Volkswagon Cathedrals

He's heard *my* prayers in a car.  Some of my most profound moments have been while driving.  Some even causing me to pull over until it is safe to drive again.  I'm grateful for my little stained glass sanctuaries over the years. I wish I could post the music for you or play it myself  but here are the lyrics to a song that sticks with me. 

		(photo from Caleb Kraft)

Prayers in a Car (Cherie Call) I was in a car sitting with my mother A couple miles from home at a store just down the street And I was getting restless Cause nothing seemed to happen when she turned the key That's when she turned to look at me And she said, "Darling we can get home soon But there's only one way that that can be" There was no place to kneel but she knew that God would hear If we closed our eyes and said a prayer No sooner was it done when the engine turned right over That's when I learned His love is never far He heard my prayers in a car I was in that car Fifteen years later Driving home from work when I got turned around And I started feeling restless when I found myself on the wrong side of town That's when a prayer came to my mind And I told my Father all about my day till I started seeing familiar signs And I couldn't close my eyes But I told Him of my home And somehow He led me safely there In the middle of the night on unfamiliar highways I knew His love was never far He heard my prayers in a car And I can't count the times When I would just get in that car and drive Trying to sort things out Or just forget some pair of deep blue eyes And I've pulled to the side to whisper prayers while cars sped past And for a moment those tinted windows were stained glass And I'm pretty sure That God is no respecter of the makes and models of cars where people pray They could be Volkswagons, eighteen wheelers or Cheverolets Cause every time His children are in need He will hear the words they whisper No matter where they might be And every chance I get I will try to show my honor By getting on my knees every time I pray But even when I can't my heart still cries out And I know His love is never far He's heard my prayers in a car

Copyright 2002 Cherie Call, all rights reserved

Ready....Aim.....

Arrows have to be pulled back before they can fly. 

Most of the time I think that I am the Great Archer- deciding where to shoot and adjusting my aim. But I think I'm really the arrow. In the hands of the Great Archer (God) I can be a valuable resource in the fight against evil. In the fight for love and goodness and compassion for one another.  (Think: Cupid)

A dear friend sent me an arrow pendant with this reminder that when we feel like we are being pulled back we are getting ready to be launched.  That has stuck with me and I've felt it so much recently. Pulled back by all sorts of different things.  I also feel the anticipation of flight.  That I am headed in a direction, but I don't know what one yet.  I'm excited and scared to see where I'm headed.  To see what good I can do.  To see what difference I can make.  It might be in the walls of my home- or it might reach farther than that- but where ever I am meant to make a difference I feel it. I'm ready.  Aim.  LOOSE! (Because "fire" was not said until firearms...)

To be real

I want to be true to my human side. I want to SHOW my pain and my scars. I don't want to wear the mask anymore.

Thanks Kilee for sharing.

Human
Christina Perri

I can hold my breath
I can bite my tongue
I can stay awake for days
If that's what you want

Be your number one
I can fake a smile
I can force a laugh
I can dance and play the part
If that's what you ask

Give you all I am

I can do it
I can do it
I can do it

But I'm only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I'm only human
And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart
You build me up and then I fall apart
'Cause I'm only human, yeah

I can turn it on
Be a good machine
I can hold the weight of worlds
If that's what you need

Be your everything

I can do it
I can do it
I'll get through it

But I'm only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I'm only human
And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart
You build me up and then I fall apart
'Cause I'm only human, yeah

I'm only human
I'm only human

Just a little human

I can take so much
Until I've had enough

'Cause I'm only human

And I bleed when I fall down
I'm only human
And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart
You build me up and then I fall apart
'Cause I'm only human, yeah

Stalled

I'm hitting a block right now and not so sure how to go about getting around it.  I kind of want to avoid it but have this fear that if I do I'll end up crashing.  Like when an airplane stalls- you have to do SOMETHING or you'll crash.  

In looking for a picture for the blog I came across this article about EXPLORING the Stall. I found a couple of things particularly interesting.

A stall is a normal reaction of a plane based on wing something or other.  He explained it "In training, I sometimes use the metaphor of ice formation: water freezes, under normal conditions, at 0º C. At 0.1º C, water is not frozen. It is the same with the stall. Below the critical angle of attack, the wing is not stalled. Above the critical angle, the wing stalls."

It's normal. It happens. Good to know.

With any aircraft, however, it is very important to know well the symptoms of an approaching stall so we can make positive decisions on how to proceed. ...

It’s like knowing, in the dark, where the edge of the stairs are at home. If you know exactly where the edge is you can approach it with confidence; if you are unsure, you may well step over by mistake and find yourself in deep, deep trouble.

I'm learning my own symptoms of my stalls: trying to keep busy- distract my mind, irritation, physical avoidance (I can NOT think while being touched by anyone), preoccupation with what is bothering me yet not wanting to deal with it (Denial!) 

Practicing stalls so you can learn, understand and know the stall characteristics of your aircraft will give you a sense of control and security. You will know where the edge is and will be able to approach it with confidence. You will know the symptoms of the approaching stall and know how and when to modify your inputs to either produce or avoid the stall as required.

Your landings will improve, your flying will improve and your sense of your own knowledge and skills will boost your confidence.

All things I want more of right now. 

The basic stall is a simple yet elegant and important procedure. If you’re not completely comfortable with stalls, now is an excellent time to find whatever assistance you may need to develop a positive relationship with the maneuver You’ll be glad you did.

So what do I do if I'm mid-stall and haven't practiced?  

Time for a Time Out?  Hmm... 

Laugh attack

I don't know how a person could NOT smile while watching grown men lose it in a press conference.

Cracked me up.


And some days ya just need a little pick-me-up.

Odds Are

HEALING

is my Word for the year.  My goal if you will.  My "New Year's Resolution".  And who blogs about THOSE halfway through February anyway? ME!

I am taking a different approach to goals this year.  There's a lot of leeway- which I need because I have a tendency to beat myself up over things not completely checked off my list.  So I'm not making a list.  Just going with a theme.

And February's Theme is MUSIC.

I love music.

I miss music.

I think my kids miss it too.

So in my quest for more music in my life, healing music, music that speaks to me, I found Barenaked Ladies again yesterday.  Ironic.  I love them.  Thoughtful.  Clever.  And always a good time for BNL.

I thought I'd share this one because it is SO great.

I'm dedicating this old school style (like when you'd call into the radio and dedicate a song to your bestie and giggle):
To my Sisters, my friends, my WoPAs and to my dear husband.  It's been a rough couple of days.  But I do believe in the odds.  Just depends on how you look at it.  (All stats are that way...)

Give it Back to You

Wishful thinking.

I do love live music.

I also love BNL.  And this song.

Let me know what you think.


Here are the Lyrics if you're interested:
"Give It Back To You"

[Chorus:]
I don't care how long it takes,
I will atone for my mistakes,
I will hold your heart when it breaks,
And give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you.

[Verse 1:]
Out of everyone,
I should have known how,
Knots can come undone,
I should grown but,
I was on the run,
And the walls were crumbling,
And I was tumbling.

[Verse 2:]
Should have just fell down,
Instead of making,
Such a hole in the ground,
There's no mistaking,
I will wear the crown,
I'm the lord and master,
Of this disaster.

[Chorus]

[Bridge:]
Anyone can walk on water,
Just before they drown,
Anyone can talk but they got 
their story upside-down.

[Verse 3:]
Dust coats the floor,
With every move we,
Seem to find more.
I'm out to prove that,
What we're working for,
Is worth defending,
And all this mending.

[Chorus]

I'll give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you.