What if you knew, then what would you do?

If Love were a road, and you knew that road was full of potholes and dark tunnels and steep cliffs; that it would take you into deep valley's and have you hiking up mountains - would you willingly journey that road? There's a road adjacent to Love and it's smooth and simple and lacks surprises. It's a terrain that remains on an even plain, seamlessly flowing from one day into the next. It's path can be seen clearly, there are no obstructions or obstacles. Does that entice you more? 

What if you knew you would never be alone on the adjacent road - but most often feel lonely amidst the crowds; what if you knew that you might sometimes feel alone on the road called Love - but you would never truly be alone and hope is there for the asking but only if you have faith that it's there. What if you knew that Love's road was an eternal journey but that there would be times you will just wish it would end, and the adjacent road would eventually and most certainly end whether you want it to or not. Then what entices you more?

I am not making this an easy question - because in this world we all live in it's not an easy answer. Love is not what we so often consider it. We put it into the category of "The simple things in life." There is nothing simple about it. "...Faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love." Something great is never easy. It takes courage, faith, hope and a willingness to stumble, look foolish, and spend time feeling you're on that road alone. But I don't know how to get a reward without taking a risk. Do you?


Love is a risk - but over a lifetime it is the one risk that will always bring the greatest of rewards. You will never look back at the end of this life and tell yourself you should have loved less. Never.




Ronda Rae Franklin

Photograph by R.R.Franklin

The Road Less Traveled 

Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico

The Poem

A poem was written to me on September 30, 2009. I responded to that poem by adding two lines of poetry after every two lines he first wrote to me. When this was written we had never been close enough to even touch. I was in the midst of writing my book when this love was placed in my life - and this love became my everything. It became a breaking point that still remains. It became, before I realized it, Broken to Grace. This is that poem - with only his name changed to what it is in the book. I have been searching for this poem for over a year - as I needed it to be in the book. After many months of wondering how I could lose this, I found it just an hour ago in some old mail. I have never known a love like this, nor do I ever need to again. It will never leave me, because it is a gift from God

Frenetic energy vigorous debate

Calmed assurance soft and sedate

Passionate hearts bleed passionate talk

lead to reverent silence as with God we walk

Passionate discussions involved and drawn in

Fully connected without pretense or sin

Unencumbered, unveiled, and unleashed without fear

Sharing the depths of our souls as we draw ever more near

Indescribably filling my heart

With each phone call we start

My darling, I love you, there is so much to say

My Matthew, I need you in the most innate ways

You’re so beautiful so soft and so sensual

Strands of gold curves incomprehensible

Your hands, your lips, every muscle, your shining dark skin

I feel that I've felt you again and again

Voice, tones of sweetness, speak in my ear

Visions of love, laughter for years

Deep and tender words speak straight to my heart

My longing deepens nightly as we are apart

Where are we going what does this mean

What is the plan and when is it seen

What is this journey, neither of us know

Because God leads, it is there we will go

Don’t really know, now I believe

I cherish each moment I’m blessed to receive

Straight ahead without worry, courage in its place

I long to be engulfed by your strong, passionate embrace

I am breathless, my heart beats, muscles flex

Endorphins rush...

Love filled passion; passion filled with love

How ever did I not know you were coming, my gift from above.

Love you baby

and I love you

Matthew

Ronda

Love is Impervious to Sin

Do not allow the fear of sorrow to replace love with a complacent heart. You must realize that the love itself does not hurt – it heals. We are all imperfect by design of human nature, but love is faultless by the divinity of its creator. Love is impervious to sin, while we are not. You have only to decide if you're willing to risk the certainty of heartache from an imperfect person in order to experience the perfection of love. Trying to outsmart sorrow only leads to a lifetime of sorrow at your own hand. © -Ronda Rae Franklin

Photograph by Rachel Whitney

Fall sunset on Fidalgo Island

The Two-sided Gift

Photograph by RR Franklin

The Saluyero 1; Sayulita, Nayarit

‎"It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life...that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

In recognition of the truth and true beauty of this:

No man can sincerely love another without loving himself.

No man can sincerely teach another without learning himself.

No man can sincerely share faith with another without growing in faith himself.

No man can sincerely give hope to another and not gain more hope himself. 

In essence - as I have written before - you cannot truly give without allowing yourself to receive. Always give sincerely of yourself and you will do so with a receptive spirit by default; a truly spectacular part of human nature. 

Put the wind in another's sail, and yours will be filled as well. 

-Ronda Rae Franklin

God's Whisper of Wisdom

The next time you find yourself confused, stop thinking and remind your heart that God is not a God of confusion - that's Satan's job. Stop thinking and listen to the voice that lives in your heart - God's whisper of wisdom will wash away your confusion and shine an unmistakable light upon the truth that was always there. 

-Ronda Rae Franklin

Photograph by Ronda Rae Franklin

Sunset off the coast of Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico

Fear is not an option worthy of acknowledgement ~ Give way to love instead..

"Love is an unspoken but booming voice; it is a whisper that is ever so clear; it is a never ending yet single moment, and it is a tear that is always wiped dry. 

Love, like joy, is an inner smile no matter your external surroundings or momentary circumstance. It is peaceful and gentle, bestowing grace and forgiveness even when it rages with the passion of the grandest waterfall. 

Love is the highest power in this world as it is your greatest gift from God. Do not fain love, do not turn from it, do not abuse it, do not fear it - and exercise it only for the power it was intended to harvest."~Ronda Rae Franklin

 

Photographer: unknown

The Constant of Truth

The truth that once wasn't, but now is, really always was.

When you recognize something as truth, but time alters it in your eyes, that doesn't remove truth. Time does not change truth, but serves to move us into a different place. And in different places things appear and feel changed, but truth remains unmoved. 


Look for the one who shines true light, for His truth is always constant. 

-Ronda Rae Franklin

Photograph by R. Franklin

Sayulita, Nayarit

Rest ~ the fresh trail of tomorrow awaits a refreshed you.

"As you lay your head down at the end of this days journey, remind yourself that it is a journey you are on. You need this time to rest. It does no good now to ponder what you wish you would've accomplished in the time that is behind you, or give worry to tomorrows trail. Let go and give way to rest, so your journey can begin anew as if no time has passed. 

As you lay your head down at the end of this life's journey, remind yourself it is a journey you are on. It's time for you to rest. It does no good now to ponder what you wish you would've accomplished in the time that is behind you, or give worry to the trail that now awaits you. Let go and give way to rest, so your new journey can begin as if no time has passed." 

-Ronda Rae Franklin

Photograph taken by J. Clark

in Steheken, Washington