Until Then - A Song For Carl

A little over seven years ago, our family suddenly lost Carl Lane Metzler to a rare heart condition. Carl was 22, the son of my sister Pam and her husband Jim; brother to Eric and Paul, nephew, cousin, grandson to many. He is still so missed and loved--more than words can say. It still seems like yesterday....

Until Then

Little Bird, you have flown too soon from this world

and my heart still hears your song.

God has given you new wings to unfurl

and a light to guide you home.

Now you fly with eagles and soar on the wind.

Every mountain will know you by name.

Your star will guide us 'til we meet again.

But I'll keep flying on...

'til then.

Little Bird, 'though your gone, I still see your smile

in every morning sun.

In the call of the loon you linger awhile.

In spirit you live on.

Now you fly with eagles and soar on the wind.

Every mountain will know you by name.

Your star will guide us 'til we meet again.

But I'll keep flying on...

'til then.

By the light of the moon I whisper your name

knowing you still hear me.

Little Bird, 'til that day I hold you again.

I will hold on to your memory.

So go fly with eagles and soar on the wind.

Let every mountain know you by name.

Your star will guide us 'til we meet again.

But I'll keep flying on,

And I'll try to fly strong....

Until then.

Spread your wings. Fly strong.

The Road to Harmony

This past weekend I treated myself to a road trip --- one of my favorite ways to find solitude from the hustle and bustle of my job and the metropolis where I live. I accepted the kind invitation of a long-time dear friend to visit her in Harmony, Minnesota. On my roadtrip to Harmony, I spent much of the drive in complete silence, as my day is often surrounded by a variety of noise, including the HVAC system above my head which sounds like the overhead engines of an airplane mixed with a high-pitched squealing noise. (Attempts to fix it have been unsuccessful to date.) Three hours south of the Cities I entered the world of newly plowed fields rich with earthy hues of greens and brown, treed landscapes, open sky and the tiny town of Harmony, Minnesota. My friend and I strolled down the quiet streets of downtown without the sound of sirens or the reverb of a car's stereo and no airplanes flying overhead. With each step, the tension of the week released from my body. The worries about my parents, my finances, all the many questions about my life were left behind. I even put a moritorium on talking about any of those "hot topics." After all, there were no clear solutions. I needed to set them aside, cease my attempts to control those situations, and let my mind just BE. That night, I slept with the windows open, a warm breeze upon my face and the sounds of ...... well, quiet. Perfect harmony.

By the time the birds began their pre-dawn chirpings, my soul was ready to hear their songs--their harmony with each other. The experience of Harmony was exactly what my soul needed--harmony with the earth, with a friendship, with the mysterious timing of life's events and with my own spirit.

When life feels out of sorts or not quite right, or even when you don't necessarily know what it is you need, try a road trip to harmony--any place that leads you back to your self. Let yourself BE. Turn off the phone, the television, the computer, the background noise of life that keeps you from hearing the birds and looking at the sky in wonder. Relax your shoulders from the worries of your life, from your schedules and to-do lists. Breathe. Listen. Trust. Follow. Find your harmony.

Change--The Path to Purpose

The past few years have included more change than I ever thought possible. I changed my job, my address, my relationship status, my website, my doctor, and even my favorite color. Through it all, I have questioned each of these transitions. Are these changes part of my path to purpose? If so, WHERE exactly am I going? WHEN will I get there? WHY don't I have all of the answers yet?

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."

And Henry David Thoreau said, "We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal and then leap in the dark to our success."

So perhaps the biggest change this past year has been a result of all of the others--my change in faith. Without knowing any of the answers, my one constant has been a blind faith that I AM on the right path. My hope for you is the same -- that the step you are taking now will bring you one step closer to your path of purpose and that faith will be part of your journey.