Confident and Connected: How can you be confident you're going in the right direction?

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

    whose confidence is in him.

—Jeremiah 17:7

With less than two weeks of summer break remaining, I decided to take a trip to spend the weekend with my Pennsylvania family. Quickly, I packed my suitcase and everything I would need for a few days away. Mentally, I went down the list. Medicine, chargers, laptop, devotionals. At the last minute, I decided not to take my Jesus Calling book. I knew I could use my daughter’s copy instead.

As I drove, I had plenty of time to meditate and pray. I was grateful for the blessings of summer, the freedom to take a trip on a whim, the trips I had already taken during the summer, the time I had spent with each of my grandchildren, making special connections. I would be sad for it to end, but I knew that more blessings awaited with the start of the new school year. I reflected on the previous year and the word I had chosen to keep my focus. At the principal’s direction, I posted my word, encouragement, outside my classroom door. Every day when I walked into my room, I caught sight of the word. It reminded me of my goal. Intentionally, I encouraged my students and later received positive feedback. Encouragement had been a successful theme. Recently I had been thinking about a new word for the upcoming school year: connect.

Is that it, Lord? I prayed. Do You want me to focus on making more connections? Please make it clear to me.

Stand Here: Where wishes really do come true

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

—Ephesians 6:13

One after another, people stepped up on the sidewalk and paused for a moment right in front of me and my friend, Joyce, as we enjoyed our meal from the restaurant’s outdoor dining area. At first I thought it was strange. What are they doing? But when I saw the imprint in the concrete, I understood. “Stand here to make your next wish” it read, and an outline beckoned the feet, mine included.

I wondered what the others had wished for. They didn’t dare tell, because as the old saying goes, if you tell a wish, it won’t come true.

It was fun, standing and wishing in that same place where others had stood, silently offering their own wishes. But the old saying is just superstition. Of course, sharing your wish with another does not disqualify it from fruition. Sharing your wish may spur another on to encourage your pursuit. And that’s exactly what happened with Joyce.

Do It With All Your Might: What have you been called to do today?

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might

—Ecclesiastes 9:10a

My mother will turn 80 next week. This past Sunday we celebrated her birthday a little early. My siblings and I divvied up the responsibilities and threw her a surprise party. I was elected to give the tribute and pray over the meal. I felt anxious about what to say and how to say it. I wanted to do a good job, and I didn’t want to get emotional while speaking.

When contemplating what to say, I connected the word octopus to octogenarian. I thought of how my mother might have once wished she had eight arms when she was attending to the needs of a family of eight. She was so busy trying to juggle it all.

I also thought of a Bible verse that begins, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10a).

I knew my mother had. So that began my tribute to her.

The Painter of Sunflowers: Making sense of motifs

Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them.

—Luke 12:27 NABRE

I printed the car ride scavenger hunt form and brought it along to pick up my seven-year-old granddaughter, Addison, who was going to spend the day with me. Our first stop would be the movie theater to see Peter Rabbit. Although the theater is not far away, I knew Addison would enjoy the scavenger hunt, even for the short ride. It’s something we do regularly. True to form, Addison got started on the scavenger hunt right away and checked off most of the items by the time we arrived at the theater.

While Peter Rabbit received no more than three stars by most movie critics (and I can agree with some of their arguments), I found it to be delightful for the following reasons. I thought the mixed media of live action with animation was brilliant and beautiful. I was awed at the splendor of the English countryside, its cottages and abundant gardens, profuse in colorful vegetables and bright sunflowers, and of course the adorable bunnies featured throughout. Immediately I was caught up in the plot, recognizing the familiar tale by Beatrix Potter and enjoying the twist that involved a manipulative heir to the McGregor estate falling in love with his next door neighbor, Bea (short for Beatrix?), an artist who paints pictures of rabbits and nature and is a mother-like figure to Peter and his triplet sisters and cousin. Although not true in real life, Bea says that rabbits touch foreheads to apologize. This becomes a motif throughout the movie and lends itself to a heartwarming happy ending.

Photo credit: The New York Times

When we left the theater, I was still basking in the beauty of the movie’s scenery, even more so when the weather of the day seemed to complement it. Addison and I then decided to enjoy a fast-food picnic at the waterfront, followed by a walk skirting the shoreline. Still not ready to cap off the afternoon, we elected to take on the challenge of a sunflower maze at a nearby farm.