joppa...
yet another day to live, to breathe, to worship, to laugh, to dance, to rest, to learn... i am so full of life today. so full of awe at the phenomenal cloudscapes... and the formation of new ways of thinking about it all... a thought that kelli and christy and i wondered at this morning as we walked at the park before chapel, gazing up at the dark grey sky billowing ominously, and the blue sky in the horizon:
so amazing how darkness can be so beautiful... but the reason that it is so beautiful is because of the light which contrasts it. if we had no light, we could not perceive the beauty of the darkness... its shape, its tones and hues... likewise, if we had no dark days like this one, the pure blue days of life could not be enjoyed with the same glorious exulting joy.
this day has been full of listening... to others' stories of their journeys through pain, loss, regret, shame, poor choices, low self-esteem to discernment, revelation, restoration, growth, joy, confidence... it seems to me that there is such beauty and refining in sharing our lives together as a Body of Christ. community and unity is so essential to our sustainement and encouragement. i am so thankful to be in this place right now in my life where i have community and family in Christ in abundance and i certainly do not take that for granted. i have been in isolation before, where i long and hunger for what i have now. i know so many others in france or even here who have never even tasted this kind of joy and love. i was tempted, today, after the first story told, to focus back in on myself and my questions and disappointments but was reminded in chapel, to continue looking out and up... there is a time for introspection and a time for observation and i think i supposed to be in the latter for now.
may your soul also learn to listen... and learn... from what God is teaching you in so many subtle ways today.
so amazing how darkness can be so beautiful... but the reason that it is so beautiful is because of the light which contrasts it. if we had no light, we could not perceive the beauty of the darkness... its shape, its tones and hues... likewise, if we had no dark days like this one, the pure blue days of life could not be enjoyed with the same glorious exulting joy.
this day has been full of listening... to others' stories of their journeys through pain, loss, regret, shame, poor choices, low self-esteem to discernment, revelation, restoration, growth, joy, confidence... it seems to me that there is such beauty and refining in sharing our lives together as a Body of Christ. community and unity is so essential to our sustainement and encouragement. i am so thankful to be in this place right now in my life where i have community and family in Christ in abundance and i certainly do not take that for granted. i have been in isolation before, where i long and hunger for what i have now. i know so many others in france or even here who have never even tasted this kind of joy and love. i was tempted, today, after the first story told, to focus back in on myself and my questions and disappointments but was reminded in chapel, to continue looking out and up... there is a time for introspection and a time for observation and i think i supposed to be in the latter for now.
may your soul also learn to listen... and learn... from what God is teaching you in so many subtle ways today.