Welcome to Longings End
We all have longings, longings that move us in different directions as we seek to satisfy them. If they are right and true, our longings bring us closer and closer to the God who authored and planted them in our hearts.
At times our longings get waylaid, bent out of their intended form and distorting our vision so as to propel us in wrong directions. Instead of arriving at a supposed oasis we find ourselves having spent days, months and even years chasing a mirage that, once gained, exposes itself as a foul imitation of the clear, refreshing life-giving water we so eagerly sought.
The two of us can easily relate. Our history is full of the wreckage wrought by the pursuit of misplaced longings.
Enter Jesus, the Son of God who came to Earth to explain the Father. Our Elder Brother who, for those who love truth, changes everything! Longings End in human form.
With Him, even our bad choices can ultimately lead us to the fulfillment of our life purpose. From darkness and chaos, Love emerges showing us the way.
We are sojourners, traveling a path with just enough light for the next step, learning lessons along the way that are intended for sharing. As children of God who are saved and being healed by grace, we gratefully share what we’ve learned.
To Jesus, the immortal, invisible, only wise God we dedicate this website and our very lives.
May the words you find written here help heal your heart, soothe your soul and send you on your way to your own longings end…
~michael & sheila
Contact us…
Learning to love each other well is what we are all here for! As you journey forward, please feel free to share your thoughts and let us know how you are doing. Please post a comment or email us@longingsend.com.
About the writers…
Michael began writing when he was much younger having, until recently, allowed his writing to languish in favor of what he considered more financially attractive pursuits.
On one hand, Michael’s deferral strikes him in retrospect as a poor choice, a neglect of something precious. From a different perspective, those years, so many of which were filled with sorrows of various kinds, immeasurably contribute to both what he writes and the meaningfulness of these writings. Michael now writes full time.
Sheila, a journalist by training who’s been scribbling stories since age six, serves as Michael’s publicist, promoting and marketing his work. An award winning writer, Sheila has authored numerous magazine, newspaper and online articles. She enjoys writing flash fiction and blogs with enthusiasm.
Sheila’s heart for the struggles of others is apparent throughout her writing. Viewing life as an ever unfolding journey she remains convinced that all of life’s experiences can ultimately be transformed by God’s grace into redemptive streams of love, nudging us continually closer to the Father’s heart.
Story within a story…
Although our hearts rested fully in the Lord we both longed for a lifelong partner. One special someone with whom to share all the rest of our days. After prayer and consideration, we both posted profiles on a Christian website.
By God’s grace, that 10 day free trial yielded the gift of a lifetime for each of us!
Michael had just finished writing his newest novel, Portals, one day before we met face to face on June 2, high above the river on the Walkway Over the Hudson. He marveled that the female protagonist in Portals is a green-eyed blonde with many of the personality characteristics of his soon-to-be wife. He is fond of saying, “When I saw Sheila coming towards me on the Walkway it was as if Savannah had walked out of the story and into my life…only this time, reality was better than fiction.”
After 47 days of getting to know each other within the boundaries of a God honoring relationship, we eloped! Granted, it sounds rather zany for a couple in their fifties. But we had a sure sense of God’s direction and a strong peace in moving forward. God’s fingerprints were wide across a spectrum of the details leading up to our union proving, as goes a line in a popular movie, that unspeakably good things can happen late in the game! We were married on Monday, July 18, 2011 in Cape Ann, Massachusetts.
With gratitude to God, the Author of love whose fingers pen all of our life stories, we look forward to the chapters yet to be written…
A special thanks to our good friend, David Polczynski, who took a number of photos of us that now serve as the images found in the banner of each page…
Throughly enjoyed reading your love story. God is so good, isn’t he? He’s done so much for me and continues even as I fail him time after time. Enjoy your uplifting writings and comments.
God is good, all the time, Lynnie. Missing you
Merry Christmas! <3
Terrific!
We sure think so! Thanks
I have nominated you for the Genuine Blogger Award! Please get it at this link:
http://craigmotor.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/the-genuine-blogger-award/
Cathy, thanks so much. And thank you, Lord. An honor. We’ll post something about it tomorrow.
Hugs,
michael & sheila
Hi, I have nominated you for Kreativ Blogger. If you wish to participate please check out my post http://onelovedamericangirl.com/2012/03/13/kreativ-blogger-award-nominee/. No pressure and congratulations!
~Jenny
Hey Jenny — thanks a bunch. Sure will participate. Might take me a couple days to gather my seven, though. I am honored that you would include me. God bless you, your soldier husband and fam.
Wishing you hugs and happiness this sweet day of the Lord,
sheila
And to think that you met on the “Walkway Over The Hudson!”
When my Marine son returned home from the sandpit of Afghanistan, the first thing we did together was walk on the “Walkway OverThe Hudson!” We hugged and smiled and felt a river of blessings to be home safe… Three brothers together again. And their mother shadow.
Your precious son fought for freedom, and being on the Walkway Over the Hudson one feels a sense of freedom suspended so high above the river. A very appropriate place to celebrate God’s goodness in bringing your son home safely. Your Navy son is in my prayers. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your mother’s heart. God bless you.
This is beautifully written. Your opening paragraph really drew me in: “We all have longings, longings that move us in different directions as we seek to satisfy them. If they are right and true, our longings bring us closer and closer to the God who authored and planted them in our hearts.”
I think every person on this earth has longings planted by God, but unfortunately everyone doesn’t allow themselves to be drawn closer to God in spite of the reality that He is the one who planted them in our hearts. How sad for us; how sad for Him.
And what a touching love story. May the chapters yet to be written be saturated with the words and the love of God. God is good… all the time.
Yes, our love story is a treasure to us, one we passionately pursue and take pains to nurture and protect believing it a gift to be shared to the encouragement of others. Father is always beckoning us on, closer and closer to His great heart that we might, like Jesus, love those whom He has brought near.
Thank you for visiting Longings End and for your encouraging words!
Hi!
I have nominated you for the Lovely Blog Award. Congratulations! If you would like to participate details are here: http://onelovedamericangirl.com/2012/06/24/one-lovely-blog-award-2/
Thanks, Jenny. So appreciate you thinking of us!