Perspective-Lifters

Perspective-Lifters

LizEtheridgeSekerke

I loved the line in Jesus Calling this morning that said, “Welcome problems as perspective-lifters!" It continued.......

"The problem can be a LADDER, enabling you to climb up and see your life from My Perspective. Viewed from above, the obstacle that frustrated you is only a light and momentary trouble. Once your perspective has been heightened, you can look away from the problem altogether.”

It reminded me of the time I went to New Hampshire with my girlfriend Cheryl in 2019….it was Fall and we had enjoyed almost a full week of beautiful colors and Fall temperatures. We decided to take a skylift up a mountain as we were leaving New Hampshire headed to Boston. The beauty (Pic #1) from down below on the highway was nice and had become the norm for the week, but the beauty from high above on the top of the mountain (Pic #2) was spectacular. Perspective. That’s why I can’t wait to get to Heaven and be a drone. Seeing everything with different eyes….high above….it looks so magical from up there. But truth is, it’s no less beautiful down below…our eyes have just become so accustomed to that view that we take it for granted.

Same view…..different perspective.

My goal today is to look at the norm with a different perspective.

Couples Adventure Challenge #9

 Couples Adventure Challenge #9......

LizEtheridgeSekerke

...is in the books!

We've been doing these crazy Adventure Challenges for over a year but, unfortunately, they had been put on “HOLD” these past few months until we unpacked the last box....hung the last chandelier....and caught our breath from a whirlwind of moving....living in hotels for 3 weeks....then moving again.

We were more than ready to scratch off our next Couples Adventure Challenge and see what we would be doing this weekend!

The Challenge was:

1) Each of you write down your ultimate date idea for the night. This is your chance to make it all about what you want.

2) Select one item from you house (keep it a secret) that you will take to a pawn shop to sell.

3) Whoever sells their item for more money gets to choose the date idea for the night.

4) Combine the money you got to pay for the date.

So as Wayne went up into the attic to search for his “secret item” to sell, I went no further than my jewelry box.

As he placed his item in the trunk, I placed mine in the backpack and Googled “Pawn Shops Near Me.” Google sent us down the road to the great town of McKinney.

Wayne walked in with a vintage manual typewriter in mint condition that had been in the family for many years. It had been used many times to type high school homework assignments and college essays. A classic. I won’t lie; my heart tugged a bit at the thought of him selling this piece of history. But that typewriter had been moved 8x over the years and needed a good home.  

My “secret” item was a diamond tennis bracelet I had been given years ago that I wasn’t sure 

was even real.

Turns out, the pawn shop doesn’t buy vintage typewriters and my diamond tennis bracelet was, indeed, real. SCORE!!  

Liz won!!!

So we walked out with a cool $380 to go on our Adventure Date with!

And where had I chosen as my ultimate date?? None other than.......Putt Putt Golf and Dinner. We’re simple people, folks....it doesn’t take much to have a good time with this guy.

We headed to an indoor Putt Putt called Puttery at Grandscape not far from our house and let the fun begin!

We discovered our level of expertise at Putt Putt was exactly the same.....sketchy at best.

Wayne found he golfed better when putting backwards.....

And we took the ski lift from hole to hole.....

And ended the date with a nice dinner on a rooftop cafe and a free concert in the park.

Life with this guy just keeps getting better and better....

Each Moment Is From God

 YESTERDAY......we saw the future.

And we smiled.

 

We visited Lowe’s yesterday....and as we drove into the parking lot, we passed this sweet couple leaning on each other....each with their own uniquely sized cane....holding hands....smiling....ready to purchase plants for their yard to.....Keep-Life-Going.

It was a precious site as I took a picture out the passenger window. It reminded me of us. It reminded me that we’re all going to be this couple some day. 

 

Or are we?

Will we resent getting older....or needing a cane....or moving slower....or having aching knees? Or will we remember to thank God for having a cane to help us....or legs that have knees to ache? Will we remember that getting older simply means, if you know God, you are simply closer to the JOY of seeing Him face to face than you were yesterday? 

I don’t know this couple.....but they radiated God to me....and I want to be like them when I grow up.

And my prayer this morning was this:

“God, I love You.....help me to always see You in the moment we are living in. Good or Bad....Easy or Hard...Smiling or Crying....may we be trained to see YOU in each moment....because each moment is from You.”

 

 

Go......and have a great day today! BTW, we did another Couples Adventure Challenge yesterday I can’t wait to tell you about later! Last picture is a hint....

THURSDAYS WITH PAPPO

INCARCERATED (Or So He Thinks)

LizEtheridgeSekerke

When your Dad keeps telling everyone he was handcuffed and dragged to the independent living apartment (& he wasn’t), we had no option but to make him walk-the-walk if he’s going to talk-the-talk.  

Just sayin’……
#Tuesdayswithpappo