Level Rising
May 17, 2009 muse
I’ve just returned from a totally sweet week on HHI (Hilton Head Isle, SC), always a bit of downer coming home to “reality”, but then, reality is what it’s all about, right? As grateful as I am for the escape, for the rest and restoration I so needed, I’m also looking fwd to what comes of it all.
Long walks on the beach brought peace and stirring. Observing the joy of a child’s first encounter with the ocean and watching my youngest daughter catch a wave on a 50 ft. boogie board ride left imprints on my mind. Swimming out to get as close as possible to the 4 -5 dolphin some 100 yards off shore was scary and exhilarating. Perhaps not as scary as sneaking up on a 500+ pound gator for a picture, thankfully it slipped back into the lagoon before I could get any closer. Having enough sense to make up for picking the wrong restaurant early in the week worked out, and all was forgiven.
We beat the weather odds Friday and had the perfect final afternoon on the beach (yes, beach time was the absolute highlight of my week). Not a typical sun clad afternoon, but us in the midst of storm clouds wrapped around the island, enjoying the waves and breeze and never getting rained on for a solid 3 hours.
When we got back to the “hut” I got to thinking that in the midst of the “normal” stuff one does on vacation, I also was very fortunate to stay connected to songwriting and art in general. I skimmed more of a book called “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci”, blogged and journaled, applied to Horse & Writer, re-learned a couple of my old songs, got a first look at some prospective layouts for my web presence, discovered Robinella while browsing through a gift store, and spent a good bit of time enjoying the evening breeze while sipping a beverage and contemplating… what’s next?
I’ve got more on my plate than I can handle for the next 6 weeks, but I’m going for it. There are also 3-4 half written songs I’ll add to the mix knowing, too, that my life at work could be about to change rather drastically. Sometimes it takes a little faith to “unclog the pen” and get the flow of prose and lyrics and melody flowing again, sometimes it takes alot. Last week was a major blessing to me, and I believe to my family as well. My well was running low, it feels good to have the creativity level rising again.
Tags: faith, fill the well, HHI, robinella
Socks, Rocks, and Dust
Yesterday I lost a sock, tore my closet up looking for it. Went downstairs checked in the dryer, washer, laundry basket, yep, everywhere I could think of, nothing. I’ll be on the lookout for this cool black and gray sock (cool sock?), maybe I’ll find it, maybe I won’t.
At 2-3 different times I spent about an hour looking for a meaningless article of clothing. As I thought about how ridiculous I looked and how my attitude got so caught up in asking myself and my family (though I really think they were ignoring me) where this sock could be, I contemplated how messed up I get when I’m looking for other answers to questions about life. How much time I waste on meaningless endeavors and how little I spend on growing my soul and creativity, as well as just plain enjoying life itself.
This morning I’m sitting out on the deck with a cup of coffee, and notice a neat little pile of rocks one of our kids is storing in a corner of the yard. All our children have this affinity for rocks. Our two oldest boys spent lots of time in the woods behind the last house we lived in, and my wife would often end up with rocks in the washer because the boys were forever bringing stones home in their pockets but never taking them out.
Rocks, they are everywhere. Some grains of sand, some boulders we carve monuments into. Some we hold, some we climb. Foundational and at times a nuisance, especially when planting a garden, people even buy “pet rocks”, at least they used to. Rocks have Biblical implications, too. God, the Rock of Ages, Moses and the cleft of the rock in Exodus, a stone slayed Goliath, a rolled away stone revealed Christ’s empty tomb.
But much like our human flesh, time and elements turn rocks to dust. So I’m taking this moment to reflect on what I want to do better, and how I might live more passionately for what matters most… whether it’s what I deeply believe, sharing my resources to others, or my own well being. That the ardent search for lost socks just leads to lost time, and rocks are fascinating inanimate objects that can spawn creative thoughts. And that I’m capable of turning these thoughts into art that speaks to the heart of others. Soon enough I’ll be dust, for now I pray for words and actions to make meaningful use of the time I’ve left on this earth.
Tags: faith, what matters
Bless Beyond
I finally got around to checking out Mosaic Church (Charlotte/Mallard Creek) this morning. I certainly can’t (and won’t) make any kind of assessment as to whether this would be the place to move our family, but I will say it was a refreshing approach, young congregation, in what appeared to be a non-pretentious environment. At minimum, I go to visit a church with my ears open, in hopes of picking up a seed I can chew on for a while to nourish my soul.
The pastor who spoke today was pretty young, and shared a message around the statement “A faith tested by fire is a faith that can be trusted.” He used Daniel 3 and the story of Shadrach, Meshac, and Abednego to encourage us to see how trials can strengthen our faith; that is, when we don’t try to compromise or rationalize around God’s truth and remain obedient to his commands instead living to meet worldly expectations.
I think of all the riches in my life, and how I shouldn’t have cares or worries, complaints or regrets, but, of course, I do. Somewhere in closing the service, the phrase “blessed beyond” caught my ear. I wrote it down and have been contemplating it ever since. All the goodness, grace, material possessions, beauty of the earth, on and on, are just what I can see and comprehend — but what God does is bless beyond all these riches by providing a hope that can’t be qualified or measured, far exceeding our imagination or comprehension. Sure, for people going through deep struggles and pain, these words and concepts get shattered by despair and anger, I’ve been there, Lord knows chances are I’ll be there again.
I’m pretty sure I’ll go back for another visit, who knows maybe this is where God would have us for the next season of our lives. If not, I am blessed by the Word today, and pray God’s continued blessings on this congregation, its pastors and leaders, and all who give of themselves to serve the body of Christ.
Recognize
May 1, 2008 faith, songwriting
A few weeks ago, I sat in a coffee shop with a co-writer discussing a song idea about God’s will for our lives. She’s lots more experienced at co-writing and very patient, so I really enjoyed the learning process and think we’re on track to write a good song. She sent her notes, I reviewed mine and noticed she’d written down the word “recognize” early in our session, but it wasn’t necessarily focal to our discussion.
When I finally got back to working on the song last week, I couldn’t shake the notion of how I pray and wait for some tangible means of discerning God’s will for my life, when faith says answers come when I choose to pursue God through His word, prayer, and a willingness to risk failing in the context I’m able to see results.
So what triggers my heart to recognize God’s will? James tells us to pray in faith for wisdom and every good thing from above… discerning when I’m praying for a heart’s desire that may not line up with God’s will is a mystery that may only be solved when I align my prayers and faith with God’s word. Newsflash — this means spending LOTS more time reading, studying, contemplating, praying, worshiping, and living in Spirit & Truth.
Admittedly, I’m writing this entry as a bit of a free write to flush out a second verse. But something tells me God is going to show me more — I pray He does!
Tags: faith, God's will
What We Leave Behind
Dec 31, 2007 sojourn
If all we take with us from this place is memories, it’s those same memories we leave behind. I’m searching right now on many different fronts, life is way more complicated than I feel like messing with, but it’s here, it’s now, and I’m grateful for the time I’ve left. I just want to make the most of it.
As I was cleaning out email clutter earlier today I came across some sound advice my cousin sent a few months ago. I’m thinking it’s just what I need to walk out to get 2008 off on the right foot. Hope these few phrases by Mother Teresa put a new spin on things for you — they have for me. Happy 2008!
People are often unreasonable, irrational and self centered.
Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
Tags: faith, hope, mother teresa, new year, trials
Path of Least Resitance
Dec 29, 2007 ramblings
Ever notice how water makes its way to the lowest possible point and finds a way to keep going? It’ll seep through air pockets leaving behind what may amount to just a trace of moisture, but it’s still water finding its way. Light, too, makes its way through cracks, though not dependent on gravity for a path of least resistance. Light can make it through a pinhole, and is visible when enough darkness surrounds the entry point. Both water and light are keys to human existence.
Among the many powers of light are that it can show us the right path to take, provide warmth, and reveal imperfections and potential dangers in our surrounding. Have you ever taken a walk through the woods on a moonlit night? Sure, it’s scary, but imagine trying to do so without the aid of the moonlight. As light peers through a thick wood it creates shadows in open areas suggesting pathways, but can’t reveal the “big picture” of the landscape until more space allows the light to flow freely.
In the context of my spirituality, it’s the light of truth that shows me who and what I really am. Without it I’m left to my own devices to figure things out in a maze of self-sufficiency. Obviously, there are many sources of “self help”, most of which come at fairly substantial costs, to try when I’m feeling like I can’t find answers of my own strength. Everyone has an opinion to share, there are many herbs and concoctions for this and for that, and I can easily fool myself into thinking the answer is in the next approach I take toward creating a “better me”. There is no easy answer or silver bullet for me. I struggle with my faith, but my conviction is such that I know swimming upstream against the current of the secular-progressive mindset is the only way to go for me.
Worldly distractions do well in keeping me from seeing the big picture. They are the forest that turns the moonlight into shadowy glimpses of true inspiration. Striving toward materialistic accomplishments spends my energies and mindless use of leisure time fills my tank with unfruitful desires and goals.
Where do I go, where do I turn?
First, I need to get to the lowest place where the water can find me. When I’m constantly perched on the pedestal of my pride the water doesn’t find its way to me. I get thirsty, and stay thirsty until I humble myself and acknowledge my need for living water. It’s there in abundance, inviting me to drink. Next, I need to evaluate my environment and surroundings and make required changes to ensure I’m exposed to the light that enables me to grow in my knowledge of and desire for the Word of God. I just need to take the path of least resistance to the open fields of grace God grows and nurtures for each and every heart that believes.
Tags: faith, light, resistance, water