My heart is positively busting outside of itself. I am simmering with joy, enthusiasm, hope, and excitement. I haven't written in awhile, because my heart is too elated for a computer. My thoughts are privately concealed, the joy too strong to share.
Hope transcends when you least expect it like love, friendship, new beginnings.
Don't give up. There is joy just around the bend.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Monday, February 9, 2015
New Theme...
"Fix My Eyes"
(great song by For King and Country.
This song is the new theme of my life.)
Hit rewind
Click delete
Stand face to face with the younger me
All of the mistakes
All of the heartbreak
Here's what I'd do differently
I'd love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on you
I learned the lines and talked the talk (everybody knows that, everybody knows that)
But the road less traveled is hard to walk (everybody knows that, everybody knows)
It takes a soldier
Who knows his orders
To walk the walk I'm supposed to walk
And love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on you
The things of Earth are dimming
In the light of Your glory and grace
I'll set my sights upon Heaven
I'm fixing my eyes on you
I'm fixing my eyes on you
I'm fixing my eyes
Love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on you
I fix my eyes on you
I fix my eyes on you
(great song by For King and Country.
This song is the new theme of my life.)
Hit rewind
Click delete
Stand face to face with the younger me
All of the mistakes
All of the heartbreak
Here's what I'd do differently
I'd love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on you
I learned the lines and talked the talk (everybody knows that, everybody knows that)
But the road less traveled is hard to walk (everybody knows that, everybody knows)
It takes a soldier
Who knows his orders
To walk the walk I'm supposed to walk
And love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on you
The things of Earth are dimming
In the light of Your glory and grace
I'll set my sights upon Heaven
I'm fixing my eyes on you
I'm fixing my eyes on you
I'm fixing my eyes
Love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on you
I fix my eyes on you
I fix my eyes on you
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Jewels from the Jesuits
My friend Tom is a literary genius, a former rare book librarian, an avid reader, and now a private librarian at the cutest library in Somesville, Maine. The library is across the way from an old fashioned bridge and nestled on a pond with flocks of geese and rugged sailboats. Our friendship continues to be a joy to me, and among the things I treasure is his ability to find and tell me about great books. He has the ability to understand what type of book a person would enjoy, but then again, he is a librarian!
Recently he sent me a copy of James Martin, SJ book entitled The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything. I loved it. Not only did I gain a clearer understanding of the Jesuit way of life, but it was incredibly practical and interesting. I want to share three nuggets I took away from this book.
1. "Compare and despair." Awesome quote, yes?
2. I learned about Alphonsus Rodriguez, a Jesuit that made a sacrament of opening the door and greeting people. Whenever he heard the door bell ring, he would run to the door saying, "I'm coming Lord!" I love this idea of greeting every single person in our life as if they are the Lord. It's a beautiful way to live, and I was inspired by his devotion in loving this way.
3. A passage on Christian Failure by St. Francis Xavier. I will close with this, and I will also thank Tom and other book lovers out there that take the time to talk about books, share books, and spark hope and joy into minds and souls with words.
Christian Failure:
This is dreadfully difficult for a human being to accept- even for a Xavier. Just because I am trying to do God's work with every ounce of my being is no guarantee that my plans will prosper. There is no guarantee that an effective Christian apostle will not be cut down in his prime... There is not guarantee that because you have given yourself to a Christian marriage, your oneness will be lasting... that because you love God deeply, you will not lose your job, your home, your family, your health... There is not guarantee that because you believe, you will not doubt; because you hope, you will not despond; because you love, your love will not grow cold. There is no guarantee that a Xavier will reach China. In this sense there is a Christian frustration, a Christian failure...
You do your Christian task as God gives you to see it; the rest, the increase, is in His hands. God still uses what the world calls foolish to shame the wise, still uses what the world calls weak to shame its strength, still uses what the world calls low and insignificant and unreal to nullify its realities... In this sense, there is no Christian frustration and no Christian failure.
Recently he sent me a copy of James Martin, SJ book entitled The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything. I loved it. Not only did I gain a clearer understanding of the Jesuit way of life, but it was incredibly practical and interesting. I want to share three nuggets I took away from this book.
1. "Compare and despair." Awesome quote, yes?
2. I learned about Alphonsus Rodriguez, a Jesuit that made a sacrament of opening the door and greeting people. Whenever he heard the door bell ring, he would run to the door saying, "I'm coming Lord!" I love this idea of greeting every single person in our life as if they are the Lord. It's a beautiful way to live, and I was inspired by his devotion in loving this way.
3. A passage on Christian Failure by St. Francis Xavier. I will close with this, and I will also thank Tom and other book lovers out there that take the time to talk about books, share books, and spark hope and joy into minds and souls with words.
Christian Failure:
This is dreadfully difficult for a human being to accept- even for a Xavier. Just because I am trying to do God's work with every ounce of my being is no guarantee that my plans will prosper. There is no guarantee that an effective Christian apostle will not be cut down in his prime... There is not guarantee that because you have given yourself to a Christian marriage, your oneness will be lasting... that because you love God deeply, you will not lose your job, your home, your family, your health... There is not guarantee that because you believe, you will not doubt; because you hope, you will not despond; because you love, your love will not grow cold. There is no guarantee that a Xavier will reach China. In this sense there is a Christian frustration, a Christian failure...
You do your Christian task as God gives you to see it; the rest, the increase, is in His hands. God still uses what the world calls foolish to shame the wise, still uses what the world calls weak to shame its strength, still uses what the world calls low and insignificant and unreal to nullify its realities... In this sense, there is no Christian frustration and no Christian failure.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Happiness
I woke up happy thinking about a bunch of small things and recent moments. The McDonald's manager where I stop every Sunday for an iced coffee before work saying "Welcome back" and giving me a wink. My neighbor offering me his extra umbrella on a rain soaked Saturday. A beautiful man giving me one his Bibles smelling of manliness, cologne, and depth. Good books to read, freedom on my bicycle, baking a frozen pizza, and cleaning and scrubbing so hard that my arms ache. Temporary job opportunities that I didn't plan on but that I enjoy, accents from other countries, comfy leggings from Old Navy. Friends that call, friends I call, friends connected to me spiritually and emotionally, and friends that visit and I look forward to visiting. Dogs that do nothing but sleep and pee and love, seeing people do things they really love like my gorgeous Chilean zumba instructor. Talking with a lady with many burdens but making time to dance. Laying down at night with Scripture in my heart and my life in His hands.
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