Attraversiamo.
Do you remember that beautiful, closing scene from the film “Eat, Pray, Love”?
Finally abandoning fear. Relinquishing the what ifs. Resting peacefully in the now and embracing the unknown.
Liz had found her word, and was ready to embrace it.
Attraversiamo ~ an Italian word, meaning “Let’s cross over”.
Standing in the sunset on that beautiful beach in Bali, she was finally able to breathe in life again.
And to let her heart love once more.
Crossing over isn’t always as lovely as that. It’s not made in the movies, but it truly is a part of life and of living.
In our house, it takes a different shape these days. Our crossing over is about moving through the transitions in life.
You can see it in the day to day changes.
Time once spent playing with her little toy animal figures, is now used to manipulate complex equations in Algebra II. We went to pick up a friend for a visit. She leaned over and said, “You can just wait here in the car, Mom. I’ll be right back.”
From bedside prayers and goodnight kisses to ~ “It’s OK, Mom. I’ll see you in the morning.” Her door closing softly behind her.
These changes of life’s seasons are bittersweet.
There’s a beautiful slice of moon hanging in the sky tonight.
The eve of her 14th birthday.
My Sweet Louise.
I can’t help but remember all those nights when she was little. I held her in my arms and before I tucked her in, we would step outside out into the night air. She would blow kisses to the moon and the stars.
“Goodnight moon.”
“Goodnight sky.”
“Goodnight crickets”, she would whisper.
…
But times are changing.
Emma is turning 14 and we’re crossing over…again.
What used to be bubbles, balloons and pedal boat rides are now sleepovers and manicures with a best friend. Taking the canoe to go paddle through the channel. Quiet time enjoyed in confidence.
…
Friends and family told me that she would grow up in the blink of an eye.
They were right.
Birthdays are like bridges.
A crossing over from one year, one phase, to the next.
Even more, birthdays are opportunities when we can experience three different perspectives from the vantage point of one delicious day.
They are occasions to stand in the present. To wrap around and appreciate those we love. Another year together. Tenderly grateful.
We may look back to days past. Memories and treasured times. Recalling things we have shared with them. Our hearts intertwined and laughter we’ve shared.
Then we look forward. Wondering what will be. What the years ahead will hold for them. Blowing candles and wishes for happiness.
…
There are so many bridges in our lives.
We stand on one side, and look across to our destination. Where we would like to be. Or maybe just where life is taking us.
To the other side.
The other side of childhood. The other side of a relationship. The other side of a journey.
The promise of something different.
Something else.
Maybe the bridge we’re standing on right now will carry us over some treacherous emotional waters to a place of contentment and safety. Maybe our bridge is one that leads us over to a fresh start. Something new and exciting. A new job. A new home.
Perhaps the bridge is forgiveness. Connecting two hearts on different sides of an angry disagreement. Those kinds of bridges somehow seem longer. More intimidating. More arduous to cross.
The thought of crossing bridges can conjure up fear in many of us.
Too high.
Too narrow.
Too unstable.
What if?
There’s only water below me.
I’ll be swallowed up.
…
These anxieties are tied to our physical perceptions. Living in this tangible world, our minds tend to get stuck here. Even when they are proverbial bridges on our journey.
White knuckled, we clutch to a sense of security. Desperately wanting to get over this, whatever it might be. To be done with it.
This is how many of us move through our lives ~ never taking the opportunity to discover the joys on the other side of those ‘bridges’ in life? Those possibilities to cross over.
Immobilized by fear we remain fixated on the bridge. Or the difficulties we’re trying to move past.
“Don’t look down.”
When we look down, we focus on the physical world.
The structure and potential hazards below.
Those destroyers of faith, clamoring for our attention. Waves of shame. Currents of isolation. Jagged rocks of anger. Large, dangerous limbs of judgement, waiting to catch and hold us bound in the raging river.
…
But what if….
We decided to look up instead?
Hebrews 12:2
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Focusing on Christ instead of the pain.
Focusing on the Cross rather than the precariousness of our situation.
When we do this, everything changes.
The waters seem more calm and we are able to traverse the span in faith.
It may take us longer than we thought.
It still may be difficult.
But keeping our eyes on the Maker of this world is the only security we need.
Crossing over takes trust.
It requires willingness to follow our Creator’s plan for our lives.
…
Consider this…
The tiny ant knows his place in this world. Confident on his mission, despite the great challenge that lies ahead.
Anticipating, trusting that the gains acquired by his effort will be great.
Did you know, that without this tiny warrior, we could never know the beautiful perfume of the peony?
No ants. No flowers.
The ants are drawn to the tightly furled peony flowers by a sweet nectar that is exuded from the waxy, red-rimmed scales of the bud. In return for this high-energy food, the nectar-seeking ants gently probe the clenched petals, loosening the folds and helping the flowers to open. The ant and the peony have a symbiotic relationship.
We’ve much to learn from the perseverance and instinct of the ant.
Because our God is Sovereign, and His mercy abundant, we can know that He has good and beautiful things in store for us. Genuine and true beauty like that of the peony.
Looking beyond the physical challenges of our world. Crossing over to life’s lessons in humility and surrender. No matter how long it takes ~ knowing that He holds it all.
And on the other side…our treasure.
He is the bridge to Eternal Life.
The beauty of His love unfurled.
Blooming and fragrant, forever in our hearts.
My Sweet Louise 
Please share your thoughts.