Between Maps and Meaning

The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
Psalm 145: 9

I lost a longtime pet recently. Her name was Leah and she was a great dog to my family and me. She was with us for 15 years and I could not be more blessed to have known her. She never had puppies though she was a mother to every animal born on our family farm. She cared for our chickens, baby rabbits, baby goats, and every puppy/kitten that stepped through our door knew her as a true momma. I wrote once before that I look forward to the blessing that it is to mourn my pets, and although it hurts I remain grateful. I was blessed enough to be responsible for her time on earth. I know she rests and no longer suffers on this planet. I hope to maybe see her again in the new heaven and new earth.

On another note, I’ve recently returned from the ESRI Conference. For some of my readers who might be unaware of what this is, it’s a huge convention/conference for GIS users. ESRI is sort of our Microsoft and the conference is great place to both network, learn, and keep up with the future of the tech used in our field. I went last year but this year was different in many ways!

Last year I was an emotional mess to the say the least. Things were not going well for me. I mean in terms of my career I had just been promoted, I had just won innovator of the year within my county, and my relationship with the Lord felt so strong. Even with so much good I felt the weight of my past pulling me down. This year I’m a year into my promotion and expecting another, and although I don’t expect to win innovator of the year back to back years I’m very grateful for the reputation I’m creating in the workplace. My relationship with God is not as smooth as I want, but I am keeping my eyes on him as I walk in my life. Is the past still weighing me down? I don’t think so. At least not in the same way. For now a year has come and go, and anew past is at the front of my mind. I cannot believe what’s happened to me this year. Things have not been the same since December of 2025. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotion, and not all bad and thank God for that!

Last year was the year of healing and as my 3-4 constant readers know this is the year of peace. Am I at peace, or better yet, am I living in God’s Peace? I love the Lord with all my heart and I can only hope to be more like him with time. I am looking for his signs everywhere, and seeking his council always. Even so I can fall at times, but I believe I have found his Peace. I remember being at the park recently my heart racing with some newfound rage. Upset about things that really don’t matter. Then, a breath came and it was as if God let me touch a little bit of heaven. I felt a peace and calmness that is not of this world. This is not the only time I’ve experienced this recently. I’m incredibly grateful as who knows how I’d be acting without that peace.

I’m even more grateful for God’s peace knowing I don’t deserve it. I’m visiting new places, meeting new people, changing my “geography”, but even so I’m finding it hard to not sin. I constantly fall short and find myself off God’s path. I do not want to be off His path. Before I wrote about how cloudy my future seemed, and although I cannot see every single detail I can see more. God has placed things in my path and I can see it. Will these be blessing or challenges I’m unsure of. I can see other things too though… The enemy at times places temptations on my path, and I have found myself at times failing to be ready for his attacks. My church has spent the last few weeks to month talking about the armor of God in great detail. I pray these sermons live in my heart. I do not want the enemy to lead me astray anymore. I want what God has in store.

I pray for my family, and myself as we mourn Leah. I pray for my readers and any loss they might be experiencing. I pray for the year of Peace that my readers and I can continue to access God’s Peace. Lastly father help us all to stay on your path, and let us be equipped to face the road blocks of the enemy. AMEN!