She opened some windows, allowing for some of the musty air to move around. Imagine living somewhere with fresh air, not city-scented. Muskoka was good for that, too.
“Thank You God for Muskoka.” They’d return soon, then Dan had a skills camp, and they’d make the most of summer before he’d need to return for skills training, and she’d need to prep for her Heartsong tour.
She exhaled, sat at her desk, and switched on the computer. Deleted a bunch of emails her phone hadn’t synced and dealt with already. It was nice to feel like she could take control of her life in some ways, and not be at the mercy of everyone who wanted or said they needed her. Then she paused, eyeing an email she hadn’t seen before.
She opened it. Then read it, her mouth sagging as an offer for a different kind of album was put to her. Really? They thought she could write and record a secular album of love songs? Hmm.
“Lord?”
Her eyes closed, and she propped her head in her hands as she let her mind wander, remembering the many actions of a man who was faithful, kind and patient—hallmarks of real love—that begged her to describe him, their journey, what love looked like. It wasn’t the first time she had toyed with writing about love in a more secular way, but she’d never had a request for an album of such songs. It wasn’t a Heartsong Collective album, that was for sure.
“Lord, what do You think?”
She stilled her mind, stilled her soul, listening to what God might say, but didn’t sense ano. She could see how an album like this could reach people who weren’t Christians, so maybe that was a reason to consider this. And God knew that Dan was worth it…
The temptation to dwell on this tugged at her, but Dan was supposed to return in several hours, and she still had to pray, and go over her podcast’s script and notes, and check the recording timing would work considering there was so much to say. This album offer was something to think about another day.
She spent the next hour praying, revising her program notes, tweaking things, asking God for direction on what was best to say and what was less valuable. Then, as the time of Dan’s arrival drew near, she set up her script, and cued her computer, and microphone.
When the door rattled, she jumped up to answer it. “Look! It’s my favorite hockey player in all the world!”
He grinned, accepting her hug. “Hey, Princess.”
“How did it go?”
“Great. Everyone’s very happy so it should be good.”
“I bet they were happy to sign you up now so they can build their team around you.”
“I don’t know how much building they can do when I’m only here for another year, but I’ll take it.”
She kissed him. “Want a cup of tea?”
“You and your cups of tea,” he said affectionately.
“Hey, tea is good for you, and doesn’t raise the heartrate like coffee does, just remember that.”
He smiled. “So, how has the podcast prep gone?”
“Good.” She’d save the news about the album offer for another day. Or maybe not at all. If she did do the album, it could be an awesome surprise for him.Ifshe did it at all.
“Have you got notes on what you want me to say?”
“Oh! Um, I hadn’t really thought about what or how much I want you to say. I figured it would probably be good for you to be there as I talk, and if there’s anything you want to add or change, we can edit it straight away. Is that okay?”
He sighed. “Yep.”
“It won’t take long.”
“I hope not. I’ve got other things I want to do with you instead.”
“You always do.” Especially now she’d stopped bleeding again. “First things first. Let’s pray, then let’s talk.”
It provedto be a very different podcast to the last. But the concept of thankfulness, in the midst of uncertainty, was a message that everyone needed reminding of. How could people truly claim faith if their faith was only based on things going well?
“But I’ve come to realize that real faith is only truly earned when we’re in the gritty moments of life, when things look destined to fail, and there’s no hope in sight. That’s what walking by faith and not sight is about.” How she hoped and prayed that her words would bring courage and not despair.
She glanced at Dan, whose lips tweaked up, his arms crossed over his chest.
