Real Sacrifice

Today was a very unique day for each and every American.  We were faced with the memory of the terrible tragedy of September 11, 2001.  It's difficult to watch replays of the coverage of that horribly sad day, and yet I believe we must look back and remember.  We must honor those who were lost and the men and women who rose as heroes.  I pray for the families who that day lost those they dearly loved and who still feel that missing piece in their lives.  May God continue to fill their hearts with peace and wholeness once again.  I am also incredibly thankful for the service men and women who step in and take immense risks to save lives or fight for our freedoms.

In honor of 9/11, the youth at church did a very special service this morning.  They fittingly chose the topic of "God of Justice" and focused their message, music, and drama on the topic of becoming God's hands and feet to justly reach out to each of His children in need.  As the worship service reached its conclusion, the middle and high schoolers challenged the congregation to sacrifice.  What followed undoubtedly ranks as one of the most touching and emotional displays by a congregation that I have had the honor to experience.

Soles for Souls is a non-profit organization which collects used shoes and redistributes them to shoeless and needy individuals in countries across the world.  To support this ministry and to truly reach out to those less fortunate, the youth asked us to consider making a somewhat radical sacrifice.  As we sang one of our final praise songs, they requested that we might join them in bringing our own shoes we had worn that day up to the altar as a donation and leaving church shoeless that day.  It struck me how easy it is to take a few bills out of your wallet to drop in the offering or to send in a monetary donation to a good cause.  Putting yourself in a somewhat uncomfortable situation and giving of something unexpected was an exercise for our church in trust and obedience.  The youth were unsure of the response they would receive, but as individual after individual removed their shoes and walked to place them at the front, my heart was brimming with emotion.  It made me realize that to step out in faith, we need to feel awkward and uneasy sometimes.  Feeling at ease and just giving when it's easy isn't real sacrifice.  When Christ stretched out His arms and gave Himself as a sacrifice for each of us, he set an example in laying aside our own will or needs.  May He always push me to be more radical in my love for Him.

By the way, the altar was full of shoes.  Our youth are brave in their faith, the church family is gracious in their acts of giving, but most of all, our God is an awesome God.

   

In Christ Alone

-Till He returns

Or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand-

I want to share this absolutely incredible song with you because it gives me goosebumps each time I hear it and reminds me how absolutely in love I am with my Savior.  I hope it brings your heart to a place of awe and praise as it does mine.  Even if you've heard it before or if you're a skeptic, please let it have a few moments to play and give it a chance.  In a world so caught up in busyness, materialism, and anything and everything else, it brings me a breath of fresh air and rest for my heart to remember the source of my strength, in Him alone.

Dinner Conversation

Having a meal with a friend definitely ranks toward the top of my list of great things to build a strong friendship.  I believe that my enjoyment of this is due to the fact that A) I love food and  B) spending time with a friend is so nice!  Last night, one of my best friends came over for dinner.  I had decided to make meatloaf and she brought homemade mashed potatoes.  We added green beans, Hawaiian rolls, and a healthy dessert of peaches and blueberries.  Although the meal was delicious, I love the fact that sitting at the table with friends or family forces you to block out the unending distractions around us and to actually listen and talk.  (Yes, this means don't bring your cellphone to the table or leave the TV on.)  This brings to mind many meals I have had at Olive Garden with a good friend from church.  We often stayed at the restaurant long after our meal had arrived simply chatting and catching up.  I am also reminded of the wonderful meals that my mom fixes when my brother and I come home.  She loves to try out new recipes and present the food in such a beautiful fashion.  I think that making dinner and having it with someone really speaks to me that I am cared about and cared for.  Finally, I think of the many get togethers with both extended sides of my family sitting next to aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I'm convinced that we burned more calories laughing than we do eating....even eating our family favorite potato salad.  Food brings us together when the world otherwise tells us there is not enough time to slow down.

I know life is fast paced, and I recognize that I don't do a terribly great job of cooking on a regular basis.  However, the meals that I spend dining either out or at home with friends, family, or my boyfriend are always so fulfilling.  It makes me strive to do a better job and to purposefully seek out opportunities to connect with those who are important in my life.

If you wish to read more about the benefits of dining with family, read this 2006 article from TIME:  "The Magic of the Family Meal."

I believe in letters, cards, and notes.

I firmly believe in sending letters, cards, and notes.  I'm not really sure where my love for things written came from.  I think I've always found some beauty in the written word.  I remember back when I was younger signing up to get a pen pal through the a Christian girl magazine I used to receive.  It was fantastic to develop a friendship with my pen pal from Canada and to write one another on a regular basis.  My family isn't really all that into cards, so I don't suppose that's it.  My lovely grandma, though, is so steadfast about sending a card to everyone on special occasions.  Maybe that's where I subconsciously picked it up.  I think, though, that it has a lot more to do with the way that receiving a letter, card, or note makes me feel.  There is nothing quite the same as running through a stack of ads, bills, and junk and stumbling upon a hand addressed envelope from a friend.  Instant sunshine in my day.

Receiving mail from someone says so much more than an email ever could.  Don't get me wrong, I love technology.  I mean, honestly, I'm sitting here writing a blog post.  But a card send the good old-fashioned way says I got out this paper/card/note just for you, used some of my time to write it, located a stamp to put on it, and took it to the mailbox.  It says "You matter to me."  I do have to admit that I think cards are kind of a waste of money when paired with a gift given in person.  I prefer to let them stand alone.  They carry so much more sentiment and meaning this way.  This is why I can meander down the card aisle for way too long reading each message to find the one that conveys my exact feelings.  A few of my best friends and I totally get it and love to randomly brighten each other's lives with a card.  It's often when we least expect it, but I so appreciate it.  If you have a moment, may I suggest dropping a card or note in the mail for someone you care about?  I'm sure they know how much they mean to you, but it never hurts to be reminded how much others care.  It only takes a few dollars and a stamp to easily brighten someone's whole day.  Write on!       

Pin It On the Board

I have found a new website that I'm terribly excited about and just have to share with you.  I first read about Pinterest in a guest blog post written by one of my sorority sisters. 

Here's how it works... 

In essence, Pinterest is a site to share the fabulous ideas and images that you come across as you browse the internet.  The site allows you to create "boards" or categories for images.  For example, I have a board of flowers I love.  Next, when you find an image you like on the internet and want to add it to your board, with the simple click of a button you can make the picture a "pin" on your board.  Now whenever I go to the site, I can see pictures of all the beautiful flowers I love in one space.

There are two reasons why I'm really excited about Pinterest:
1. I can keep images of all kinds of things that inspire me in one place and in an organized fashion.
2. I can follow people and be followed thus gaining tons of ideas from boards and pins of other Pinterest users.  Love the creative community it creates! 

Get signed up and start pinning.  I can't wait to see your delightful discoveries and fabulous finds!

Backroad Beauty

 

One of my favorite views on the backroads at home.  I don't even know who owns the land, who plants and harvests the crops.  To me, it is simple. It is real.  It is beautiful in each season.

A Glimpse Into My Writer's Notebook

If you've read my blog lately, then you know that I recently attended a writing conference and had the wonderful experience of bringing my memories, imagination, and skills to life in my very own writer's notebook.  I've tossed the idea back and forth of whether or not to post a piece of the writing.  It's a little bit like ripping a piece out of a journal and sharing it with everyone.  Nonetheless, I've decided that I'll post a snippet because, after all, you don't have to like it and you don't have to see value in it if you choose.  Truly, the act of writing this piece brought me such joy and that in itself is enough.

Without further ado, I give you a short (and title-less) work that is dedicated to my brother, my co-explorer of our childhood outdoors.

 

want to tell you a secret.  Thanks, I knew I could trust it with you.  Maybe I should whisper though so it doesn't know I'm betraying it's confidence.  The woods are full of magic.   No, I'm not talking whimsical fairies and conversational sycamore trees.  A forest possesses power and magic in its ability to transform a little boy and girl into travelers of space and time, siblings whose imaginations have been given free range to soar.

Across the backyard of my childhood home laid the beginning of my father's flower fields.  There was no need to crawl through a wardrobe and enter Narnia.  My brother and I reached the borders of our own wonderland on the banks of the gurgling creek just beyond.

I recall sitting in the chilly shade of one portion of the bank with my brother, Clay, carefully examining the color and quality of each rock and stone.  Only certain ones would do for making Indian paint.

Or the occasions when he and I collected sticks, limbs, and rocks to build a fort, wooden bridge, and dam.  The result was a primitive lean-to that only I, the younger and smaller of the pair, could shimmy my upper body into.  The wooden bridge, as strong in our minds as any steel structure, turned out slick from water and likely to sink under our childhood weight.  Yes, even the rock dam was not able to affect the strength of the rippling current that traveled by.  It didn't matter.  We were architects, contractors, builders.  A triumph in our minds.

The woods were a place for attempting to catch crawdads in the murky creek water stirred up by our algae clad sticks that were makeshift fishing nets.  It was the keeper of a cut down pine tree whose thick pine needles were an entry way to a rudimentary playhouse.  The woods contained both a giant hill to stand upon as ruler and an unmarked area of ordinary trees and undergrowth that was especially meaningful to the imaginations of my young brother and me.

But you see, I can't tell you more, for a good part of this childhood magic remained in those woods and along with it many of the beautiful details that elude my memory.  The rest, well that belongs to that little girl and boy, fearless explorers of the outdoors.