Through Space and Time
We went to West Virginia this past weekend. We drove for ten hours (12 total travel time with stops), spent two days in WV, and drove back Monday with a similar timetable.
I sat in the car for at least twenty hours, slept more than I have in a long time, and didn't really do a whole lot. The most active part of my weekend was the Electric Slide during the wedding reception. Now, while that was impressive while wearing my heels and doing the extra little turn-steps, the net of the weekend was basically a lotta nuttin'.
And I am exhausted!
Why does sitting in a car for a long time and relaxing a lot otherwise leave me so tired? I can think of some contributing factors, but no truly viable scientific explanation. So, you, my faithful readership, have the assignment of giving me an answer to this lifelong bothersome question. Feel free to discuss or assign percentages of impact from the following list:
- age
- circulation
- movement (or lack thereof)
- boredom
- stress
- change in schedule
- change in environment (weather, allergens, etc.)
- the possibility that man was never intended to travel through so much space and time at once
Which Side are YOU On???
Time to take a commercial break and just do something fun!
A friend of mine sent me this really fun test that I took a couple of days ago. If you have ever wondered whether you are a Southerner or not, this is the test for you!
http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/yankeetest.htmlMy favorite question:
What's that bug that rolls into a ball when you touch it? This test is very educational. You'll find out four different titles for the night before Halloween, two different ways to pronounce the word "route", and what people in Massachusetts call their soda.
I am 57% Dixie. What are you??? And what is your favorite question???
Evolving Thoughts
Now, I have been convinced for a large portion of my life that evolution is a load of unproved, misinformed, atheistic crap. It seems the view of the modern church that Creationism is the only option that includes God. I have been wondering over the last several years, though- why must evolution be missing God? What if God was the one who initiated and sustained this process of evolution? Would that make Him any less God?
As I was finishing the previously mentioned book,
The Story We Find Ourselves In by Brian MacLaren, the character Neil Oliver is a Christian in the book who finds some parts of the theory of evolution not only interesting, but even exciting.
He starts by saying that the theory of evolution is not perfect and has many holes, but that, to him, it makes more sense than any theory because of God's creative nature. Basically, that God created the universe to continue creating, not just to be stagnant.
from page 98:
"Bottom line: Go back before creation. If God is the only thing that exists, the only being that
is, then God has to create time, so that the universe can
be itself,
become itself, with some kind of freedom and authenticity. Otherwise, it's just a puppet universe, just a simulation. Do you see it? So if God wants to make a universe that's real, I think we would expect it to happen just as evolution says: the universe would develop, over time, writing its own story, so to speak. It's a story of becoming, of unfolding, of novelties emerging and possibilities being explored and diversity flowing. And best of all, it's not finished yet. We're still in process, still young, still moving ahead toward what we're going to be when we're all 'grown up.' And each of us, through our lives, through our choices, by cooperating with God or by withholding our cooperation, plays a part in the continuing evolution of God's creation. That's not so bad, is it?"
I don't think that's so bad. And while I don't know that evolution is the best theory we can come up with, there are some parts that do make sense and some parts of it that are intriguing, and I don't think that God has to be absent from it.
I have this feeling like all of the things we argue about and consider to be "Christian" and "atheistic" will not even matter to God when we finally get to heaven and ask Him. If He does tell us what He did, it will be something completely different from anything we could have imagined, I have a feeling. It reminds me of Joshua chapter 5, when Joshua meets an angel and says, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" The angel says, "Neither, but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." In other words, He doesn't come to take sides. His ways are higher than ours. His thoughts are higher than ours.
We haven't figured it all out. Maybe we need to view all of our theories as huge stabs in the dark, and everyone hits a different part of the bigger picture that no one will see until we meet Him face-to-face.
Evolution is something we don't discuss much in Christian circles, except to bash it and disregard it completely. Are we willing to consider it and discuss it?
Time for the passionate comments!!! Let's hear 'em...
Fun with Micah in His Homeland!
Britt and Becca were home for a couple of days. On Friday night, we had family dinner and took some fun pictures!!!
Britt and Ben talked manly talk on the couch.
Micah got to meet his Uncle Derek for the first time!
He also got to meet Aunt Amy and hang out with her!
McKenna got to meet Micah for the first time and kept saying she thought he was "really cute."
Here is Micah with both of his cousins, Jeremiah and McKenna.
Great Aunt Dodie played with Micah for awhile.
Emma also enjoyed getting to know Micah!
Though it wasn't under the best of circumstances, it was really good to hang out with Britt, Becca, Micah, and the whole family. We are so excited that they will be coming home this summer to stay for awhile!
More Goodbyes
This past Saturday, a close family friend, Craig Cooper, died suddenly and without warning. He was in his early thirties, happily married, with a six-year old son left behind. The nature of this situation is nothing short of heartbreaking.
And I'll be honest...I'm heartbroken.
I am heartbroken for Charleston, who thank God will have vivid memories of his father, but will sorely miss him for the rest of his life. I am heartbroken for Melissa, his loving and lively wife, who is suddenly missing the love of her life. I am heartbroken for their family, and I am heartbroken for my brother, who lost a dear and rare kind of friend.
Those of you who have been well-acquainted with my life over the past year know that I have lost three close people within four months. Other sudden, unexpected, and seemingly unfair deaths have happened, all too often, over the last several years. I am heartbroken over losing them, and when I grieve for Craig, I am greiving for all of those I miss so deeply.
Most of all, though, I am heartbroken over the realization that all relationships, ultimately, end in loss. Whether by time, distance, or death, all relationships will eventually end in this fallen world. I am also heartbroken to notice that most people, my age especially, have no idea the reality of this risk. Each time we enter into a relationship, risk is automatically present. We risk our emotions, our safety, our ideas, our futures, and we especially risk the possibility of devastating loss.
Is it worth the risk? you might ask. Is it truly worth it to befriend a person, spend time to get to know them, and know that someday, that relationship will die? I have asked myself this question a thousand times, even in the middle of funerals, burials, and grieving, and my heart, though in pieces, answers a deep and resounding
yes.
It was worth it to know Craig and his desire to live life and savor it with his friends and family.
It was worth it to know Eddie, a passionate pursuer of the living God who gave it all to serve the One he loved.
It was worth it to know Larry, whose relationship with the Father was contagiously radical.
It was worth it to know Brad, who sought to please the Lord in every step and decision.
It was worth it to know Jessica, and her precious, quiet spirit that loved Jesus with all of her being.
It seemed all of these people left us before it was time, but somehow, God knew it was the right time. I don't understand it, and I don't like it, but I have to choose to believe that God is still present in the midst of this. Theology doesn't provide any comforting answers in these circumstances, but God's grace and love are faithful to catch me where my own faith fails. Rich Mullins lyrics keep coming to my head, "If I stand, let me stand on the promise that You will pull me through [
not around!]. If I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to You." The other song I keep thinking of is simply, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but HE is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me." Seems so simple, I know that's what you're thinking, but His love is the only force that keeps me from giving up on life after all of this loss.
I know that many of you understand exactly where I am coming from. You have experienced deep, piercing loss and grief...and you understand. Some of you, my fellow young adults especially, don't know from experience, but someday you will. And when that day comes, you'll know that I understand deeply, where no words can express.
But let me share with you the simple, yet vital lesson I have learned.
I am so thankful to have known Craig, Eddie, Larry, Brad, and Jessica for the time that God gave me with them. Somehow, the loss makes my memories and friendships more treasured.
I guess what I am trying to say is that we need to treasure each other in light of the fact that one day, sooner or later, we will lose each other. This makes our times together all the more precious, and it should be treated that way. We need to savor our time with each other. I get to know God better when I am with His children. A part of those I love becomes a part of me. Maybe that's why it hurts so much when they leave; a part of us dies, too.
And, after such times of loss, death, and grief, one sweet day, He will dry every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more goodbyes. Thank you, sweet Jesus, for giving us hope in your death and resurrection.
