It’s Sunday afternoon again, and I’m here enjoying solitude in another park.

I’m smiling as the breeze blows around me, the joy in my heart evidence that I’m alive.

Not only physically, but deep in my heart and soul there is this sense of awareness, of gratefulness, of the fullness of life.

There are notes of God’s goodness in the ordinary all around me…

In recent moments I see signs of His abundance, and of beauty that makes life worth living.

Visiting a mission and being inspired by the study of God’s word with people who are becoming excited about it for the first time.

Sharing at teacher’s institutes and remembering how I prayed until I was 17 that God would make me shy… then I finally realized He designed me talkative for a purpose. I started praying instead that I would speak words that are useful, and today I see Him answering my prayer every time He gives me words to share with others.

Doors opening with opportunities where I can serve my King, in ways I didn’t imagine when I said, “If this is where You want me, Jesus, I will give You all I can from this place.” He delights in our willingness, and calls us to be alive for Him.

Living in answered prayers. Evidence of His goodness.

He is good in prayers that go unanswered, too.

Flying down a trail through the woods with a friend who I call the little sister, singing every songs in our hearts and on our current playlists, praising Jesus in our storms… The gift of people to share our journeys is evidence of God’s faithfulness.

Hearing the mechanic tell me that my car and I experienced a miracle as we drove for hours through the hills with serious problems under the hood… proof of God’s protection over me. Keeping me safe, reminding me there are valid reasons for my faith to stay alive. The One in Who I believe is truly Worthy of every bit of my faith, trust, and praise.

Running through the surf on the Atlantic shoreline, between my besties, singing “Stepping on the Clouds” and radiating the joy of Jesus to those around us… His living in our hearts makes us fully alive.

There’s a little pain in my ankle as a souvenir from my adventure last week. It split open again and bled in the Atlantic Ocean, but I swam anyway, because life is too beautiful to stop living because of a little wound.

Breakfast in my favourite coffee shop away from home, with two dear souls who sometimes ache for heaven as much as I do. Over ordinary omelettes and lattes, we shared our excitement about everything we’ll see when we get there… then each went to face our day with purpose, living while we are here, so the moments He gives us are never wasted.

I’m still limping a little from the adventure I had last week, but I don’t regret taking the risk and experiencing something new. I’ll keep the scar as a reminder of how good my Father is in all things, and keep on walking.

It reminds me that sometimes, we need to keep on living with a little lingering pain in our hearts, too.

Playing volleyball with teachers, then washing cars with my youth group, didn’t help the ache where my foot is still bruised… but the joy of living those moments was worth it.

Embracing every opportunity in life instead of staying on the sidelines will cause our hearts a few bruises and cuts, too.

But full faith in God means we don’t miss out on anything He has for us…

And it’s worth going on living alive, even if there’s a little ache in our hearts…

Life is so much more vibrant when we dive in, and live fully, and don’t try to protect ourselves behind walls or in self-created prisons.

God will be good and faithful in everything I face.

I will hold His hand, trust Him every step of the journey, and live in the Light of His goodness.