Tuesday night, I get a text from a friend asking if I want
to go to the batting cages with her and her sis tomorrow. Work was crazy last week. Tuesday, I was a trying to finish up loose
ends before I headed out for prayer and planning Friday. As such, I thought I couldn’t go see little Paige
(said friend). But, it was Paige’s
birthday Wednesday (11/30), and I love the batting cages. Actually, Paige taught me the ways of loving
the batting cages. In fact, we once
drove from Winder to Athens in the snow due to a crazy trip to a cage. But, we got a ballin’ tee out of it. And, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience – wondering
if we would make it up a hill covered with snow and driving 35 mph down Hwy 316. Regardless, I ended up going to the cages on
Wednesday and I was so thankful. So
refreshing to see that kid. Also, to
hear her speak some words of truth. Namely,
how God can redeem brokenness and insecurities and lost time.
Redeemable.
Friday, I traversed to Athens and dreamed. The “no strings attached” dreams. It was a lot of fun (check out my newsletter
for more info). Sat in the botanical
gardens (one of my fav places to sit and read and think and pray) and wrote and
wrote and wrote. I spent most of the
afternoon there, just writing and thinking and dreaming. The sun starting its descent, the cold was
coming, and I knew my time there was drawing to a close. The thought hit me: what if god is a really crazy good god and
orchestrates my life for something incredibly awesome? What “my dreams really did come true?” Decades from now, I think I might ball my
eyes out and stand amazed. At his
goodness. That he really does have plans
to prosper (Smacdonald). Time will
tell. And, in many respects, it has
already…
I relocated to Two Story (eastside), as Cups was my second
home for much of my last year at UGA (Summers).
Ran into some camp friends, young and old. Continued the dreaming process. Felt alive while chatting with a chick I hadn’t
seen in a few months. Had planned on
staying the night with my aunt and uncle who live in Athens. So, I headed that way around 11:00 pm. On the drive out there (they have a house a
bit outside the city), I popped in a CD I hadn’t listened to in quite some time
– Sean McConnell. I go in phases where I
really like that guy. Other times, his
voice and sound annoys me. But, one of
his songs hit home with me again. The
night was clear and I was driving in the country with no one of the road, just
a jamming to the tunes. His story of redemption
hit hard with me. I have been thinking
of redemption ever since my convo with little Paige Wednesday. In that song (“If These Walls Could Speak”),
he sings about a dream of him going back to his home as a child. He sings about the memories of his parents, siblings,
and himself in that house. Please excuse
his French.
“In this
dream of childhood memories some I never will forget, some I might as well.
Well most
of them have happy endings, some of them still burn like hell.”
I was contemplating a friend and the crap that she has been
through. And, I hate it for her. It sucks.
It hurts like hell. Pardon my French. Parts of my life suck. They aren’t pretty and I don’t like looking
back on them. But, it doesn’t end there
though. God redeems.
“So to the
living room I went, to where my sisters used to sing,
Used to get on my last nerve now I’d give anything just to see them there again,
Dancing like they used to do, spinning circles holding hands until I’d break on through.
Used to get on my last nerve now I’d give anything just to see them there again,
Dancing like they used to do, spinning circles holding hands until I’d break on through.
Well I woke up when I heard a
shout, ‘Ain’t it beautiful how life turned out?’”
Ain’t it beautiful how life turns out? Honestly though. I can get frustrated about how things aren’t this or that. But, isn’t it beautiful how god redeems things if we let him? I was thinking what if God redeemed all of my “mistakes” and choices and sin for his glory? What if he even used them to accomplish some of my dreams? That would be crazy. What if I let him do it?
Ain’t it beautiful how life turns out? Honestly though. I can get frustrated about how things aren’t this or that. But, isn’t it beautiful how god redeems things if we let him? I was thinking what if God redeemed all of my “mistakes” and choices and sin for his glory? What if he even used them to accomplish some of my dreams? That would be crazy. What if I let him do it?
Broken.
Saturday morning, I woke up early and had a lovely breakfast
with the aunt and uncle. My uncle and I
started working on my car – figuring out what needed to be fixed and such as it
recently passed the 60k mile mark. We
went out to grab sparkplugs at the store and put those in before I saw little Paige
for lunch. I pulled out of their
driveway and was overwhelmed. The goodness
of our God. What if he really does care
about me and delight in me and have good for me? Peace.
I love going to my aunt and uncle’s house – seeing the stars, chilling
in the beauty of the country, playing with their yellow lab, and fixing my car
equal shalom to me. Mmmmmm.
It felt good.
Today (Wednesday, 12/7), we travelled to Athens for a camp
recruiting event. In the car ride, Jen
(our custome service pro) had a few questions for us. I thought this was going to be the
traditional tell me what you think about our database, how could we program
better, or let’s debrief ______. Not the
case today. She is currently thinking
through the overall environment of camp and trying to make it more peaceful and
homey and shalom. So, she asked, “where
do you feel shalom?” All six of us in
the car answered. Many variations. Some similarities. Nature.
Vacation spots. Conversations
with good friends. Deep connections with
folks. Stillness. Shalom.
I was reminded again of the shalom I felt this weekend. Man.
It was good. Not just the physical
rest. But, the emotional and spiritual
rest of being with the Lord. Even
telling him my dreams and heart desires.
Good conversations with friends. Silence. Time alone.
Jen’s next question, “what do you love about camp?” I have actually been thinking about that this
week. I can’t put my finger on where or
what for, but I was thinking about how much I love camp, specifically during
the summer. We all answered once
again. I couldn’t put that feeling into
words, so I said what I knew.
In the spring of 2009, I was
contemplating coming back to Camp All-American after my first summer. I was chatting at the SLC with some old camp
friends, trying to see what they were doing for the summer. One friend Brandt told me I should for sure
come back. He was. When I asked why, he said: “At camp, you live
like you’re supposed to live. You are
sharing the gospel with folks nearly every day.
Folks are pouring into you. You
are in deep community with other believers. That’s how the Christian life is supposed to
be.” He convinced me. I
haven’t missed a summer since.
So, I told the folks in the car this exchange between Brandt
and myself. They were blown away. Stephen, in his grand way of phrasing and
putting words into things well, said: “That
is really good insight. It is how we
were made to live. Sharing the gospel. Living
in community. Worshipping together. Working alongside folks you know deeply. Studying the Bible. Getting poured into. Being prayed for. Praying for and knowing others. And, it is a taste of perfection. Of heaven.
Of how things should be.” Well
said sir. I love the summer for those
reasons. There is something special that
takes place. A taste of something to
come. A taste of shalom, if you
will.
Fully Restored.
Been a good week, I'd say…
