Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Adelle's Wedding
This past weekend I was in Adelle's wedding in Laguna Beach. It was amazing! The wedding took place at the Surf and Sand Resort on a large balcony that overlooked the ocean. Can't get much better than that!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
A Portent
A Portent
Last night was my first night back in my own bed after spending ten nights with an elderly woman. I was a caregiver for Barb, a woman who needed help as her husband was away in Africa. At the age of 75, she needs a moderate amount of assistance due to a stroke she suffered a couple years ago. Needless to say, the last ten days have been rather difficult, yet a true growing experience in sacrafice, submission and love.
Every night I would lay in bed and fight an inner battle in mind and heart. I wanted my agenda and my schedule back, but I knew my independence was to be sacraficed. For a few days, my ways and will were put to death for the sake of another. Could this be what it means to take up my cross? Could this be what it means to bear the burdens of another? Could this be what it means to take care of the poor, downcast and widows? Could this be what Paul meant when he said "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain"? In the midst of my processing, I knew that I was indeed experiencing something deeper than I knew. My giving, my dying and my pouring out is how I am called to live as a follower of Jesus. For a short time, I had to sacrafice my independence, my space, my will, my schedule, and my agenda. Isn't this what Jesus did when he gave up all his rights and perogatives to be among us and give himself on the cross? For me, it was ten days, for him it was his life.
My time with Barb has given me a deeper understanding of sacrafice, submission, and love.
Sacrafice is actually not a sacrafice because you will always have what you give to love (David Wilcox).
Submission is never learned with out something to actually submit, in this case, my personal independence.
Love is an action and its no small thing. Good intentions are not good enough, love is an action that requires all of you-- its not for the faint or half-hearted, it demands all and gives all.
In these past ten days, I have gained a renewed perspective on life. We are a solemn portent or testimony of an eternally loving God. Truly, we are dependent on Him for all things. As I watched Barb struggle to use her fork or unzip her purse, I was reminded that our control is an illusion. Not only that, but we are but a breath in the span of eternity-- our agendas, they are truly material for submission. We are withering flowers, here today and gone tomorrow. Our only hope is in Him because although "we are wasting away outwardly, we are being renewed inwardly" (2 Cor. 4:16).
Last night was my first night back in my own bed after spending ten nights with an elderly woman. I was a caregiver for Barb, a woman who needed help as her husband was away in Africa. At the age of 75, she needs a moderate amount of assistance due to a stroke she suffered a couple years ago. Needless to say, the last ten days have been rather difficult, yet a true growing experience in sacrafice, submission and love.
Every night I would lay in bed and fight an inner battle in mind and heart. I wanted my agenda and my schedule back, but I knew my independence was to be sacraficed. For a few days, my ways and will were put to death for the sake of another. Could this be what it means to take up my cross? Could this be what it means to bear the burdens of another? Could this be what it means to take care of the poor, downcast and widows? Could this be what Paul meant when he said "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain"? In the midst of my processing, I knew that I was indeed experiencing something deeper than I knew. My giving, my dying and my pouring out is how I am called to live as a follower of Jesus. For a short time, I had to sacrafice my independence, my space, my will, my schedule, and my agenda. Isn't this what Jesus did when he gave up all his rights and perogatives to be among us and give himself on the cross? For me, it was ten days, for him it was his life.
My time with Barb has given me a deeper understanding of sacrafice, submission, and love.
Sacrafice is actually not a sacrafice because you will always have what you give to love (David Wilcox).
Submission is never learned with out something to actually submit, in this case, my personal independence.
Love is an action and its no small thing. Good intentions are not good enough, love is an action that requires all of you-- its not for the faint or half-hearted, it demands all and gives all.
In these past ten days, I have gained a renewed perspective on life. We are a solemn portent or testimony of an eternally loving God. Truly, we are dependent on Him for all things. As I watched Barb struggle to use her fork or unzip her purse, I was reminded that our control is an illusion. Not only that, but we are but a breath in the span of eternity-- our agendas, they are truly material for submission. We are withering flowers, here today and gone tomorrow. Our only hope is in Him because although "we are wasting away outwardly, we are being renewed inwardly" (2 Cor. 4:16).
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