A RELEVANT One Week Rush

The last couple weeks have been rather interesting. My thoughts seem almost clear, but not quite clear enough. My heart is catching on fire, but I don't have words to describe it yet. My soul is longing for something more, but I know what that something is and have ignored it.

I'm coming alive again.

I'm realizing I should occasionally read my own blog. It might help when I feel the life leaving me, the fire and passion for Love itself, the clarity of purpose.

The last two weeks brought these things to my attention through conversation, "wasting" time, the internet, and movies. After this small journey (which is really representative of a much longer one), I would like to welcome myself back to Life.

A friend of mine is having a rough time. She is also on the ride of her life. I've learned this is typical of someone who is letting down walls and letting God break in. It's painful and beautiful to watch, a true blessing to be able to witness the glory of God. It's reminded me of why I'm here and why I have nothing to be angry about and everything to be thankful for.

Last week, on a whim and following a feeling, I left and didn't tell anyone where I went. I grabbed my book and money and drove to a coffee shop where I relaxed for 2 1/2 hours, enjoying soup, crackers, a bagel, tea, my book, and the sunshine. I realized I forgot how to "waste" time.

RELEVANT is a magazine whose tagline is, "God. Life. Progressive Culture." A recent article called "11 Things to Know at 25(ish)" rekindled many thoughts and beliefs that already cemented somewhere deep in my heart. I feel 22 years old again, and that's a good feeling.

Two nights ago, I discovered the movie One Week. I don't know when it came out, don't remember the actor's name, and don't know who made it. All I know is that it spoke directly to the core of being because someone else finally articulated what I have felt and believed all along. If the things I write here don't quite make sense to you, watch that movie. It's free and instant on Netflix.

Last night, I watched August Rush for the second time in my life. For some reason I remember it being "not quite as good as I thought it would be." I was in the mood for a good movie, a little deep but not too much, a good soundtrack... The movie blew my mind. August Rush is exponentially better than I remember, probably because I actually understand what it means now. And I just love the way art and beauty change you because they are transcendent...

I hope and pray for your own RELEVANT one week rush. Because mine was awesome.

I'm alive again.

Contemplate.

Don't ever get too busy to forget to contemplate.

Reorient yourself on the present. Redirect yourself towards your goal. Recommit yourself to excellence. Rediscover being ALIVE.

"Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

Encounter.

From the new post on my other blog:


I’ve realized something very simple in the last week:

Many people don’t do things because they think they can’t, not because they don’t want to. Sometimes, the only encouraging words someone needs are, “Youcan.” I would like to take that further, of course, and say that more often than not those words need to be followed by, “…only in Christ.”

Have you ever felt completely stuck? Like you’re trying your best to change, to make a difference, to do better, to love more, to work harder…but you just can’t?

Well, I’m going to guess that you’re trying to do it without God.

So take a minute. Sit in silence. Turn off the music, the TV, close this window in your browser and just BE. You want to change? Then let the Lord do it. You want to hear His voice? Then harden not your hearts and allow Him to speak and break through the noise and clutter and distractions of this life, of your heart. Allow Christ to draw you deeper into his most Sacred Heart and show you how to love and be loved! He may be our God, but he is our God who took on flesh, became human, for us. For you. If you were the only person on earth, he would come and die for you again. And again. He loves us that much, individually. He desires a relationship with us, and that relationship is an encounter with not just a god but with a person.

That encounter with the person of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, necessarily changes and transforms us in the depths of our being. That’s where true freedom lies.

So all those things you want do? All those things you want to change? Do them. Change them. And encourage others!

In Christ.

Heavenly Father, transform our wills and desires to Yours.

How Do You Poke The Box? (Pt. I)

So I'm reading a new book out by author and blogger Seth Godin called "Poke the Box." He speaks about initiating projects rather than just thinking of ideas and reacting - poking the box.

It's a concise, inspiring book that is quick to read. It motivates and encourages that inner part of you that wants to do something worth doing, that wants to change something worth changing...

It's a book that nudges your heart a little, your heart that's wanting to come alive in a new and real way.

Poke the box.

Heaven Come Down

We stood in the dark, our feet in the cool sand. Bundled in sweatshirts though it was the middle of the summer, both of us stayed silent, listening to the breeze and the crashing waves.

"I love the beach at night," I said to my sister.
"Me too. It reminds me of heaven."

I looked at her, looked back out at the ocean, trying to make out the dark horizon line, and agreed.

"Yeah..."

We stayed at the edge of the water as long as we could before being beckoned back to the bonfire. In that moment, I became acutely aware of the vast beauty surrounding me, and I am comforted as I think of it from time to time. I began reflecting on why the beach at night is like heaven. An obvious initial response might be that all of creation reflects God, but I believe the metaphor goes deeper.

When looking out at the ocean, its expanse is too far for the eye to see. We can hardly even fathom that by going all the way out there into the unknown we would find land again. This experience is heightened at night, and I can't help but imagine the glory of God and how we can only get a taste of it! We know all too well the struggle in trust it takes to live life as a fully committed Christian, but think about this -- who really wants to stay on the beach? As hard as it is, if asked by someone "Do you want to continue doing the same thing or trust in the GOD of creation and experience the absolutely new?" which would you choose?

I like thinking there is someone so much greater than myself because honestly, I kinda suck sometimes. And that's an understatement...So I think I'm going to work on trusting that someone a little more.

Which is NEW for me...

It's A Beautiful Life

It crazy to think of how terrified I am to truly fall in love.

It will change me and my life forever, yet that's exactly what we all crave, right? The daring, the new. Despite how much we believe we hate change, we desperately want the thrill and satisfaction of encountering the new, the unknown, and embracing it, facing it.

Falling in love is terrifying, but so is waking up tomorrow and living the same routine of today. I could throw my heart away to be broken and shattered, but I could also never let anyone love me, move me, change me. I can't like myself that much that I don't want to be any different! And I can't hate myself that much that I become obsessed with change. Why not listen to God and allow him to place beautiful people in my life?