Archive — May, 2008
28 May
Joy in the Journey
It starts when we are very young. Someone, probably a mother or father, hears a young child plink plinking on the keys of a piano and decides it is time for him to take piano lessons. Before he knows what’s hit him, his newfound delight in music becomes homework. His passion is smothered in scales and thirty minutes of practice each day. His joy morphs into a world of rules and theory and hard work, and he nearly forgets what made him want to touch the keys in the first place.
27 May
Training Wheels
I remember my very first bicycle: a deep purple frame, a white basket fastened to the handlebars, beaded spokes framed by white tires, and pedals that acted as the brakes when spun in reverse. I loved that bicycle because no matter how much I swerved, my bike always stayed on course. It never teetered or ventured from its straight, upright position. No matter how much I leaned to each side, my bike remained steady, held in place by a sturdy set of training wheels.
21 May
Three Feet Under…
I remember the first year I started working for the Town of Cochrane for my summer job. They put me on a little John Deere mower and it took me forever to learn. However, after a few weeks I started to get the hang of it; then I started to get cocky. I would pull into the yard and kick up a dust storm as I spun into my parking spot on the gravel road. I would roll up my sleeves, put on my sunglasses and jam to my iPod as I sped around trees and playgrounds, cutting grass like a pro.
Just Below the Surface
Crash! In one blinding instant, lightening struck a tree about 50 feet from our house. Peeling bark as it went, the bolt leapt from the tree to the fence post, splitting it into pieces, and then ran along the barbed wire at the bottom sending metal flying like shrapnel. At the gate post, the current dove into the ground finding the wire to our old, long-forgotten, electric dog fence. It followed that wire straight into the house, exploding the control box and frying the outlet, the security system, my laptop and printer, our garage door opener, and the light bulbs in the eaves. Naturally, at that moment, we didn’t know what had hit us.
19 May
How’d I End Up Here?
I’ve realized something about myself: I’m a complete sucker for compliments. A couple years ago while doing intern missions in Athens, Greece however, this got me into some big trouble.
18 May
Facing the Unknown
Do you remember the first time you scaled the ladder of the high dive? I do. It was an incredible summer day, the water was fine, and I was ready to take the leap of death into the cool water. I felt both nervous and excited. I couldn’t stop shivering but I didn’t know if it was from anxiety or the wind against my wet bathing suit.
When my turn came, I began to climb, realizing how much empty space separated my feet from the ground. I became more nervous–fearing what I had never experienced. I had been told the high dive was the next best thing to the waterslides, but at that new altitude, I was not so certain.
16 May
The Face of Grace
A few weeks ago my Sunday School class discussed the story of Jacob and Esau. The events were familiar enough…a stolen birthright, an estranged relationship, and ultimately reconciliation for this pair of twins. (See Genesis 27-33 for a complete recap.)
However, one verse in this passage seemed particularly fresh and applicable. After years of separation, Jacob and Esau reunite. Jacob fears Esau’s wrath for his past deception but instead finds mercy. Jacob then says to Esau, “…I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me” (Genesis 33:10b).
14 May
Carried on to Completion
If you were asked to describe yourself to someone who knows nothing about you, where would you begin? You may decide to use words that detail your relationships with others such as daughter, brother, husband, friend, or Christian, or you may choose words that tell what you do: artist, engineer, student, writer, or athlete. Both are good choices as they provide your new acquaintance with two aspects of what makes you you. But, how would you choose which titles to use?
12 May
The Perfect Gift
Mother’s Day comes every year, and yet I still seem to forget it every time. This, however, has not always been the case. When I was five years old, I was determined that my mom would have the best Mother’s Day ever, and what could be a more perfect gift than breakfast in bed?
Balancing Act
What happens when you neglect one thing and focus on another? You get really good at what you focused on and worse at what you neglected. If you knew me, you’d know that I always say “repetition is a great thing.” I don’t always “get” a lesson the first time, but I’ve got this one finally!
