Happy “Your” Year

Welcome to 2012! It’s a new year… a time of new beginnings. We have a new year to make right whatever was wrong the year before.

I find myself contemplating change. When I need to think, to have contemplative time … to find myself again … I head to the beach.

It’s my peaceful place.

We were talking the other day about our peaceful places… you know… the places where we can go to remember why we’re here … what we’re doing … to slow down the craziness of it all … and get back in touch with … who we really are.

For some, the peaceful place is the mountains with lush greenery and babbling brooks. Others have back decks surrounded by a thousand shades of green. Or a church filled with pews, stained glass, and ritual. Bars filled with laughter, partially filled glasses of beer, sounds of pool sticks hitting balls, and friends greeting each other with slaps on the back.

For me though, it’s the beach….walking in the sand (barefoot is best so I can feel it beneath my feet), the sun raining down beams to create sparkling diamonds on the waves, seagulls flying in formation as they retreat from my intrusion on their beach-sitting, the wind blowing my hair and caressing me with her gentle arms as she sings wordless hymns in my ears.

Life gets in the way though. I cannot spend all my time on the beach… so I find other peaceful places too. My friend’s kitchen where we share innermost thoughts and secrets, hopes for the future, a love of music, good food, laughter, wagers on future possibilities, smiles, and hugs.

Or my favoriteTybeeIslandbar that turns into a place of worship each Sunday morning, filled with words of encouragement, smiles, hugs, music, and prayer.

Those are my peaceful places.

Where are yours?

Find them.

Revel in their healing.

Immerse yourself in your peaceful place and enjoy being…. you … the special thing that God created for this moment in time.

This year is your year.

So Happy “Your” Year … a time for new beginnings!

A time for new journeys!

A time for peace and peaceful journeys!

I’m going to enjoy mine.

Enjoy yours.

Dedra DeLuve’ Shuman