80. Jessa And The Beanstalk (5)

I climbed. Higher and higher and higher. I didn't bother looking back. Why would I? I knew what that world held for me. A poor, boring life of farming. The same thing day after day after day. But the sky held adventure. The sky was mine to explore and to develop. If my creations were still there, I could add to them. If they were gone, erased by the movement of my kingdom, fine. I would begin again and each day create something new. 

My beanstalk thinned as I drew nearer to the clouds. Finally I touched their misty undersides and entered the thick fog that was the tunnel to my freedom.

I emerged.

All was as I had left it. Bright, shining, sculpted in my weak, inexperienced hand. I thrilled with delight. My refuge was brilliant; soon it would become perfect. I had no doubt that in time, my kingdom in the clouds would be the most glorious anyone had ever seen. 

79. Put On Your Shoe

What if you knew

When you put on your shoe

Where the road would take you

And what be the view?

Would you follow the path?

Would you add up the math,

If ever you knew

When you put on your shoe?

Would you stay locked inside

Finding somewhere to hide

If only you knew 

When you put on your shoe?

The challenge is here

Bringing joy, bringing fear.

So what will you do

When you put on your shoe?

78. The Fire Inside

A fire is burning inside me so bright

Of power and yearning and doing what's right.

I know that He hears me. He answers my prayers.

He shares in my joy and He calms all my fears.

The fire of knowledge, the fire of light,

Is burning inside me from morn until night.

77. Life is too good

Life is too good no to enjoy it

Love is too rich not to employ it

Longing is waiting for you to ignore it Laughter is waiting for you to explore it 

76. Success

Today I went rock climbing for the first time in nearly two years.

My arms hurt.

My legs hurt.

My fingers and my hands hurt.

My heels and toes hurt. 

My knees hurt (but not my elbows).

My back hurts and my hips hurt.

I'm going to be bruised and blistered and sore tomorrow. 

But despite all that my spirits are high.

I pushed and pulled myself to the top of the wall several times. I climbed past what I thought I could, telling myself I could make it one more hold, one more reach. I found my way through the difficult passages, sometimes back-stepping, sometimes jumping. Where my body wanted to quit, my mind persevered. 

Sure, I'm tired and I'm sore, but it means I succeeded.

75. March

Madness madness all month long

Action, tension, right or wrong 

Running, shooting, faking right

Can your team advance? They might.

How strong is your spirit song?

74. Ides

The Ides, the Ides

Beware the Ides of March.

For nothing goes and nothing comes,

But friends will turn to thieves.

Nothing hails of joy when friends our lives destroy.

The Ides bring naught but sorrow

To the camps of Roman soldiers.

The Ides, the Ides

Beware the Ides of March.

Tis then you'll see the end is nigh

And never gain tomorrow.