Sometimes when tough stuff wears us down, it may be challenging navigating our lives back (or onward) into hope-filled grooves. Today here’s a ‘how to’ lesson from water.
“Water does not resist. Water flows… water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone… If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.” Margaret Atwood
We might need a little (more) patience sorting out figuring out how to get around obstacles that loom large in our lives.
Especially when dark clouds on the horizon confuse us with uncertainty.
“Hope discovers what can be done, instead of grumbling about what cannot. Hope pushes ahead when it might be easy to quit. Hope opens doors where despair closes them.” Rev. James Keller, M.M.
The everyday (all day) challenge: to NOT lose hope! Not an easy thing (to keep on hoping) but that’s where patient (yet active) navigation is a good thing.
“Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters… I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:16-19)
The best navigation I know to get over, around, under (through) an obstacle is to let God have a go at it. Sometimes – whoosh – our obstacles dissipate. Other times God navigates hope in us when we face obstacles so overwhelmingly big we can’t cope. God will provide sustaining Light to guide us through them.
“When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.” Micah 7:8
grace, peace & navigating life (with HOPE)
Virginia : )
Photos: top photo taken @ Butchart Gardens, the rest on the BC ferry ride from Victoria to Vancouver.
Roses in the Rubble 
Thank you for blessing us today with such wonderful images, quotes, and thoughtful prose. I suspect you were led by God to do so, because that’s the way HE rolls! 🙂
Amen, Sparkyjen- I had plotted posting something different but then found the BC ferry pics (seemed to go with recent journal entries.) Voila, chance of plan (God @ work!) Hope-filled blessings to you! 🌟💐🤗💐🌟
He does work in gloriously mysterious ways doesn’t He? 🤔😊✨
More Amens, Sparkyjen! & Hugs! 🌟🙏🤗🙏🌟
And I echo “Sparkyjen” … what an inspiring blog, both words and pictures!! 🙏
Thank you, Cin. Praying God continues to navigate hope in our lives with the Light of Christ’s love (especially through the uncertain stormy bits!)💨🌟💞🌟💨
God the navigator! I love that image. 🙂
Guess the challenge is letting God navigate hope in us, not an easy thing when storms rock our lives & hearts. Blessings & HOPE! 💨🌟🙏🌟💨
Lovely cloud photos, Virginia, and I do agree: God is the best provider for what we need, when we need it. Happy Memorial weekend!
Amen, Debbie. God sometimes doesn’t always give us what we ask for, but what we need to see us through. Hope you’ve had a nice trip to Mississippi – enjoy the magnolias, they’re sure beautiful here in VA! 🌼💨☀️🤗🌟💨🌼
this was just what I needed today. thank you
Thank you, Michele – we can all use a little more Hope inside us, guiding us through our increasingly whacked out world! Hugs! 🌟🌍🌟🤗🌟🌍🌟
Lovely post, so encouraging and uplifting! Thank you. ✞
Thank you, Steph – we do so need more Hope in our world fractured with so many whacked out challanges! Blessings & Hope 🌟💨🤗💨🌟
I like the water analogy, Virginia. I was also thinking of the power of water to smooth stone. This, of course takes many years. This is the model for tenacity. With consistent effort, steady practice, and time, we can smooth our rough edges.
Thank you, Evelyn, for your tenacity insights that resonated today especially. Sometimes I want to throw my hands up in give up mode, but like the drip drip drip of water on stone – at times we’re called to just keep on going (one step, however small, at a time.) Blessings! 💧🤗💧