Time With Tandy

Inspirational author and speaker

Time With Tandy

Inspirational author and speaker

Tag: #inspiration

  • Hidden From View

    “You’re so brave,” they say. “I don’t know how you do it.”

    Actually, I’m not as strong or brave as people think. You may see the highlights of my days but very few know of the times I’ve become overwhelmed with fear, loneliness and grief. Those are not on public display.

    I feel and acknowledge the emotions but don’t dwell on them. How do I do this? By faith and the power of prayer.

    On a recent trip I alternated between glimmers of joy at new experiences and a longing for the comfort and familiarity of home.

    I was in Peru, in an area called The Sacred Valley when I awoke early in the morning, filled with uncertainty about the days ahead. From my window I could see a nearby mountain. In large letters on the mountainside was the word GOD. Most of the mountain was clearly visible but the top was covered with clouds.

    In awe, I stood with tears of gratitude as the Lord spoke to me through this visual. He conveyed that even though I may not be able to see the entire route he’s taking me on, he is with me as I journey. There are still some mountaintop experiences ahead for me. I take comfort in knowing I can trust him to guide my steps.

  • Avalanche Zone

    Avalanche Zone

    My drive through the mountains was spectacular!

    There were times I’d round a bend and the vision of sun shining on snow capped peaks would take my breath away.

    Spring run-off sent streams of water splashing over the sheer rock face beside the road. This give me an intermittent display of tiny waterfalls.

    Mountain lakes had their own special beauty, making it difficult at times to keep my attention focused on the road.

    In other areas, road crews were blasting sections of the mountain. Most of this was to expand existing roads. Some of it was to keep the current road safe for motorists.

    I passed a sign informing me that I was in an avalanche zone and no stopping was permitted. I had no intention of stopping in this danger zone and was pleased when I encountered another sign to say I’d reached the end of the avalanche area.

    After passing through a few of these areas, I saw the correlation to my life.

    Personally, I have been passing through a metaphorical avalanche zone. My life has been shaken up and has lost the stability I once took for granted. At times it has been tempting to hunker down, uncertain of my ability to move into unknown territory. Who knows what danger may lurk there?

    As the road signs reminded me, this is not the time to stop moving forward. If I keep going I will eventually come out on stable ground.

    My shake up caused damage and a loss of stability but when I look around, there is still so much beauty to be found.

    I don’t know what is around the next corner in my journey. I do know, however, that I won’t discover it by standing still. I am determined to enjoy whatever today has to offer and move with purpose into tomorrow.

  • Sunset Times

    sunsets, beautyOlder people are often referred to as being in their sunset years. I’ve heard the term many times but somehow this now strikes me as a beautiful metaphor for the time of life I’m in. I don’t always think of myself as older, but I do fit the description!

    Let’s talk for a few minutes about sunsets.

    People admire sunsets. They gather to watch them and are inspired by their beauty. Poetry and prose strive to do them justice. Spoken words try to describe them. Photos and artwork attempt to capture their allure. Nothing compares with witnessing them for yourself.

    Some sunsets are vibrant with colour. Others are muted. One I saw consisted entirely of wispy pink clouds. Each has its own unique beauty.

    The scientific explanation for sunsets doesn’t interest me. It takes away from their magic. The one thing I do know is that you can’t have a beautiful sunset without clouds in the sky.

    I love the thought of my life being compared to a sunset. Any storm clouds I’ve faced have served to add extra colour to the remaining light.

    Lessons learned, wisdom gained, opportunities embraced are so much more than memories. They are a jumping off place for what is still to come. Each add their own hues to the sunset of my life.

    Now, more than ever, it’s time to make my years count and pass on the wonder and beauty of life to those who may glance in my direction.

  • The Long Shadow

    Attitude, life lesson,Have you ever had one of those days when you would rather stay in bed than get up and do what you know you should?

    I was having one of those. To be honest, there had been a few lately. Hibernation was my preferred choice. Somehow I managed to convince myself that the easier option wasn’t what was best for me. Before I could change my mind, I got ready and went out for a morning walk.

    The sun warmed my skin as a gentle breeze caressed my face. It felt wonderful. My mood lightened and before long praise filled my heart and overflowed into song. I felt a lightness of spirit and the joy, previously M.I.A., returning.

    There was no explanation for this more positive state of mind. At least, not until I turned to walk in the other direction.

    Now the sun was at my back. A very long shadow appeared in front of me. As I stared at the distorted image with the freakishly long legs, the message became clear.

    God was using this shadow to illustrate an important lesson. When I keep the Son, Jesus, behind me, the shadows and darkness in my life intensify. The shadow is always in view and It becomes harder to look past it, into the light.

    Conversely, when I keep my face/eyes towards the Son, life is brighter. I am no longer walking in shadows. What a wonderful reminder that nothing I am going through is too big for Jesus to handle. When I keep my eyes on Him, He will show light my way.

  • Walks, Writing, and Remembering

    memories, healing,We loved this place. Brian and I were refreshed by the sight and sound of the sea.

    In the early years we walked the beach together, stopping frequently to pick up shells that caught our attention. Very few people were encountered on our walks.

    Only a handful of apartments in our building were occupied. We relished our peaceful existence, a 20 minute drive from the town where we not only did our shopping, but also found a church home.

    It was on this beach, as I communed with God, that I first felt the stirrings to write. Inspiration flooded my heart and mind. Brian and I discussed these simple things that seemed to have deeper meanings. I wrote down the thoughts so I wouldn’t forget.

    We often walked in companionable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. At some point during the walk Brian would turn to me and ask, “What song is going through your mind?” There was always a praise song at that moment, sometimes even the same as the one in his mind.

    In later years we walked separately. I couldn’t keep up with his long strides when he was desperate for exercise. Not wanting to hold him back, we made the decision to each go at our own pace. Brian was often gone for two hours, clocking 10-12 kms. On a good day, I did no more than half of that. Later we’d share experiences and insights from our individual walks.

    These discussions often served as writing prompts. Brian was always on the lookout for story ideas to share with me. Sometimes he’d show me a picture he’d taken and say, “This would make a good story.” I’d ask how and he’d tie the pieces together. Once I said, “Maybe you should write the story.” Eyes twinkling, he smiled and said, “I think I just did!”

    I’m back on our beach now. This time Brian is with me in spirit, but physically I’m on my own for the first time here. I didn’t know if I could do it but since he had made his desire for me to return very clear, I had to try.

    The first week was emotional. The second week was a bit better but I wondered if this would be my last trip. I’m only a few days into my third week but something has shifted. I’ve re-entered the rhythm of life here. And what’s more, peace has filled my heart and mind.

    I’ve resumed work on the book I started writing the last time Brian and I were here together. Inspiration started to flow as I took a morning walk along the beach, carrying my beloved in my heart.

    Brian knew what I didn’t when he insisted I return. God has met me in this peaceful place, started healing my heart, and let me know the next chapter of my life is waiting to be written. I am grateful.

  • Footprints

    walk, beachThe morning matched my disposition. I was feeling “off”. There was no sunshine and weather conditions were a little stormy. Still, I felt drawn to go for a walk on the beach.

    Amid the footprints in the sand, two sets stood out. They were in the same area which meant the same firmness of sand, but the impressions left were totally different.

    One set was steady and left soft imprints of the sole of the footwear. The other was uneven and left a strange, deep design. It was as if the ball of the foot dug much deeper and then curled back, forcing the sand backwards into aa slight ridge. The heel was merely an outline.

    I wondered why one set looked uniform and easy and the other seemed to indicate struggle. The conclusion I came to was that they had different levels of support for their feet. Perhaps one had firm soles on their footwear and the other soft ones.

    I thought of my life recently. When going through tough challenges I tend to try to handle everything on my own. I will eventually get to where I need to be but the journey is more difficult than necessary. It’s not that support hasn’t been offered. I just think I should be able to do what is needed without inconveniencing others, so don’t reach out or accept the help offered.

    These footprints in the sand served as a powerful reminder of how proper support can impact my journey in a positive way.

    I look over at my son, walking beside me. He has taken the time to join me as I navigate this formerly familiar but now unknown stretch I’m currently walking. As he helps me through this rough patch, my steps are slowly becoming firmer. Gratitude wells up in my heart and leaks through my eyes.

    The proper support makes all the difference. With that in place, I’m going to be fine.

  • New Year Prayer

    path of life

    I start each new year with this prayer that my mother passed on to me many years ago.

    2024 was a difficult and challenging one but it also had moments of great joy.

    Through it all, God was by my side, guiding, strengthening and shielding as I walked the path before me. I have faith He will do the same in 2025.

    Be blessed, my friends.

    NEW YEAR PRAYER

    May God make your year a happy one,
    Not by shielding you from sorrow and pain,
    But by strengthening you to bear it, if it comes.
    Not by making your path easy,
    But by making you sturdy enough to travel any path.
    Not by taking hardships from you,
    But by taking all cowardice and fear from your heart.
    Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
    But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows.
    Not by making your life always pleasant,
    But by showing you where man and his cause need you most,
    And by making you anxious to be there, and to help.

    Author unknown

  • Crumbs on the Counter

    thankful, blessedAfter several overcast days, this morning the sun was shining brightly through my window. I walked into the kitchen and was surprised to see small crumbs scattered across my kitchen counter.

    “Where did you come from?” I said aloud. The immediate answer was obvious. Since I live alone, they had to have come from me.

    Apparently, I had not paid enough attention to keeping this area clean. It was easy to ignore until the sun illuminated this problem spot.

    Truthfully, this is only one area of my home that has been neglected during a tumultuous year. But I digress.

    Back to the crumbs on my counter. As I was wiping them up, I found a few more that had been hiding. It didn’t take long to draw an analogy to my life.

    The crumbs represent negative thoughts, grumbling, making excuses, etc. These thoughts don’t cause an impact on my personal well being until they start to add up. I look the other way and either pretend they don’t exist or they aren’t important. Sooner or later though, something illuminates my bad attitude and I wonder where the negativity came from.

    To keep from getting to this point, a daily practice of gratitude is necessary. Being thankful clears away the crumbs of negativity. Instead of grumbling because I have to drive on winter roads, I am grateful to have a safe, reliable vehicle. This is but one of the many examples I can think of.

    When I concentrate on all the blessings in my life, the crumbs are dealt with and my attitude improves.

    How do you keep the crumbs from accumulating on the counter of your life?

  • An Unplanned Project

    #Brain Tumour Foundation of CanadaHave you ever had an idea or inspiration that seemed to take on a life of its own and flourished beyond your wildest expectations?

    That is exactly what happened to me several months ago. A friend and fellow writer sent me a message about something I posted on social media. She gave me not only some beautiful encouragement but also a challenge.

    The idea intrigued me and I started thinking of how I could make it my own. I mentioned it to a few others and although the response was positive, I pushed the idea to the back of my mind.

    You see, we were only a few months into my husband’s brain tumour journey. Life was often overwhelming and I didn’t feel capable of taking on a major challenge.

    This is where the project took on a life of its own. The initial people I’d run the idea past, submitted stories. Apparently, in a moment of weakness I’d given a timeline for submissions! Now I had to either apologize and return the writings they had done specifically for me or make a plan and move forward. I chose the latter.

    After setting a firm timeline, I started contacting other writers. One night, when I was praying about who else to contact, I felt led to reach out to some friends and family members who were not part of my writing circle. Some said yes immediately and others needed more encouragement.

    My book was taking shape. I forgot to mention to you that during this process I felt God tell me this project was to be used as a fundraiser. It made sense that the total profit would be donated to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. After I reached out to them and received permission to use their name in promotion for the book, everything came together quickly.#Brain Tumour Foundation of CanadaFlowers of Remembrance is a collection containing the memories evoked by certain flowers. The writers range from 15 to 85 and their stories (and mine) will encourage you to stop and reflect on memories surrounding special flowers in your life.

    I can think of no better place to hold an event for this book than a flower shop. Flower Whispers in Airdrie, Alberta will be the site for this on Saturday, December 7th. I’d love to see any who are able to drop by for a visit and refreshments from 1-3 pm. You can do your Christmas shopping and support an organization that hold a special place in my heart. More details are on my website www.timewithtandy.com under the Book tab.

  • Out of Step

    dance
    picture credit Unsplash

    Many years ago, my husband and I signed up for ballroom dancing classes. As we headed to our first lesson, my mind conjured up visions of Brian and I gliding gracefully across the floor.

    The reality was far different. In fact, we were so awkward the instructor said she felt sorry for us! It turned out that the problem was me. I unconsciously tried to take the lead. Only one can lead and it wasn’t my job.

    I was told to close my eyes and trust my partner. When I did that, our movement became smooth. Once confident I could follow Brian’s lead, I’d open my eyes again. Whenever we were out of step, it was because I was fighting for control. I spent a large part of our lessons with my eyes closed!

    I’ve discovered this also applies in my relationship with God. I have a tendency to want to go my own way (or lead) and expect God to follow. The habit of thinking I know what’s best is a hard one to break. What is needed of me is to close my eyes and trust.

    This is required even more when I’m in a season of uncertainty. I may not know what direction to take but as long as I follow His lead and stay in step with the one who knows the dance of my life, I need not be concerned. God knows where He is taking me and His ways are better than anything I could imagine.

    “I know the plans that I have for you, declared the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster; plans to give you a future filled with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11