There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear.  1 John 4:18
 
 
As a photographer, I am always curious about what’s up ahead. What wonderful photos can I shoot? I’ve found that sometimes I have to get out of my comfort zone and move toward an interesting shot. I have to be curious and let God surprise me with the beauty of His creation.
 
Likewise, in my travels, I’m always curious about where I’m going next. In navigating a winding road, there’s always the possibility of a car coming head-on towards you as you take a curve. Nowhere was that more real than on the northern tip of the island of Maui. I had misread the sign saying the road for the next eight miles was a one-lane road. I thought it said 0.8 miles! I was not only surprised when the road curved around the mountainous slopes over and over again, but I was getting a bit nervous as I couldn’t see around the next curve if a car was coming toward me. Car horns make good warning signals and honking the horn was the only way to let an oncoming car know I was there.
 
Driving the rental car around the curvy road bordered by the mountains on one side and a drop-off cliff to the ocean on the other side was harrowing at best. To say I was “white knuckled” is an understatement! But I had no choice. There was no place to turn around. I had to keep going. At the same time, the scenery was amazing! Traveling the one-lane, somewhat frightening road was the way to get where I wanted to go. I couldn’t give up or go back. I had to move forward through fear.
 
In life, we cannot see around the next bend. The straight I-can-see-for-miles road can suddenly become as spiral as a corkscrew. How do we respond? Do we hold onto life with a death-grip, white-knuckling our way forward? Do we stop and hope someone will rescue us? Do we try to turn around and go back to more familiar territory?
 
When we are scared of the future, our perspective needs to change. Letting go of our anxieties can allow a sense of curiosity to take hold. Maybe we’re on a winding, uncertain path now, but perhaps there is something beautiful just around the bend.
 
Curiosity did not kill the proverbial cat. Fear did. Living in fear instead of wonder and curiosity can cripple us. God does not intend for us to live in fear. In 1 John 4:18, the Bible says “perfect love cast out all fear.” His Word also tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has a plan to give us a hope and a future. We can live confidently know that God loves us and longs to give us hope as we travel into our future. We don’t have to be afraid.
 
As I move through life, even when circumstances are difficult and stressful, I want to be curious about how God is using even the difficulties of my life to shape me into who He wants me to be. I want to be curious, not afraid, about the next step, the next curve in the road. Because no matter what the road looks like, I know Jesus is walking with me. And that is the only thing that matters. Life with Him is in the here and now and also just around the bend.
 
 
Lord, thank You that You are always with me, even when I’m afraid of the future. Help me live in Your perfect love, with curiosity instead of fear, knowing You have a plan for me as I travel life with You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
PS – No photos were taken on the winding road on Maui – for obvious reasons! The attached photo was taken on a recent trip to Scotland.
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of gorse-bordered road near Scott’s View in the Scottish Borders, Scotland.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”  Exodus 3:5
 
 
In Scotland are many abbeys. Often called monasteries, these ancient stone structures seem to be everywhere. On my recent trip to the Lowlands of Scotland, I visited six abbeys. Each one was unique and had their own story to tell. Some were only shells of their former selves, having endured wars or just general decay and neglect over the years. One in particular was fully standing, except for the wood roof that had long disappeared.
 
My favorite was Dundrennan Abbey located in the Dumfries and Galloway area, near the quaint town of Kirkcudbright (pronounced “kirk-coo-bree”). Perhaps Dundrennan was my favorite because it was the first one I visited. Perhaps it was the age of the structure that impressed me as it was built in 1142. Or maybe it was the calmness and sacredness that was almost palpable. Like Moses in Exodus 3:5, I was walking on holy ground.
 
On the day I was there, the sky was ashen with threatening showers. It was cold and damp. The massive dark grey sandstone structure, what was left of it, stood in contrast to the luscious green grass at its feet. There was a silence there, of secrets untold, of stories and legends within its walls. Mary, Queen of Scots, spent her last night in Scotland here in 1568 before traveling to England where she was imprisoned for 18 years and then executed by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. What other stories could these ancient walls tell? Who else, grand or otherwise, graced its space for a time?
 
Dundrennan Abbey is a hallowed place, where Cistercian monks worshipped and worked while living out a simple existence. My heart was drawn to the quietness, the stillness, as I wondered what life would have been like in the 12th century in this holy place. Life was uncomplicated. Worship was experienced 24/7. I envied the monks for their lack of distractions in praising God. This begged the question of myself: what distracts me from worshipping the Lord? What distractions do I allow that keep me from communing with God throughout my day?
 
Years ago, I read a book by Brother Lawrence entitled The Practice of the Presence of God. Brother Lawrence’s job was to wash the dishes. In his work, he was able to praise God while performing his duties, praying constantly as he labored. His activity was not a distraction but a gift he offered to the Lord as he went about his day.
 
The Bible says we are to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is merely a conversation with God. There are no trappings, such as ornate churches or austere abbeys, which are necessary for us to direct our thoughts heavenward. Dundrennan Abbey challenged me to bring that serenity of soul into the everyday where life with God becomes a minute-by-minute reality, not just saved for Sunday mornings. My heart is the hallowed space where I can pray anytime, anywhere.
 
I doubt that Fergus, the Lord of Galloway, had future tourists in mind when he had Dundrennan Abbey built. But I am thankful that the abbey has stood the test of time and remains today to speak into this traveler’s heart of God’s holiness and peace.
 
 
Heavenly Father, thank You for places like Dundrennan Abbey that remind me of Your holiness. Help me to pray continually throughout each day as I abide in Your peace and presence.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Dundrennan Abbey, Dundrennan, Scotland.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

 
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”   Genesis 50:20
 
 
Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph found himself in Egypt where he was falsely accused of rape and imprisoned. Even his fellow inmates who promised to help him failed to remember Joseph when they were released. See Genesis 37-50.
 
Incredibly, nowhere in the Bible do we see Joseph angry, bitter, resentful, or vengeful. When he finally meets up with his brothers, they are so afraid Joseph will seek revenge. The amazing truth is Joseph had long forgiven his brothers for mistreating him. With tears in his eyes, he tenderly tells them he has forgiven them. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph says they meant to harm him, but God used those circumstances for good. God brought about the salvation of Egypt and neighboring nations like Israel during seven years of famine because of Joseph and the power and wisdom that God had invested in him.
 
When we’ve been hurt by someone, it’s easy to hold a grudge. We feel in control and less vulnerable when we are angry. But when we don’t forgive, we create a spiritual Alcatraz in which the only prisoner is us. Anger, bitterness, and resentment hold us hostage, negatively impacting our lives and spilling over into the lives of those close to us.
 
The key to unlocking this prison is realizing that even though someone intended to harm us, God can and does use these experiences for our good. The “good” is how God uses our pain to draw us closer into relationship with Him as He creates in us the person He wants us to become. Romans 5:3-4 says “we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” When we forgive, we are free to live our lives as God would want us to live, without this weight of unforgivingness wrapped around our ankles like a ball and chain. We are free to become the person we are meant to be. We have hope.
 
I may not be thankful for these negative experiences, but I am thankful that God has taken them and turned them into good. Choosing to forgive unlocks the prison of anger, bitterness, and resentment so I can live freely and fully with God at peace with myself and with others. It is truly by His grace that we can forgive as we have been forgiven by God through Jesus Christ. And that reality, like Joseph forgiving his brothers, is the amazing truth!
 
 
Lord, thank You for forgiving my sins.  May I freely forgive others as You have freely forgiven me.  Set me free from this prison of an unforgiving spirit as only Your grace can do.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

“Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:16b-17
 
 
As the Tuscan sun sank lower over the River Arno, I sat satisfied with my day in Florence. Beginning with the market that morning followed by a walking tour of the old city, passed the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore with its famous dome to our wisteria-covered cooking school, the day was nothing short of perfect. Ravioli in a lemon cream sauce taught by a spry octogenarian was the result of the morning's culinary endeavors and our first course for lunch. Retracing our steps to the Galleria dell’Accademia for a close up view of Michelangelo's David and then browsing the plethora of shops filled our afternoon.
 
So here we sat. Satiated from our buffet dinner served al fresco at the rooftop restaurant, we watched the orange fire ball sink slowly into the night. This day wasn't over yet.
 
As we walked through twilit streets and over a bridge spanning the now dark Arno, we arrived at our destination - a beautiful old church, maintained so well as to look deceptively fresh and pristine within. The performance was about to begin.
 
The simple stage was merely the patterned tiled floor bounded by ornate arching columns surrounding a black-lacquered grand piano. The master of ceremonies was also the master of the keyboard and he began to play strains of beautiful music. Enter a man and a woman, he in a black tuxedo and black trimmed beard, her in a long, flowing evening dress, her hair twisted in a smooth knot. As the duo sang love songs in Italian, the audience was entranced. Opera being sung a few feet away by musicians who freely give of their talents all the while smiling with pure joy as they deliver every note and vibrato is something to experience. Even a non-opera lover couldn't resist falling under their spell.
 
I couldn't help but think how God loves to sing over us. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God is with us and as a mighty warrior, He saves us. We have nothing to fear. God not only doesn't rebuke us, He actually delights in us. God loves us so much He rejoices over us with singing. Just like the Florentine opera singers, God experiences joy as He sings over us. And the good news is, we don't have to travel to faraway places like Florence to experience joy, too. God rejoices over us day and night, just where we are. All we need to do is listen.
 
 
Lord, thank you for the lessons you are teaching me. The neighborhoods of Siena show me the need for community with others while the Florentine opera singers teach me of the joy in community with You. May the eyes of my heart be ever open to the lessons You want me to learn and may my ears be open to You. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Ponte Santa Trinita (Saint Trinity Bridge), Florence, Italy.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”  Matthew 12:46-50
 
 
On a recent trip to Italy, I traveled to the town of Siena. As I explored the streets with its numerous shops, I found myself gravitating to the piazza, or square, in the center of town, called Piazza del Campo. An enormous clock tower stands sentinel to the imperceptible passage of time here. Buildings on either side of the clock tower form a circle. Restaurants open up to the piazza where many folks that warm day sat al fresco as they enjoyed their food and drink. Running along the perimeter of the piazza is a cobblestone circular street. I was to learn later this circular street serves double-duty.
 
As the “insider” tour around Siena began, I discovered a secret not typically divulged to outsiders. The city is divided into 17 neighborhoods or districts, each called a contrada. Originally designed in the Middle Ages to provide military troops to Siena, the contrade have evolved into groups of patriotism, each with their own council, church, socials, and neighborhood activities. Fierce loyalty to one’s own contrada takes precedence over family, for at their social gatherings, attendees are only allowed from that contrada. Family members who belong to different contrade are expected to attend their own contrada’s functions.
 
More well-known than the contrade is the annual Palio di Siena. Ten of the contrade compete in two different horse races held in July and August of each year in the Piazza del Campo. Dirt is dumped onto the street encircling the piazza transforming the street into a race track. Each race lasts less than 2 minutes. The winning contrada gives a month-long party to the other 16 contrade.
 
While loyalty to one’s contrada struck me as unusual, I was impressed by the tightness of their communities and their unwavering fidelity. I wonder if we hold similar allegiances. Perhaps we belong to a social or activities club or hang out with a tight-knit group of friends or neighbors. But what about our local church communities? Are we as loyal to our own church as the Sienans are to their contrade? Do we seek to get plugged in and connect with the folks at our church? It’s all too easy to just show up for a worship service and then leave. The less we get involved, the less time we’ll stay at that particular church before moving on. Our loyalty changes at the proverbial “drop of a hat”.
 
Jesus in Matthew 12:46-50 expressed a spiritual connection to His followers that He likened to family ties. He said that whoever does the will of His heavenly Father is indeed His family. Wouldn’t it be satisfying to be so connected with our fellow church-mates that we consider them family?
 
Not long ago, quite a few of my sisters in Christ came to my aid during a crisis. I am forever thankful for them and their care for me. Their love and concern is a huge example to me of what can happen when Christ’s community pulls together. While we may not be gathering together for a horse race, community in Christ makes all the difference in this race called life.
 
 
Thank You, Jesus, for showing me the way to community. May I seek connection with my sisters and brothers in the faith as we minister to each other and to the larger world around us. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1
 
 
Lately I’ve been clinging to this verse in Psalm 27. God is indeed my light, my salvation, and my stronghold. I needn’t be afraid. Of anything.
 
So often we are paralyzed in fear. We focus downward at our circumstances so much that we fail to look upward. Up to the One who is ultimately in control and is totally trustworthy.
 
Verse 1 of Psalm 27 says “the LORD is my light and my salvation”. What a powerful statement! As my light, He guides my life. His Word is “a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). He leads me when I can’t see the way, when I’m lost in fear and darkness. As my salvation, the Lord saves me for all eternity through Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross where He conquered sin and death. His is the victory and I, too, can claim that victory, not just for heaven when I die, but for today, in the here and now. If Jesus conquered death, what circumstances would stump Him? In the second half of Psalm 27:1, it says “the LORD is the stronghold of my life”. As my stronghold, the Lord has built a fortress around me, to protect me and keep me safe. I am His.
 
What are you afraid of? Is it physical safety for you or your loved ones? Is it a medical diagnosis? Maybe it is fear of the unknown or fear of your future or your children’s future. Or perhaps you fear a very specific circumstance in which you find yourself.
 
Psalm 27 contains the key that unlocks our fear. In verse 3, even if our situations are spinning out of control, our “heart[s] will not fear”. We can still remain “confident”. The secret is in verse 4 which says, “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”
 
Seeking God through prayer and by reading, meditating, and memorizing His Word keeps us dwelling in His presence. God promises us He will never leave us (see Psalm 9:10). As long as we seek Him, we will find Him (see Matthew 7:7-8). God’s presence has the power to calm our fears and restore our hearts. We do not have to live in fear.
 
Verse 13 tells us that when we seek His face, we will indeed see His goodness all around us. Seeing Him work throughout the events in our lives encourages us to trust Him more. We can then, as verse 14 says, wait for the Lord to meet us. As we seek His presence, He gives us strength and courage to live in the face of fear.
 
If you’re struggling with fear or anxiety, join me in memorizing today’s key verse. Let the Lord be your light in the darkness, your victory in salvation, and your protecting stronghold. Then you will be strong and take heart as you wait for Him.
 
 
Dear Lord, thank You for being my light and my salvation. Calm my fears as I seek Your face and dwell in Your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of fog-shrouded road south of Cape Meares, Oregon.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

​“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”  Matthew 13:45-46
 
 
In Matthew 13:44, we learned that the kingdom of heaven is a treasure. (Please see previous blog entitled “Where is Your Treasure?”.) In the subsequent verses in Matthew 13:45-46, Jesus is discussing a similar theme: how the kingdom of heaven is the most valuable commodity. Just like the merchant in these verses who sold everything he had to purchase this treasured pearl, we, too, need to value the kingdom of heaven above all else. That kingdom of heaven here on earth is our relationship with Jesus.
 
After hearing a recent sermon on these verses, I felt God speaking these verses into my life again. Only this time, the “pearl” wasn’t the Gospel or kingdom of heaven, but rather a place in my heart that needed healing.
 
Sometimes we look to our fellow humans to fulfill a need we have. Perhaps we crave validation, acceptance, or love, and we search for it through relationships. When those relationships fail, end, or just disappoint, we feel lost. We’ve somehow managed to put all our proverbial “eggs” in the basket of human relationships.
 
Sometimes we look for other solutions to meet our deepest longings. Material possessions are often what we pursue. Perhaps we feel if we just purchase this or we have “X” amount of money in the bank, we will feel satisfied, even happy. We will feel like we’ve “made it” and will have the respect or acceptance from other people that we are looking for. We may even feel safe and secure.
 
What is your “pearl”? What is the deepest longing of your heart? What is it that you would give everything for? Is your pearl acceptance, love, or wholeness? Is it feeling special, worthy, or complete? Or is your pearl the feeling of being safe and secure? What is it that you would give everything for?
 
The truth is God created us with a vacuum in our hearts, a longing that only He can fill. God uses the emptiness in our hearts to draw us closer to Him, not to other people or to material possessions. While community has its place and God may bring friends and family, even strangers, into your life to teach you and to be His hands and feet, it is God Himself and He alone who can heal you and make you complete. Stay with those places in your heart. Allow God’s love and grace to fill the vacuum. When you value your relationship with Jesus above all else, He will take your pearl and fill the places in your heart full to the brim with His love and grace. You will find what you were longing for and realize it was worth everything to find.
 
  
Lord, You are my Pearl, what I would give everything for. Thank you for filling the places in my heart that need filling with Your love and grace. Keep me pursuing You rather than running after other things that only fill my heart temporarily. You alone are worthy. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Bleeding Heart flowers from Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Scotland.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”  Matthew 13:44
 
 
Scotland is a land full of surprises. Driving through the Scottish Borders in the southeastern corner near the boundary with England, there are rolling green hills and quaint villages. As we pulled into the driveway of Bowhill House, however, we were in for a different type of treat!
 
Our guide met us at the front door of this country estate built in 1708. We learned that the original grand entrance was on the other side of the house and that renovations in 1831 had converted the more modest rear entrance into the front of the estate. Entering this magnificent home of the Duke of Buccleuch (also Duke of Queensberry, in case one dukedom didn’t provide enough wealth!), we were regaled with the history of this enchanting home. As we toured various rooms, “opulent” was the word that kept coming to my mind. A member of the Historic Houses Association in Scotland, Bowhill boasts an incredible art collection. In one particular room, I was surrounded at the same time by paintings created by Gainsborough, Canaletto, and Joshua Reynolds.
 
As if the interior wasn’t enough, at the conclusion of the tour, I made a beeline around the corner to the original front of the house. Oh my! Such a grand estate and so much more impressive from this side with such beautiful views of land and lake. The lawn was perfectly manicured with gorgeous blue poppies dancing under the first floor windows. It was a sight to behold!
 
As I reluctantly put away my camera and prepared to leave, I was thinking about all the money that went into the initial purchase of this estate, its renovations, and all the furnishings, including the artwork. The owners chose to invest in this property in a big way. Bowhill House was one of their many treasures.
 
In Matthew 13:44, we learn that the kingdom of heaven is a treasure. Accepting the Gospel message and living in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the one true treasure. As we see in this verse, making that relationship top priority brings great joy.
 
What do we invest in? How do we spend our money? Big houses are not inherently wrong. It all depends on our attitude. Is our home a museum to be admired? Or is our home a safe haven for ourselves and our loved ones as well as a place of hospitality for our guests?
 
More importantly, where do you place your trust? Do you trust in your material possessions for security and happiness? In Luke 12:34, Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where do you look for happiness? The answer to that question will show where your true treasure is.
 
Like the man in our key verse today who found a treasure hidden in a field and sold all he had to purchase that field, may we value our relationship with Jesus above all else. For that is where we will find our one and only treasure, in relationship with Him.
 
 
Lord Jesus, may my treasure be found only in You. Help me to experience the joy of valuing life in You above all else. In Your Name I pray, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Blue Poppies (Meconopsis) from Bowhill House, Selkirk, Scotland.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you will go.”  Genesis 28:15
 
 
On a recent trip to Scotland, I was absolutely amazed by the beauty of the lush, green hills dotted with grazing sheep. The landscape was idyllic and peaceful. Gazing at the verdant terrain tempted me to summersault down a hill! (I didn’t!) As we drove past miles and miles of pastures bordered by ancient dry stone walls to enclose the ubiquitous cows and sheep, I had time to reflect and simply praise God for the beauty of His creation.
 
Whether we’re google-mapping our destination and trying not to veer off course or whether we’re noticing new scenery, vacations force our attention to the present moment. It’s all about leaving our everyday lives behind, seeking out new adventures, and for a short while, really living in the present moment. In a culture where we multitask and life constantly pulls us in various directions, getting away from it all is good for our souls. Being on vacation renews our sense of wonder and discovery as we experience unfamiliar sights. New vistas and activities capture our attention. The routine and mundane dissipate as we encounter different surroundings.
 
What captures your attention? Are you living in the moment? Is your attention so divided by multiple tasks that you are no longer centered in the present? Or is your mind dwelling in the past with regrets or feeling anxious for the future while your body is merely going through the motions as it operates in the present?
 
Being mindful takes practice. A vacation is a great place to start. Inserting this “present moment” focus into our everyday lives after a vacation creates mindfulness and a sense of balance while it calms our busy brains. Taking time to notice our surroundings, to spend time in meditation and prayer, and to fully engage in conversations creates a sense of awareness, joy, and even peace – despite our circumstances.
 
In Genesis 28:15, God promised Jacob that He would be with him as he traveled to his uncle’s estate. God is with us, too, wherever we go. His creation is all around us waiting to be noticed, if we just open our eyes to behold the surrounding beauty. It doesn’t have to involve a trip to Scotland or even a journey from home. Living in the present moment is all about being intentionally focused and mindful. The resulting peace and joy are well worth the effort.
 
Lord, I thank You for the beauty of Your creation. Thank you for vacations that give me time away to reflect and re-center myself. Help me to be focused and mindful so I can live fully in the present. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of the ubiquitous sheep in the Lowlands, Dumfries, Scotland.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These may come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  1 Peter 1:6-7
 
 
I am in a waiting room, impatient for certain life-events to be over, for losses to be grieved, for change to be completed. I stand at a precipice, wondering where the bridge is.
 
Lately, in the midst of transition, I am experiencing a profound sense of sadness, as if something inside me is dying. Like a kernel of wheat that falls to the ground and dies so it is re-born as a new stalk of wheat, a part of me must die to my old life so that my new life can take root.
 
In life transitions, this whole “dying” thing is scary. Life as I know it has ended! It is downright frightening to look Future in the face and not be able to see it clearly, like I'm looking through a reflection, a pool of water that ripples just as I begin to see, then changes again, covering up tomorrow with undulating waves. My future seems to be a mere shadow of things that will be, shape-shifting into various forms, none of which can be grasped with the human eye, let alone deep down within me.
 
In 1 Peter 1:6-7, the apostle Peter says that the trials of life, yes, even the grief that comes with all sorts of losses and transitions, can work to create in us a stronger faith. Just as raw ore is refined in fire and becomes valuable gold, so we too are changed by our difficult circumstances as our faith becomes stronger. The end result is we become more like Jesus and He gets all the praise, glory, and honor!
 
Taking my soul, Jesus fashions it into something new that has meaning and purpose, full of life and love and laughter. This molding and shaping is painful, like clay in the hands of a potter or like gold as the dross is being burned away. This growing and changing is not for the faint of heart. It takes courage to be shaped. Transitioning in life especially when you are afraid is challenging, but necessary. Otherwise, you are not moving forward. Being brave doesn't mean not feeling afraid, but rather it means trusting in the One who is fully trustworthy. Jesus, who cares for me, will walk with me no matter how scary the transition. He is already on the other side, waiting for me with open arms, as I move closer into deeper fellowship with Him. In today's vernacular, it means "God's got this" and I don't have to.
 
As I perch on the edge of a new life, perhaps I don’t even need to see the bridge. Just knowing Jesus walks with me, sometimes carrying me, is all I need to know for now. That’s something I can hold onto, deep inside my soul.
 
 
Lord Jesus, amidst life changes, I thank You and praise You that You walk with me. I lean on Your strength to carry me through and over to the other side of loss and transition. May You receive the praise, glory, and honor as I am changed into who You want me to be. Amen.
 
 
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Copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved.
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™