Have you ever known a young child who has a hard day because everywhere they turn they find trouble ~ or it  seems that trouble finds them?  Infractions of all the rules… rules they didn’t even know existed.  Well, I was that young child last Friday.

Trouble started at Barnes & Noble on Friday afternoon.  I met Rob for a coffee (water for me).  I stopped by ChikFilA first for a bowl of soup since I hadn’t eaten all day and took my soup into B&N, excited to get a few minutes alone with my man.  The B&N Barista must have been watching me like a hawk because the second I sat down next to Rob, she approached our table and in a LOUD voice ordered me to take my soup and leave the building.  ChickFilA soup is not permitted.  It was “against the rules.”  I was embarrassed to have other customers looking at me.  I apologized, took my soup and ate it outside.

Later that afternoon, I was verbally attacked LOUDLY by an elderly woman at Harris Teeter who insisted that I cut in front of her in the check out line.  I promise I didn’t see anyone in line when I entered checkout lane #1.  Neither did my daughter.  How did my cart end up at the register ahead of hers?  I don’t know.  But I apologized, moved my cart to the side and let this angry (and LOUD) elderly woman go in front of me.

And if that wasn’t enough, I was stopped by a truck blocking the road in my neighborhood.  A neighbor got out of the truck, walked over to my car and LOUDLY announced that my driving had disturbed her horse.  As far as I could see there were no horses around.  But again, I apologized.

I was very bothered by these 3 LOUD scenes and disturbed that so many were irritated with me.  Since Juliana was with me when I was confronted by two of  these LOUD accusations, I certainly didn’t want her to learn rude behavior from me, her mother.

But it was Juliana who pointed out that my response to each accuser was soft and gentle.  I hope it was.  I did notice that each time I apologized, it seemed to take the accuser by surprise and “soften” their demeaner, especially the older woman who was quite shocked that I insisted she go ahead of me.  In fact, she hesitated as if she were waiting for a fight.  Was it my apology?  Maybe.  Who knows?  I was glad no fights broke out.  

The Bible does tell us in Proverbs 15:1 that a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  And I hope that I will rely on God’s strength for a gentle response and for self-control the next time I am approached with a LOUD attack.

I’ve been missing in action from my blog posting.  And I’ve had good reasons… you got it:  busy with life.  One thing in particular has taken a chunk of my time.  God has blessed me with a wonderful opportunity for a new chiropractic office in a new location.  So I’ve been spending my “blog posting time” meeting with contractors, designers, sign companies, cabinet makers and real estate brokers and attorneys. 

The new office is a dream come true.  I’ve wanted a new office for a long time.  But for the past few years, God has closed the doors to each new possibility that has come my way.  This time and this space have been different.  Not only has God kept the doors wide open, but He has also brought an incredible team to pull everything together with experience and details I would not have considered on my own.  I’ll keep you “posted” as we get closer to opening day!

I may never know exactly why God closed so many doors for my office in the past.  But I am thankful I waited on His place and for His time.  This much I know to be true:   Isaiah 55:9 (ESV)  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How I thank God for His ways and His thoughts!

This Saturday I attended a conference in Atlanta with my office staff. One of my employees was awarded her chiropractic assistant certification by Keith Maule, a national chiropractic leader.

Keith shared some thoughts which provoked some deep conversation on the drive home. One thing he said was:

*** The successful concentrate all their energy and efforts on the attainment of a singular purpose with an intensity that borders on a magnificent obsession. ***

I know how that impacts my purpose as a chiropractor. I am obsessed with helping people reach their highest health potential naturally through chiropractic care — and yes, that is a magnificent obsession!

But after hearing Pastor Rob’s UPGRADE sermons the past two Sundays, I haven been seeking God’s will for my “magnificent spiritual obsession.”

Asking questions like:
“What is my spiritual purpose?”
“What was I born to do that by God’s design, only I can do?”

These have been terrific questions to take to God in my personal prayer time.

Then I was reminded of Pastor Matt Chandler’s words to us on Friday:
God chases me… He captured my heart for His Glory… He saved me to make much of Him… So my magnificent obsession must bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ!

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

How about you? What is your magnificent obsession?

I started hiking with my kids when Nathan was only 4 weeks old amd we’ve never stopped. My kids are in middle school and a good hike is something we still enjoy together. So while Rob was catching up with a much needed Sunday afternoon nap, Nathan, Juliana and I set out to explore a new trail in the woods along Bearskin Creek.

We love rock hopping so the muddy creek and a few exposed rocks were very enticing. Nathan blazed the rock hoppin’ trail and I went second — and fell in! Nathan pulled out his phone for some rather wet pictures of me and Juliana laughed so hard I just knew she would fall in too! But I was wrong. Instead, she blazed a new trail of here own over some less muddy and more stable rocks.

We went back and forth over the creek several times until we came to a ravine with two fallen trees that crossed the creek about 8 feet above the water. Nathan insisted on crossing the creek via the fallen trees. I wasn’t so sure but I wasn’t about to be left behind so I followed Nathan. I didn’t fall in the creek this time and no one laughed, although I did have a close call when I stepped on a branch that gave way. And Juliana followed me with her usual grace and “Ta-Da!”

Another perfect day with my kids and certainly one of the things I treasure most. In fact, I was reading Psalm 100 just yesterday in my quiet time with God. I started jotting down things I was most thankful for. It didn’t take any time for me to list well over 100 blessings for which I thanked God… Among the things at the top of my “thankful list” were moments like this with Nathan and Juliana.

Again, I thank you, God, for blessing me with hiking time with my children.

Here is a look at our hiking adventure:

I loved the quote that Rob shared this past Sunday at the end of the sermon.  Perfect as we seek God’s will for our 2012 goals and more importantly, as we seek our God-given passion.   Who was Francis Drake?  The most renowned seaman of the Elizabethan Age, born 1540–43, Devonshire, England—died Jan. 28, 1596, at sea, off Puerto Bello, Pan.  English admiral who circumnavigated the globe (1577–80) and was the mayor of Plymouth.

 In case you missed his quote, here it is in its entirety: