Thursday, July 29, 2010

How Then Shall We Live?

I have a confession to make.

I have ridiculed the passionless way people live.

I have focused on having an honest and happy life.

I have missed something.

I, myself, am lacking passion.

In my search for a passionate life, I have lost the vision for the passion I claimed to want. I promote a life that is laid back; that doesn't take too many things seriously, and has fun simply because life is good. But somewhere I lost the intensity of loving God and of bringing His kingdom to earth.

I've stopped feeling deeply and too often I just get by.

I've stopped bleeding for the wounded and too often I just shrug.

I've stopped laughing simply because I'm loved and too often I'm cynical.

I've stopped living my life abandoned to God and too often I'm trying to impress.

God, forgive me! Please renew a right spirit in me. Show me how I should live. Let me help be Your hands, feet, and voice to my new community, I beg you. Lead me to the people. Bring Your kingdom today and everyday.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Life is Mostly Edges


Let me start this post by saying that I love going shopping at Ollie's. Often times I've found a book off my "must-read/own" list for a fraction of the cost of buying it new. (You have no idea the excited noises/dances that happen when I find a book, followed quickly by the profound silence that comes when I am perusing a book and am instantly drawn in). I found Life is Mostly Edges by Calvin Miller at my local Ollie's earlier this summer, and I've just finished reading it. I highly recommend it. He has some profound things to say, and says them better than I could attempt to, so I will simply quote the last lines from the book. Enjoy!



"Like autumn leaves
My final triumph is set to swirl upward into the sky.
And the song will come on forever.
And I will take possession of the distant real estate
I've always owned.
And I will live among the far pavilions I have always loved,
Where the parent stars themselves were tracked
By wounded feet.
And there standing free in golden light
I'll shake an unfamiliar hand and find it wounded.
And there I'll be reminded
This life I lived was never mine."
excerpt from The Singer by Calvin Miller