Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Love Rewards The Brave

Truism courtesy of Danielle Laporte



I love that thought.

What does it really mean to be brave?

It means sending an email or a text message when I’m uncertain of how it will be received.

It means asking an uncomfortable question that might be returned with a flippant response.

It means openly responding from a fragile place when I want to protect my heart.

It means taking a risk when the past tries to make me believe the future will be no different. 

It means offering kindness when my trust has been betrayed.

It means not giving up when that would be the easiest and logical thing to do.


The rewards of love often are not as we expect.


Silence may be the only response to a brave text or email.

Ridicule may punctuate the response to an uncomfortable question.

Disconnection may close the open conversation.

The future may, in fact, repeat the past.

Another wound may crush the gesture of kindness.

Loneliness may be the only companion of sticking with it.


Being brave does not guarantee benefits on our terms.

The prize may indeed be gained by getting what we want
Or
The riches of love may lie in the strength of character that courage has created.

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Epic Expedition: The Home Stretch

The 4Runner wagon train pointed westward once again as the sun came up over Colorado on Day 14. 

A pit stop at The Great Salt Lake marked halfway for that day. 


Driving west from Salt Lake City, we traversed 100 miles of desolation. It was flat and literally possessed no life. Not one animal, tree, town, tumbleweed, bird, or bush could be seen for miles. Interestingly, mountains in the distance bordered the desert but leading up to those mountains was nothing. It was the most intriguing terrain that we had driven through so far. In west Texas, New Mexico, parts of Colorado and even east Utah, the desolate spots still had sage brush and prairie grass, birds and prairie dogs, but this was a different kind of desert; completely lifeless.


Every town in Nevada that's big enough to have a gas station and hotel was dotted with casinos, some of which were sun bleached and had seen better days. In Nevada, the sun beats down on all who take a risk whether big or small; but it sets with a spectacle to rival blinking lights and ringing slot machines. 



Crossing into California, we took another lakeside detour. Lake Tahoe was well worth roving 45 minutes off course.




 The skies were filled with sunshine for 2 weeks and 2/3 of the states we passed through. Then, northern California spoke up and reminded us that we were nearing the Pacific Northwest. It rained for the next five days.


Redding, California is home to the sundial bridge. A unique sight to see but slippery when wet.


Up, over Mt. Shasta, we dropped into Oregon, driving from south to north.



Then, Portland and on to Seattle.






Finally, to Whidbey Island.




Of all the diversity that is offered by these United States, the final destination of this trip brought the pay-off.



The grandeur of jagged peaks rising from sea level is breathtaking.




Sitting on the peaceful shores of this island, I could let time pass without a care. 
The beauty is that enchanting.