what those "unimaginable outcomes" might be.  We are definitely well out of our comfort zone and it can be overwhelming, but if we break it down, day by day or even minute by minute, we will come out on the other side stronger, more resilient with a new perspective for life going forward.  

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If you're looking for something inspiring (scary and crazy insane) to watch during your time at home, check out 

"Free Solo" about Alex Honnold, the first to climb El Capitan  without a net... talk about uncharted territory!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urRVZ4SW7WU

this is the link to the trailer....the documentary is available on Amazon Prime and Hulu

A NEW DAWN

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, 
for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."

Psalm 143.8

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK  -  JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING

Last week I invited you to share with me what inspires you....  Thank you all for sharing... I am inspired to share your words of wisdom here.

Inspiration is such a big word... but sometimes it's the things that happen everyday, that we often take for granted, that are the most significant.  

Cassandra shared this:

"I am grateful that no matter what is going on, every morning the sun rises, giving me a chance to make something of the day."

Like a new day, soon we will witness a dawn of a new era, post pandemic, and it's up to us to make the most of it.  And a good place to start in defining our "new normal."  Everyday we have a choice....  24 hours to spend, or rather invest, in how we want to fill our time.  It's amazing to me how quickly the hours add up to weeks, and then months and pretty soon, years have gone by while we're waiting for things to change... instead, we must be the change.

What will be my new normal?  What adds to my quality of life and what detracts? In the past few months we've been  forced to clear our plates of my activities, so going forward, it's up to us to choose how to spend our time.   For me, I have felt like the busy-ness of life has left me precious little time for the important things in my life... so I'll be exploring how to go about that.

What about you??