Tonight’s blog is an invitation to consider the powerful picture below.
What does it provoke in you?
Does it resonate with something from your story or the story of someone dear to you?
Have you ever felt entrapped by someone or something?
Can you relate to the experience of breaking free?
What has freedom looked and felt like on your journey?
These are just some thoughts to consider! ❤️ trish
Another perk of vacation is we went out looking for dolphins. This is a more accurate term than dolphin watching. Dolphin searching could also work. We did manage to find a few. We had an excellent guide with stories and educational information, so the experience was fantastic. He told us about how artificial intelligence is used to communicate with whales. AI has been used to draw Whales in, and researchers found they gathered around the boat, chattered back and forth, and then swam back into the ocean. On the Dolphin tour, we talked a bit about what the messages of the whale might be to us.
How far do we go with artificial intelligence? We see how it can write emails and academic papers, increase productivity, decrease loneliness through in-depth conversations, develop websites, and many other things. But is it reasonable to communicate with whales in the ocean? Many will find that fascinating and impressive. It is in so many ways, but what is next?
Education is our best friend in this changing and new world. This piece from PBS was beneficial to me. I invite you to listen and learn! It is 21 minutes of understanding a fascinating topic!
Can AI Help Us Talk to Whales?
Our world is changing, friends; buckle up and hang on for the ride. Sometimes, I need a break, but I am reminded to reenter and keep learning! ❤️ trish
While I have been on vacation, I have been listening for laughter. It is fun to have an ear out to catch someone’s giggle. I have also had times when someone’s laughter was so full-bellied that it caused me to turn my head! It doesn’t matter if I am straining my ear to hear or turning my head because the joyous laughter piques my curiosity. Laughter often provokes joy!
I have a few favorite photos of times when, if you were present with us, you would have heard an outburst of laughter, and I believe even the pictures provoke joy!
There was a season when I realized I did not laugh much. It wasn’t for any particular reason other than I just took life too seriously. I invite you to do a laughter assessment. The other day, I wrote about spending more time with children, which will provoke joy and bring out laughter. Consider what or who provokes joy in you and commit to spending more time in those spaces. Or set out to listen for laughter. I have found his week, which in itself can make me chuckle. May Joy find you today and every day! ❤️ trish
I have been working hard to prepare to be a delegate in our denominational Synod. At this time, representatives come together to discuss the church’s crucial conversations. Not every conversation requires a decision, but many do.
This year will be pivotal, as there are some significant conversations. I quickly feel overwhelmed and discouraged as I work through the reading, but I am grateful for finding inspirational words that help me through.
I understand that the quote I choose to be inspired by today uses the word violence. This is not war violence, but violence comes in so many different ways. Silence can be violence, and words can be violent. Our tones, our attitudes, our cynicism, and our misuse of scripture can be violence. This is not criminal violence but more like an assault on a soul violence. Please keep that in mind as you read the words below!
If you are facing something difficult, perhaps you can embrace these worlds with me and trust that no matter what we face, we can bring hope and perspective to the space we enter.❤️trish
Today, we went to Brookgreen Gardens. Our ticket lasts seven days, which is wonderful as we could not take it all in on the first day. This afternoon, we visited the Sculpture Garden and were drawn into the children’s sculpture garden. Cathy and I commented on how inviting it was and how some sculptures drew you in and caused you to stop and wonder. or provoked joy.
What is it about a children’s area? Is it that
everything is smaller instead of large and sometimes larger than life? Are the sitting areas cozier and inviting conversation instead of straight benches? Or maybe it is how the descriptions of the sculptures are a bit more interesting and use fewer words, such as Happiness or The Turtle Train, getting nowhere quickly.
I wanted to share some pictures I took to get a sense of the wonder. There was one called Standing Tall. It was so 
clear and expressive. There was no long written explanation of why or how it happened. I could see kids wonder and talk about the idea of standing tall.
See if you can feel the invitation of these sculptures, both an invitation to enter and then an invitation to stay a while. Take some time today or in the days ahead, or
maybe even make a practice of this: listen, observe, and engage the children around you. Learn from what they are saying and how they are playing, and listen to their words and nonverbal messages. Observe their compassion and 
what is important to them. Perhaps we need to all spend more time learning from the young ones among us!
Upon leaving the children’s garden, you read the following: As you leave this Garden Room for children, carry with you the eyes of a child and try again to see this world with joy and innocence. ❤️ trish
Whenever I am out of my routine, I think of blog topics throughout my day. Today, I kept thinking, “I might have a week’s worth of content; every conversation or situation seemed to develop into a potential blog.”
But tonight, I will save them for another day and time.
I am sharing this with you because I believe the invitation is important for us all to embrace. It is one of the greatest challenges of being alive.
The first step, my friends, is to witness the injustices of this world. I encourage you to take time and think about what those are. As you name them, become aware of them and witness them.
We must not stay focused just on injustice. Perhaps the most important part of our response to injustices around us is that we do not allow them to consume our light!
Shine your light at all times, but especially as. you encounter injustice! Always remember you can bring change, hope, and love to those around you! ❤️ trish
I read this and found it fascinating. I never imagined a butterfly was so fragile to the storms of life. I think about how quickly storms begin and how quickly the butterfly adapts until it is clear again. But the adaptation is not the invitation for us tonight.
During life’s storms, the butterfly takes time to rest. Through God’s unique creation design, even the butterfly knows when and how to take good care during rainy and stormy days. I have almost always only associated a butterfly with vibrant life and hope. I am grateful to know this part of the story as well.
And so, I wonder how you self-care on your “rainy days?” These will look different for everyone. For one person, it might be the day before hosting a family gathering, the day after, or both. For another person, it might be around long days at work or emotionally stressful events where extra care is needed. Sometimes, it is just at the end of a busy day. Take time to name one or two spaces where you are aware that you may need to live like a butterfly on a rainy day and do a little self-preservation. When we take good care on rainy days, it is easier to live full of hope on those good days as well!
🦋❤️ trish
I am often aware of the privileged life I lead. I feel very grateful as I pack tonight to get away for a few days. I frequently feel torn because I enjoy my everyday life, but in the end, the gift of bringing a change of pace and the freedom to decompress in the sun, sand, and water is good for my soul.
I have excellent co-workers who carry on the business and ensure all aspects of our daily responsibilities are met. My wonderful family ensures my house is watched and lived in. I have a fantastic neighbor family with whom I co-own our wonder pup, Wilhelmina, so she doesn’t miss a beat when she has a few extra days at one of our homes. I may be single in my relationship status, but I am surrounded by community and deeply loved and cared for.
So, I am looking forward to a few days outside of my normal routine, but I will continue to blog. I committed to blogging every day for 365 days, and I can continue, no matter where I am. I also very much look forward to being home soon because no matter how nice it is to get away, it is always nicer to come home! ❤️ trish
I received a video of my nephew’s track meet.
I am not sure what I love more…
Seeing Jean-Marc out ahead and taking first place
OR
Hearing his older brother Noah cheer him on!
There is something so inspiring about hearing Noah’s cheering. Noah is uninhibited in his cheering on his brother. He is undoubtedly all about encouraging Jean-Marc to do his best and be his best!
I wonder who cheers you on or, even more importantly, who you cheer on? Is there someone who would say, yes, that person is the voice I know that will cheer me on to do my best and be my best!
I hope you are that voice for someone. Be like Noah and be uninhibited in your cheering on of others. It may not be with the same volume and will have your touch, but you will bring others encouragement, joy, and inspiration!
Today was a big day for our family. We celebrated my niece and nephew’s profession of faith. My nephew opened the service by reading a prayer that was meaningful to him. Their grandpa read this prayer at Thanksgiving dinner in 2022, shortly after being diagnosed with a very treatable cancer. It became his story in the month of December 2022. He passed away unexpectedly from cancer in early January 2023. Listening to the words read today, I knew I wanted to share them with you!
I wonder how these words resonate in your heart. I wonder what you have experienced in your suffering. May we all find the courage to name the spaces where can say: I got nothing that I asked for–but everything I had hoped for! ❤️ trish
