Summer of 2026 is quickly coming to a close as Fall makes an appearance tomorrow.
This past summer has been a bit different for me as I have transitioned from active cancer treatment to a new medication phase for the next 5 years. As a result of that transition, this new medication has impacted my body systems in ways I never anticipated.
My focus shifted significantly earlier this summer, towards finding solutions to these new ongoing issues, keeping the road well travelled to Winston Salem in the Summer of 2026.
The good news… Progress has been made in regard to finding a new day to day normal for me. Sleep has resumed to a more normal, stable condition. I’m extremely thankful for small, but necessary changes in the Summer of 2026.
Thank you for all of your prayers and continued support. It means the world to me 💕.
I feel like I have devoted less time capturing the day to day photos of summer. As you view these shared 2026 Summer Memories, I hope you will enjoy them and find a bit of inspiration in the ordinary things that we often take for granted. Finding Joy in the OrdinaryThings.
I’m finding my ordinary life, extraordinary these days. Taking time to enjoy the simplicity of my daily routine and being simply being home. Here’s to the Summer of finding Joy in the ordinary days.
After the Rain
Rain refreshes the Earth from the dry, humid days of a Southern summer… Offering a pause to the intense heat. Rain brings growth to a garden. A Summer ordinary event made extraordinary by its own creation.
Summer Blues
The first glimpse of the mountains from 421 from two different trips… always looks uniquely different based on the weather
The colors of summer seem to hit a bit differently. The beautiful hues of blue dominate our skies each day. The hues of blue along the Blue Ridge Mountains, are a staple of our daily existence looming off in the not so far distance, offering an extraordinary view which is seemingly ordinary to us.
Sunrises and SunsetsofSummer: Ordinary Days at Home
I often step out on my back porch each morning to catch the first glimpse of the new, beginning day. An ordinary daily routine, with extraordinary results, captivated by a new sunrise each morning.
In the Garden
Purple sweet potatoes growing, a fantastic cancer fighting food! Watermelon growing… Angel Trumpet blooms in morning sunlight
In the Blue Zones, gardening is a way that people grow necessities, and it creates gentle, daily movements that have allowed them to live healthier, longer lives. Ordinary people completing a daily routine task, with an extraordinary outcome, longevity.
Hot Summer Days
Movie fun in the summertime… popcorn 🍿 is a must!
The heat of summer can be experienced in different ways. Visually you can see the heat from the morning sunrises or viewing the full moon in midst of a humid night. So how do you balance the summer heat? Find a cool place to be, it could be watching a movie 🍿 with friends or family. OR sitting and enjoying the cool breeze of an open doorway. Ordinary living becomes extraordinary in the heat of summertime.
Footnotefrom me… As October approaches, Ladies, don’t forget to schedule your yearly mammogram appointment IF you haven’t already scheduled it yet. My breast cancer was found during a routine mammogram last November. Sadly, more friends are being diagnosed each day. Pray for them as they fight to resume their ordinary days in a new, profoundly different way.
Everyone included, not just ladies here, know your cancer risk factors and advocate for your health! Do not be afraid to ask questions and go seek answers from your health care team.
I’m currently scheduled for my next round of scans in early November. Thank you for all of your prayers and continued support. It means the world to me💕.
In my previous career, I was a Middle School Educator. Often times Middle School scheduling created groups of students who pretty much stayed together for most of the day. After all of that togetherness, day after day… and months … sometimes the tensions between students would become apparent.
One specific group that I taught in my last few years of teaching, it was evident they were wearing on each other’s nerves.
So, one afternoon, we had a quick conversation or a “pep talk” about offering each other Grace and showing a bit more patience with each other. I quickly moved onto the lesson for that day and didn’t think much about it.
I had no idea that the talk about Grace had really stuck with them until a few days later.
This same group of students was beginning to line up in the hallway. Our destination was the lunchroom. A sweet middle school girl quickly raised her hand as we were beginning our departure down the hallway.
I stopped the group to see what she needed. She then said, “I need some help with Grace this afternoon. I’ve tried to get these two boys to quit goofing around and they aren’t listening. Can you take over please Mrs. Searcy? I used up all my Grace that I have left”.
Grace: Finding beauty in the ordinary days
I was stunned. The Grace conversation had stuck with that group of impressionable young middle schoolers. Everyone giggled at the two mischievous boys who were now in my charge, quickly falling into line like they should. They totally understood what giving each other Grace meant, and had been actively practicing it.
That’s where I find myself recentlyin recovery mode of my Cancer Journey, Practicing Grace. I have come to realize that Cancer recovery isn’t linear, each day is uniquely different. Patience is key.
Blue Sky Day
Thinking about Grace in this context of cancer recovery offers me the opportunity to begin again after the rougher health days. Grace isn’t perfection. Grace is the gateway…to allow the moments of peace to flow when times are tough, when I’m feeling exhausted, and noting the same aches and pains everyday. Grace has given me the quiet power to move through my Cancer recovery.
Grace…tempered with dignity and compassion. Grace… A new level of understanding and empathy as an individual…as others face a new Cancer Diagnosis or currently going through treatment. I totally get it, we all need a bit of Grace to make it through.
In a field of pink and yellow… spot the red… over 2 million people will be diagnosed with cancer this year.
Grace … allowing patience with my healing. Grace…always teaching me what cancer recovery is like.
What I have learned???
1. Cancer surgery and treatments take a tremendous toll on the body. The interconnectedness of body systems is truly revealing in the face of cancer.
2. Each person’s path with cancer is different, one common thread… the drained exhaustion/fatigue. This feeling exists for all cancer survivors even after a good nights rest.
Finding Light
3. Cancer recovery has been a roller coaster ride of sorts over the last 6 months with physical symptoms that don’t seem to easily disappear. Cancer wrecks your immune system and disrupts your body chemistry. I’ve literally been playing “wack a mole” since my cancer diagnosis. Here’s a quick rundown of my last few months…
Initial mammogram results showed additional testing needed… at the same time I was diagnosed with a Bone spur on my shoulder in November 2025
Official Cancer diagnosis in early December 2025
Unreal Hot flashes… Since my breast cancer was estrogen positive, I needed to discontinue my medication that had kept the hot flashes at bay for the last several years. These hot flashes have intensified to the point where my sleep is continuously disrupted significantly…(see Menopause paragraph below) November 2025.
Kidney stones December 2025
Cancer Surgery and recovery January-February 2026
My first battle with Covid- February 2026
Radiation- March 2026
Began Estrogen Suppression meds for 5 years-March 2026
Side effects noted from new medication (bone and joint pain) making me feel like I’m experiencing the flu all the time, fatigue, hot flashes that intensified even more 😬. March 2026
Bone Spur on heel April 2026
Began the process of working with the Cancer Integrative Medicine to find alternatives for restoration of sleep, hot flashes etc hopeful to find relief of side effects from new medication- April 2026
UTI due to lack of estrogen from new meds, Bacterial infection… working with my care team currently to navigate this new issue known as GSM. April 2026
Fatigue… Cancer wipes out your energy. Even after Cancer Treatment, the fatigue lingers. Cancer treatment destroys the cancer cells but in the process it can harm good cells. Cells are rebuilding themselves and the energy reserves wanes during that rebuilding process, even with good restorative sleep. I have found that fatigue can onset suddenly or it can be a daily problem. (Ongoing)
Family history of cancer is important to know, the more you know about your family medical history, the better care you can receive from your medical provider, especially if you have family members with a cancer history
I’m sharing these things with y’all NOT to try to create sympathy, but to bring a bit of awareness of how integrated our body systems are. My cancer diagnosis/recovery has amplified some of these issues.
The most common cancers that are diagnosed: breast, colon, prostate, lung. Screenings are crucial for all
Cancer Recovery is an ongoing process. As previously mentioned, Cancer can create a literal physical break down of body systems… ultimately impacting how you feel, think, and react.
If you know people who are currently experiencing cancer, in the recovery phase, or living life beyond cancer, extend Grace.
Just asking them something like “How are you feeling today” or “I’m here, I’m listening” can go a long way.
Life is truly distinctly different after Cancer. The physical body is different. As a result, the changes I’m making after Cancer are life altering. My Dietary changes have been significant, with a key focus on good protein, fiber, and less sugar. I’m also trying to be mindful of daily movement, even if it just moving inside doing daily chores on the days that fatigue hits hard.
Grocery shopping is forever changed! Shopping the outside perimeter of the grocery store is common practice for me now.
Breast Cancer recovery is messyas most cancer recovery tends to be. Menopause for most women occurs naturally. In that natural menopause state, your body slowly has time to adjust the amount of estrogen that is decreasing in your body systems.
When diagnosed at an early, localized stage of breast cancer… before spreading, the 5-year relative survival rate is 98-99%.
But with estrogen suppression medication, (which is often used to help prevent a reoccurrence after an estrogen positive tumor), menopausecrashes hard in your body systems.
This crash is happening immediately without that natural process of losing estrogen slowly. With the sudden crash, it wreaks havoc in all sorts of ways upon the body systems. The typical side effects of Menopause, hit more like a bouldercrashing… and is much more intense.
Allowing Grace to live within me helps me not only in cancer recovery, but gives me the opportunity to make adjustments as needed, doing what I can physically do from day to day after experiencing such a crash.
How fitting… Women’s Health Week May 10-16, beginning on a day we celebrate Mother’s Day!
Scrolling on Pinterest the other day I came across a term that describes my cancer journey perfectly…Lemonading. What happens when life hands you lemons???? You make Lemonade! Using that theory, you have 🍋 lemons… find the positivity, and make the lemonade!
It is estimated that men and women who have experienced hormone based cancers or treatment therapies are 25-50% more likely to discontinue treatment based on the difficulty of side effects these cause.
Lemonading in my daily life has allowed me to reflect and re-evaluate what is really important and my goals are shifting and changing to some degree.
Life Lemonading Lately:
1. My day tends to start a bit more slowly. This allows time to ease into the day instead of worrying about a specific time oriented schedule.
Slow mornings help me conserve energy
2. Spring has arrived… gardening has been a great restorative practice for me.
Gardening provides a great opportunity for movement and in Blue Zones research, a great longevity practice
3. Working less hours at the hardware store… I’m thankful that we have an AMAZING staff who are there each day! This has allowed me the time to flex my schedule around how I’m feeling, allowing myself time to rest and recover.
4. I’m working towards finding solutions to the side effects of estrogen suppression meds… body aches, fatigue, intense hot flashes, by using resources from the Integrative Cancer Center in Winston Salem.
5. I now have a greater focus on restorative sleep. During our sleep cycle, our body repairs and rejuvenates itself. It’s a necessity and I’m definitely trying to adapt to a new sleep schedule and recognizing my body signals to create a more restful atmosphere for myself. Acupuncture has been a huge help in restoring my sleep and managing symptoms.
6. Continuing to explore creative outlets… it really does not matter what you do, but do something you enjoy!!! Solving puzzles,playing board games, writing, creating art, photography, gardening, pottery, or even cooking (testing new healthy recipes). Maintaining my creative outlets has helped me to stay connected with others and adds to my overall wellbeing.
Pottery is one of my favorite creative outlets
7. Giving back to the Cancer Community… I recently participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. My team was able to raise over $2,100 to help cancer patients.
Relay For Life funds not only cancer research, but provides needed support to cancer patients
Lemonading through this cancer recovery process has become a new normal for me. A definite transformative process.. centering around the power of Grace. This simple yet profound concept can guide us through the toughest days, fostering empathy and understanding.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, followed by skin cancer in second place
I’ll leave y’all today with the chorus of one of my favorite new songs Ride, Ride, Ride by Luke Bryan and George Birge which fits life perfectly right now.
“Ride, ride, ride, When the clouds rollin’ in ’til the sun’s back again
Grace and Lemonading Life brings the sun closer to me during hard recovery days
And you’ll find, find, find That what you’re made of is barbed wire tough,
Stare down the storm, you bring on the rain
Life will throw you off boy, but saddle up anyway And ride, ride, ride Ride, ride, ride”.
From the farm to the classic Southern porch, outdoor spaces have always been a source of comfort and connection. Whether it’s a grandparent’s porch or a friend’s carport, these outdoor spaces offer a perfect blend of all things nature and relaxation. All the while, these outdoor areas reveal a sense of personal warmth permeating from the home. Read on and learn more about creating your own unique Yard Personality.
I can remember going to visit my Grandparents house which we called “the farm”. As young kids we had a large open space to run and play outside. Often as you would drive up to the farm, you could find my Grandma and Grandpa Adams outside on the porch or they would be sitting under a shade tree in lawn chairs.
Old Beautiful trees dotted my Grandparents landscape at the farm as a young kid
The cousins group had loads of fun playing on the farm. We had a large open space to run and play outside. Thankfully, we were always within earshot and eyesight of the adults who were visiting outside. A small creek ran behind the house and we cousins would end up there in our wanderings and play.
Streaming the all natural way…
I recently visited a friend. We were sitting outside on her carport. She has created a sweet, little spot to retreat to… complete with an outdoor rug, comfortable, cushioned chairs, music playing, and yes, a ceiling fan just to name a few amenities. The natural breeze flowing through the porch made it a perfect spot to spend a warm afternoon in conversation with good friends.
These family memories coupled with my recent visit to my friends house, got me to thinking about how people use or don’t use their space/ yard and how “individualpersonality” can impact outdoor spaces and its uses.
Living on a Farm… yard personality of its own
Growing up and living in the South, I would like to note that probably one of the most common outdoor spaces that people use are porches… front/back porch, or maybe even a screened in porch.
Porches: a place where stories are told and memories are made …This long, large porch located in Valle Crucis has been a favorite of oursfor many years
The PORCH… where HOME meets the outside world. A porch allows us to connect with the exterior world, all the while, enjoying the creature comforts of being HOME.
These outdoor “rooms” are often used as a gathering place or even as a place of retreat. On a Southern porch, you can definitely “sit a spell”… one can watch traffic go by, swing, rock the day away in your favorite chair, view the stars at night, or simply listen to the sounds of nature.
Within the confines of a porch outdoor space, one can let the worries of the day wash away. Complete with and no phones or technology. Add in a cold beverage in hand, and the perfect porch sitting weather is upon us, minus the pollen!!
New Rocking Chairs from WCH are a perfect way to spend a afternoon relaxing on a porch or deck
As we sometimes do, Richard and I will go for a drive on a sunny afternoon. I love to “window watch” from the vehicle window as we make our way down the country roads.
Those Sunday afternoon adventures make me realize that Summertime is a wonderful time to notice the little bits and pieces of Yard Personality from the exterior and my car window…You know it when you see it as we make the “drive by”. Kids in the yard playing games, or even noting an interest in gardening with flowers abounding from the yard. Then I spot Rocking Chairs on the front porch as we pass by. The visible story of the homeowners unraveling right in front of your eyes… neatly kept lawn and shrubs, and orderly gardens. Or maybe just the opposite, flowing gardens that seamlessly wander from one area to another, featuring an old chair, chipping paint holding a garden treasure, the grass waiting to be mowed. Both of these scenarios create a sense of order and peace for each homeowner because that’s exactly what they wanted. Marked distinct features of personality that dominate the Yard…just from a quick glance as we drive past.
This chippy chair holds a strawberry plant on my back porch.
Have you ever thought about your distinct yard personality??? I haven’t ever given this topic much consideration, until recently. Is this really a legitimate topic… Absolutely!!!
First let’s define the term “YARD”. According to our purposes of this topic… a YARD is the entire surrounding area around the house, including the grass, pavement, porches, other outdoor spaces, and includes dedicated gardens.
Walkways are an important part of Yard Personalization, visually what is seen as you approach the front door? Is it welcoming to visitors?
In essence, the YARD is ALL useable outdoor space. Looking at the term YARD, the opposite is true in the United Kingdom. The garden IS the whole. Yard would not be the proper terminology.
Gardens are the baseline of the individualized personality in the UK, it’s nice to include the whole perimeter of your usable area in Yard Personalization here in the US
Processing this new concept of Yard Personality, I think it’s crucial to understand that People will prioritize their needs and wants into how they want to use their yard based upon what it’s important to them.Of course, often budget is a factor… but the use of good ol’ elbow grease, sweat equity and repurposing materials can make a huge impact!
After a quick visit at my friend’s house, I concluded that she has beautifully created a place to relax and uses that space as a place to retreat after a long day at work.
According to a quick Google search, most people fall into a few key categories when it comes to YARD PERSONALITY. I was extremely curious to see where I would fall… or not be found.🧐 Would my style potentially overlap with more than one???
This sweet little stained glass frog would look great in any outdoor space.
My curiosity got the best of me and I kept diving into it. Here’s my modified list to keep it simple and easier for writing purposes.
Yard Personalities:
1. The Lawn Expert… these individuals create a carefully designed and manicured/maintained yard. Gardens are well kept or maybe not present because the emphasis is literally on the beautiful the yard itself.
The Gardens pictured here at Tryon Palace are a perfect example of the “Expert”
2. The Lover of Nature… The Yard and Gardens meandering about, flowing with a variety of colors and styles of flowers. Areas are designed in the yard to attract various species of wildlife(hummingbirds, birds, butterflies, etc) and you may find seating areas present to enjoy the fruits of their labor throughout the entire yard.
Planting to attract wide variety of bees, butterflies, etc Bird houses and feeders in all shapes and sizes available at WCH
3. The Entertainer…This individual may have a Grilling area is set up to entertain and to cook up a great meal, a festive outdoor table set to welcome friends and family, maybe a fire pit to welcome guests, lawn games, swimming pool, you name it, the Entertainer will have it!
BBQ sauces, rubs, Traeger pellets, and grill accessories all available at WCH for the summer entertainer
4. The Kid and/or Pet Friendly Yard… Basketball, volleyball, soccer goals set up in yard, or swimming pool visible…riding toys scattering along the driveway or the yard, outdoor play areas created for the kids, or maybe even a tree house. Backyard fences keep the kids and pets within view and allow them to play safely.
Pool water testing and chemicals are available for purchase at WCH all summer long for family fun😎
This is just a small sample of brainstorming that I did to imagine these different types of Yard Personalities. I feel sure that this is only scratching the surface!
My mind then wandered back to my own to Spring “to do list” as I began refining and defining my Yard Personality. 🧐. What area(s) did I want to focus upon in my own YARD???? After some thought, I decided our back porch needed a bit of TLC.
A good back porch cleaning was necessary… we have some great items at WCH for outdoor clean up
So I’ll pose the same questions to you. Did you find a Yard Personality that you strongly identified with??? Is your yard in shape for the upcoming Spring and Summer season??? 🧐🧐🧐
These handmade wind chimes would make a great addition to any yard or garden
Currently, I’m slowly trying to make a few projects a reality and keeping within budget using objects that I already have… finding a new way to repurpose them, and adding in color/texture as I can. I’ve slowly been working on my back porch area over the last few weeks adding a few things to make it more comfortable for us to use on a regular basis in hopes that it will become a welcoming space for all of us as well as our guests.
Work in progress from my back porch, flowers still yet to be planted, repurposing my strawberry planter as a quick side table… hanging baskets and crates to warm up the siding using vinyl siding clips, very easy project!!!
Another thing worth mentioning, a portion of Yard Personality can be attributed to how you use found objects or even Art in your space.
These unique outdoor lanterns add a nice touch of Art and beauty to your existing landscape
Art is often a form of creative expression and imagination which can be found in a visual form. It could be the appearance of hand created objects, like bird houses, or feeders, or the appearance of a symphony of vibrant colors from the garden, or Yard Art.
These PVC bird houses found at WCH are exceptional!!! Long lasting and made in NC!!!
The use of Art can evolve with your imagination and creativity all the while, looking at needs and wants within a given outdoor space… ultimately bringing vibrancy to your Yard.
Let your imagination and creative energy shine this year! Wilkes County Hardware is here to support your new found passion and dedication to creating and developing your own unique Yard Personality, making home a true place of retreat and comfort.
Store Hours: Monday through Friday 8am-6pm , Saturday 9am-3pm
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.” —Ecclesiastes
The four seasons… Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are all marked a significant changes in how we interact with the Earth. Each season is uniquely beautiful and transformative. The never ending cycle of nature adjusting to each distinctive season.
Daffodils are one of the first to bloom in Spring, bringing our landscape back into full color.
When the seasons begin to change, so do the needs of our loyal shoppers… each of the four seasons can bring a small shift of seasonal sales. Spring begins the lawn and garden season. Summer shopping is marked by a large demand of pool chemicals, and lawn and garden products.
Flowers are in abundance during the Summer season
Fall hardware store shopping centers around the demands of preparing for cooler weather, our customers are looking for stove pipe, wood stove maintenance products, rakes, and more!
Colorful Days of Fall
Winter, the cold months, our customers need kerosene heater maintenance, heating essentials, and Christmas gifts!!! Each of the four seasons keeps us busy with ongoing orders, and resets of seasonal supplies. We shift with each unique season.
Winter can bring cold temperatures and snow!
This reflection on the four unique seasons brought to mind the different “Seasons of Life”. We shift from season to season. I believe AGE is not necessarily a factor in these shifts in the different seasons of life.
The beauty of Fall Colors
I began to dwell on the changing of the seasons as we head into a new season, Winter.
Don’t we go through each of the four seasons as we age, possibly over and over again depending on the circumstances of your personal situation?? Hmmm… our lives are seasonal??? Can you imagine which season you are currently living through right now?
Spring… New Beginnings
Spring as a living season is full of renewal, change, new growth, and planting. This season is marked with new beginnings… like purchasing a new home, getting married, falling in love again, beginning a family, a new career, the list is long!!! Feeling of hope abounds in the Spring season.
Summer…Take A Risk and Splash In
Summer is a time of warmer days, time feels endless. The phase can bring more growth opportunities, whereas, harvesting your hard work from the Spring season. Taking risks becomes easier, pushing harder outside comfort zone. Motivation is key.
Fall.. Reflecting
Fall is a time to reflect. Reflection brings the opportunity to learn from mistakes, making plans for next phase, adjusting goals, noticing change, and simply enjoying the beauty around you, practicing gratitude for all things in your life.
Winter… Rest and Recharge
Winter brings rest. Winter is a time to recharge your batteries. If you are in the winter season, you might be experiencing sickness, or grief. With the “stillness” of the winter season, it can often bring clarity or wisdom (looking back and having peace) from earlier seasons previously journeyed through.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” —Ecclesiastes
Whatever season you find yourself in life’s journey, relish it. If you are currently feeling the depths of the winter season, spring will come.
Footnote: I often begin writing pieces for my blog months prior to publication.
This specific blog piece I began writing and processing prior to finding out about my diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer.
After reflecting on this blog piece, I’m currently in “winter”, looking forward to seeing “spring”.
Whatever season you find yourself in right now, please know that seasons change and each will not last forever. “When your heart is tired, and your spirit is worn, remember God is your rest. He will renew your strength and carry you through the storm.” Isaiah 40:29
Have you ever heard of the expression, “Get your head out of the clouds?” If someone says something like this to you, they want you to be more “grounded in reality”… focusing less on daydreaming.
Air flight offers us the opportunity to be “in the clouds” andto Cloud Dance… flying through and above the clouds. Being in and above the clouds offers us the opportunity to witness a place where our humanity is not truly visible everyday.
Soaring Above
The world of aviation offers a unique experience to be able to see our world in a very different and special way. When I fly, I always reserve a window seat so I can watch the clouds, and the sky. Graciously, my husband always grants me the courtesy of the window seat.
These clouds are tightly packed together
I will admit that some flight opportunities are a bit rougher initially, in what I like to call the process of clouddancing (turbulence) where the journey into the thick cloud line that permeates the sky is like playing a game of hopscotch at times. You must get above all the clouds in order to see clearly, gaining visibility.
Cloud Dancing
One of the last flight memories that I recall during takeoff, the sky was looming with clouds… gray and dark. Snow and ice was forecasted to arrive later in the afternoon. The sun appeared to be lost. As the final preparations for our flight began, The pilot came over the speaker and said to all flying companions on board, “Folks, this might be a bumpy ride ahead.” Once in flight and our elevation increased, the clouddancing experience began.
Silence expanded in the main cabin and the motion and movement into the cloud line, and a small amount of turbulence was underway.
Sun beginning to set over the Clouds
Flying into those clouds, it was a total cloud fog. I couldn’t see anything for what it seemed like several minutes. A bit of anxiety rushed through my mind. But, the sure and steady handiwork of our flight crew, we were quickly approaching higher altitudes.
That cloud filled experience…
Another quick glance out the window restored my sense of confidence. The plane was now above the clouds and the flight path was visibly clear. The immensely thick cloud layer was visible and comfortably below. I immediately caught the first glimpse of the sun that day and I was stunned momentarily…a revelation was beginning to unfold in that moment of Cloud Dancing.
There it was… shining above that cloud line, it was so bright that I began to instantly squint my eyes with the light bouncing against the white, fluffy cloud line. I was in awe. There was the SUN unseen to me earlier that day because my actual physical location was below the clouds. I was having a moment of wonder and enlightenment after that Cloud Dancing experience. I’ll elaborate a bit.
Low level, stratus clouds create fog. When our heads are “fogged over with the mundane things” we may not have the opportunity to CLOUD DANCE. Once above the cloud line, we can see the light, the SUN.
Fog rolling into the Valley
Once above the cloud line, a clear flight path creates less resistance and the thinner air allows for a higher speed for the aircraft to move forward. The time to reach your destination will literally just “fly” by! My thoughts were racing with this idea of the sun being above the clouds… the metaphor was felt internally. Maybe we need to get above the clouds to find our path(light) and soar.
Filtered Light
Which brings me to the mention of Thin Places and connecting to my experience of Cloud Dancing. A dear friend, Sheree Sloop, shared the concept of Thin Places with our retreat group several years ago. A Thin Place is an experience or a place where you feel at peace or have a close connection with God. In ThinPlaces, the distance between heaven and earth becomes “thinner” with these encounters. These experiences are not usually destinations that you visit… these are personal experiences that are unhurried, unique to the person, where we can catch a glimpse of heaven and beyond. The experience can be transformative and inspiring.
A Thin Place
Cloud Dancing was a Thin Place experience for me. The awe and wonder of being above the clouds was breathtakingly peaceful and the message that was delivered from the “holy ground” experience of CloudDancing was received.. finding the light above the clouds. He’s the light always. Being in a place where humans rarely tread… in the clouds.
Every Thin Place experience is uniquely different in the eye of the beholder… Cloud Dancing may not be a Thin Place for you. I have flown several times prior and not had this experience before.Why this time?? I believe that I was in a quiet reflective state and receptive to God’s message.
The beauty of Thin Places is the nearness or connection to God is key. Yes, you can find your own Thin Place. It could be a walk in the woods, driving alone in your car, a quiet reflective prayer, finding solace in a communion service, rocking on your front porch, or even simply enjoying a sermon in the church pew… the common factor, the “Holy Ground” experience… the sense of sacredness, and the connection with God.
Sheree shared a mediation with me as I began to work on this piece. She included this meditation in her last labyrinth group walk that she recently facilitated and I’ll share a portion with you today. Thank you Sheree! “as we set an intention for our labyrinth walk, I would like for us to think about the labyrinth as “sacred space” or “holy ground.” The Chartres labyrinth and others from the Middle Ages were often referred to as a “Road to Jerusalem.” When the Crusades and poverty prevented Christians of the Middle Ages from making pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Church officials commissioned the building of labyrinths in seven of the great European cathedrals. Christians could then make a symbolic, spiritual journey by walking a labyrinth. I often think about the places I consider as “Holy Ground”. I remember how it feels when I suddenly find myself in that thinplace. For me, the grounds at St. Paul’s are “holy ground.” The labyrinth in Coventry Chapel especially, seems to be a very special thin place and I know I’m walking on holy ground when I enter it. Sometimes I feel it in my chest, sometimes I feel the tingle on my arms or a shiver up my back. I think of all the dear souls who are resting there and wonder just how thin that veil really is.”
St. Paul’s Coventry Chapel and Labyrinth
If you have ever had a “holy ground” or a Thin Place experience, I hope you can connect to my feelings of Cloud Dancing. The next time someone says, “get your head out of the clouds”, let them know that Cloud Dancing is a way to find light above the clouds, and maybe even much more.
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