The Weight

I'm feeling the weight today.

I've felt it before, but today is another story.

My prayer is for liteness of being.

Life Support

Today I'm reminded of the blessing of true friends and a close-knit family.

For those of you who have touched my life...know that I'm grateful for the times in which you have made me laugh, shared a tear, sought out my advice, lifted my spirits, laid down your life for me, prayed for me, forgiven me, loved me, listened to me, silently taught me, pushed me to greater heights, corrected me, showed me perspective, spoke truth to me in love, trusted me, modeled Christ to me...

Seriously, words can't even begin to express the feelings these memories evoke in my inner spirit.

Most importantly, know that I'd do the same for you. Any time. Any place. Any circumstance.

Much love and respect...

Truly Seeing Yourself

May you believe in God...

But may you come to see that God believes in you.

May you have faith in Jesus...

But may you come to see that Jesus has faith that you can be like him...

A person of love and compassion and truth.

A person of forgiveness and peace and grace and joy and hope.

Rob Bell . Dust . Nooma 008

Inspiration...

Currently Reading:
Red Moon Rising: How 24-7 Prayer is Awakening a Generation
by Pete Greig & Dave Roberts
This is a story of God bringing his people across the globe back into true prayer by revealing His wonder therein. Highly Recommended.


Currently Listening To:
Thom Yorke . The Eraser
The Radiohead frontman briefly steps away from the band and puts together a nice collection of tracks. This is a minimal album (as far as instrumentation goes) that doesn't sound minimal. It's haunting, peaceful and beautiful. Harrowdown Hill is the highlight of the album.

Current Life Quote:
"Prayer itself is an art only the Holy Spirit can teach us. Pray for prayer. Pray until you can really pray." -C.H. Spurgeon

Rest

So this weekend is about rest.

I'm going home to visit with my family and have a picnic with some dear friends. I'm going to hold my 1-month old niece until her Mommy takes her away from me. I'm going to play with my 2-year old niece until she can no longer play. I'm going to eat some of the best grilled chicken around (prepared by my Dad, who haughtily calls himself "The Grillmaster"). And I'm going to partake of an array of picnic-type foods all prepared by the best cook I've ever known -- my Mum. I'm going to sit around with my friends and family and talk about life. About things that really matter. About eternal things. And I'm pretty sure we're going to laugh alot as well.

What are you doing this weekend?

No, what are you really doing this weekend?

The Metamorphosis

The End Of A Journey

You might remember my buddy Matt and his friend Ryan from a previous post about the two of them biking across the United States (and then some). I'm happy to report that Matt and Ryan safely reached home on June 17, 2006, some 3 1/2 months after they began in San Francisco. 5,200 miles later, I'm pretty sure that life for them will never be the same again. What a journey! If you're interested in seeing all their pics and/or sampling a few of their audio blogs from along the way, visit BikeAndSee.

Here is part of an email from Matt following their return:

This trip was truly amazing..the people you met...the things you saw....just living life everyday somewhere new. Pretty neat!!

Truthfully though, I already miss it. There was a couple we met in the first week who was traveling by bike from the tip of South America to Alaska. I was checking out their site and it was making me jealous. I don't know what it is with the bicycle, but it makes traveling seem so much more magical.

Okay...so maybe biking isn't your "magical" thing, but what is it about a bike that makes the difference here?

I'm thinking it has something to do with the simplicity of a bike. It's self-powered, you can only carry the bare necessities, and unlike most modern forms of transportation, it allows you to soak in life along the way. I guess it's like a friend said, it simply allows you to be somewhere, instead of just getting somewhere.

So...where are you at in your journey?

Perspective

So He asked me to consider perspective today...

A co-worker comes into my office and comments that I have a nice view out of my window. This was based on the fact that there happens to be a tree between my window and the 10-story concrete parking garage across the street. I normally scoff at my view b/c there is a large support beam in the middle of my oversized office-building window and b/c that same tree does not bear leaves during the fall and winter. So I went and looked out of her window, and its just a straight shot view into another, rather non-descript office building.

And it all became so totally apparent in my mind. He asked me to consider my plight in life at the moment -- extremely blessed -- and reminded me that He truly knows what's best for me and that everything inside my heart is gently cupped in His scarred hands.

So for today...I choose to trust His provisions for my life.

And when I "forget" tomorrow, or when the pangs of my heart cry out in human weakness, I'll have the tree outside my window to remind me that the One who provides its leaves, will surely provide for me.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life.