Sunday, Refined

Sunday, Refined

Sunday had a quiet completeness to it. The kind that does not rush you forward, but gently invites you to stay present and notice what is already good.

The morning started in church. Not with answers, but with grounding. With the reminder that faith is not something we use to control outcomes, but something we practice so we can walk through whatever comes. Sitting there, listening, breathing, letting the words settle, I felt steadied. Not fixed. Just steadied. And sometimes that is exactly what the soul needs.

Later in the afternoon, Bella Love and I went for a walk. No agenda. No lesson planned. Just steps side by side. Somewhere between the sidewalk and the quiet moments in between, she opened up. Not dramatically. Just honestly. The way kids do when they feel safe enough to let their guard down. I listened more than I spoke. I realized again that presence is often the greatest form of parenting. You do not have to solve everything. You just have to stay.

The day continued with bowling practice surrounded by family and friends. Laughter. Missed shots. Good shots. Encouragement. No pressure. Just the joy of being together and doing something we love. It reminded me that progress does not always need intensity. Sometimes it grows best in community and freedom.

That evening, we gathered in the living room after dinner. Conversations unfolded naturally. Stories were shared. Thoughts about life, faith, and direction floated through the room without force. It felt like one of those moments you do not realize is sacred until you are already in it. No phones. No hurry. Just connection.

This morning, after church, Barbi’s brother sent a message that felt like the thread tying the entire day together. He said:

That story I told you about gold. I think we can replace gold with faith. Our faith gets stronger and purer with these examples. And we come out better in the end. His ways are just better than ours. Enjoy the ride. Keep your head up and pay attention to your surroundings. Everything is ok.

That message stayed with me. Faith, like gold, is refined through heat, not comfort. It is shaped in ordinary moments, not just dramatic ones. In church pews. On afternoon walks. In bowling alleys. In living rooms filled with conversation and love.

Sunday did not bring clarity about everything ahead. But it brought something better. A reminder that God’s ways are steady, even when life feels uncertain. That paying attention to what is around you is often more important than worrying about what is coming next.

Everything really is ok.