It was at the apex of that moment that something clicked in my thought processes that really was revolutionary in the sense that I live by it to this day. It was as though God was using this moment to share with me a life-lesson that would last. The dock became my classroom and He was my most valuable teacher. I realized that I could either be perplexed, frustrated and,  not a little bit,  angry at my inconvenience or I could take a deep breath, look around, appreciate my surroundings and, yes, even enjoy the journey.

Finally, in the distance, just at the horizons edge, I saw something approaching at top speed that must surely be my transport to this wonderful hideaway that I would call home for a few days of rest and relaxation. No such luck. My thoughts were racing as quickly as my pulse. I most certainly was not like Peter in the Bible who had the luxury of walking on the water. That was not an option for me. I couldn’t catch a plane to this future haven of mine as there was no landing strip. I definitely  did not want to spend the night under the stars with the tropical bugs on the dock and had not even thought it might be necessary to have made reservations in a local hotel. How long was this test of my “patience quota”  going to last? I was already to my limit. Though not verbalizing it out loud,  I was most certainly having a lively dialogue in my mind as to what I was going to say to the captain of this aquatic invention if and when he finally arrived.

I made a quality decision that day. I chose to take that deep breath and look at my surroundings filtered through the new lens of an inquisitive adventurer looking for exquisite treasure. The water with its various shades and hues of blue was absolutely breathtaking. To the right of the dock it was like a giant fish aquarium with an endless array of species that any fisherman would have thought they were in heaven. The seagulls were taking nose dives trying to find a scrumptious meal to enjoy from the ocean’s diner. I meandered from the dock onto the sandy beach where I began to methodically sift through the most beautiful collectibles of all time – seashells.

As the sun began to slowly set and the stars would not be long in their arrival I returned to my place of waiting with a new frame of mind. I knew the plans had been made and felt certain that the boat would arrive before much longer. In the meantime, I had already begun to enjoy my adventure of a lifetime with a wonderful gift neatly packaged in the word called patience. There it was. The light piercing the darkness like a beacon signaling the next phase of this marvelous journey was about to begin. I responded to the captain’s greeting with a warm, “Hello. I’m looking forward to seeing your beautiful island.” When he saw all my luggage that was to be loaded on his boat, though he never said a word, I’m sure he thought that I must be going to stay for at least a month rather than a few days. Could this have been a slight payback for his tardiness? I don’t really think so. However, I do know that I’ve learned through whatever circumstance I may find myself,  I have the choice to either endure it or enjoy in spite of it. I choose enjoy. Thank you, God, for teaching me patience that day sitting on a dock ….. waiting.

I knew it was going to be a marathon trip.  From Los Angeles, to Salt Lake City,  to Houston and then on to Fort Lauderdale. I was more than tired and ready to get home even if I had to “puddle jump” to get there. It was early in the morning and I knew I would not be arriving home until late at night but  at least I would be home. The flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City had been terrific. And now leaving Utah the take-off roll had been perfect as we once again rose into the heavens. The azure skies glistened with the brightness of the sun as I settled back in my seat to enjoy the ride. We were about forty-five minutes out of Houston airport when what started out as a few bumps began to turn into the roller coaster ride of my life. The “fasten your seat belts” sign came on. The beautiful blue skies were now growing more ominous by the second.  In just a few moments of time, suddenly, from out of nowhere, we were flying through a horrendous storm. All I could see now was the  black clouds that appeared to swallow the wings while, at the same time, the rain beat vehemently against the windows like a fighter in the ring. Of course, the lightning was flashing piercing the darkness for a brief moment and then it would disappear as quickly as it had come.

Obviously, I couldn’t get off and say, “I’ll think I’ll walk.” Those of us on that plane were a captive audience in a real-live drama. There was a grandfather sitting to my right who had enjoyed sharing pictures of his grandchildren with me and telling me wonderful stories of his childhood. I absolutely did not want him to know this “woman of faith and power” was at the moment quite terrified. However, I think he must have known when, as the plane took a major dip, I grabbed his arm with a grip not indicative of my small stature. With a sheepish grin I said, “Oh, excuse me. I think this weather is a bit rough, don’t you?”  This kind grandfather chuckled and said, “That’s quite all right, young lady. I’m a bit scared myself.” What? This mature grandfather afraid. Oh, no. Not good. This must be it or so I thought. In all of my travels I had never been in a storm quite like this one.

I reached over grandpa and without hesitation pulled the shade down over the window. Out of sight. Out of mind. Well, not quite. I did figure, however, if I didn’t see the dark clouds maybe I could shift my thoughts from the storm to something else a bit more peaceful. Secondly, I fixed my eyes on the pilot. No, more like I stared at the pilot. This is back in the day when they would keep the cockpit doors open. I carefully concluded that as long as the pilot seemed calm and I didn’t see him break a sweat, every thing must be all right. Obviously, we landed safely and I lived to tell the story. Now, I’m a student pilot and I am learning how to fly a plane. Here are some things I learned that day that I could never learn in a text book about surviving the sudden storm. First, I learned that unexpected storms will come. That’s just a fact of life. Secondly, you’ve got to learn the art of shifting  your focus. It could very well be a matter of life or death. When I pulled the shades over the windows I no longer focused on the storm but rather the pilot. He was listening to the tower and he had his eyes on the instruments. I was no longer fixated on the storm with its horrors but rather the performance and precision of the pilot.

If you are experiencing a sudden storm in your life right now pull the shade down. Here’s what I mean. Shut out the doubt and the fear. Tune out all the toxic people who would try to tell you that you’re not going to make it. You make the decision to move your gaze from the storm to the Pilot of all pilots, Jesus Christ. The Captain and the Master of the storm. I’m fully aware of just how rough the storms of life can be. I understand the buffeting winds and the torrential rains of the circumstances you may be facing right now. But because I know the Pilot I have every confidence that not only can you survive this sudden storm but you can thrive in the middle of it. Keep your eyes on the Pilot. He’s got it all under control! Safe landing….

Living in this new country with our new found friends was both a joy and an adventure. They had so welcomed us and had now become our family. Haiti had become our home. Why were we there? Mom and dad had been assigned as missionaries and we were obviously a willing part of the package. Poised atop a hillside overlooking the city of Port-au-prince, not too far from the Canape Verde Hospital, on this night I learned the real difference between religious ritual and meaningful relationship. Between light and darkness.  It seemed that on this particular evening the drums sounded even louder than before. Or at least that was the way it appeared to me. In the theater of my mind I could only imagine what was going on as these worshipers with a fervor known only to them invoked the spirits.

That was it. I had to know. I threw the covers off, marched like a teenager on a mission into mom and dad’s bedroom across the hall. I said two words that, as far as I was concerned, was really the understatement of the year.  ”I’m scared.” I think my heart was beating in my chest as loudly, if not louder, than those drums.  How could they possibly sleep with all this going on? It was beyond me.  What about all those spirits that were floating around? Would one of them find their way up the hill and through one of our windows? Dad and mom realized that I, with my most inquisitive mind, needed some answers.  Dad slowly sat up on the side of the bed and patiently posed this question, “Diane, what do you hear?” Now what kind of question was that? I was in their room in the middle of the night because I was hearing the sound of the voodoo drums. I know he had to hear it, too. He continued his discourse with mother in her quiet gentle way lending her support to this most important “teaching moment.”  I responded, “Dad, I can’t sleep because those voodoo drums are keeping me awake. It’s just plain scary.”

Dad was such a wise man and I will always be grateful for this moment because it was then he taught me a powerful truth that to this day I live by it. He posed yet another question, “Is that the only thing you are hearing? Listen closely.”  Next door at the Bourdon Church of God on the campus of our mission compound there was an all night prayer meeting going on. You could hear the people praying. Yes. There it was like a light bulb being turned on in a darkened room filled with scary images being dispelled by the light. Prayer. It was an all pervading force that drove back the fear that I felt. It brought a calm and a courage into my spirit. Their prayers filled the atmosphere and invaded the valley impacting not only me but I believe an entire nation. Suddenly, the sound of faith began to grow louder than the sound of those fear invoking drums. Those precious ones gathered in that little church on a hillside in Haiti were a mighty force in God’s plan to teach me a life-changing truth.  Dad said, “When God’s people pray it moves heaven and invades the powers of darkness with the light of His power which is far greater.” He continued, “Diane, you never have to fear because it is impossible for anyone to curse what God has blessed.” Oh, good. No little evil spirits were going to get through our windows.

To be sure we need not fear the future because God is already there. That’s what a relationship with Him is all about. Not religion. Not ritual. But Relationship. Thank God for the light. Thank you, dad and mom, for teaching me the difference. What’s that I hear? It’s the drumbeat of heaven – prayer.

Things were going so well at college and I was enjoying meeting new friends, eating in restaurants, eating in restaurants, and eating in restaurants. Did I mention I was eating in restaurants? Now I do not want any of my readers to possibly think that I am older than my years, but this was back in the day when you could write checks at eating establishments with no problem. You know, before the days of debit cards and easy access to credit cards for college students. It seemed that everyday became an emergency. Hadn’t my parents always taught me to be generous and have a giving spirit? Yes, but they had also taught me responsibility. It always amazes me how we can always justify our own actions when it’s convenient. I would invite my friends and sometimes people I didn’t even know to join me at the local restaurant and my checkbook would always come out when the check came. I was having fun. My friends and their friends were delighted. Until….

One fateful day I received a phone call from my father. To this day I can hear the serious tone in my otherwise jovial dad’s voice. “Diane, I have a word for you. Today I went down to the Bank of Winter Garden and I took your name off of our bank account. Have a good day.” Then he politely hung up. Have a good day? How was that possible? I was mortified. How was I going to make it? It was most definitely a reality check and a reminder that just as they had been good stewards over their finances, so I must be over what had been entrusted into my care. My friends? Well, my real friends didn’t seem to mind too much that we couldn’t go out quite as much. The cafeteria wasn’t so bad after all. Responsibility and I became very good friends and are still friends to this day.

On a side note. Another powerful principle I learned from this most interesting experience was this. When I was a on their bank account, the mere fact that I was Garland Mann’s daughter gave me access to their resources. All I had to do was write a check. And I must confess I did that very well. Think of the implications of that spiritually.  Isn’t that how our heavenly Father is? Because we are His children and He signed “the card” dipped with a quill of promise in His own blood, He has given us access to heaven’s resources where there is no lack. Well, all I can say is “thank you, dad, for teaching me that hard but much needed lesson in responsibility. Also, thanks for teaching me the heart of our heavenly Father toward His children. May we never take it for granted.”

She no longer fits in the palm of my hand but she remains snuggled tightly in my heart. She continues to teach me daily the lessons of love that will last a lifetime. Thank you, my daughter, my destiny, my gift…. Always and forever.  Mom.

Up I went in one fell swoop holding tightly to the trunk positioning my feet ever so carefully on the sides and finally finding some footing on limbs that would assist me on this  journey. I made my way slowly yet surely up the tree and then began my intricate task of getting out on that limb. I wanted to reach the very last leaf on the tree as the victor. Everything had been going smoothly up until now. There had been no incidents or accidents. Yes, I was conquering the mighty oak. Or was I? When making plans I have now learned it is of utmost importance to plan for the unexpected. When you’re making the calculations and developing strategies it’s always necessary to factor in surprises. Here I was up a tree and out on a limb. Wasn’t that the goal?  Yes, with one slight exception, I was upside down on the limb and could not seem to swing myself right side up. O.K. I heard you laugh. Fear, like an unwelcome intruder, began to wrap it’s icy tentacles around my heart. I was too far up to drop to the ground and besides there was the infamous concrete block underneath me. Where were those imaginary warriors that had accompanied me on this adventure? I’ll answer that. They were in “my imagination.” It was now time for a reality check.

At the top of my lungs I began to yell, “Mother.” It seemed like forever. All of a sudden the back sliding glass doors opened and here she came running as fast as she could. She had been washing dishes at the kitchen sink (remember the days before the dishwasher?) when she heard this shrieking, shrill little voice calling her name. With dish towel in hand, my hero, my mom, stood underneath where I hung clinging ever so tightly like a frightened cat to my  limb. Ever so calmly my mom said, “Diane, turn loose. Let go and fall into mother’s arms and I will catch you.” Here I was up in the oak a tree and out on a limb. There she was telling me to let go of what little security I had at the moment and trust her ability to catch me. A choice had to be made. I had to either trust her ability to catch me or resign myself to remain in this distressing dilemma. I closed my eyes (why I did that , I don’t have a clue) and I turned loose, I let go of my vice grip of that limb and I fell into her strong, safe arms. Just as she promised, she caught me.  Whew!

Now I don’t know what distressing dilemma you find yourself in today. You may feel in a very real sense that you are up a tree and out on a limb. It seems your choices are very limited. The most important one is this: Turn loose of your fear, let go of your worry and release yourself into the ability of a God who is strong enough to catch you and hold you in the safety of His loving arms.  Now I’m standing under the tree with my arms ready, just in case…..

It seemed like it would never stop. For a moment I thought we might even need to call Noah to see if He’d bring the ark to pick us up as the rain was falling so hard that even the petunias in her front yard were now bowed close to the ground. I thought they must surely be scared, too. Or perhaps, they were praying. That would be a good thing. Suddenly the thunder rumbled so hard you could feel the earth shake beneath your feet. Grandmother picked this scared little wide-eyed four-year old up in her arms and sat me in her lap in her big rocking chair and began to say, “Who’s afraid out in the dark? I’m not, the leastest little spark. For mama says that God is there. She tells me God is everywhere.” Now I’m not sure if that is something my grandmother made up or perhaps she learned it from her mother. All I know is, as she rocked me in her small but ever strong arms and told me that God was with us even in the storm, I felt a calm and a peace that brought about that wonderful thing called courage.

You see, my friend, courage is not the absence of fear. It is the ability to go on “through a storm” no matter of what sort it might be – in spite of it. It’s the ability to face the crisis with a faith that defies the fear. Even though it seemed it would never end, the moment came when the birds began to sing, the thunder and the lightning ceased, the rain abated and the sun shone again like a long-lost friend returning home to a heroes welcome. That day my grandmother taught me courage that has helped me through the years to weather  many a storm and now I’m teaching my daughter. “Who’s afraid out in the dark?” Sometimes I am…. but not for long. Thanks, grandmother, for the gift of courage.

This blog may not be for everyone but if you can relate just stay tuned. I heard it said sometime ago that singleness and marriage are like flies. Those on the inside want out and those on the outside want in. As humorous as that may be, for the sake of most singles, marriage is a thing that is not only on their mind but it’s in their heart. Most have a desire to find that special someone to spend the rest of their lives with and though they answer those reminding and often annoying questions over and over again, inwardly they wonder, “Will my time ever come?” Sometimes in desperation they just settle for less than God’s divine intention for them and end up marrying the “wrong one.”  Then they are like one of those flies on the inside just waiting for an open door to get out or they end up suffering in silence. Listen, you may be living single in a double world but there are a few things you can do to enjoy your journey.

First, surrender. Surrender your will to God’s will and patiently await the one He is preparing for you. Secondly, seek Him first. Fall in love with Him for only then will you really be able to love someone else fully. Then seek out friends who will increase you and not decrease you. Thirdly, don’t settle. Don’t be pressured by your well-meaning friends and the commercialism of today. I made a conscious decision that I was going to be like Ruth and wait on my Boaz (and I do believe there is one) and not my Bozo. Lastly, submit to God’s specialized and wonderful refinement. Take this time to prepare yourself for the one who will come into your life. Singleness is not a disease. It is a season of your life that you can celebrate. That special moment will come. You know that moment when that one chosen especially for you… the one you have dreamed about and prayed for… will come. What’s that I hear? Oh, yeah, it sounds like wedding bells to me…. Is my invitation in the mail?

So what about you? Who told you that you couldn’t write that book or finish school? Who was it that told you that you would never become a pilot or a doctor? Who told you that you would never be able to speak in front of people effectively or ever be financially secure? Who was it that convinced you that the way it is , is the way it always must be? Well, whoever it was misinformed you. A great writer by the name of the Apostle Paul clearly told us that we could do “all things” through Christ who strengthens us. Now as far as I’m concerned that’s good enough for me. Wave bye-bye to those nay-sayers and get busy. Begin today and set out to do what you have been destined to do. It’s already in your DNA.  Go ahead and tap into it. Study. Prepare. Explore. Believe. As for the one that said it couldn’t be done, just let your success speak for itself. I am honored to know you and happy to tell you, “It can be done.” By the way, an airplane really shouldn’t fly either. It’s too big and it’s too heavy but………

It’s not as though we can stop doing what we’re supposed to do. Nor do we want to. But if we’re not careful we’ll begin to pander at the pool of status quo living and then that ugly thing called burn-out and boredom sets in. Suddenly we wake up one day and life seems to lack its luster and our dreams, like an early morning mist, begin to fade. It’s time for a reality check. My friend, you are only one. But one (you) plus God’s ability in and through you equals a potential that far exceeds the weight of the responsibilities you daily face. I heard someone say, “The greater the weight, the greater the glory.”

For some of you reading this blog you’ve got some glory coming because you have been under such a weight of responsibility that the journey has become more of a drudgery than a joy.  So what’s the solution to this dreaded dilemma? A good friend of mine, who was a psychologist and her schedule included listening to people’s problems all day non-stop, speaking in conferences and then going home to being a full-time wife and full-time mother, said to me one day, “Diane, you need to learn to take minute vacations.” In other words, if you’re going to enjoy the journey take it minute by minute if necessary. Take some time to smell those roses, put the kids to bed early, turn the television off and curl up on the sofa with a good book. You and your spouse go for a stroll in the park and rekindle that spark of love that had at one time been a full-blown flame but lately has become nothing more than a smoldering ember. Say good-bye to those toxic friends who sap the very life out of you and connect with people of purpose and filled with faith. Give to someone what you need. Be an encourager to someone else who is struggling with their “status quo.”

You really can enjoy the journey. Why not start today?