My vision for creating the Coen Compass started out of my desire to share my journey with you in all things travel but also to share encouragement along the way when it comes to faith. My faith has been what has kept me grounded in every season of my life. I do not proclaim to be a theologian or have some great insight into all of the right answers but I do know that life is full of moments that we could use a word of encouragement from time to time.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will give you direction”

The motto that I wanted to use with The Coen Compass is traveling with direction. My hope is that through something I write, you will be able to travel with direction in whatever season you may find yourself in. Direction is defined as the guidance of someone or something and the course in which you move from one place to the next. I have to admit that there have been times in this life that I did not know the next move or which direction to go. I have even been there recently. I do not want to compare it to vacation because when it comes to taking a good vacation, I am always ready to go anywhere but when we know where we are going, it gives us such excitement as we wait with anticipation. When I started to pray about what I wanted the purpose of this blog to be, I began to realize that rather it was trying to navigate an unfamiliar destination or trying to decide which way to go in our everyday lives, we all desire to have direction. We all want to move with confidence from one day to the next – or from one destination to the next. We all desire to know that no matter what season we are in currently, there is another one coming. I am encouraged in my own faith as I sit on my porch and plan some of the most exciting travel adventures for my clients and I look over to see such beauty in these pink flowers. I could not help but think how sometimes the rain in our lives lead to such beauty.

I have heard the saying that “April showers bring May flowers” most of my life and I am sure that you have heard that saying at some point in your own life as well. I realize that there is such truth to this saying. There is such beauty that surrounds us in the Spring. The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing with joy. One of my most favorite places to work during this time of year is on my porch. I love watching the friendly humming birds come and drink from the feeder and the red cardinals wrestle over the bird seed in my garden. The beauty that we are able to enjoy this time of year is only possible because there was endurance during the storm.

The same storm that brings the wind also brings the rain.

I know that the storm is not popular to talk about and there are a million different opinions on if we should even give attention to the storms in our lives, and I am not here to debate that one way or the other, I am here to say that the same storm that brings the wind of resistance also brings the life giving water. I cannot live day to day denying the storm or pretending that the storm does not exist, I have to admit that there are days that are much more difficult than others. There are those days in my life when I would certainly rather be on vacation than doing anything else but I am so encouraged on those days when I start to think about the beauty that comes after the storm.

The rainfall in April comes after the harsh brutal winter. The winter that brings the cold and causes the life to retreat away and hide behind the branches. The seasons of life can take us through such a journey but then again when you think of the seasons that happen year after year, they show us this same pattern on a greater scale. Where do the flowers go during the winter? Why does the grass fade away? Why do the branches give up their beautiful leaves? Where does the humming bird travel to get warm? Those are the questions that seem to escape us when we are able to experience the beauty in the Spring.

To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:2-3)

My life is evidence over and over again that no matter what season I have walked through, even on the days when it may still be raining, God is the source of my strength. The comfort and the shelter from the storm keeps us until the season changes. He is the boat when the waves are too much for us to travel. He is the umbrella when the rain is too dense for us to see. He is the source of all life that surrounds us during the Spring.

I chose to share this image again with you because it represents the showers of April and the flowers of May for my season that I am walking through right now. These beautiful flowers greet me each morning as I step out onto my porch, along with my humming bird friend and those rambunctious cardinals fighting over the seeds in the bird feeder. I have made the comment that they are so beautiful that they could be mistaken as fake. You cannot help but to stare at them when you catch a glimpse. Today, these flowers taught me something a little deeper than beauty at face value. These flowers gave me encouragement in this season.

This hydrangea is one of my absolute favorite types of flowers and if you know anything about me then you know pink is certainly my favorite color, but what this picture does not tell you is that this flower was given as a gift to me in memory of my mother who passed away unexpectedly this year. The beauty of this flower only exist on my porch in this season of my life because of the storm that I am walking through. This picture reminds me that many times we see the beauty at face value but we overlook the seasons that brought the beauty. Hydrangeas represent abundance, grace and deep understanding. I am filled with such gratitude as I sit and learn from this flower today and I am encouraged in my walk with God. I am reminded that God gives us such grace even when we do not deserve it and He gives us deep understanding when we need it the most. I am filled with hope knowing that He has promised me beauty for ashes. He has made this same promise to each one of us. I am not telling you to just get over it, in fact I am telling you that in full transparency, it is still raining at my house on some days, but I am telling you that the season changes and beauty does start to emerge.

I want to encourage you to remember that the seasons of your life are going to change and some are certainly going to be harder than others, but do not miss the beauty that takes place after the storm. Be sure to take a moment each day and appreciate the flowers that are blooming around you because of the life giving storm that just passed. I know that this is not your typical travel blog but then again, it might be just what you need on your next adventure. We have to remember that we are all on a journey through this thing we call life. We are all moving from one destination to the next and enduring one season after another but when we have direction, we are able to find comfort in the promises of God.

John 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”