Hello friends! It’s been WAY TOO LONG since I’ve posted something on my blog. So many times I have thought about wanting to write, but not doing it. Enough of that nonsense. I miss writing and I miss encouraging you by sharing what is on my heart and how I see God at work in the everyday.

2020 means good eyesight, so it’s fitting that this year I want to focus on having clear vision. Focusing on the beauty, helping to make a difference in difficult situations, being aware of my body and mind, being present, and setting priorities and goals to help me and my family live a more God centered, God driven life. And, of course, ALL of this involves being brave on the narrows and stepping out in faith to the areas God is leading me.

Defying means to resist something openly or boldly. Gravity means the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth.

My daughter Stella sang “Defying Gravity”, that rousing song from Wicked, for her school talent show at the beginning of February. (If you didn’t get a chance to see it, please check out the video clip on my  Facebook page.) I was appropriately bursting with pride as she passionately and dramatically belted out the lyrics to this inspiring song. Oh, how we can learn so much from our children. Stella had no fear and shined on stage using her God given talent to perform.

I want to be like Stella was that night. I don’t want to be afraid to step into the spotlight and use the gifts God has given me to make the world a more lovely place; and to create a legacy for my sweet girls to carry on. I want them to “defy gravity” and go against the things that pull most people in the popular albeit wrong direction. I want them to do the next right thing that God and their passions are magnetically drawing them toward. I want their hearts to sing with abandon to the song that is stirring in their soul. I want them to be changed for the good and let nothing stop them from shining the love of God right where He has planted them.

Where in your life do you need to be bold and “defy gravity”? When and where can you go against the flow; get out of your comfort zone; stop focusing on someone else’s supposedly greener grass & water your own grass instead? Let’s defy gravity together, my friends, and make a difference in this world.

This may look like putting a spouse’s needs ahead of your own, inviting a new friend to coffee, going on an adventure; starting a new venture; offering to drive someone somewhere, visiting someone who needs encouragement, dropping off a meal, composing a song or poem, choreographing a dance or play,or turning off the TV some nights and going to bed early in order to wake up earlier the next morning to spend time in God’s word &/or worship.

Go ahead, take a leap, dive in, dance to the beat of a different drum, & live a life defying gravity AND focusing on goodness in the process.

“Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.”—-Mark Twain

DEFYING GRAVITY

(solo lyrics)

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules
Of someone else’s game

Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep…

Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap

It’s time to try
Defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down

Can’t I make you understand?
You’re having delusions of grandeur

I’m through accepting limits
‘Cause someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know

Too long I’ve been afraid of
Losing love I guess I’ve lost
Well, if that’s love
It comes at much too high a cost

I’d sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I’m defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down

Unlimited, my future is unlimited,

And, I just had a vision like a prophecy,

Truly it sounds crazy

And, true the vision’s hazy

But I swear someday I’ll be

Flying so high
Defying gravity
And you won’t pull me down

So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately
“Everyone deserves the chance to fly”

And if I’m flying solo
At least I’m flying free
To those who’d ground me
Take a message back from me

Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I’m flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I’ll match them in renown

And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down