Your Path Matters

Part 2: Lessons I Learned From The Camino

YPM® — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 16:03:09 +0000

It Helps to Believe in God’s Angels

We were near the half way point of our pilgrimage along The Way (or the Camino de Santiago) in Galacia, Spain. The quarter-sized blister on my right heel constantly reminded me it was there and the ache in my bones was gnawing and deep – a kind of deep I had never experienced before. It felt as if my bones were moaning. The pain was not muscular strain or a symptom of my lack of endurance, but something more I could not identify. This added emotional fatigue to my physical pain. One step in front of the other was my only choice unless I wanted to give up and ride the bus.

No way! Not this pilgrim. I traveled to Spain with my husband to experience this spiritual journey and I was going to do just that!

Ken and I started the first few mornings hiking together, but his pace was much faster than mine especially given his long legs and my physical state. As the days progressed, I urged him to go ahead so he could move at a more gratifying and natural cadence. This provided the opportunity for each of us to walk parts of the Camino with our new friends from our small tour group. Ken usually hiked the morning with Clay since their pace was similar. I often hiked with Cathy, since she bravely traveled solo on this journey and had no built-in hiking partner. Her life story was humbling to my heart. I cherished the time I got to spend with her along The Way. Experiencing different parts of the journey each day with a new friend who willingly shared their own significant story became a special treasure.

Each morning our guides mapped out what we should expect from the miles ahead. They plotted our touch-point-stops so they could account for us throughout the day. The group was good about keeping a mindful pace that allowed us to meet for lunch and finish within thirty minutes to an hour of one another at the end of the day. I am not sure when or why my evaluation of this mapped-out journey shifted, but somehow my vision that I had created in my mind of this spiritual trek was not matching the reality of it. My focus was clearly clouded.

The morning instructions and evening recaps from our guides seemed laborious. The history lesson at lunch BEFORE eating a crumb of food after eight to ten miles of hiking was an impediment for re-balancing my blood sugar. The pain was mounting in my body and the circles and bags under my eyes were becoming more exaggerated. The hard mattresses and dark, dank rooms were tiring and void of the joy and comfort that I anticipated at the outset. The mostly gray skies that threatened of rain daily dampened my outlook.

These things consumed me.

Did I love the people who were gathered around us as new friends? Yes! Was the food excellent and plentiful? Absolutely! Were our guides lovely and helpful? Of course. Was my husband loving me through my struggles? Hmmm. . . ? That peach umbrella protection he offered day one of our quest seemed now to be a great emotional distance away.

I was pretty sure my inner pouting was making its way out to the visible side of me. Much to his credit, Ken and I began the afternoon part of our hike together. I fought desperately to suppress my misery. He was rightfully sick and tired of my whiny presence and for remaining slightly ahead of me on the trail, yet I could not stand staring at his back any longer.

I stopped and stomped and proclaimed that this whole adventure seemed to be about reaching target after target, destination after destination, and hard bed after hard bed. Nothing about it was feeling very spiritual to me! Ken stopped. He turned and looked at me. I continued by barely muttering that I had carried my mother’s kite in my backpack for days and it seemed we never slowed long enough to fly it. It seemed we never paused long enough to notice the wind.

At this point, I was tired of my own damn self.

It was time for Ken to respond. He walked back toward me. He reached for my hand and said, “Let’s step off the trail and fly the kite.” A faint “Really?” came out of me. “Really.” he said. We stepped off the trail. Tears were just under the surface of my suffering fighting for my joy to win. I told Ken that I loved his invitation but I did not think the moment was right because the breeze was too inconsistent to take the kite up; he insisted that we try. . . so we did.

The kite rose and then swiftly fell. At that very moment I heard a voice behind me saying, “Give it more string, it will fly.” Who is that? Those are words my mother would say. Again, “Give it more string.” The next thing I knew, this man who seemed to have a lifetime of belongings on his back exited the Camino to help me and my mother’s kite seek out freedom and the breeze. He picked up the kite. He opened its wind channels and he gently encouraged me again to give it more string as he held it above his head.

We both watched it take flight. My heart took flight with it. Unbeknownst to me, my husband was yards away shooting a video with his phone. He captured the encounter with this stranger from the Camino. The encounter that took place just after I had made the proclamation that there seemed to be no room in this hike for my spiritual journey.

My husband, though tired of my disposition, led me off the beaten path to encourage me to take the time to experience God’s presence. And what did God do? He sent an angel to speak familiar words that I have heard many times from my mother. That angel had earbuds around his neck with music playing from them. The tune was captured on my husband’s video. The song was FREEBIRD by Lynyrd Skynyrd. That moment could not have been more masterfully orchestrated.

God sent me an angel when I finally exclaimed, “I want this to be a spiritual journey!” He reminded me that it was up to me to ask and to seek that adventure. He reminded me, “Robin, let it go. Don’t hold on so tightly. Freedom comes when you stop controlling every outcome.” I was indeed holding onto so many things that I needed to release like believing my expectations were the only right way for this pilgrimage to be significant or godly. I needed to look up and I needed to step off path and snap myself out of the self-centered place I had allowed myself to go. I was reminded to look around me and to see the beautiful gifts He has waiting for me. When I ask, seek, and notice, he answers me.

As I made room for gratitude to grow within me more miraculous encounters followed throughout that day and the days after.

Imagine that.

LESSON 2:

My suffering can block my view of joy. Waiting for my spiritual journey to happen to me only means I miss the signs along the way. I have to be an active participant by surrendering my frailties and trusting in God’s help. Of course, believing that He sends me an angel now and then doesn’t hurt.

I hope you will stay tuned for Lesson 3 to follow. I look forward to hearing from you in comments below!

I Pursued a Spiritual Journey and Failed Miserably Along “The Way”

YPM® — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 20:41:10 +0000

UNEXPECTED LESSON ONE from The Camino:

By Robin Hurst, Author, Founder, Your Path Matters and All In Retreats

When I anticipated our eight days of trekking on the Camino de Santiago to the tomb of Saint James, disciple of Jesus, I was sure that it would be one of the most incredible spiritual journeys of my life.

The visions in my head and heart were romantic. The dream of taking this trip with my husband, Ken, had been stirring in me for years. When we finally scheduled our adventure for September, Ken and I knew there would be a possibility of rain, so we planned accordingly by packing the appropriate gear if needed.

Unfortunately, our rookie planning was no match for the thunder, lightning, torrential rain and hail that met us our first day on the trail. There was no quick exit off the course to catch an Uber and it was unwise to escape into the immense evergreen forest canopy because the tall timbers were basically natural lightning rods.

The first half of our day was filled with warm sunshine and a joyful journey. It was a delight to meet up with others in our group for lunch. We lingered. We laughed. We enjoyed a bountiful feast. And yes, after much deliberation, I decided to shed my raincoat and extra shirt layer since the morning hike was so lovely. The additional gear seemed like unnecessary weight.

Those burdensome layers were left on the bus that we would not see again until the end of the day. After the first mile or two into our afternoon trek, the winds picked up, the temperatures suddenly dropped more than twenty degrees and torrential rain followed swiftly creating unavoidable ankle-deep water on narrow and uneven parts of the trail. The rain was announced by dark purplish-blue skies along with the symphony of rumbling thunder and flashes of lightning. The circumstances were surreal, but unfortunately undeniable.

As we grappled to mentally adjust to our circumstances, the situation was exacerbated by half-inch balls of hail that began to pelt our bodies relentlessly. Whimpering sounds came from my being as the reality of physical shivering escalated my discomfort while my fear of the true danger of a lightning strike intensified. Somehow, I had the presence of mind to lecture myself to stop the whimpering and to just pick up the pace to the finish line. Whining was not going to get me there sooner or dryer.

I then noticed that my husband pulled a peach umbrella out of his backpack and held it over me. He literally covered me. He held me close to him while holding the small umbrella over my head protecting me from the hail while sacrificing his own cover. Both of us tried not to think about the lightning magnet it was.

We hiked several more miles in the torrential rain to our destination of the iconic Iron Cross. I had looked forward to dwelling at the cross, saying a prayer and leaving a stone as a symbol of leaving something from within me behind while looking ahead in hope as is Camino pilgrim tradition. Dwelling at the cross was not appealing to me in the freezing cold, blowing wind, torrential rain and wicked hail. Not an inch of my clothing or body could get any more soaked than it already was, but lingering in the wide open at the foot of this metal cross in the elements was not part of my fairy tale dream of our precious spiritual adventure.

Until then, it had not occurred to me that the 100 miles we had ahead of us could be in the pouring rain – every day! This pilgrim would not have signed up for that kind of experience and labeled it a vacation. I prefer a more comfy kind of spiritual journey. These thoughts that were stewing in my mind were interrupted by the arrival of our bus. Bus transportation never looked so glorious to me.

Even though our first day was far from what I had envisioned, I made it through. My husband protected me from the hail and God protected us from the lightning. It was good to see the balance of our hiking group, who would soon become our dear friends, arrive and share their stories. They all laughed at Ken’s feminine colored peach umbrella – the only umbrella detected on the trail. Even though the laughter was welcome and warranted, I was grateful that particular umbrella was in my husband’s backpack and that he used it to protect me beyond his own comfort even if the rest of the group called him “Kenny Poppins” for the remainder of our adventure.

The lessons were many that day. However, not only did I not appreciate them at the time, I simply did not see them at all. I was wet, freezing and concerned for the days ahead. I was disappointed that I did not get to dwell at the foot of the iconic Iron Cross. I barely offered a feeble prayer there. That perspective prevented my dwelling with God to thank him for Ken, a peach umbrella, a group of new friends, and the fact that the Iron Cross was a reminder that He sent His one and only son to die for me so that I, in every kind of weather, get to experience His grace and the greatest love the world has ever known.

LESSON ONE – DAY ONE:

My circumstances and emotions can get in the way of my gratitude, my faith and my dwelling at the foot of the cross. Thankfully, God is patient and faithful. He will wait for me to find my way.

Surprised by LOVE

YPM® — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 22:10:16 +0000

As many of you know, my “Word” of the year begins in August after I travel to Vista, California. My word journey began by “accident” as far as I knew.

So this is my 7th year to choose a guiding word…. or should I say the word chooses me!

Crazy really.

The past two years, unlike the previous five, I have had a word in mind before I arrived in Vista. I had been talking to God for several weeks about this year’s word since I had a preconceived notion of what it might be. I asked God to make the “right word” really clear for me so that his direction would trump my own.

As usual, I called my friend, Joy in Vista a few weeks in advance of my arrival. You see, it is at Joy’s booth at the Vista Farmer’s Market where I retrieve my word.

When I called Joy to secure our annual Saturday connection, her response left me silent for moments… Joy’s news was devastating to me. She was not going to be at the market! I thought, WHAT?? How could it be? WOULD I HAVE HAVE TO GO WORDLESS?

Joy stepped into the silence (though the panic in my mind was loud and clear) with what she expected would be reassuring words. “Not to worry. I have already put your word aside for you. I feel strongly about this word for you.” EXCUSE ME?, I thought. How could you possibly know what word to choose? This journey is personal between me and God!

Then, I remembered my prayer. “God please make it really clear.” Could it be that he has lead Joy to choose my word? It was time for another prayer. “Ok, God. if Joy has not chosen the right word for me, then please make the word clear in the other soap word selections at Vista. I felt good about that. There is a back up plan.

Joy and I agreed, I would go to her booth at Vista to pick up my word even though she would not be there. It was all good… because I had a back up plan. After all, remember, this word is an ALL YEAR deal.

My husband and I traveled to Vista. Reunited with our friends Andrea and Neal. We caught up on the past 365 days with lots of love and laughter. Then, on Saturday we ventured out on our annual pilgrimage to the Vista Farmer’s Market. I was hopeful that the word that Joy had chosen would be reinforced when I saw all the other choices.

I found my way to Joy’s booth manned by someone I had never met before. I looked for the “word / intentions soaps”. My casual search turned into a bit of a frenzy. I approached the unfamiliar sales person and asked where the intention soaps were. She informed me that Joy did not carry those soaps at this market any more. WHAT? No soaps to review? There goes my plan B!

I asked this person for the package Joy left for me. She knew nothing about it. Again, I thought, would this be a “Wordless Year?” We soon discovered the package (which she had innocently mistaken as a gift for her). I opened the bag. There was my word.

It was NOT the one I had in mind. Why was I fighting the word? Why should it be a hard one to receive. I should be wide open embracing it. The word was LOVE.

The word I had secretly hoped for was JOY. Funny. Not only was joy not the word – but JOY herself was not present in person this year for the very first time in seven years. God is funny and should I add… clear.

Now that I am several months into living my new word, I am realizing that love is not just about others. It is also about loving myself – like God does – unconditionally, with grace and with mercy. That sounds like it should be easy. Is it easy for you?

I am learning to love the me I am today with all my flaws and imperfections. I am surrounding myself with reminders of love – with Joy’s LOVE candle, LOVE soap. I have a LOVE plaque over a doorway in our home and so on. Most of all, I have a red cross that is next to my reading chair. It reminds me every single day how much I am deeply loved no matter what. It means the same for you.

It is my honor to send you LOVE today, my friends! How do you surround yourself with reminders of love?

(For history, if you like, you can check out my Back and Forth to Vista blog, http://www.yourpathmatters.com/back-and-forth-to-vista-the-gift-of-vista/.)

LESSONS I’VE LEARNED FROM MY DAD

Robin Hurst — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:17:49 +0000

Today is my Father’s birthday. I miss him deeply. I was blessed to have written and read the “What I Learned from My Dad” to him on this very day last year. I added some writing around the tribute to share as eleven days later as he unexpectedly passed on from this world to be with our great Father in heaven. This is what I shared that day in May 20114…

My precious Dad moved on to heaven a week and a half ago. I miss him deeply. I know we all have special loves in our lives. My father was and always will be one of those for me. It is from experience I give YOU these words of encouragement. If there are words unspoken you wish you could speak to those still in your life whom you love in a special way – speak them. If there are loved ones who are no longer here on this earth yet you have words still to say – say them. God is an awesome messenger.

Just 3 weeks ago we were gathered for Dad’s 87th birthday. I wrote something special to read to him at his party. I am grateful these words were shared at a time I could feel his hand squeezing mine and could see the loving expression in his eyes.

LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY DAD

By Your Devoted Daughter, Robin

I’ve learned to love with a generous heart instead of judge with a limited perspective.

I’ve learned to be kind because the world needs more kindness.

I’ve learned to ask questions about God as a way to grow my faith.

I’ve learned to be patient rather than quick to respond without thoughtfulness.

I’ve learned caring for others matters.

I’ve learned to celebrate birthdays with joy instead of just tracking the years.

I’ve learned I can be strong yet posses a gentle spirit.

I’ve learned that laughter and love always trump worry.

I’ve learned to do the right thing just because it’s the right thing.

I’ve learned that humility has a soft voice and a strong presence.

AND also

that handsome and humility can exist in the same package.

I’ve learned to understand and receive our Great God, Father in heaven because I have been given such an amazing father here on earth.

I love you Dad. Thank you for teaching me all of these lessons through the way you live your life.

All my life, my father modeled the Fruit of the Spirit which is a gift from God as in Galations 5:22-23… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Even though my Dad lost his legs about three years ago, he stood taller than ever. While he became more physically challenged, he received care graciously just the way he had provided it for so many. (My Dad was an exceptional physician.) He remained engaged in life fully and his character remained unshakable.

As it says in 2 Corinthians 7 and Philippians 1:7 from God’s word…

“You greatly encouraged me” and “You have a special place in my heart.” God made my Dad this way to encourage and to love in such a way he made a special impression on your heart. He did this every day of his life. He will inspire me for all the rest of the days of my own life. I pray that I will pour into others what my Father (earthly Father and Father in heaven) has poured into me.

I Give to You…OUR SONG of the Year

YPM® — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 11:13:22 +0000

This Valentine’s month I share a piece of my heart with you – Our “Song of the Year”.

Do you ever feel like you just don’t need any more “boxes wrapped in strings, or designer love and empty things” as the Goo Goo Dolls say so eloquently in their song Better Days?

Well, the past few years my husband and I have felt this to be more and more true for us. So, one of the most rewarding gifts we have shared has been a song to call our own. A song to hold, to share, to revisit all year.

Some years we slow dance when I unveil the song. Last year my family participated in the gift and we did a “mini family flash mob!” It was hilarious and touching at the same time. This year it was more simple and more private.

I understand that not everyone is married. Of course songs can be shared between friends, sisters, loved ones or just with someone who you know would benefit from the gift of song. For my story, this song is shared with my husband, Ken.

As I played the gift of “our” song to Ken this year, I watched him fill up. I watched him really receive it. As he simply listened to each word, he reached under his glasses to catch a tear from falling. How grateful I am to have this man to share life with.

There is a word in this year’s song, by Darius Rucker, that provided a startling flashback for me. I know you will easily detect it in the chorus below.

“We are ONE heartbeat in the darkness.

We are ONE lasting answer to prayer.

We are ONE unbroken promise…”

“We are ONE before our God in heaven.

We are ONE road when the going gets rough.

We are ONE now and forever. We are ONE name, ONE life, ONE flame.

We are two, True Believers.”

It’s true. We have not always been all these things.

But today… I am grateful to be in this life, this marriage, this walk of faith with my husband. He believes in me when it’s impossible for me to do so. He loves me when it isn’t easy. He gives me his heart and prays for joy to enter my every day. I’m not sure how I ended up with THIS man in my life, but what I do know is that I pray that I can honor him – now and forever – as much as he loves me.

Nearly 21 years ago I had his wedding band engraved with ONE word. YUP. That word is ONE.

I feel it more deeply now than I could have ever imagined twenty and a half years ago when the word was engraved there. Since then, along with our love for each other, our loses in life, our struggles in relationship and challenges in business we are growing to understand what “ONE before our God in heaven” means.

We get to live this life together and share the love that fills our hearts with the many people – like you – who enter our lives through one avenue or another. We are two truly blessed believers.

Do you have a special song that you hold in your heart? Is there a line of a favorite song that you would like to share? I’d love to hear about it. Music makes my heart sing!

I hope you will download Darius Rucker’s song, True Believers so that you can hear it in its entirety.

I Repeat…My word of the Year is Patience

YPM® — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 11:22:55 +0000

I repeat… “My Word of the Year is Patience.”

Have you noticed that “New Year’s Resolutions, Revolutions, guiding words, goals and hopes” topics are resonating out there? Each year, in August (since 2007), I’ve identify a word of the year to live by. Since it is now a new calendar Year it seems appropriate to re-post my “Word of the Year” blog.

I hope you enjoy a little patience as you read on again, or for the first time.

If you were to choose a word of the year to live by, remain rooted in, would “PATIENCE” ever come to mind? Me neither! But this is how this true story unfolds….

My husband, Ken, and I travel every year back to the Vista Farmer’s Market (VFM) in California. (see other blogs: Back and Forth to Vista) This year was not exception. So, we arrive at the VFM and per our usual Em-O, Ken bee lines to the breakfast tamale booth as I continue to seek Joy – that would be my dear friend Joy Blessman and her booth filled with INTENTIONS. For the past 7 years I have returned to Vista to discover my guiding word for the year. I find the word or more like it the word finds me.Then I choose to live in it, by it and sometimes through it for the entire year. The word serves as an area of growth in my life and my faith.

This year, unlike past years, I arrived with a preconceived notion of what my next word of focus would be. I was sort of getting fired up about what I was sure would be my new word. Although, since it is important to me to surrender to what God’s plan might be for me, I said a prayer before we headed to the market. My prayer went like this, “God, please just make it clear what my word should be. Otherwise, I’VE got a plan. You know me, God, the sign has to be clear so I can be sure.”

So, when I arrived at Joy’s booth and laid eyes on my friend she greeted me with her smiling eyes and a new curvy, smaller frame. She shared her story about her new nutrition cleansing plan that clearly worked. Her size, her shining spirit, her glowing skin all revealed a cleansed new starting point. Somehow, Vista represents this for me each year. I yearn for this trip and these moments with JOY.

As our interlude continued to unfold my eyes began to search her booth for her famous INTENTIONS soaps and for my new word to treasure for the next 365 days. Concern entered my spirit. I did not see the soaps, only four INTENTIONS candles one of which was my anticipated word. Ok. Now all I need is the soap and I’m good. When I asked Joy about the soaps she said that a women earlier in the day had purchased almost all of her INTENTIONS SOAPS but she had this little row of them left. No matter really. I only needed one of them… right?

So, I begin to review the row of soaps, one soap hiding the next one. I looked at the first soap, it said “patience.” Well, no this is not it. The next one, “patience.” No way. The third one, yup, “patience.” The fourth, “triumphant” which was my word two years ago. The sixth and seventh soaps, “patience!” There were two more soaps, both said “joy.” As you can imagine, my heart was pounding. Not one WISDOM in the bunch! Maybe I’m supposed to switch to a candle this year. Who says the word has to be on a bar of soap?

Really, God? Patience? Ok, you may be asking me, why not joy? Great question! I thought that myself. Get this.

As I stewed in silent denial about the word that appeared 5 times out of 8 possibilities because someone else had bought all the others after asking God to make it really clear, I waited for the answer to change. I moved back toward the four candles. Remember, one of them had “MY” word – WISDOM – on it. I reached for wisdom. Meanwhile, my friend Joy had no idea what was going on inside of me as other customers were coming and going in her booth. Finally, as I reached for the wisdom candle I hooked the ribbon on the candle next to it. That candle fell into my hands. Joy quickly said, whatever that candle is that fell must be your word, Robin. It nearly jumped off the shelf at you. You are not going to believe this… YES! Dog gone it! It was the PATIENCE candle.

A brief moment after that happened, I remained in turmoil as more customers came and went. I picked up the “joy” soap telling myself that I could live with joy for the year. That would be just fine. It wasn’t wisdom but it trumped patience. Then a noticed a customer reaching toward the candles, as she was reaching her finger hooked a ribbon of one of the candles and it fell toward her. I repeated Joy’s advice – “that must be the one you are supposed to buy. It came right to you.” She looked at me, kept browsing and finally purchased the one that fell toward her. She said as she paid joy for her COURAGE candle, I do believe this was the one meant for me. REALLY. (Why couldn’t it have been the patience candle? She was ACTUALLY reaching for patience!) There was a complete stranger, hooking a candle just like I did. She accepted the message and moved on.

Joy looked at me. Robin, I can feel your angst from here. Why are you fighting patience so much? Girl, don’t you know the only way to it is through it? You may have all the wisdom you need for now to take the next steps in your dreams and God’s plan. Trust that. You just may need more patience to understand it all. She wrapped up that patience soap. We embraced. I left ready to tell my husband the unbelievable story.

He asked, “so what’s your new word of the year, Rob?” I said, “are you ready to hear this story?” His response, “it’s a whole story. Maybe later.” WOW. Already, I’m being tested in patience. No problem. I can wait.

While I thought I had grown so much in patience I guess there is more to learn. I’ve grown more patient with others, with the pace of the world, even more patient with myself, but I’m not so sure I’ve been patient in understanding how and when my dreams may be realized. People say that God’s timeline is different than ours. That’s a tough one. That means I’m not always the driver. I’m learning that I’ve got to depend on others and God to help me in this “dream plan.” That’s not easy for me. How about you?

Do you fight or embrace patience? Do you have a story of patience you can share in the comments? I’d LOVE to hear it! I’ve got all year.

Word for the Year – A Trip Back to VISTA

YPM® — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 09:40:43 +0000

If you were to choose a word of the year to live by, remain rooted in, would “PATIENCE” ever come to mind? Me neither! But this is how this true story unfolds….

Really, God? Patience? Ok, you may be asking me, why not joy? Great question! I thought that myself. Get this.

Do you fight or embrace patience? Do you have a story of patience you can share in the comments? I’d LOVE to hear it! I’ve got all year…

Risking to Really Live!

YPM® — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 09:44:10 +0000

“If we risk nothing, we risk everything.” Geena Davis

Words are never sufficient when we lose those we love. My heart goes out to all of you who understand this. A year ago, we lost my beautiful and courageous niece, Samantha, my sister’s daughter. Sam was 23 years and 5 days old. She stepped out in risk… a lot. Sam loved mischief. She loved adventure. She loved deeply, especially little children. She risked using her voice for others and for advancing a worthy cause or project. I learned so much from this young, yet very wise soul. I understand that losing those we love is part of life, but it is difficult to accept. It is painful. Grief from our loss lingers within us. I am also learning that grief is part of healing.

It is becoming clear that I must risk to really live which in turn honors what Samantha taught me about living. I am learning to risk through stepping out in adventure. I am: risking to stand up for what I believe… risking to support others…. risking to share my faith… risking to speak words of love over judgment, perfection or self-doubt… risking to take on physical challenges when my mind or fear would prefer to stop me.

My sister, Gail, (Sam’s mom) decided that every year on the anniversary of losing her daughter she would express her love and honor for Samantha by engaging in an adventure on that day. She extended this invitation to all of us on our family vacation. We (Gail, Sam’s sister, Sarah, my Mom- witnessing and capturing on digital from the shoreline, and me) started this tradition last week. My sister said that she did not want “the day” (or life forward) to forever be filled with only sadness. She desires life to be filled also with the joyful reminder of how Samantha lived. She believes with all her heart that this is what Samantha would prefer for each of us. I know she is right.

How could I say no? Gail chose for us to begin this new tradition with a para-sail excursion over the Atlantic Ocean. Our adventure began with travel out to the para-sailing boat by way of a Banana Boat ride through the crashing surf far off the coast line. It was good that I did not know in advance how thrilling this was actually going to be. As we paused briefly in the ocean near our destination after lots of screams of delight and terror along the way our smug, brawny Banana Boat Captain (pulling us from a Jet Ski) mentioned that on hot days the sharks like to find shade under the Banana boats. This was not funny. There was still time for mishap before boarding our para-sailing boat landing. And of course – there was the anticipated return trip by Banana Boat back to shore. Our Captain seemed to find great amusement in vamping up the peril for us. He knew that during our para-sail ride we would be dipped into the ocean from the air. His strategy certainly added to the excitement as we were flying high above the ocean and watched the ocean move rapidly closer just before we collided into the waves (where the sharks live) and then lifted again into the sky before landing back safely on the boat. A thrill for sure – every step of the way.

Sarah is very afraid of heights. I am only just learning to overcome that fear… as you know…. (http://yourpathmatters.com/un-zip-your-courage/). Sarah was not fired up about her Mom’s choice of adventure but never once wavered in accepting the risk. The professional photographer aboard was amused by what he captured on film which revealed our emotions of glee, laughter, fear, love and courage in his series of shots. He had no idea all that he really captured in a few rapid clicks.

We risked everything that day. We risked letting go of some of the deep sadness in our hearts in exchange for joy. We risked releasing some of our grief to really live in the ways we are meant to experience life. We risked letting go of fear of the unknown for a new adventure that will never be forgotten. Just as those we love and lose… they will never be forgotten. They will always live in our heart and soul. I am grateful for the opportunity to live in a way that honors Samantha in joy, courage, growing wisdom, faith and love… as I make choices to risk.

What choices have you made to risk so that you really live life? What choices do you plan to make to risk forward?

I’d love to hear about it to cheer you on!

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Un-ZIP Your Courage!

YPM® — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 09:46:48 +0000

I have a fear of heights. It’s not exactly the height I fear necessarily but the falling from up high. Looking down makes my stomach feel like swirling butterflies. Therefore, I probably avoid situations of significant height unless I have solid ground under my feet so I can enjoy the vast vista. Therefore, when I signed up to “BE BRAVE” recently, as part of a conference in Nebraska, jumping off a 55 foot platform to ZIP LINE and walking swinging wooden planks 45 feet above the ground was what I had in mind to expand my comfort zone. I guess that is why they say “EXPANDING” your comfort zone.

The staff who was there to support our (myself and 14 other brave women) adventure kept reminding us… “this is Challenge by Choice, so if you do not want to jump or walk the High Adventure challenges you do not have to do so.” Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) I have adventure role models in my family. This made it nearly impossible for me to say no to the challenge. I would have to answer to family upon my return home. When I sat on the platform of the ZIP LINE looking down at what now appeared to be very small people below I thought to myself, “Why am I considering jumping off this perfectly sound platform? I don’t think that I can do this.” Then, I heard my niece, Samantha’s, voice in my head. Her voice said so clearly, “All you need is courage, Aunt Robin. You can do this.” Then all of a sudden I heard voices from the people who looked so small below yelling to me, “you can do it! You got this!” Next thing you know, I’m sailing through the air screaming the entire way. My screams started out as FEAR but the scream somewhere along the way turned into CELEBRATION! Celebration that I had broken through my comfort zone and entered a new level of courage.

After I landed on both feet on solid ground, it was my turn to shout out words of encouragement to my friends who also were stepping out to BE BRAVE and jumping from trepidation into victory. We were all beaming and grateful for the opportunity to expand our courage, our confidence and our friendship.

Prior to heading to this Nebraska adventure and conference about “Pursuing Your God-Sized Dreams,” I felt a little stuck. Have you ever felt stuck? Stuck for me is when comfortable begins to feel uncomfortable yet I don’t know how to change that. Before Nebraska I was making progress on some of my dreams but my steps were careful. You might even say I questioned a lot of my steps. Even though the dreams in my heart stirred within me every day, I doubted their importance and wondered if they really mattered to anyone other than me – and my encouraging husband. In Nebraska as I jumped from scary heights, I experienced breakthrough in a physical way, a mental way and yes, a spiritual way.

I learned that by starting with one small step leaps can be accomplished. I learned that we can be more brave in community than we tend to be on our own. I learned that as I cheered others, I too was filled with encouragement.

It was a glorious day of breaking through fear to enter into heightened levels of confidence and greater belief of what is possible. We shouted out for one another as we initiated one step at a time to face our fear. We were filled with reassurance that not only could we breakthrough the challenges that face us in life but we could also CHOOSE to elevate the challenges. We triumphed that day in Nebraska. We left there knowing that in the days ahead triumph was waiting for us there as well.

When I returned home, my heart was filled with more focus to pursue my God-sized dreams. My balcony is now filled with a few more friends who are there cheering me on and it is my privilege to do the same for them. My new comfort zone includes greater courage to step out more quickly, more confidently and more faithfully.

My COURAGE ZONE is expanding. My comfort zone is no longer acceptable. I know that God has a plan for me AND I know that he has a plan for you.

YOUR Courage will inspire others! Trust and take intentional steps along your path to being all that you are meant to be! Be Bold and know that God is with you because YOUR PATH MATTERS!

Phil. 4:13 (NIV) I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Do you desire to Up-Zip your courage to pursue what matters most to you? What can you do TODAY to step out and grow YOUR Courage Zone?

Tell me about that or a time that you have done so in the past. I am here to cheer you on!

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Thank you for reading “Un-Zip Your Courage!” Please consider leaving a comment.

Be on the lookout… Your Path Matters Message Jewelry Store opening soon! Be sure to come back to check out the site or facebook for the store opening!

Pause Creates New Space

YPM® — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:00:48 +0000

One of my favorite quotes, “Create the space and a bigger life happens” is by Alysia Reiner. The first time I read this quote I felt the need to de-clutter my physical space. You know, purge and eliminate piles. It seemed I was skilled at creating little piles in every room – and my desk… forget about it.
So, I began the task of eliminating piles to create more physical and visual space. With each step toward “less is more” I found a desire to “create space” in other areas as space can be physical space, calendar space, mental space or soul space. I was discovering that in all of these spaces “clutter happens.”

Generally my life was organized, but busy and filled with lots of activity and commitment. Busy felt natural – most of the time, but it was beginning to consume me. It was time to pause. A forced pause was created in my life. It turned out to be a gift even if I did not see that right away. However, I now understand that I can actually “create” an intentional pause! Pause creates more clarity. Pause re-introduced me to myself. As I took time to be still, I began to really consider “bigger life.” At first, I thought how in the world would there be space for MORE? Yikes, more or bigger sounded scary and nearly impossible.

Does a “Bigger Life” sound scary or exciting to you?

For me it’s both. As I reflected further on this “bigger life” concept I asked myself… isn’t wanting more selfish? After all, my most important needs are covered: food, clean water, shelter and love. For all of these I am grateful. So what is a bigger life all about? Bigger began to translate into less of going through the motions and more intentional living toward what mattered most to my heart. This meant deciding to step off of the path of least resistance to step toward heart-filling commitments. I was seeking ways to fill my soul not just my time.

The pixels started filling in to create a new overall picture. I started small by eliminating one pile at a time in my home and office. The visual and physical space created more air, more peace. This created a natural desire to pause and breathe which then created greater desire within me to de-clutter other areas of my life like my calendar of commitments. I was officially on the quest of less is more!

Momentum was growing. As I reviewed my calendar of commitments, I asked myself one question over and over, “does that fill my heart or drain my spirit?” You see, I did not ask, is it important? I can tend to make every commitment important and therefore hard to eliminate. (Does that sound familiar?) Instead, I had to get creative about how I would resolve the draining part. Do I eliminate, delegate, find new ways to approach it? As my calendar began to transform so did my life. Fewer commitments that actually drained my spirit provided more space for the more meaningful. This also meant the people or events I was (and am) dedicated to got (and get) the “best me.”

Life was transforming from less of going through the motions and more intentional and authentic choices. I was (am) becoming who God created me to be. I firmly believe that you too were created to be fulfilled not just busy so that you too live your BIG LIFE of fulfillment. We were not created to be lost in busy-ness or carried along in the flow of what others expect our life to look like from the outside. Creating the space within our soul and heart to live a more fulfilled life is what God has in mind for each of us. YOUR PATH MATTERS! Your dreams matter. Your choices matter – every day. It’s your path – your choice.

Simplifying my life in this way also provided the space to dream, to be courageous, to step out to lift others in ways to help them also realize their best life and their best version of who they were created to be. http://yourpathmatters.com/we-offer/

I invite you to pause, to choose … Less busy, filled life for more fulfilled life.© Are you ready to trade piles and stuff for space, or trade commitments that drain you for commitments that lift you or a filled calendar for intentional time to pause, reflect, rest, read, dream and grow into your bigger life?

What could YOU have less of to create space for more of __________ ?

What might compel YOU to pause? To breathe? To live YOUR bigger, more fulfilled life?

I would love to hear about it. Let us all know what you have traded for “less?” Your story could help others who are reading! Thank you in advance for your important contribution.

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Thank you for reading “Pause Creates New Space!” Please consider leaving a comment.

Be on the lookout… Your Path Matters Message Jewelry Store opening soon! Be sure to come back to check out the site or facebook for the store opening!