• Home
  • I am…
  • Enjoy Magazine–My Articles
  • Writing

On Writing and Life

~ well-seasoned; still simmering

On Writing and Life

Monthly Archives: January 2016

“Live Well for the Master”

27 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by Sandie Tillery in Christian Living, Reflections on Life

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Spiritual Growth

I’m on the downhill slide of life at the age of 64. A friend recently responded to something I wrote in a note to her regarding this stage of life thinking that I meant I was coasting from here on to the end. The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) The transition from one place of active duty to another does require reassessment. I am in a period of asking God for His wisdom and guidance. So, no, I’m not coasting, just spending time listening and waiting for a vision of what is ahead…before picking up speed on the downhill slide.

My husband will retire this year (well, semi-retire as he still has much to contribute in the industry where he has grown and thrived for over forty years). I’m excited about the idea of spending more time together in the garden, around the house, traveling, serving others, and even collaborating on some writing projects. The question remains: what is my vision, my mission statement, my high calling for the days ahead? How, Lord, will you use my gifts and talents, my life experiences and relationships, to “…not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 (KJV) Admittedly, weariness has set in. Lack of clear vision may be a contributing factor. So, I am spending time communing with My Abba Father, talking and listening, reading and meditating on His word, hesitating from moving ahead until He says go.

I am praying for myself and my husband just as Paul prayed for the church in Colossae. “Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.” Colossians 1:9-12 (The Message)

What an encouraging prayer. I want to “live well for the Master.” I love the upbeat tone of this plea…asking for “glory-strength” that “spills over into joy.” Just reading this passage and writing it here inspires me and lifts my spirit to new heights. This deserves attention. These words declare a future of purpose, not without challenges, and promise.

Onward, Christian Soldiers

(Last Stanza)

“Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
this through countless ages men and angels sing.”

 

Serendipity

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by Sandie Tillery in Reflections on Life

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Communication, Travel

Defined once as “one surprise after another,” serendipity punctuates all of our travels. We are not world travelers like some of our friends and relations, but we have taken wonderful vacations all over the northwestern hemisphere. We’ve enjoyed road trips, cruises, rustic camping and luxury accommodations. And there is that one big adventure that took us over land and sea to Norway, some of the north Atlantic island countries, and home by way of Boston before arriving a month later back on the west coast. During every adventure we have been surprised by something that stands out as the pinnacle of the trip, a highlight that we love to share with willing listeners well after we’ve returned home and fallen back into the routines of life. Serendipity: a joyous and unexpected surprise.

Perhaps the fact that we are both friendly people, I more than my spouse, but he as eager to engage in conversation with friendly others, has invited the surprising benefits that come from offering and receiving a smile between strangers. I have always been a fairly self-confident person, but have not always been comfortable with straight on sustained eye contact. As a journalist I have had to write as I interview, thus have had brief eye-contact. As a traveler, I love the eyeball-to-eyeball attention I can give to others. It seems to unlock doors and gently deconstruct walls that we all so often erect. What a joy when suddenly a heart connection blooms and relaxed conversation reveals something, well…serendipitous.

That leads to our “Great North Atlantic Adventure.” At the tail end of a ten-day New England fall colors cruise in 2010, we briefly enjoyed time in New York City where we ordered lunch at a restaurant in the basement of Macy’s. I am a west coast country girl, way out of my element and enjoying the crazy crowded sensory experience of the city. The original wooden escalator in Macy’s tickled me like a child traveling down by magic for the first time.

There we sat in close proximity to other diners of all colors, cultures and languages. Of course I spoke to my nearest neighbors. As it turned out they happened to be visitors to the city as well, on vacation from their home in Oslo, Norway. She had emigrated to Norway from Asia and spoke very little English; he spoke it very well with a wonderful accent. My eyeballs glued themselves to his listening intently to their vacation story and their apologetic inability to help direct us to the subway station for the trip back to our hotel.

We, the older couple, they the young newlyweds, made a friend connection that lasted through email and phone conversations until Vidar surprised us by attending our 40th anniversary party two years after our chance meeting. His wife was unable to join him, but we entertained our Norwegian “son” for a week. Another two years of long-distance communication led to our month-long trip to visit the couple in Norway in 2014. Oh the stories of serendipity I could tell from that trip!

Fast Forward to December 2015.

Recently we drove through a coffee kiosk on our way to visit relatives over the mountains for another weekend adventure. My husband bantered with the young man inside while we awaited our order. Something clicked. Daniel is now another “son” we’ve decided to adopt. He has been over for dinner and plans to bring his girlfriend next visit. His family lives in Alaska, far from where he now lives and goes to school. He so very gratefully accepted our friendship. What fun!

Now it is 2016. Let serendipity reign!

Recent Posts

  • Jazmyn’s Journal
  • A Slice of Life
  • Old Dog, New Tricks
  • Whence Comes Inspiration
  • “Live Well for the Master”

Recent Comments

Barbara Bryant on A Slice of Life
Sandie Tillery on A Slice of Life
Thonie Hevron on A Slice of Life
tea4katie on Whence Comes Inspiration
Sandie Tillery on Whence Comes Inspiration

Archives

  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015

Categories

  • Christian Living
  • Fiction for Young Teens
  • Reflections on Life
  • Writing

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Recent Posts

  • Jazmyn’s Journal
  • A Slice of Life
  • Old Dog, New Tricks
  • Whence Comes Inspiration
  • “Live Well for the Master”

Recent Comments

Barbara Bryant on A Slice of Life
Sandie Tillery on A Slice of Life
Thonie Hevron on A Slice of Life
tea4katie on Whence Comes Inspiration
Sandie Tillery on Whence Comes Inspiration

Archives

  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015

Categories

  • Christian Living
  • Fiction for Young Teens
  • Reflections on Life
  • Writing

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy