Welp, we may be done-for in the desert weather category around here. Oh we had a good run. We sure held on to the good stuff while it lasted, and it’s been so nice! But now my weather app is showing between 95-99 degrees days stretched out in front of us. I have to admit, I like this weather at first. You leave the air conditioning and it just feels so good outside. AND my allergies calm down. But then it draws on.
And on.
So this makes me happy I got to squeeze in my annual trek to hike “THE FLATIRON” just in the nick of time before the bigger heat hit. (I love that it’s called “the” Flatiron. Makes it seem quite official.:)
And thankfully these two friends were in my same thought process to push to get there before the end of spring.
Those are before and after pictures BTW.
The Flatiron is six miles round trip with this kind of bouldering:
(Can you see my friends up there scaling those rocks?)
To reach the flatiron-shape rock up there at the top, can you see it?
That was taken probably half way up…
Let’s go back to the beginning where we started off when the shadows were stretched out wide across the desert flowers.
The best thing about this hike is the talking.
There is nothing like a good hike and no distractions to talk deeply about life and where it’s taking you. I loved the conversations we had scaling these rocks.
Made it to the top.
WooHoo!
I love that we decided to take fifteen minutes to find a spot by ourselves to think and ponder.
That was therapeutic to me.
Then we came back together and did my favorite five-minute meditation.
Oh gosh I love these friends.
Back down.
Goodbye Flatiron…until next year.
Thanks for cradling us in your goodness.
This is not related to this post, but – you or one of your sisters shared on the podcast a wonderful quote about how “we are no longer children and we must pray as women – wrestling/pleading/etc.” Or something like that! Do you have a citation for that? I have been trying to find it on Google but no luck!
It’s a quote by Patricia Holland.
We have to pray as the ancients prayed. We are women now, not children, and are expected to pray with maturity. The words most often used to describe urgent, prayerful labor are wrestle, plead, cry, and hunger…In some sense, prayer may be the hardest work we will ever be engaged in, and perhaps it should be.
Patricia T. Holland, A Quiet Heart
Thank you Rachel!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatiron_(geomorphology) for anyone else curious about these rock formations. Beautiful pics!
Hi Anna, I know what you’re talking about, one of my two favorite quotes about wrestling prayer. There’s the one at the end of this post: https://71toes.com/the-most-important-work-we-ever-do/
And also there’s one by Julie Beck. I cannot find it right now but I’ll see if I can find it and come back to you.
Thank you, Shawni! Apologies for taking over your comments section with my question. 🙂
“We have to pray as the ancients prayed. We are women now, not children, and are expected to pray with maturity. The words most often used to describe urgent, prayerful labor are wrestle, plead, cry, and hunger…In some sense, prayer may be the hardest work we will ever be engaged in, and perhaps it should be.”
― Patricia T. Holland, A Quiet Heart
I also love this quote. It is in the book “A Quiet Heart” by Patricia Holland published in 2016. I found it on Amazon if you are interested in purchasing the book. It is excellent. I have it.
Thank you – I will look into the book!
I hope this comes across as endearing and not creepy. 🤣
I sometimes wish I could be present for other people’s friend conversations. To get a grasp on what and how they discuss. What topics come up, what responses are given. There’s so much good and wisdom when friends discuss life. It just always makes me curious what other people discuss with their friends and if it’s similar to mine or entirely different.
I suppose that is what podcasts are for. 🤣
I don’t think that is at all creepy. Because I was just thinking the same thing!!! After reading Shawni’s post about her hike and the fun conversations with her friends, I started thinking about how negative some recent conversations have been lately that I’ve had with friends and others, and it leaves me feeling so empty!! I long for the days when the world didn’t feel so hopeless to me, and conversations didn’t end up in political arguments and negative feelings toward so many others. It leaves me so tired and envious of people like Shawni who have like minded friends that can talk about their journey in life and their love of their religion. So much of that kind of contentment is missing in my life. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever find my way on my spiritual journey that I’m trying to do. It’s such a hard thing to do when you have to do it alone. I love that Shawni and her family and friends all come from similar backgrounds and can enjoy true happiness and optimism, and strength with each other. I guess the word I really mean is “Authentic” Shawni’s blog makes me long for an authentic life.
Oh this is beautiful! You spoke my heart! Thank you for sharing!
And I hope and pray you find friends to have those conversations and connections with. I know they’re out there… and they’re looking for you too!
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts!!! I appreciate it.
Hi Laura, I appreciate this comment. I’m thankful every day for opportunities to discuss, but good to have a reminder that it doesn’t always just happen. I think different seasons of life lend themselves to finding the people that “get” you, and I, like J+Nels below, pray you will find people who are like-minded to you that you feel comfortable “talking deep” with. I too believe they are looking for you too!
I really appreciated this comment this weekend as I was with my married kids for Carson’s graduation. Your comment spurred a discussion about whether they have found people they can discuss the world in depth with. Some of them do and some of them are looking, but I think if you are conscientious about seeking out those kinds of people, you will find them.
Sending lots of love your way!
XOXO