Day 128: May 7, 2016 X-Game Prayers

May 7, 2016    X-Game Prayers
Day 128


He runs up a wall like a fly and completes a half pike back flip. He hangs on to a rope tied to a four wheeler, feet strapped onto a snowboard, heading to a newly built ramp with a jeep in the middle. He climbs to the top of a fifty foot tree and jumps off a thirty foot cliff, you do the math. He snowboards over a ramp with half pikes. The stone wall thirty feet high is meant to be scaled, so he tells me. He was born to jump, scale, climb and flip. My prayers are Xgame rated.


I work like a dog in my prayer life - for this is only where I can work. Just the other day at a school picnic I watch the youngest son jump off the swing with a back flip. This is only one of the six children. The middle boy taught him. Little did I know the older boy would longboard down a 27 mile road in Arizona a few years back. There is so much to pray about as I either watch, contemplate or wonder what they are up to.



Longboarding down a wet road, falling back and cracking the skull, falling out of a twenty foot tree missing the lamp post spike and boulder on the ground both lands us in the Trauma Unit. A mother's prayer life is key, though there are no guarantees. We live in a world where gravity and sickness are in full force. The laws of nature, physics and God's grace all intertwine and we are at His mercy. Even so, through these high wire times we are called to pray down power from on high.

On the playground I never helicopter my children but my inner life flips off monkey bars, scales the high slide, and jumps off the seesaw. My Xgame like prayers is undetected with my feet dangling from a nearby swing. This is the work of faith.

Day 127: May 6, 2016 Pursue Your Dream And Do Not Look Back

May 6, 2015  Pursue Your Dream And Do Not Look Back
Day 127

Continue to pursue your dream. Do not be swayed to the left or to the right. Even your detractors will give guidance. Use them, never let them hinder your progress. Anything negative has another side, find it.

Darkness teaches one to walk patiently. Do not stop giving grace it sustains and keeps you moving. Do not let disappointment stymie you but rather instruct. You will learn much from the open and closed door. There is not a landfill of failures and successes. But there is a recycling center for there is no such thing as trash worthy.

You are using your skills. Your pursuit of your dream highlights your strengths and enlists your weaknesses. Fully advance attending to your weaknesses. Do not give up.

Your dream suits everything about you. Do not let your negative mind conversations become your reality. Discipline your thoughts and keep them marching in order. Consider your work out session, the bumps and obstacles along the way.

You started out with some who no longer walk with you now. Never forget them. They taught you much. All is well with those who look for the best and reject the bad. Be that person. Go for it

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Day 126: May 5, 2016 Wider Days

May 5, 2016   Wider Days
Day 126


Today is Thursday, Wider Day. The students will start to arrive soon after 7:30 am. It is now 6:14 am and the minutes and seconds that pass are not wasted. Time matters. Some corrections are still waiting, all papers are printed, and the studio needs a bit more arranging. There is nothing about this early morning arranging, cleaning, preparing or fixing that has ever frustrated me. Sure, there are times when I might not feel completely prepared but never has there been a dread. The Wider Endeavor from start to beginning fills me and continues to do so.

The students bring the energy, even when they walk in emotionally loaded with the effects of their early morning rush. The shift happens within the first half hour and we become one. Energy fills the room as their brains begin to crank, move, and work. Our times of reflection, conversation, and wondering are charged. We feel it and love it.

To encourage a student's curiosity is a gift they will unwrap for a lifetime. Questions are expected, demanded, and lifted to a higher level at Wider. "When your questions leave, there is nothing we can do for you." We know that a curious individual is a seeking individual and a seeking individual is someone who is bent on finding. Our success hinges upon teaching them how to find answers.

Our Wider efforts have blossomed and for this we are grateful. A dip into Wider changes and charges students. To date our students flourish. This is what we promised and this is what we see- a love for learning.

Over the last three years my daughter, Robyn, and I have learned volumes. We walk inspired, changed, and full of anticipation for the future. Not all our learned experiences were positive- whose are? Some even painful but nothing has been wasted. For this we are grateful and our desire is to continue to use all things for the continuation of the Wider Endeavor.

Our vision waxes as we are in the process of developing a Wider team. Robyn and I are most grateful and honored by the students with whom we have journeyed. They are more organized, challenged, inspired, productive, and curious. We look forward to seeing their innovations, creations, and books they will publish. Wider continues to widen and we look forward to the new faces coming next year!

Day 125: May 4, 2016 Compilation of the Week

May 4, 2016
Day 125

Sunday has always been a time to remember, reflect, ponder, wonder and simply rest. This is a place where I do it well, at Scott's Run in French Creek. The week came into focus and when I left it was with a much needed compass for the direction of the week. Time at Scott's Run is always well spent and Sunday was no different.

These two are wonderful people, Nicole and Geoffrey. This picture was staged, but it is never hard to get them to hug one another.

On Saturday I traveled down Rt. 10 to my favorite place to purchase plants, Willow Brook Greenhouse. I have been going to this place for over 30 years. They grew geraniums for my wedding tables, thanks to Kathleen Stoltzfus.

Sunday night my friend, Mary Wilson called to discuss our plans for Longwood Garden on Monday. The forecast predicted lots of rain, what should we do. We planned on eating at Garden Spot Village. However, Monday I texted and said Let's keep on course!

She walked me to the Italian gardens!!! It was completely enchanted, and though I have been to Longwood Gardens plenty of times, I had never see thins.

On Tuesday I requested the presence of my grandson at my favorite place, French Creek. We wandered back to see the Beaver's home.

In the evening a dear friend,  visiting her family from the West Coast, was visiting me on Tuesday evening.

Today my daughter, Kathryn, came home with a sharp hair cut!

Geoffrey and Jesse are constantly at it. I really enjoy life with the people gracing my presence. God is good and I thank Him for the food, the fun and the fellowship!

Day 124: May 3, 2016 The Beavers' Home

May 3, 2016      The Beaver's Home
Day 124


Theo and I travel to the favorite place to see the Beavers' house. They were not home. Had they been around we would have heard their tails slap the water. During the summer they must have spent quite a bit of wood on renovations over at the island. We wonder if they have moved out of this lodge. We will try to ask them the next time.

We love to sit and think. Theo has so many thoughts, he needs this time to contemplate. His eyes fill with views of the lake, the blooms on the bush and the kayak in the distance. We hear the birds. Their songs fill the forest. We slop through the puddles, we know what to wear. We say goodbye to the forest. On our way home we speak fondly of the Beavers' home. We promise to come back.

Day 123: May 2, 2016 Unworthy Sense

May 2, 2016     Unworthy Sense
Day 123


I feel inadequate, not quite enough. I definitely need more of something, not quite sure what, hard to put my finger on it. Surely there is something I can do to bridge the gap, fill the hole. I do not have enough, I need more. Of what? I do not know.

I should try harder. My eyes from sockets of unworthiness scan the horizon for worth, something to validate myself. Maybe I should do this or that. Will that make me feel included in the elusive exclusive? Will I ever be completely included based on all levels? I want complete inclusion. But what are the levels? Maybe that is why I do not ever feel quite there, I do not even know all the levels?

There is a scurrying in my spirit. I must get to the bottom of it. It leaves me unrested, discontent. Even though I "know" it is foolish, foolish I am. So I ask a simple question. "Jesus? What is going on in my spirit that allows me to wander down this path? Why am I looking over the neighbors' of the universe fence? What keeps me from enjoying mine?"

I wait for He always answers, I just often do not ask. I would rather wallow in these pathetic mind trails, or so it seems. In a picture He speaks.


The Trinity surrounded in warm yellow, bursting, energizing, invigorating light in a bath of the coolest, chillest, most soothing music, has their arms outstretched with fingers pulling me closer, closer, closer.

"LYNNE!!!!! Our dearest Lynne, we are here! The Almighty, Creator, God of the universe, the lover of your soul, Wonderful Counselor, your truest friend is here. With nothing I created the universe and with nothing I asked you to come. You have entered into the deep, abiding, inclusive exclusive relationship with Me. I have provided you all. Why did I have you come with nothing? Because I AM needs nothing. I AM your all in all.

Your inadequacy comes from the misperceived, ill notion that it is what you do that makes you who you are. Remember this misconception was birthed from a place of discontent, never from the lack of anything but a craving for "more" with a clear shove and displacement of the offered relationship. From the recesses of my ever loving heart, I offer you true identity, worthiness all based on me, my worth, my brilliance, my wisdom, my righteousness.

You and I are able to be in deep relationship because I took care of your worth, your security, and your confidence. My Body broken for you is where your feet are firmly planted. My blood shed for you is the River of Life. Your watershed is fresh and clean, unpolluted.

I know what you seek, ME. This establishes your worth and this is who I sought, You. I bought you and you are mine and it is in relationship to me that allows you to stop peering over the neighbor of the universe's fence. When this sense of inadequacy, this frantic searching for the elusive exclusive rears up, just look into my face, hold my nail scarred hand. I have given you rest.

Note to self: May the sense of inadequacy, adequately lead me to the more than adequate, and fuller understanding of the eternal fact that Jesus is my all in all. I need no other Savior.

And to that one person wondering why I, Lynne, seemingly confident person, should feel this way? Remember, we are all alike and at our core, though our external may not show it, we wrestle with feelings such as these. It makes no sense and that is usually when you can detect the "accuser". I share honestly with you for we journey together.

Day 122: May 1, 2016 Who Needs God

May 1, 2016             Who Needs God
Day 122

I  want to respond how I desire. I want to do what I want, make my own decisions, listen to my   thoughts. Please, no talking.

D o not interfere me with my ways, interrupt my thoughts or challenge my arguments. I will establish my protocol. I know how.

O nly be still and know I have it covered. I'm good. For I am in control and will lean on my own understanding. I do not need to acknowledge yours. It is the 21st Century.

L eave me be, I can do anything I put my mind to. Watch me and learn. I can do all things through my strength, even I amaze myself.

A llow me to express myself however I desire. I am free to speak my mind and I will.

T reat me with respect and understand my unalienable rights.They are a good start but I have many more.The world is mine. I will seek first the establishing of my world and add all that I deem necessary.

R ely on me. I know how to take care of myself. I can take care of you.

Y earn to be like me.I can teach you so much. If you are weary, get some rest. I am all about the work ethic. I hate whimps.