Freedom.

Photo Credit: Hannah Anderson

I'm not quite sure how and when it fully happened. But it did.

My emotions and feelings jumped off me and onto a cliff somewhere by a lake.

And then they jumped.

And then they drowned.

It's weird how you can feel something so strongly for someone one moment, and feel nothing for them the next.

But then I was able to see the picture fully, for what it truly was.

I had been released.

Oddly enough, I didn't know I was in a prison.

But I had been.

Now my heart is free and open once again. Expectant for all the new possibilities of a new adventure that lies ahead.

Did I mention I'm going to Paris this year? We'll get into that later...

Moving forward,

I'll never regret giving my heart away.

But boy, is it it good to have it back.

This new day of freedom cost me a great deal of tears, but afforded me a great deal of prayers from the likes of you.

And now I find myself laughing.

The way in which my life plays out. You know, never how you expect it to.

I've learned to keep on dreaming, even if it breaks my heart.

I know it sounds weird, but disappointment can actually birth new life...if you let it.

It gives you PAUSE. True indeed.

And you're forced to start again. To start over.

Which is not necessarily a bad thing...

And as I look at my feelings and emotions fall off a cliff, leaving me free of a heavy burden, I bless my storyline and the storyline of others.

Yes, maybe things didn't quite play out as we had expected, but there's no need to hold resentment or bitterness in our hearts.

Forgive and bless.

(As quickly as possible)

Wish them the absolute best. And mean it.

And be free to move forward. To find your passion. To find your calling. To find your love.

In all its discoverable glory.

A new adventure awaits for you and I. One that we've been waiting for, for oh so long.

My part in your journey may not be as substantial as we'd thought it would be, but there was still a part to be played. And the same goes for you. So, thank you for your part in my journey.

And now, Reader, you and I begin again.

Like this month, we will March into something real, something ready, and something just for us.

Oh, the beauty of new beginnings.

How good it feels to start to fly-- once again.

Wisdom's Knocking:

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night 

Take these broken wings and learn to fly 

All your life 

You were only waiting for this moment to arise"

-- The Beatles

To Anonymous:

Photo Credit: Evan Kaufmann

     Last month, I received one of thee most encouraging and loving comments on my blog ever. It was left anonymously under my blog post: "I Only Feel Ugly Around You."

     Here's what Anonymous wrote:

Hello! 

I stumbled upon your blog recently- it was one of those days where I killed time following the little link road and exploring the interwebs. I just have it on my heart to tell you a few things: a) you are an incredible writer. b) from the outside, I can tell you that your honesty is seriously refreshing. c) your faith is soo encouraging. I am working against sounding creepy here, which may be inevitable on some level but I really wanted to tell you that what you write is valuable and far reaching. Some of the things you have written have hit me quite hard and I really feel the wisdom that God has shared with you. So, thank you! Be encouraged in what you do, who you are and where you are at in life right now. It is beautiful.

     I'm a words girl. And a sure-fire way to get into my heart is through the art of hugs, kindness, and words. It's that simple really.

     I was thinking about this comment a lot this morning. I was trying to be a bit of a Sherlock Holmes. But let's be real, you know I was wondering if it was a man or a woman who left this comment. To Anonymous: If you are a woman, please ignore the rest of this blog post. I'm not one to swing that way, and I don't want to be a tease. But if you're a man, I simply want to say God bless your ministry and I'm definitely intrigued. Mostly, I'm interested in what it is that you write about in life.

     From the way in which Anonymous so crafted their comment, I'm gathering that they are a fellow writer. I mean, do you see that sentence structure! Good Lord. I may simply marry this person for their beautiful use of grammar.

     Shocking News Alert:

     Yes, I went to film school. No, I've never seen "Sleepless in Seattle" or "You've Got Mail" but from the trailers and previews I've seen, I've gathered all I need to know to create my own scenario with my own Anonymous in my mind.

     Of course I'm wondering if I've seen you in real life? Are we complete strangers to one another? Do we have mutual friends? Do we know each other? Were we at the same coffee shop a few weeks back? Are you somewhere living in New York on your way to Paris? I may never know.

     But what that comment from Anonymous did for me at the end of the day...Well, it simply made me feel beautiful and loved. Contrary to what I had been experiencing during the writing of that particular post.

     That comment also caused me to dream and to grasp once again, ever so tenderly, that what God is doing in me, in my life and around me, is absolutely beautiful.

    So to Anonymous: Thank you. Thank you so very much.

     Love,
     Patrice

Wisdom's Knocking:

Random acts of kindness go a long, long way, 

and often open unexpected doors of blessing.