Shadows of a Quill

A lot of people are hurting right now.  The economy is worse then anyone is willing to admit, and so are the hearts of so many.  You have enriched my life in countless ways.  Our children are healthy.  My marriage is aged well beyond our years, and more fulfilling then I ever thought possible.  Our ability to pay our bills is increasing, where so many others are decreasing.  Our daily drama load has been next to nothing.  On top of all of that, You have allowed us to see You in so many places, people, and events around us.

I am not worthy.

Friends and family look at us from the outside, and are compelled to wonder what we have that they don’t.

It’s You!

Even though we have made so many mistakes, you continue to forgive us and bless us.  I hope that the people around us draw closer to you.  Not so that they can pay their bills, but so they can feel what I feel right now.  I feel like I am being courted by You. The almighty God of all creation.  Forever sovereign, warden to the lightning and earthquakes, keeper of all life, giver of all love.

Broken little pathetic me, who cries at the thought of such a God; as would want me, who can add nothing to You.  I can give you nothing that you don’t already have, yet you chase after me.  How can there be so much love?  I can’t even comprehend, in my broken body or my broken mind, ever loving that much.   How can you not grow weary of my stupid mistakes and my selfish desires?  I try to justify myself, yet you await me with the ultimate justification… love.  What can I do in return, except be undeserving.

As minimalistic as it may be, all I have is my gratitude and praise, so… thank You Jesus!

When you are a kid, the summer lasts for a year, and the year lasts for a day. I remember being a kid just waiting to grow up. My sister and I used to mark the doors with our height to keep track of how big we had grown. My sister was always tall and lanky, and I was always short and fluffy. I remember thinking I would never grow to be as tall as my sister.

Then one day about a year and a half later I went to mark my height, and I was just above one of my sister’s marks. I decided on that day that I knew how long never was… it was about a year and a half.

Some time later I gave my heart to a boy, and we said that it would last forever. And for a very long time I thought it would. Then about three years later forever ended. I remember thinking that I now knew exactly how long forever was,…and it was twice as long as never.

After that I was still young and fearless to a fault. I thought to myself that I would always be wild and spontaneous, no matter whom I met or what I did. I had finally found myself. About two years later I had my first child. At that point I realized I now knew just how long always was as well… it was somewhere between never and forever.

In thinking about how I had some insight into the world and what people meant when they said the words forever, never, and always, I soon realized I would forever be a mommy, and my life would never be the same again… and I would always be thankful that I knew that.

People can be so uptight. Why is it that people, no matter who they are or where they come from, find the need to argue about minuscule things?

People place their own prisons around themselves. They fill their lives with drama and dissension until they are at the breaking point. There is a wonderful line in a movie I once saw that said “Guilt is like a bag of bricks, all you gotta do is set it down.”

Now let me tell you what I have been reflecting on…

- Life is as hard as you make it + a little extra, so why make it hard?
- Smiles are free
- People are mean, but nobody likes a mean person
- If you love what you have, you will have what you love
- Everyone has faith, its what they have faith in that differs
- Only enter into a relationship with a list of what you can give, not receive
- The value of a life is measured by the people who measure themselves by you -from The Bucket List

Pastor Joel recently went to give the benediction at the Democratic Convention

I would like to say that Joel received many opposing views about his acceptance of this offer.  In a church service that I attended Joel said that he is going because they asked him to come pray.  He is not endorsing the democratic party, he is going to pray for them.  Jesus prayed for sinners and saints alike, and I am so proud that Joel decided to follow His example, instead of being bullied out of his decision.

Below is a transcript of the benediction, which obviously still upholds Joel’s moral beliefs.

We are all here to devote ourselves to the improvement of this country we love. In one of the best traditions of our country, would those of you who are people of faith join me in asking for God’s help?

Almighty God, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us a reverence for all life. Give us a compassion for the most vulnerable among us. The babies. The children. The poor. The sick. The enslaved. The persecuted. For all of those who have been left out of the advantaged world.

Give us a zeal to clean the environment we have polluted while we create an economy where everyone who can work can have a job. Help us to honor those who defend our country by working harder and smarter for peace. Help us to counter those that incite fear and hatred by becoming people who are informed and respectful and are known for the principles and projects that aim higher than merely our own group’s benefit.

Guide Barack Obama and all of our leaders to be agents of your will and recipients of your wisdom. And grant that all of us citizens will continually do our part to contribute to the common good so that we can truly love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Now I interrupt this prayer for a closing instruction. I want to personalize this. I want this to be a participatory prayer. And so therefore, because we are in a country that is still welcoming all faiths, I would like all of us to close this prayer in the way your faith tradition would close your prayer.

So on the count of three, I want all of you to end this prayer, your prayer, the way you usually end prayer. You ready? One, two, three.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When I heard Joel’s benediction my heart filled with pride for his accomplishment of showing the love of God, despite the ’status’ of those who invited him, or those who would be listening.

Ok, so I went to DEVDAY at BarCamp today.  There were some very interesting topics, and the speaker board filled up fast.  I would have liked to see a more interactive setting.  I tend to be more hands on, and I would have loved to see people with some demo systems set up for barcampians to look at.  Also, the lighting in the bars was a little too little.  It made for a distracting setting, and lots of people were paying more attention to their laptops then the presentations.  The food was good, although we refrained from standing in the massive line, and ate early.  The rain held off for most of the morning, which was a pleasant surprise.  Most of all, I enjoyed the time with my hubby!

You know one of the major financial icons for the past 65 years, Bear Sterns, announced that it would sell its shares to its rival JP Morgan at $2 per share.  This time last year their stock was traded at an average of $160 per share.  Bush was immediately involved, which resulted in a .25 drop in emergency funding rates for financial institutions.  Global markets plunged Monday, with Tokyo’s Nikkei index off nearly 4 percent and major European indices down about 3 percent.  Bush has warned against the effects of excessive government intervention as a reflection of the 1929 depression, which left the country in ruins.  Despite warnings from President Bush, the Fed approved a cut in interest rates.  The wide spread diminished world economic market has more then a few individuals nervous.  Will the next decade hold the fall of our monetary systems?  Will we be tossed into a neanderthal method of value association, or will this be the dawn of a new and economic equalizing age?  Stay tuned….. for Doom or Boom!

Lindsay

It has been a little over a month since I decided to work full time with my husband, and take care of my kids on the side. I have found my calling. I have no regrets about leaving the corporate grind. I love every minute of it. I often wondered how I would fill my time, but I am more productive since I quit my old job, then I have ever been before. I recommend to everyone to quit their jobs and enjoy their lives! (seriously).

I am learning to play the guitar, which has served as yet another love interest my husband and I can share. I also have time to read, which I haven’t done since in school (when I had time to myself). My family has taken up the hobby of roller skating. To my surprise, my husband enjoys it as much as I do. I can’t imagine why women wanted to continue working after the war was over (?) I have never been more at peace. I know I am exactly where I should be, regardless of my education. I am not saying women shouldn’t work, but the prospect of a family business is sweeter then one would imagine. God is good, and His way is full of joy and peace.

Husband and I snuck off to see Beowulf today.  It was Great!  So was the time with my husband.  The CG amazes me, the hair especially.  The skin is a little raw, but it is much less distracting then I expected.  The only thing I can say needed more then a tad bit of work was the character movements.  The muscle movements were not as realistic as I hoped they would be.  The characters seemed stiff, and their movements, and facial expressions, were much like Gumby’s.   The story line was awesome, overall 4 stars.