Tag Archive for: sailboat

Don’t Give Up

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Needing some me-time, I traveled to my sanctuary place near the water and pen these words:

I go to my Sanctuary
Quiet reigns
Except for quacking geese
Nearby culinary smells of
Freshly baked bread
American flag flutters over the boat stern
A solitary sailboat with jib hoisted
Moves slowly across the lake
Peace prevails without
From within, my spirit begins to calm

There are no guarantees for a happy or healthy life. Even or especially in the middle of this all-encompassing COVID-19 pandemic. There’s a verse that’s meaningful to me. I hope it is for you too.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged – Deuteronomy 31:8.

He tells us not to be afraid or discouraged. I have to admit that I’ve been both throughout most of this past year. Even today I wrestle with fear, anxiety, and doubt. I feel jittery, tense, wanting to be someplace else. If I can keep the above words in the forefront of my mind, they’ll give me calm assurance. Confidence. Trust in the One who’s got this whole mess under control. He knows the beginning from the end.

He will not abandon me or you in the middle of a crisis or afterwards. Just knowing He is there beside me each step of the way causes my mind and heart to feel at peace.

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn,” – Harriet Beecher Stowe

*When’s the last time you felt unable to focus because of anxiety and worry? What’s it like for you?

*What are you fearful or discouraged about right now? How can you get past those negative thoughts?

*****

73rd challenge for Queen’s Cup (part 2)

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The sailors have returned! They sailed fast and finished at 3:06 a.m. Swiftsure crew reached up to speeds of nearly 11 knots without changing sails from Milwaukee to Muskegon.

The race boat returned with the same number of people they left the dock with… thanks for your prayers of safety, speed, and fun!

***

God-gifts

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I’m thoroughly enjoying a book,  One Thousand Gifts-A dare to live fully right where you are,” my friend Kathy gave me. Ann Voskamp, the author, encourages the reader to be thankful. She claims the “real problem of life is never a lack of time. The real problem of life—in my life—is lack of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks—and He miraculously makes it more than enough.”

The author suggests creating a list of naming God-gifts. This list helps me reflect on the tiniest of good gifts God bestows. When I focus on daily good gifts, it steers me away from dwelling on what I do not have and causes me to be more thankful for what I do have.

I’m up to number 30 today:  

30)  Good night’s sleep rocked by gentle waves

31)  Leisurely morning wake-up

32)  Breakfast eaten out doors

33)  Full sun warms my brow and head

34)  First sail of the spring season, crisp winds—oh, so good to be out in God’s creation!

 *** 

“Solitude” – Vacation Time

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solitude-over-pentwater-lake 

 

Dusk falls ‘till no more light from which to read. Time for shut eye—the wind and sun from the day’s passage allows sleep to come oh so easily.

 

Anchored in Pentwater Lake alongside the quaint village of Pentwater. American flag on our stern rail flaps in a stiff southern breeze while our sailboat spins and swerves on anchor line. The anchor line squeals as brisk wind tugs tightly. Around and around we go. First one direction; then another.

 

No alarms or sounds of others stirring. Save a dog’s bark on distant shore. An occasional early morning fisherman seeks the “Big One” as they motor past. My head still hugs my warm pillow. Eyes shut tight. Rising is more difficult when I’m rocked within my quilt cocoon, warm, dry and safe. Even when sunlight peeps through our hatch overhead and through the companionway, I turn over and pretend it’s still nighttime. Just a few more minutes of sleep, and then I’ll rise and shine.

 

I relish this vacation time of no worries or appointments to keep—no place we have to be or tasks we have to do! Isn’t that what a real vacation looks like?