I find a surprise with every fresh roasted bag of coffee beans. I know I should not, however, the experience of cutting into the bag of Surge roasted beans opens the door to something familiar and yet oh so new.
For a season which began several years ago, I have let the Psalms guide my awareness of the way Life is teaching me. Daily Whispers reflect many of those lessons which followed. As this chapter closes, the question is who comes next?
A recurring impression was the need for a fresh voice, a different perspective. The foundation of a new season begins with the writer of a small book. “I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello!” (James 1.1) Historians think this was the brother of Jesus. A doubter turned enemy who, in time, became a believer. His background resonates for several reasons.
Doubts have always been part of my life. The question I wrestle with is not that they exist. I am not always sure what I should do with them. The recurring lesson lies in acknowledging and addressing my doubts with respect, honesty, and candor. When I do not do this, there is a recurring reality of the doubt living in the darkness of no trust. Metaphorically, it is growing and morphing into something more challenging. When I bring it out into the open and address it, positive outcomes follow.
Growth creates a need for new words. The methods used to describe my old experience do not always fit the way I see the world today. While I often revisit and rediscover, hearing fresh voices, new ways of bringing the music of life together, opens the door to embracing more than I ever imagined possible. In the ever-changing dance of living, having an ever-expanding vocabulary leads me to see with increasing clarity and understanding.
Harmony is a source of hope and strength. Different perspectives coming together to reinforce a center of love, compassion, and inclusion restores my heart, mind, and soul.
