Change

It happens.  All the time.  Sometimes just when things seem to have finally returned to normal.  Sometimes when things are at rock bottom.  Sometimes for the better.  Sometimes for the worse.  Change.  It is that inevitable, unavoidable consequence of being alive.  In some senses it is change that gives us desire to live because we are always trying to gain something better or are anticipating the next thing in life.  Change.  It is comfort's fiend that calls us to the next stage of life—or sometimes jerks us, or shoves us, or drags us kicking and screaming.  There is no profit in resistance.  It is change.  It is inevitable.

I have painted change in a very negative light.  Indeed it feels very negative at times.  Sometimes it hurts on a personal level, or it pulls us out of our comfort zone, or it takes something or someone from us who we love, but I like the words of John F. Kennedy who said, "Change is the law of life.  And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."

It is true.  To live in the past is to deny God's work in and through my life in the present.  And to demand that things in the present remain the same is to assume that God has nothing better for me in the future—to say that at the age of 22 God has already shown me the best He has and has used me in all the ways He desires to use me.  I think not.  Yes, I will remember the past so full of many fond memories.  Yes, I will live the present to fullest and do my best to enjoy every moment.  But no, I will not deny the change required to move into the future with God.

Indescribable

I have a song recommendation.  You should listen to Indescribable by Christ Tomlin.  The song is one that is fairly familiar to me, but last night I heard something in it that I don't ever remember noticing before.  On Friday night I was talking with a couple of friends, and it was mentioned how much God loves us and how a passionate love relationship with God should be the basis for everything else in our lives—from our relationship with God to the principles that and rules that we follow in our own lives.

  We all know that I think.  That's the idea that we often promote, but I'm afraid we often miss that concept.  I know I do.  But last night I was just doing some stuff on my computer, when Indescribable came on Pandora.  I don't even really remember noticing very much of the song until the second-to-last line sank into my consciousness.

You see the depths of my heart, and You love me the same. You are amazing God.

I went and bought the song and looked up the lyrics because it was truly an epic thought.  All of the rest of the song talks about how amazing God is because He is so powerful, and strong, and omnipotent.  He controls the stars and the lightening bolts.  Creation reveals His majesty. 

Another line of the song says, "Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, 'You are amazing God.'"  It is a thought far too infinite and intangible for my mind to comprehend that the indescribable, uncontainable, all-powerful, untameable, incomparable, unchangeable God would even deign to recognize us, to recognize me, humbly bowing before Him, groveling in a sense as  I realize my suffocating unworthiness  to be in His presence or even to say His name.  But a far greater thought is this: God does not love me because of anything I have or have not done or anything I will or will not do.  He does not love me because of anything I can do for Him.  He does not love me because I can defend Him or protect Him.  Why does He love a wretch like me?  This I cannot explain, yet He sees the depths of my heart—the imperfections ,the battles, the failures, the wounds, the brokenness, the hopeless inability to make myself good enough and somehow…by some power or love that I cannot begin to comprehend He loves me the same.  His love for me is not diminished.  He doesn't write me off as worthless.  He, Creator God, God of All Power, loves me.  I am humbled at the thought.  I cannot explain why One so great would love one so insignificant.  But He does.  This I know...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16)

Hallelujah!

The Times I'll Remember

There are a lot of good things about being in college.  I've made a ton of great friends and great memories with those friends.  I've sat in good classes learning good things from good people.  I've ministered across the United States singing and interacting with people.  I've ministered locally and I've gotten to travel and will still be doing more traveling around the world.  It has been a good thing.  But of all the things I'll remember from college, I think the time I've spent with friends will be one of the things I treasure most and miss most.  That and the times when God draws especially close whether in class, chapel, prayer meeting, or just some moment by myself.

I have come to realize in my time at school that school is about far more than just academics and a good GPA.  I like to have a good GPA.  That's important to me.  But in a few years, most likely my GPA really isn't going to be that big of deal to me.  But if I have taken time to develop friendships that will last a lifetime and spend time with people making memories that will last a lifetime, it is those moments, those events, those conversations, those times of building relationships and interacting that I will look back on with fondness in years to come.  In that last couple of semesters I've tried to work on spending more time with people because I know that's very important to the college experience.  Social life can be overdone, but at the same time, we are social beings.  Not only have I had a lot of fun with friends as I have spent time with them, but I have been challenged, uplifted, encouraged, convicted, etc.

Thank you, to all of you who have been my friends.  You have had a part in making me who I am and who I will be.

Of Forging Paths Through Mailboxes

You would think, with all the space there is on campus to drive my golf cart, that I would be able to avoid driving through space occupied by mailboxes....

On the Moon Man's Wink

A darkened dome loomed lacking luster

Sooty and subdued.

Long lines of lights lit lifeless lane.

Obscuring deafening doom.

Here and there the chatters chattered

Not stopping once to think

Of the Moon-Man's solemn sackcloth

And his well-intentioned wink.

With carefree gait a runner ran

Perpetually perturbed.

A doggy dogged a dogged path

His master daft, disturbed.

On these bruisers brashly blundered

Not stopping once to think

Of the Moon-Man's solemn sackcloth

And his well-intentioned wink.

A single solemn solo slowed

And laughter left loose lips.

Lovebirds sang sweet simple sonnets

and wished to stay time's ships.

All these benefiting boldy

But not stopping once to think

Of the Moon-Man's solemn sackcloth

And his well-intentioned wink.

Dimly daring with a sliver

To offer only ochre

A paradigm to paltry pawns

Who live lives just as jokers.

Sufficient in themselves they thought

Not stopping once to think

Of the Moon-Man's solemn sackcloth

And his well-intentioned wink.

Inspired by the moon tonight.  It was winking at anyone who would take minute to notice.