Brave Enough To Be Bliss

There was one conversation on the phone that we had where I got quite offended. He asked me if I had accepted Christ and I said yes, but then he asked if he could pray for me. He went on to say something like, “And if she hasn’t accepted Yo u that you will touch her heart to do so.” Or something similar, I don’t recall the exact words. To me, he was basically saying I was a liar, and I didn’t appreciate it. The whole conversation was really pretty offensive, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to talk with him again. He was very sensitive to anyone lying because he said his ex- wife lied to him a lot and it didn’t appear he had healed from that. It made me start thinking about lying and why people lie. Ginger had explained that sometimes people lie when they don’t feel safe to tell the truth. As I thought back on my life, that resonated with me and made some sense. And I started to pay attention when I saw something about lying pop up on social media and searched through some of Ginger’s resources to refresh my memory. I wanted to think I didn’t lie anymore but started to check myself to be sure.

“Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” John Ruskin

Michigan was never somewhere I had never dreamed of going since I knew nothing about it, so I was excited to see what it was like. When I crossed over the state line from Illinois into Michigan it was almost completely dark, so I honestly didn’t know what I would see the next morning. As it turned out, what I woke up to was something I should have dreamed of, I just didn’t know to. I was in awe and instantly fell in love with Lake Charlevoix. I have never felt such peace on the first visit to a place. It truly took my breath away.

I walked by this little place the first morning I arrived when I was out for a long walk by the lake exploring the area. I took a photo of the real estate sign out front, knowing I would stay there someday. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it wasn’t a thought I should come back someday, it was a feeling I would come back there someday. While the place I had rented had a beautiful view of the lake, this one was literally right at the lake’s edge , which I knew I would love. So, not knowing what it looked like inside or even if it would have everything I needed or not, I was certain I would stay there. At that point, though, I had no idea when that would be.

Nathan was an excellent tour guide. He had made suggestions of what we could do but let me decide what I wanted to do when. He helped me carry the kayak across the road and into the water on the warmest day of my

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