It’s Summer

And life is not very busy at all.  Which I suppose is good, but I find myself getting a little bored.  Which is funny, because when school was in session, all I wanted was the boredom and freedom of summer.  I have things to do, definitely, but there isn’t the day-to-day pressure of students and ringing bells.  So I have to motivate myself.  I’m not finding this as easy as I once did.

But it’s okay.  I’m learning to trust God with my time.  I don’t want to waste this gift.  I hope to spend my remaining month off reading, learning, preparing, praying.  I hope to learn, at least a little bit, Paul’s secret:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

Mulberry Magic

The other day, as we were taking a walk, Mason and I stumbled across a gigantic mulberry tree.  It’s in the city, just past our neighborhood, but no one had found it and it was positively laden with fruit.  We ate as much as we could, but since we didn’t have a bowl, there was so much left.

On Sunday morning, Hunter and Elise joined us for a morning walk, and this time we brought a container.  We collected an unbelievable number of berries.

Our hands looked like we had participated in a violent crime.

The berries were sweet and delicious for our breakfast that morning and on ice cream later that night.  What a fun surprise!

A Thing of Beauty

School is over and my brain is definitely in rest mode.  I’ve got a few projects and ideas wandering around, but they haven’t been fully realized yet.  In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful music video, which is really more a work of art.  It’s entirely composed of still shots–over 3000 of them.

Evidence for things not seen?

Rob Bell’s recent interview with Christianity Today is interesting and somewhat meandering, but I like it.  I like wonder and mystery and the sense that everything is unfolding right before our eyes.

“I like to say that I practice militant mysticism. I’m really absolutely sure of some things that I don’t quite know.”

Life and the world are like a paint-by-numbers project, or the incredible video game de Blob–there is beauty and passion and color, but we can’t see the whole picture yet.  The story continues, and we get a glimpse of  glory every once in a while, as the paint dries.  Redemption and restoration, here and now, and coming.

Because if we knew everything, what would be the point of faith?

Gotta Spend Some Time, Love

Today I can’t stop listening to Death Cab’s Narrow Stairs.  “I Will Possess Your Heart” is over 8 minutes long, and yet it never loses any of its magic and I never lose interest either.  How do they do that?

Mason imagines God singing this song to us. “How I wish you could see the potential, the potential of you and me / It’s like a book elegantly bound but in a language that you can’t read just yet . . .” I love the idea of God pining over us, longing to possess our hearts.  Sadly, while I never lose interest in the magic of Death Cab, I pretty regularly lose interest in the wonder of Christ.  Why do I do that?

“You reject my advances and desperate pleas . . .

. . . I won’t let you let me down so easily”

Spring Inspirations

Today is my first day of Spring Break. I can hardly explain how badly I’ve needed it. School has been going well, but it has been an insanely busy season, and I’m thankful to have some respite.  Yesterday I was triumphant as I left school, having gotten all my grades in and my lesson plans for after Spring Break completed.  Now I’ll be able to truly enjoy this time off.  Today I’m doing laundry and packing for Florida (yes!) and letting my mind wander and recover.

The weather is finally beginning to get a little warmer–although it’s presently raining–and I’m enjoying the inspiration and new thoughts that come with the spring season.  I’ve been reveling in the joy of apartmenttherapy.com (thanks to Sarah Jo).  I’ve purchased some lovely new stationery.  I’m enjoying the thought of yellow dresses and red kitchens, and bicycles.  I wrote a poem which I read at one of our church services last Sunday.

It feels good to be inspired again, to write, to create, to enjoy life.  Mason and I are headed to sunny Florida tomorrow to see Sarah and Ryan, and it’s going to be so refreshing.

God above all the world in motion
God above all my hopes and fears
I don’t care what the world throws at me now
It’s gonna be all right

‘Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here

Abundance

Life is full these days.

It’s overflowing with prayers and tears for hurting friends and family.

It’s spilling over with students and piles of rustling papers to grade.

It’s bursting with thoughts about one of the most wonderful films I’ve ever seen, Slumdog Millionaire. (Please see this movie.)

It’s brimming with enjoyment of music and beauty and the stunning creativity God has given us.

It’s abounding with learning to love as Jesus loves us.   It’s quite a feeling.

Amid all this, I’m reminded of where the source of joy truly lies.

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

. . . “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”  ~From Luke 12

The Love of God

. . . is huge.  Vast, enormous, boundless, beyond my comprehension.

I’ve been thinking about it lately. I think I naturally view the love of God like I view the love of a human–it can be pretty vast, but it has limits.  Human love still has fear, and sometimes it doesn’t know exactly what to do.  

But the love of God . . . oh my goodness.  It is magnificently large.  It encompasses everything I am and everything I could be and everything I was and will be.  It can handle my doubts and fears and questions–and it will take in and enjoy all of my joys and happiness.  His love surrounds me.  It frees me to a life of security and hope and courage–and love. 

The greatest love that anyone could ever know
That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul
And ’til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I’ll trust in You
~Hillsong, “‘Til I See You” 

(community)

It’s late-ish, and I’m brewing a cup of tea.  My roommate is nailing up a bead curtain at the entrance to our kitchen. (Completely awesome.)  

And I’m thinking about community, in general and specific. In specific, we have wonderful new neighbors at the Enclave of Abnormality, and they are quickly becoming so dear.  It’s a re-discovered joy to live in this little duplex, in this little community. It’s in the random un-planned moments that it’s genius–spontaneous jam sessions next to the bookshelves, multiple pots of tea, helpless laughter.

I was having coffee with Stacy the other week and he was saying that in the Western church, we view spiritual growth largely as something we do on our own–”I’m going to read my Bible more, and pray more, etc.” But in reality, and biblically, we grow spiritually largely in community.  In the midst of those hilarious jam sessions and pots of tea, something happens.  We grow in friendship, in honesty, in serving others, in understanding the presence of Christ.

In general, community seems to be on the minds of many.  To be honest it’s almost a bit of a fad.  But I hope not.  I hope we’re realizing that we need each other, that we need to know and be known.  We are all interconnected, like it or not.  And joy comes when we embrace it.  We are nourished and renewed.

Autumn Leaves

Autumn comes as such a surprise every year.  I’m just going along, minding my own business, and then BAM! The world is ablaze in color.  This year the leaves are particularly spectacular.  The weather has been fantastic as well, resulting in a lovely contrast of bright orange against a startlingly blue sky.

 

In honor of autumn, I have the following recommendations for enjoying the season to its fullest:

1.  Sweet Potato Soup.  This is one of my favorite recipes, and it’s unbelievably easy.  It’s also filling and nutritious and can be almost endlessly “stretched” to accommodate guests.

2.  Chai Tea Latte from Sneaky Beans.  If you don’t live in town, Chai from Starbucks will do, but this is simply the best I have ever had.

3.  The Visitor.  I had never heard of this film, but just happened to pick it up at Blockbuster.  It’s a beautiful film about human relationships, re-discovering joy, and the heartbreaking reality that we don’t always get what we want. 

4.  Special Topics in Calamity Physics.  This book is incredibly fun, and chock-full of literary allusions.  Mystery, unexplained deaths, eccentric characters–it’s got it all.  It’s a fun ride as well as a workout for the mind.  

5.  Music.  To secure the highest enjoyment of this fall season, I suggest that you immediately download the following songs:
“1234″ by Feist
“Decatur” by Sufjan Stevens
“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
“Dark Side” by Polly Paulusma
“Strawberry Fields Forever” from the Across the Universe soundtrack
“Your Love is Strong” by Jon Foreman

6.  Buy several pieces of vintage clothing.  Vintage clothes are fabulous all year round, but particularly in the fall, for whatever reason.

7. (Note to self) Enjoy the season. Open your eyes.  Find community and relish it.  Take a deep breath.  The colors won’t last forever, and perhaps their impermanence is their beauty.

Two things you told me:
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me
~Jon Foreman