I am finding it so true these days, especially when I slow down enough to listen, how God is speaking so clearly to me exactly when and what I truly need, using unsuspecting delivery persons and situations to remind me of the constant knowing that he is with me. Wednesday, it happened again...
It came by simply writing down the date in my journal, 2/22/06. This day was significant because it was the day that I was “supposed” to be on our Inaugural Pilgrimage Ride. At least that’s what I thought. The beautiful thing about writing down the date was that the night before, my friend David Ripley, had mentioned that God gave him his “222” while driving... explaining that it was God’s way of winking at him. So, in the moment of my pondering the ride that DIDN’T happen... God gave me a wink too... reminding me that He is with me in this journey.
I called David, just to tell him my experience and thank him for being God’s delivery person... and he said that it’s not very often that we actually hear from someone the impact we have on their lives... and thanked me for sharing. So, that inspired me to think about other people who have been used by God recently... and SO many came to mind. That sparked a thought... “Maybe they don’t know the impact they are making on people... because they haven’t been told... so why not tell them... to give them the gift of my gratitude.” I felt led to do this, so, here I am... giving honor to only a few of the many special people, who have spoken, not just with words, but with being who they are in life. God is speaking... and I’m doing my best to listen!
~ David Ripley... for the “222 story” and helping me realize the importance of appreciating people.
~ Ron Lacy... for reminding me: Peter’s “water walk”, is not about “trying harder”.
~ David McGee... for your continual openness, struggle and surrender to love others and yourself more purely.
~ Pam Ormsby... for the message to “repot” that came from our conversation.
~ Jim Spivey... for calling forth “the song” from within... and seeing the weight of it.
~ David Peck... for “seeing outside the box” conversation.
~ Philip Poindexter... for the gift in being allowed to see your connected journey with God.
~ Darin Hufford... for the power of your belief in me...and your message of God’s amazing Love.
~ Robert Bayman... for helping me seeing various possibilities.
~ Brent Walker... for encouraging me with your own get-away pilgrimage.
~ John Crabb... for the amazing support, ideas, expansive vision you gifted me.
~ Jim Jacobus... for showing me the beauty and impact I am having on others.
~ Paul Smeltzer... for reminding me who I really am... deep below the surface.
~ Veronica James... for the reminding me to let go and fly. Your life speaks to me!
~ Greg Thibodeaux... for team heart and support and for “A Ride of your Life” ideas.
~ Chris & Gail Osborne... for “this wasn’t my idea...it was God’s” comment and all that meant for me.
~ Jan Cramer... for grace and forgiveness in a constant way.
~ Laura O’Neill... for the gift of “Awe” and excitement in your voice as you shared your riding story.
~ Steven Carr... for your encouragement, love and support... in the midst of your own journey and “birthing”.
~ Sheldon Anderson... for your commitment to love yourself and others, as you are being healed.
~ Stefani Twyford... for reminding me that “being” is all that is needed.
~ Carmen Poole... for your willingness to explore and risk to go deeper.
~ Ryn Spiegelhauer... for your beautiful heart beaming through the tragedies surrounded you, as you connect to God.
~ Caeden Anderson (my son)... for teaching me to smile, laugh, and just “be” all the time.
~ Michelle Anderson (my wife)... for your everyday unconditional Love, and for always calling me to be of who I really am.
~ God... You are my all... and to you, I surrender all, and appreciate you for my life, family and friends!
.... just to name a few of the many. Ah... It feels so good to show gratitude...maybe I should make this the norm.
Think about it... the power of just being ourselves... the awareness of the impact we have on others in big ways... in everything we do, say and are, ...in conversations ...not because we are trying to do anything, just because we are being ourselves, showing up fully. I’m seeing that happen all around me... and if it’s happening to me, it must be happening to others too. This gives me an overwhelming peace, leaving me knowing that we don’t set all these up... someone so much bigger than us is at work... perfectly synchronizing each detail ...every conversation ...everything in and around our lives. All I have to do is expect it, watch for it, listen and receive it when it comes. Wow... that’s huge! When I stay aware of this, I relax into knowing God has everything in control and is working it all out and that I can trust him fully. Thank you God – I surrender!
~ Dave E. Anderson, Motorcycle Life Coach
www.FreedomLifeConsulting.com
www.PilgrimageRide.com
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Sunday, February 19, 2006
The Baby's Stuck!
"Birth is violent, whether it be the birth of a child or the birth of a new idea. Beginning stages of development are rough. The most giant tree begins life as a tiny green sprout, pushing dirt out of its way as it forces itself up through the earth to the sunlight." ~ Marianne Williamson
The last 2 weeks for me has felt like the birth experience my wife had (of going 15 days PAST the Oct. 3rd due-date), of our first-born son, Caeden. (Guys: hang in there, for the main point)
We had planned for the ideal home birth, with our midwife Cathy Rude, using a birthing tub, her mom present and with our friend Pam video taping the whole thing. We had a vision of our desired birth experience, and resisted all the “not so ideal” stories that others had experienced. Well, to make a long story short... it didn’t happen the way we planned.
On day 12 of being overdue, our midwife felt (because of a bad dream) that we needed to get an ultrasound done, revealing Michelle’s amniotic fluids were dangerously low, which required immediate hydration. On day 13, the fluids were up, leaving us hopeful that all else would go as planned. That morning, her contractions began, but they were not strong enough to cause efficient dilation for labor. We did everything possible and natural to bring labor on...breast pump stimulation, chiropractic labor-adjustments, walking and still nothing. Then on day 14 came the dreaded Castor Oil treatment. While Castor Oil is effective in irritating the uterus for contractions, it’s also MORE effective at irritating the bowels (enough said on that). So, here we are on day 14, and everything is coming out except our son. All kinds of things were going on in our heads, like... “Why is he so late?” “Doesn’t he want to come out?” “Is something wrong?” etc. Our midwife wasn’t happy with our progression or his heart rate during the contractions... so we transported to the hospital, where more of what we didn’t want became necessary.
At 7 A.M. on day 15, they administered pitocin followed by an epidural, and by 6 P.M. Michelle still had only dilated to a 5, of the needed 10. The nurse, midwife and I all decided that we needed to inform Michelle that a C-Section was inevitable. The doctor would pass by in an hour, at 7 P.M., and if she wasn’t ready to deliver he would have no choice but to take him out. We prayed, then Michelle had her own personal time with God, where she felt God ask her if “she was ready to receive him”. She felt she needed to surrender to “the process” of how he came out, because him being out was the most important thing...not the process. She surrendered and was at peace. A few minutes later the doctor came in and checked her... informing us that she was now dilated to a 9, followed by “Are you ready to push?” Push? Yes, it was happening... she was able to push him out (with help from the forceps, because his head was “stuck”, thus the reason she couldn’t deliver on her own). Caeden was born at 8:43 P.M., after 3 days of laboring. (He was 4 months old yesterday!)
So, how do I feel like Michelle in her giving birth to Caeden? Well, March 2004, almost 2 years ago, an idea, dream and experiential journey was conceived, as an extension of us - Freedom Life Consulting. It, the “baby”, was given the names: “The Pilgrimage Ride”, or “A Ride of your Life”. And the due date for our very first (of 6 rides) was scheduled for 2/22/06 (this week), but unfortunately there are no riders signed up, so this ride had to be cancelled. Two years in the planning... emails sent out... calls made... discounts given... and even a total change of it’s price to “give what you feel it was worth”... and still – No Birth! Not only is this first ride important for the birth of this dream... but also our financial pressures and debts are expanding bigger than Michelle’s belly was before Caeden came out.
So, during these last couple of weeks, in my head and emotions, I’ve gone to all kinds of places that haven’t been good. I’ve vented, expressed my frustration, sought understanding, perspective and much needed assistance from my wife, friends, family, life coach and other motorcyclists... like Michelle had the midwifes, nurses, doctors, forceps, pitocin, and epidural to get Caeden birthed... for me, there’s still – No Birth! So, last Thursday, I did what Michelle did on the hospital bed, and surrendered to God and to “the process” of this “baby’s” birth. I laid it all before Him, and do you know what happened? No, not the “baby” yet, but... my head came “un-stuck,” and I’ve begun to stop resisting how these rides will look and moving beyond the box of MY original idea. Of course, God also reminded me that it was “His baby” all along... and that I would only parent it... not control it, and that I wasn’t the one who sets the “due date” and specific look of the “baby”. I’ve become more aware and open to new ways this could be done, and thoughts and ideas are coming together even now, as I write this. Many of your comments have expanded me... so thank you! So, I’m still not sure of how it will look in the end... but I’m certainly open and listening to this whole process and trusting the “baby” will come forth, the way it’s suppose to. You will be hearing more from me soon...
So, all of you out there that want the most out of life and have a dream, idea, plan for your life that is BIGGER THAN YOU... I hope you hear in this message, some of the truths that I’m becoming more and more aware of: 1. Nothing happens by accident. 2. Surrender to the process and the timing. 3. Let go and trust. 4. If you can do it without Him... then it’s smaller than it could be, and 5. You cannot fail... if He is in control.
---------------
By the way, it’s been 2 months since my last email, which is partly why my “head was stuck”. I’m back in the saddle now... surrendered to the journey of who I am and... IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK!
~ Dave E. Anderson, Motorcycle Life Coach
www.FreedomLifeConsulting.com
www.PilgrimageRide.com
The last 2 weeks for me has felt like the birth experience my wife had (of going 15 days PAST the Oct. 3rd due-date), of our first-born son, Caeden. (Guys: hang in there, for the main point)
We had planned for the ideal home birth, with our midwife Cathy Rude, using a birthing tub, her mom present and with our friend Pam video taping the whole thing. We had a vision of our desired birth experience, and resisted all the “not so ideal” stories that others had experienced. Well, to make a long story short... it didn’t happen the way we planned.
On day 12 of being overdue, our midwife felt (because of a bad dream) that we needed to get an ultrasound done, revealing Michelle’s amniotic fluids were dangerously low, which required immediate hydration. On day 13, the fluids were up, leaving us hopeful that all else would go as planned. That morning, her contractions began, but they were not strong enough to cause efficient dilation for labor. We did everything possible and natural to bring labor on...breast pump stimulation, chiropractic labor-adjustments, walking and still nothing. Then on day 14 came the dreaded Castor Oil treatment. While Castor Oil is effective in irritating the uterus for contractions, it’s also MORE effective at irritating the bowels (enough said on that). So, here we are on day 14, and everything is coming out except our son. All kinds of things were going on in our heads, like... “Why is he so late?” “Doesn’t he want to come out?” “Is something wrong?” etc. Our midwife wasn’t happy with our progression or his heart rate during the contractions... so we transported to the hospital, where more of what we didn’t want became necessary.
At 7 A.M. on day 15, they administered pitocin followed by an epidural, and by 6 P.M. Michelle still had only dilated to a 5, of the needed 10. The nurse, midwife and I all decided that we needed to inform Michelle that a C-Section was inevitable. The doctor would pass by in an hour, at 7 P.M., and if she wasn’t ready to deliver he would have no choice but to take him out. We prayed, then Michelle had her own personal time with God, where she felt God ask her if “she was ready to receive him”. She felt she needed to surrender to “the process” of how he came out, because him being out was the most important thing...not the process. She surrendered and was at peace. A few minutes later the doctor came in and checked her... informing us that she was now dilated to a 9, followed by “Are you ready to push?” Push? Yes, it was happening... she was able to push him out (with help from the forceps, because his head was “stuck”, thus the reason she couldn’t deliver on her own). Caeden was born at 8:43 P.M., after 3 days of laboring. (He was 4 months old yesterday!)
So, how do I feel like Michelle in her giving birth to Caeden? Well, March 2004, almost 2 years ago, an idea, dream and experiential journey was conceived, as an extension of us - Freedom Life Consulting. It, the “baby”, was given the names: “The Pilgrimage Ride”, or “A Ride of your Life”. And the due date for our very first (of 6 rides) was scheduled for 2/22/06 (this week), but unfortunately there are no riders signed up, so this ride had to be cancelled. Two years in the planning... emails sent out... calls made... discounts given... and even a total change of it’s price to “give what you feel it was worth”... and still – No Birth! Not only is this first ride important for the birth of this dream... but also our financial pressures and debts are expanding bigger than Michelle’s belly was before Caeden came out.
So, during these last couple of weeks, in my head and emotions, I’ve gone to all kinds of places that haven’t been good. I’ve vented, expressed my frustration, sought understanding, perspective and much needed assistance from my wife, friends, family, life coach and other motorcyclists... like Michelle had the midwifes, nurses, doctors, forceps, pitocin, and epidural to get Caeden birthed... for me, there’s still – No Birth! So, last Thursday, I did what Michelle did on the hospital bed, and surrendered to God and to “the process” of this “baby’s” birth. I laid it all before Him, and do you know what happened? No, not the “baby” yet, but... my head came “un-stuck,” and I’ve begun to stop resisting how these rides will look and moving beyond the box of MY original idea. Of course, God also reminded me that it was “His baby” all along... and that I would only parent it... not control it, and that I wasn’t the one who sets the “due date” and specific look of the “baby”. I’ve become more aware and open to new ways this could be done, and thoughts and ideas are coming together even now, as I write this. Many of your comments have expanded me... so thank you! So, I’m still not sure of how it will look in the end... but I’m certainly open and listening to this whole process and trusting the “baby” will come forth, the way it’s suppose to. You will be hearing more from me soon...
So, all of you out there that want the most out of life and have a dream, idea, plan for your life that is BIGGER THAN YOU... I hope you hear in this message, some of the truths that I’m becoming more and more aware of: 1. Nothing happens by accident. 2. Surrender to the process and the timing. 3. Let go and trust. 4. If you can do it without Him... then it’s smaller than it could be, and 5. You cannot fail... if He is in control.
---------------
By the way, it’s been 2 months since my last email, which is partly why my “head was stuck”. I’m back in the saddle now... surrendered to the journey of who I am and... IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK!
~ Dave E. Anderson, Motorcycle Life Coach
www.FreedomLifeConsulting.com
www.PilgrimageRide.com
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