Story.

I just got done reading A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. It has provoked a lot of thoughts in my heart and mind. Life is starting to look a bit different now though as I begin to look at it like a story with a series of memorable scenes as Miller calls them. Never have I viewed life like this before. My picture of things has been in events and accomplishments but it is slowly starting to view things as scenes. Tonight for instance was the perfect example. I was sitting with my host family and their daughter who is close to my age. We sat around the dinner table for over an hour talking about travels, cultures, ACC, adventures and I realized that I will always have this scene and it was beautiful to me. Perhaps it is being more aware of the beauty in things that are near.

Miller also talks about writing his story and making sure that when he sees Jesus face to face that he will have a worthwhile story to tell. Can you imagine if we all made decisions, even the smallest ones, in light of this? What story am I pursuing? Hearing this makes me realize how desperately I want to have an exciting story, one that Jesus would smile at. It doesn't mean that it will be free from hardship or failure, but I really wouldn't want it to be either. So, my aim will be to live a story that Jesus would be proud of. One that searches for adventure and purpose, that knows no bounds.

I am reminded of my time kayaking a couple years ago. It was dusk and the sun was just beginning to set. Praying and asking God what was next I noticed the moon. It was beautiful and full and then I heard, "Don't miss my sunset waiting to see what the moon will reveal." I don't want to be so focused on what is ahead that I miss where I am at now. Right here, this is where I belong.

It is my choice to create the scenes and live the story.

Travel Day

I am sitting in the GRR airport waiting for my flight, enjoying free wi-fi. Whoever thought to not charge people to have internet after already paying for a flight is a genius. Yesterday was my scheduled day to fly back to the Choir but because of "Maintenance" my only option was to arrive in Calgary around midnight and then a three hour drive to the church, um not going to happen.

I had an amazing holiday. I got to see some very dear friends in Springfield, MO and Chicago, spend time with my family, relax, sleep in, read a book, kayak, going to the lake, and a few other things. It was a needed break and to be honest it was nice to have an extra day yesterday, one last chance to take it easy. I am thrilled though to see my kids and the chaperones again! It has been two weeks since I have seen them and it seems like such a long time. I am definitely going to wake my girls up at the HF when I get there, I can't wait to be with them again!!!

Over break I read one of my favorite books (now). It is one of those books that you read and ignites your spirit to imagine things as they could be and hope that you will be part of that change. The book is "Too Small to Ignore" by Dr. Wes Stafford. I learned so much and I have a renewed vision for my purpose on tour. In the book, Stafford shows Christ heart for children and weaved within his own personal story you see how God is using Stafford's childhood and all the pain that he experienced to bring compassion and hope to children.

God has given each of us a responsibility to care for the orphans and widows, to care for those in their distress, to stand up for those who are rarely given a voice. If I ignore that call I will miss what I was created for, I will miss God's heart. I am excited to go back to the Choir with a renewed vision of Christ's heart for children. I love what God is showing me. Here are just a few of the points from the book that I think are so important to do and with God's help I hope that I can accomplish:

-Go to them; enter their world and play...Am I really too "mature" to see life through a child's eyes? To see the world through a lens of hope?
-Bring them into your world...Psalm 78:4: We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty deeds.
-Merge these two world: "We go far beyond the responsibility and role of guardian, in fact we are no longer aware when we are 'playfully entering our world' or 'deliberately include them in ours.' Instead, we genuinely like being with each other. This is child discipleship at its best.
-It does take a whole village...[Stafford speaking of his childhood in Africa] "Yet the scolding was tempered by maturity; it never became mean or sarcastic. This was a warm and generous community."
-Attitudes and behavior are more powerful outcomes than mere cognitive knowledge
- To welcome the young into the center of our lives is to enrich not only them but ourselves as well

...those are just a few of the things that I am praying to do and to become. I will only do it with God's help.

So I am heading off with renewed eyes and vision of the opportunity that lies before me. I only have one chance...


...for them...