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.

More Kiera...

EARTH ANGELS

EYES WIDE OPEN!

PURE CUTENESS!

Click on pics to enlarge

Another Day...

Just breathe...

Just believe...

Kiera Lynn

What a beautiful name...

What a beautiful baby girl...

I'm a very proud uncle today!

Congratulations Kevin and Katie -- I love you both very deeply.

Oh...and I'd be remiss to not include a pic of Kiera's big sister, Kiaya, who I love beyond words.

Click on pics to enlarge!

Wonderwall

I listened to Oasis' Wonderwall this morning and actually "heard" the lyrics for the first time.

Well...maybe I've heard them before, but my experiences in life at the time just didn't resonate with the lyrics as strongly.

But today, these simple words took me to another place. I had one of those Matrix-type experiences where like time stopped and everything was happening in slow motion.

The only thing I could hear were the lyrics.

The only thing I could see were the dreams locked inside heart.

The only thing I can know for sure is that everything inside my heart is in the hands of my Creator.

This gives my soul a peace that transcends human comprehension.

What's your song today?

Love's Fury

What does this painting say to you?

I painted it, so I got my own thoughts, but I'm really interested in what it means to you in the context of where you're at in your journey. What's your story?

Alive...

So I get to walk across this bridge every morning. It gives me time to kinda clear my head before jumping into the work day. Sometimes I listen to music. Other times I listen to all the muted sounds coming from Harrisburg. But almost everyday I take my eyes off the path directly in front of me and consider the beauty of the sun, the sky, the clouds, the breeze, the river, or two geese floating in the river with a bunch of little new-borns lagging behind as they learn the art of paddling in the calm stillness of the Susquehanna.

Just yesterday morning I was reminded that my Creator is alive and working, as evidenced by the chill of the early spring morning and the warmth of the individual rays of sunlight that embraced me. This juxtaposition reminded me of the musings of this one Jewish man who had the nerve to make the claim that humanity would only find true life in death.

It's a claim I ponder nearly every day of my life...

It's a claim that has changed my life...

It's good stuff to think about while crossing a bridge...