Pixie Dust and Magic

I have found myself often in that spot of utter busyness which feels as if nothing is really getting accomplished and yet it there is constant activity. Sometimes it is as much my mind going in too many different directions, and that feeling of just blah in the spirit, as it might be physical busyness. Lately much more emotional and mental than physical.

Sometimes though, something taps on the window and begs to be let in. Sometimes I just stumble on that that feeds the soul and taps into the joy that is inside, maybe deep and covered with all the other, but it is there. That happened to me recently. Nothing earth shattering or explosive. Rather subtle.

Just reading and there it was.

I had mentioned a few blogs ago, the journeys of a couple young men on the Appalachian Trail. As I started reading various journal entries on the trail site, and reading Duffle Miner's mother's writing of his adventure (that is his trail name), the first tapping into the tank of excitement was felt. Then there was the mention of "Trail Magic." Trail magic is the love of strangers for hikers on the trail. Trail Angels reaching out with food, or even a full spread breakfast cooked on the trail. Beverages or a cooler left with iced down Mt. Dew. Sometimes even shuttles into town and back. Angels loving their neighbors, even if the hikers are only passing through.

(not the AT; Muir Woods path)

 At the same time as learning of trail magic, I stumbled across a book, Wonderstruck (by Margaret Feiberg). Her words and descriptions, her desire for "Pixie Dust" from God tapped deeper into tank of excitement and joy. I needed both these worlds, they fed what I desired, even though I did not know I even desired it until I stumbled across it. I didn't realize I was missing it either: God's wonder and amazement.

I saw it, but wasn't soaking it in, relishing in it. From Wonderstruck, she said her pixie dust prayer was like the "Mary Poppins of all prayers, asking for pixie dust is hard to do without a frolicsome smile on your face, a playful cheer in your spirit, a holy anticipation of how God may answer." I tried it, she is right.

As I realized I desired Pixie Dust and Magic. Or maybe I desired Pixie Dust and WANTED to be a Trail Angel leaving Trail Magic along life's path for others... At any rate, I did start to notice pixie dust all around. Busyness had been creating blind spots.

She mentioned something else, a few pages back, "Scripture affirms that God speaks through the chattering and clattering, crunching and scrunching, pittering and pattering, yet I've been unresponsive." BINGO. There is was again- what busyness does if allowed. Reminded me of my post ,recently, of things missed. Pixie Dust was there, and if I was lucky enough, I have a picture or two, so the whole gift was not missed.

The weekend is here. And it is a busy one - physically. My son heads up his Eagle Project. Leads his troop in creating what may seem just functional and practical to most - identifying, cleaning, repainting, handicap parking spaces at the zoo - but in actuality, it just may be trail magic for someone else on this life's journey. And while he is doing that and as my husband and I support and help him, I hope not to be too busy, or too worried or too "thinkee" to miss the pixie dust moments that are sure to be there. I don't plan to stumble on them, I will be watching and waiting with joyful anticipation.

And before I stop rambling, some pixie dust from earlier this year...

5 whale spouts, amazing! Especially for someone who can claim this to be the first time experience.

Wishing you a pixie dust kind of weekend!

"Asking God to unleash his mercy and grace and goodness and love is like boldly looking into the eyes of God and saying, 'Surprise me!" The wonder is that he does" Margaret Feiberg

More Than Meets the Eye

Do you ever look back through your pictures, and notice things you didn’t notice before?

I do. Items that were not even seen at the time of the snap and the flash (unless you are a really good

photographer – no Flash!)

I did not notice in this picture of city wear and tear, that bit of bling in the midst. Do you see it? In the
window? A modest chandelier.

Then there is this one:

My youngest, my husband and I were waiting on orders of baked oysters at a local beach pub, and The
Man asked hubs to join him a game of pool. I was playing with the camera on my tablet. Never noticed
while we were there, the words in chalk on the wall. The Will with a heart under it. Hubs name is Will and that is him(the blur) readying for his next shot. And we did not write that.

And my favorite picture right now:

I took this focusing on The Man and his friend at scout weekend. I love it because they had no idea they
were being focused in on, and I love it because I was oblivious to the reflections behind them. Of the
wind cutting across the reflection, adding layers to the picture.

These all make me wonder, what all do I miss in life? What is before me that I totally look around or fail
to see, fail to enjoy?

Or are these examples of gifts in life? When the picture was snapped, I was enjoying what I
was capturing, when I looked again, I still enjoyed, but found new little treasures.

I guess a picture is worth a thousand words . . .

Smile!