Month: January 2014

This quote says it well…

I am grateful that on the Journey to my heart I learned that my judgement of others said more about me than about them…

It has taken great practice to be able to engage another person and set judgement and comparison aside. I by no means do it perfectly. I by no means always catch myself. But I am grateful that I am aware when I find comparison or judgement in my thoughts or words, it is a time to check my own heart.

I am not often lacking thoughts or opinions and I have had to learn that not everything I think or feel needs to be spoken. I have also learned on the journey to my heart, that sometimes what does need to be said is what I hold in silence. I must remember to speak the words of my heart, even if my voice shakes.

We are complex people. What we long for we fight against and what we know is not the best for us, we quickly embrace. We long to be powerful and we choose powerless and we long for reconciliation and we refuse to speak.

I am not sure why any one of us would spend time worrying about another, after all, we likely have lots of things to improve in our own lives.

I want to be a person who can embrace another being, friend, acquaintance or stranger, without judgement and believe that as we all journey our own path in life, we likely have many more similarities than differences…if we are honest and set our judgements aside.

 

My parents have had a significant role with refugee families at their church over the past years. It has been a joy to be a part of their resettlement and slowly come to know each of them as individuals who have lived very courageous lives. It is not uncommon for them to lack confidence in their English language skills even years after arriving.

Tonight I found this and had to smile. No wonder it is hard to grow into a confident English speaker.

 

I don’t think this picture needs many words…

It is a good reminder to me to think about each choice…

I am always amazed at how many times in a day, my choices affect the direction, mood or overall outcome of my day. And because I am in relationship with people all day, my choices also have potential to affect each person I interact with. Will I choose kindness, compassion, generosity? Will I choose to believe the best, trust the process, willingness to be misunderstood, forgive and seek to understand someone else? I want to choose to sit on the right side of the bus, the side where I can see beauty as I journey along. I hope to meet you on that same side. Choose well my friends and enjoy the journey!

I am watching the golden globes…

I feel like I am watching hope, anticipation and celebration over and over again…

But I wonder, do those who not win, feel disappointment?

I wonder what it costs (not financially) to get to the event and I wonder about each persons story who participates in such a grandiose party this evening.

I would guess there are very few of us who will ever visit the red carpet and be nominated or selected for a golden globe. But where in your day-to-day do you experience hope, anticipation, celebration and disappointment.

I used to believe I was never disappointed. I believe I rolled with life so well, that somehow that feeling passed me by. In honest reflection, I would say I was an expert in denial of my disappointment.

I wonder if you are aware of this feeling in your heart?

I wonder what you do with your disappointment?

Does it get buried, neutralized, or do you spend appropriate time with it?

I am grateful I have learned to name it and tend to my heart when it shows up.

I love hope, anticipation and celebration. They are easier to embrace by far. But I have grown by befriending my disappointment and learning about myself in the process.

May each day this week be a red carpet for you to hope, anticipate, celebrate and experience disappointment.

I believe our hearts hold many emotions and being kind and living true to the emotion of our hearts, warrants a walk on the red carpet!

 

 

I love this quote and I realize the words of this quote bring that feeling of tension to my gut and my heart.

These words are so true…

We need to be a society of people who speak hard things and invite others to change with compassion in our approach.

We need to be a society that moves into people’s great need even when it feels like what we have to offer won’t near be enough.

We need to be a society that doesn’t turn our head the other way….

And our society is made up of many individuals….you and I included!

I wonder if you can think of a time you chose to look the other way….I know I can.

I wonder if you can think of a space you want to move into and invite change with compassion…I know I can.

I wonder if you have ever turned away because it felt like you had nothing to offer to the great needs of someone before you…I know I have.

I read this quote and it has stayed with me. I want it to stay with me for many years to come!

I hope it stays with you as well!

 

 

Today I had the privilege of having lunch with a diverse community of very courageous people.

Visiting Angels of West Michigan hosted our holiday lunch!

We gathered with almost 100 people who were either caregivers, care recipients or family of care recipients.

There was such sweetness to witness relationships that have developed because one person has a need and another is willing to enter into that need with kindness and an attitude of service.

 

 

There is something so profound when words are not expressed but hands are held or hugs are offered….

There is deep gratitude in my heart when I realize that this is my job, and I love it!

I hope that you have people in your life who you are able to meet in a time of need….

I hope you have people in your life who are willing to meet you in your time of need….

And I hope that you have experienced the beauty of these relationships.

Bless you if you have asked others to enter in to support you….

Bless you if you have offered to serve the needs of others…

I honestly believe that today was a bit of heaven on earth!

 

I woke up this morning and read this on my daily calendar…

When God asks you to step out of your comfort zone, do it — and wear a glorious pair of shoes. 

I got to thinking about how I move when I move out of my comfort zone…. It is often with a bit of anxiety and fear… There is often a sense of uncertainty and wondering….

I often am looking back over my shoulder to see if I really want to leave the space that feels more comfortable for the place of the unknown….

And even though I am one who takes risks, I don’t leave my comfort zone in the same way these simple words invite me to….

I began to search what my shoes might look like….

I begin to think about how I feel and move when I have put on a glorious pair of shoes…

I want to put on glorious shoes each day and honor God’s invitation to move into new spaces, to trust him more and to make a difference in my world.

Find your shoes folks….the year is young and God is at work!

My life feels full.

That is just a statement of reality. I don’t really mind a full life and it means that exciting things are unfolding. In the midst of fullness, I must take time for space. Quiet space. Space with no sound, no music, no conversation. A space to quiet my mind, my thoughts, my fears, my anxieties. A space to still my dreams, my wondering a, my aches and my grief. A space where I simply pause everything….

Tonight as I did that, I was struck by the beep indicating the end of the dishwasher. And the chiming bell letting me know the dryer is done. It feels right that the day is winding down.

And as I glanced around the room my eyes saw this

I was reminded of a funny request for a second pair of goggles for my tub. Since those are perfect for Isaiah, they think I should find smaller ones in purple. Isaiah and Johanna had such fun today soaking in the tub.  It was such fun to hear them play.

Today my play came through goggles at use in my tub and the delight that echoed in young voices.

Tomorrow I need to ensure I create space for some play!

Have you made room for something playful each day?

I believe that creating space for play will renew your being.

I may just leave these goggles out.

They are a great invitation to create space for playfulness.

That is what I have been thinking as we go through these days of amazing weather. By no means is it amazing in every way. I got stuck twice today, In just my family we had four other stuck moments today. It is stressful driving and it is very cold. Those feel a bit like beast moments. But in the moments of stuckness, my neighbors came out and so willingly shoveled my car out. Together we were so strong and we pushed my car right out. That was a beauty moment.

As I wake up and hear the temps and hear about slide offs, I pray for our Caregivers who are out making visits. I am in awe of visits made day in and day out during these stormy days. I hear the joy in the voice of our care recipients when they know their caregiver is going to make it. There is a lot of beauty in the tenacious caregivers who brave the cold to bring warmth into the lives of sweet people.

And the fires we have had in our community. Fifth Third ball park, homes, CVS; they seem abundant. Battling the fire in the cold is complicated and difficult. The work of the police and fire crews have been remarkable in these past days.

And how can we not think of those who are homeless or without heat. There is no kindness in the bitter cold and I wonder how desperate people feel as they can not find reprieve from the cold. That feels like such a beast reality. As I live in the warmth of my home, drive in the warmth of my car, and work in the warmth of my office, I pray for those who are chilled to the bone in these very cold days. 

I am not sure what has been your moments of beauty in this weather. Maybe it is moments with family or skiing in the silence of the woods. Maybe it is an awareness of your blessings or maybe feeling at peace with the simple things you have. I am not sure where you have felt the weight of the beast? 

And perhaps this picture is a reminder of magnificent beauty that wouldn’t be possible without the reality of the beast. It really does feel like days of beauty and the beast!

Today is a special day for two very special people in my life.

Olivia Grace Borgdorff is 17 years old today!

She is…..

beautiful

full of personality

athletic

honest

loyal

compassionate

bright and caring

loves her family

adores her cousins

articulate

Convicted

creative

tenacious

courageous

persistent

and a lover of God, people and life.

Olivia Grace, I hope your 17th year will bring you an abundance of peace, adventure, and a never-ending awareness of God’s presence in your life. I love your good mind, your big and tender heart, your perseverance and your growing and solid faith! Love you bunches! Aunt Trish

And my dear Aunt Dot has a birthday today as well. She is a great neighbor, amazing Aunt, faithful friend and great travel partner. I am so thankful for an Aunt who has become a great friend. She has been a third parent to me and my siblings and another Beppe to the great group of kids in our family. Aunt Dot is a collector of stories and is faithful in sharing those stories through translated letters from Dutch relatives old pictures and editor of 25+ years of Treasured Ties, our family newsletter.

Aunt Dot is a gem, a kind soul, an analytical thinker, a quiet presence, an organizer, a proofreader, a loyal friend.

I love you Aunt Dot. You are forever and always a member of our Borgdorff bunch. You may be called by different names, Dorothy, Dot, Dirkje, Aunt Dot, Beppe Dot, Tante Dot…..

But you are loved and held dear by us all! Happy 64th birthday. May this year bring you good health, peace in each day and an abundance of God’s goodness. Much Love, Trish