Be All There

Driving from the airport into the White Earth Valley
was a Kodak moment -
one that would have to stay locked in our memories
because the camera was still tightly wedged in the suitcase.

The rolling prairies had a patchy dusting of snow
and the clouds reflected pastel pink, blue and yellow
from the setting sun.

Deep peaceful quiet, then,

"This sure is a crazy life we're living."
"Yep, sure is."

It really is!

When I walked into the house,
I was pleased to see that it hadn't turned into a messy bachelor pad.

The sticky note on the fridge caught my eye:

"Wherever you are, be all there."
Jim Elliot

I had just spent 33 packed days in Texas.
I filled my days with daughter, grand kids, friends, and family.
I heard about vacations, weddings, babies, and broken hearts.
I worshipped with my church, attended a much needed retreat,
and studied Psalm 91 with girlfriends.
Oh, and the dreaded taxes.

I experienced a Texas snowstorm,
a Texas sandstorm,
and temperatures anywhere from 30 to 80.

Wherever you are
Be all there.

I took a photography class

and learned to capture motion

 and stop motion.

 

Now if I could just stop time

or maybe just the erosion of time.

I said goodbye to an investment

that had turned into a labor of love

then into peaceful retreat

then back into an investment.

Wherever you are

Be all there.

 I saw hope that there was survival even in dry times.

Yesterday morning I watched the full moon disappear among lighted oil wells

 on the West Texas Prairie

knowing

that the same moon was leaving the oil fields

of the North Dakota Prairie,

where we would be in a few hours.

Wherever you are

be all there.

Be all there

even when we don't like it?

jobs

towns

houses

relationships

illnesses

situations galore

even when things were better in the past?

even when we dream of a better future?

Wherever you are

be all there.

The Apostle Paul,

 tells us from prison:

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,

 whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

(Philippians 4:12)

1 Timothy 6:6 says:

"Godliness with contentment is great gain."

Just so you know,

there have been plenty of times in my life

when I wasn't all there.

Times when my brain was somewhere else.

But for now,

I choose to be

ALL here.

I've already made contact with some northern girlfriends.

I know there's a dinner at the church,

a Lenten service,

the last night of the Heaven Bible Study tomorrow

and the Made to Crave study next week.

The temperature is 14 this morning.

I think I'll bundle up for a little trip in the fresh snow 

to the post office and the store.

Wherever you are

be ALL there.