Is it already late August?

This month has gone by extremely fast for me. If I wasn't in MI at family reunions or in KY "retreating" with 64 of my fellow friends, I was working or taking pictures or hanging out with out of town guests and trying to find down time. You can tell its "fall" again. Usually its temperature that reminds of us of the changing seasons, this year its how busy I become.

Everything that had stopped for the summer has started again. I feel more efficient with my time when things are busy. Everything has to be a little more intentional.

Fall tends to find me more reflective. I'm hoping to get away from Nashvegas and spend time w/ Jesus somewhere. Where is the question yet to be answered.

Today I just wanted to shut my brain off. (btw, this can be easily done when sitting on hold for an ungodly amount of time while playing spider solitare on your computer) I want to read a fun book, or find a tv show that will help me escape the concerns on my heart. But, as you can see, I find myself here...writing in complete random circles, babbling on about nothing and everything.

"This is the message of the cross, that we can be free...to lay all our burdens down at the foot of the tree....the cross was the shame of the world but the glory of God. For Jesus, you conquered sin...and you gave us new life...You set me free when I come to the cross. Poured out your blood for I was broken and lost. There I was healed and you covered my sin....its there you saved me. This is the message of the cross..."

Shout out to Andy Tallman

Today in the mail I got the Lost and found Speedwood collection. I love it!* (www.speedwood.com)

As I was listening couldn't help but remember the first time I heard them. It was in the basement of my high school biology teacher's home. He is the dad of one of my really good friends, Andy. Well...we were good friends in high school. I think only Andy and I had an appreciation for this band. When I was first learning to play the guitar he would drag me to small Lutheran churches to play with him. We played Lost and Found. At the time, I took it for granted. Looking back it's a memory I cherish.

So Andy...wherever you are...thanks.

*disclaimer, not everyone will enjoy Lost and Found and the genre that is speedwood

Exciting?

I just got done watching a friends video from a recent missions trip. The video had so much enthusiasm. Enthusiasm for learning, for dancing, playing games, building relationships, worshipping Jesus. It was so refreshing.

It did make me stop and wonder why it takes going half way around the world before one will show enthusiasm for life, especially a Believer. Why do I get looked at weird when I start clapping in church? Why is it that if those same people were in Africa with me it'd be acceptable and appreciated?

Or is it just that the masks are gone when you're half a world away? Maybe people feel more free to be?

It happens with children too. Parents, aunts, uncles, siblings...all can act goofy and excited if it brings a smile to a child's face or helps a tear from falling.

This frustrates me. It frustrates me that we can't be consistent. That we feel there is a need for masks and the like. I know...I know...there are situations that call for "proper" behavior, and I'm working on being proper in those situations.

But really I don't want to be one person in front of this certain group of people and another person in front this other group. I hope that when people look at me they can see consistency. I hope they realize they will hear what I truly think about the situation (hopefully delivered with a smidgen of tact), that they know I mean it when I say "If you need anything, please call." I hope my enthusiasm for life flows into the routine events of my day. Maybe they'll see that I don't know all the answers, that I do want to hear their thoughts and I, too, am trying to figure this out.

Ultimately, who I am and what defines me isn't found in what people think about me. It doesn't matter if they think I'm the center of attention or not. It all boils down to a matter of trusting God with my reputation. Or rather...simply trusting God.

Now THAT'S exciting....

Thunder

Yesterday it stormed! :)

Stormed so much that the thunder stopped my heart a couple of times.

It was glorious.

Lunch

I went to Taco Bell for lunch today. It's an interesting place...if you are a people watcher. I noticed two types of "sitting-by-themselves" people today. You've probably noticed them yourself. They are the book readers and the non-book readers.

The book readers, obviously, have books that they are reading. I wonder if it's because they don't like to be along while eating and they feel reading makes them look less lonely....OR....if its because their workplace is crazy busy and they just need to unwind a little bit....OR maybe they simply just enjoy reading.

The non-book readers I would classify as the "tougher" crowd...a lot of times they are construction workers or power suits. They eat and leave...no relaxing. They are on the go but didn't want to wait in the ridiculous long drive thru. They typically look straight ahead, do not smile and try to hide their uncomfortableness.

What am I? Depends on the day...