Eastern sunset

All signs point east. East opens to opportunities: few limitations. The sunrise will always dress in light shades of peace and welcoming. The song of the young mockingbird will always be heard. Hold out your arms to me, oh east. My heart longs for your direction without judgement, failure, consequence, or regret. May east be my heart's end destination, but my soul yearns for west. Sunsets, end of rainbows and potential; look west with a sigh. Was this direction painted a facade to lure my conscience? Am I to always yearn for west? Shackles are found a calm invitation to the trying days ahead. Manipulation lies prostrate to my feet like a beautiful doormat, yet I am the one trampled upon. Few have gone west. No one has sought west and found serenity. No one has called westward and been answered satisfaction, so why is it I want this misadventure? 
My infatuation for this direction has manifested short of a decade. Small gestures and faint whispers fill my mind with hope and promise of a good life west, but the truth has never favored my sway. So which way will my hand reach when my soul is east yet my heart is west? My eyes are torn, but as luck would perch on my sunken shoulders, I still have two: One for east and one for west. So until the day the south seas wash me yonder or the north winds carry me away, the sun will still set in the west and rise in the east. With the sun I must rise.

Facial Reflexology

Facial Reflexology. Now that's a term not heard everyday, especially in Louisiana. Here in Colorado, though, it seems to be a pretty rampant practice. I have grown up in a family of doctors and nurses...so learning about all these natural remedies for anything from illnesses and diseases to skin care is a slight stretch. Let me tell you something though...I love this stuff! No, I'm not going to move to the mountains with a dog named Duke (totally stole that idea from a guy friend-of-mine) and swear off makeup, Botox and Brazilian Blowouts (which I am in love with!), but I do believe that there is a place for natural healing in the world. I believe that in this week in Denver learning about Facial Reflexology, God is at work in a mighty way. Honestly though...I have to constantly guard my thoughts and intentions. See, my human nature wants to heal everyone for my own satisfaction and glory. That's a load of crap. I'm learning to humble myself before my Savior's hand everyday here. It's difficult. It's intense. It's fantastic!
The practice of Facial Reflexology is triggering reflexes in the body by manipulating points and meridian lines in the face for the purpose of un-blocking energy flow and naturally beginning to heal any physical problems or ailments. It's a mixture of Ayurvedic, Oriental, Chinese, Vietnamese, South American, as well as other influences drawn into a type of healing touch. Pretty big stuff, huh. Yeah, I've got more knowledge crammed in my tiny, little brain from the past 4 days than I care to spit out right now. I'm definitely going to be studying and practicing for a while! I do love the fact that this knowledge is being presented in a strictly medical stand-point...and I work for a fabulous physician who welcomes natural healing with open arms! I freakin' love my job!! :)

Bride of Christ: A Colorado revalation

I'm in the middle of reading "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore. It's been brutal, wonderful and challenging all at the same time. I love those kinds of books. Sure, Nicholas Sparks will always hold a special place in my heart for his sappy love stories, but sometimes I need to read a book that is going to stimulate my spiritual growth rather than my tear ducts. Through this Beth Moore book, I've been convicted of so many insecurities that are hinderances to my walk with Christ...but one issue that has me in a hangman's noose is, well, love. That darn four-letter word. Recently I had gone through a stage where I felt like I was unworthy of it. From anyone.
To make a LONG story short, I got hit in the face during a sermon this past fall. Who am I to put myself in a box like that? I think my first blog was actually about this issue. Anyway...I'm in Denver for a continuing ed. class right now, and I couldn't have a better roommate for a trip like this! I believe God has the power to show whoever He wants ANYTHING He wants WHENEVER He wants....but believe you me... this was great timing to hit ME between the eyes. My sweet roommate and I were discussing the feelings of unworthiness of a physical/emotional relationship, and she (being MUCH wiser than I) re-introduced me to the notion of us as Christian women being the brides of Christ. Sure, I had always heard that in the Bible, but did I really pay attention? Nope.
Think about it for a minute, single ladies. When Christ was hanging on the cross dying, He was thinking about you. He was DYING. For you. He was the ULTIMATE gentleman. Yes, I understand that I just compared Christ to the other dumb "gentlemen" in this world...but He really is the epitome of what a man should be. Guess what?? He chose YOU as His bride. He wants to be apart of you and you apart of him. No other man on this earth can EVER love you like He does. Guess what else..? He's got a mansion waiting for you when it's your time to come home to him. :) Wow! Praise Jesus. He resurrected from the grave to show you that He conquered death for you.
I'm not saying that men are scum. Sure, some are schmucks, but we're all human. Personally, I don't think any guy is gonna be good enough for my sister, nor do I think any little "pop tart" is gonna be right for my little brother...yet I tend to fall for the jerks/punks/rejects/spiritual-stumbling-blocks. I know that Christ is looking at me just shaking his head saying something like "My child, don't you know that My love for you should be enough?"