My eyes and mind get so “foggy” when it comes to the question—-“Am I where I need to be and doing what I need to do?”  I am sure you never get these emotions!  You would think the older we become, the more defined and clear we would be about where we are in life.  I really believe that is where the old saying goes about age bringing wisdom.  The true wisdom in the middle of the fog is that we continue to grow and learn.  That we continue to take risk and think about change.  When we give all of this up, even if we are “foggy”, we give up that desire to live life to the fullest.  We give up all that God can create through us and with us.  So get those fog lamps geared up and on!  Push through to the glorious light on the other side—–the wisdom of living with Devine intervention!

In The Fog

Am I suppose to be here?

These days have sometimes spoken that I should be somewhere else.

Maybe it is just my mind playing a trick on my brain.

Some days our path is so clear,

And then others the path has fog that clouds God’s words to my heart.

Judgements are made by others that seem so unfair to the soul,

But yet did my soul reveal a bitterness it should have not?

God was I disappointing to You by not allowing Your light to shine?

Words of wisdom and reminders by others help the fog to clear.

God I know I am Yours.

I know I am not a disappointment.

I know that I do make mistakes,

But You send others to show me how these are part of my path.

I love where I am in my life that you have planned!  Dear God!

But I do not want to be stagnant.

I want to continue to create.

No!  I want You to continue to create through me!!

Thank you Lord for fog!

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

Thank you so much for reading with me this week.  I hope that life may have become clearer for you by reading with me.  Enjoy this wonderful time of changes and colors in our beautiful landscape.  Let this environment inspire your creativity!  Happy early Fall!!

Love,

Rennae

Journey

First today I want to say thanks for all of you wonderful souls that have been hanging in there with me.  My post has been a little sporadic the last couple of weeks due to scheduling.  However, I am getting it all worked out and will soon be back on a regular basis!  Thanks for having patience!  Now— on for this weeks discussion!

The simple piece today says it all.  We all know the damage that worry can cause, yet it catches us off guard so many times.  We are so busy with our lives, evaluating all the many situations that we are involved with that our minds don’t have the time to rest.  And when the mind cannot rest between situations, it does not have the needed time to evaluate options that are good or the best choices that we need to make.  I wonder if you are ever like me?  I just want to say time out!!!—I need a moment to not think!  I know one thing I do try—I stop and put trust where it needs to go—to God.  I relax my shoulders, I release my tension, and I say take this.  I really don’t care how small the situation seems.  I think we forget that God (Jesus) said “Come to me as small children.”.  And you know small children usually deal with small situations!  Then with the breath that comes next, I gain clarity.  So to sum it up—–worry = trusting = let it go (God said it first Elsa!!)!!

Worry

Biting nails.

Tugging hair.

Grinding teeth.

Worry brings them on.

Worry swirls the thoughts.

In my mind I rerun the same scenarios.

Breaking out.

Rubbing ears.

OCD comes out to show its control.

Touch 1 time, touch 2 times, touch 3 times.

Turn lights off.

Turn lights on.

Turn lights off.

Tapping finger.

Shaking leg.

Worry worm.

Wiggle no more.

Tiredness fuels the worry wart.

Rocking, rocking, rocking.

It is like an itch.

You want to scratch and scratch.

Spinning fingers.

Creased wrinkles on my face.

Hurried steps in my gait.

Worry follows me.

Your mind knows better.

Your heart does not want to give in.

When do we learn this worry?

Or are we born with this worry?

Worry, worry, worry.

Won’t let me rest.

Mind please let me be.

Worry seems to be what I do best.

I try to give over.

To the power above.

I will let it be no more.

Lord-Oh! Lord-I will try not to worry.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

Thank you so much for being with me this week.  For taking your precious time to read and think with me.  May your worry float right on up to the right place this week, and may you life be filled with peace and joy!  Happy early Fall!!

Love,

Rennae

Journey

It is amazing how complicated it can be or become when you try to love people.  When you try to love your neighbor as yourself—the Great Commandment.  We put ourselves out there.  They put themselves out there.  We reach out.  We get involved.  We pray for them.  However, when those we are trying to love go to places that we cannot reach or go, it appears we are not loving them.  When we realize they need professional care that we cannot provide.  It becomes very complicated of how to love and continue loving our neighbor.  We cannot give up.  Our hope has to maintain itself even if we have to step back for those we are trying to love.  It hurts us to step back.  We do feel selfish.  I really feel this is why some people would rather write a check to a far off charity, or pack up some items for someone they will never see, than to love someone right next to them at work.  I am not denying that we are responsible for everyone in this universe of time, but we can start right where we are at the moment.  Some people simply do not feel selfish, but I feel those of us really trying to follow humanity’s greatest rule do feel this way when we cannot give love the way we know we should.  Some people do seek to hurt others, but I truly believe that most of us do not want to hurt others.  Our greatest job becomes providing prayers for that neighbor.  Our greatest job is to not lose hope for them.  Our greatest job is loving the person right beside us at the stop light.  Our greatest job is knowing God has a much larger plan than we do for that neighbor, and we can still love them from afar without abandoning them.

Humanity’s Self

Growing up opens your eyes to parts of humanity you would rather not see.

Niceness becomes smaller and smaller as truth becomes larger and larger.

People, thus humanity, are selfish.

They like to pretend to be nice, but in the end, they seek things for self.

If they can be nice far from home,

Where they are not committed to others—

They are comfortable. 

They satisfy self without commitment.

But when niceness is required in their daily space and time,

Self seeps in and the needs of others becomes thorns in their character.

Growing up shows us this in people, family, friends, and colleagues,

Who we never dreamed could be this selfish.

This brings sadness to the world of one who surely believed that humanity was good in spirit and soul,

Close at home and far away.

But the reality is that others put self above others.

The reality is also that others are then appalled when someone else places their needs above them.

The hurt and pain of others and the reason for this prioritizing becomes an inconvenience.

Is this humanity’s greatest sin?

Is this what Jesus meant when he said “Love their neighbor as thyself.”?

There is no wonder that the reason this commandment or parable is so difficult to live.

Self always gets in the way.

Growing up with humanity hurts not only the heart,

But also the soul and spirit.

Hope must help humanity carry out the great commandment.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

It is so hard for us all to trust.  And that is what we have been talking about today—Trust.  Trust that your neighbor will accept your love.  Trust that love can be stepping away as well as going forward.  Love this week even if you do have to step back for a moment.  Stepping back for a moment does not mean to abandon.  Try to not let self get in the way this week of loving those that need it!

Thanks so much for being with me this week.  I have left off the reflections lately.  If those were helpful, please let me know, because I would certainly reconsider providing those!  Happy neighboring!

Love,

Rennae

Journey

Healing hurts so badly.  It does not matter your age, personality, or status in life.  But it is so necessary to heal and move on in order to recognize the worthiness of life.  I have known many people that just could never get past circumstances that have affected their lives.  They lack hope, joy, and peace.  I have struggled with difficulty moving forward just like you have in certain situations.  We have to move forward.  The alternative is to move backward which brings resentment, depression, and fear.  God intended for us to be the very best we can be in this life.  We cannot do that if we allow fear and pain to control and manage our existence.  Stop and don’t let it in!  You can do it.  I know if I have and can, that you can to.  Think positively and with hope!  You are the only you in this world and God has great plans for your life!  And mine!!

Tears, Touches, and Time

It is so hard to understand why life hurts so much sometimes.

One experience or two or three,

Can make small holes in your soul.

Not holes in your heart, but in your soul.

Your soul tries to heal by letting the pain go through,

But one can feel the pierce,

Then the puncture,

And then the pain piercing completely through.

The Spirit touches the hole with people,

With miracles,

And even with His majestic art.

But this is a slow process.

People remember at first,

Then they forget.

Time expands between miracles like it should,

And the majestic art turns into a bleak and rainy day.

Of course if we would not feel, see, or touch these helps,

Healing could not happen.

If we did not experience pain,

We really could not experience the joy.

Then when the holes start healing from inside out,

The pain becomes less,

But also changes.

With each pang,

The soul can smile at that one memory or that one joy.

It might be a small bunny in the grass,

It might be a field of red clover,

Or it might be dinner with a friend.

God’s touch creates layer after layer to cover the hole.

The soul starts creating again.

The mind sees the beauty in all things even death.

The heart searches again for peach, love, and happiness.

Just as God forgives us each time we cause a hole in His soul,

We forgive others.

Just as God’s tears fill the hole in our souls,

So does our kindness and giving heal the souls of others.

Life does hurt.

Living is a process that is not easy.

God’s tears, touches, and time—

On these experiences make heaven even more real.

Tears soothe, touches caress, and time refreshes the mind.

The realism of hope brings healing.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

May healing bring you peace, love, and hope this week!  Thank you for being with me and reading my thoughts of this world and beyond.  I so appreciate your time and effort to think, dream, and love!

Love,

Rennae

Journey

The Berlin Wall Coming Down

It is so important that we feel passion for our ways in this life.  However, in a society that puts our every breath on the screen, it is difficult to display that passion in a meaningful way in fear of severe criticism or ostracizing.  Also many people have used agendas as a substitute for passion.  I truly believe that when people are passionate in a genuine way others will know.  Others immediately respect that without some type of physical altercation or verbal punishment.  Passion is deep in the heart and seeks goodness for mankind when sought in a healthy way.  It helps us all to better the human race.  Passion does not instill hate, prejudice, or fear.  Passion brings God’s creativity into this world through us.  Now this does not mean that questioning was not meant to be a part of this process.  So be passionate not “agendanate” this week!  You will see God through others and in their passion!

The Multitudes of Passion

To be passionate,

Does not mean to throw a punch.

To voice my opinion,

Does not mean that I am allowed to demean someone else.

To stand up for those who cannot stand,

Does not mean I trample over others to do so.

To believe,

Does not mean others have to believe.

To speak up,

Does not mean that I am offending someone.

There can always be acceptance—

Without rejection.

I wonder often if God ever dreamed His few would become so many.

So many differences with so many voices.

Or did He intend that from the beginning.

That so few would become all.

And that if all were passionate.

There would be questioning.

And questioning would push people to become better parts of themselves.

And being better parts of ourselves would help us be better parts of others.

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

I know we can live in this amazing world with others and still express our own passions.  God can lead us in this great venture!  I hope I hear about your passion path this week!

Please pray this week for my God children, Kristen, McKenzie, and Lenny, as they travel through a very tough experience.  Pray that this experience will be a true blessing for them all.  I love you.

Love,

Rennae

Journey

Seasonal Reflections

Lori Rennae Hickman Chapman

Seasons for the Soul

seasonsforthesoul.com

What passion lies in your heart to be brought out?

What fears have held you back from expressing this passion and why?

What are ways that you could express this passion in a positive and motivational way?

Describe how questioning can be a positive force in developing someone’s passion (questioning by someone else or by yourself!)?