A Poem . . .

I was in Philadelphia recently sitting outside of a cafe with some friends. We weren't talking really. We were all writing of our current adventures or reading a good book. As the conversation broke the concentration we started to talk about what God wanted for our lives and how that would look in the lives of recent grads who have no money, no direction, but all the passion in the world. Love God and love others. It is pretty simple we concluded, but where? ( We are already certain that we know with whom that is why God crossed our paths) Where is a difficult question that is easily overlooked. We can do the work of God anywhere, but there are some places that have more work to be done for it to be a reflection of the Kingdom. Never was it more evident than walking the streets of Philly and seeing the sin that has become commonplace and acceptable. That is when Ricky read this poem. . . I guess a blog shouldn't be me forwarding on the words of a wiser man, but I can't really describe it better than this. I can feel it though and these words give that feeling a new dimension. I hope that you are encouraged by this as much as I am.

Obedience

By George MacDonald (1824-1905)

I said: "Let me walk in the fields."
He said: "No, walk in the town."
I said: "There are no flowers there."
He said: "No flowers, but a crown."

I said: "But the skies are black;
There is nothing but noise and din."
And He wept as He sent me back -
"There is more," He said; "there is sin."

I said: "But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun."
He answered: "Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone!"

I said: "I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say."
He answered: "Choose tonight
If I am to miss you or they."

I pleaded for time to be given.
He said: "Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem so hard in heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide."

I cast one look at the fields,
Then set my face to the town;
He said, "My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?"

Then into His hand went mine;
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light divine,
The path I had feared to see.

My First Blog

I guess this is a time for a lot of firsts for me. I am currently sitting on a bus that is headed to New York City. This will be a first for me, as were many of the things that happened over the last ten days. Most people are uncomfortable with firsts. Often times firsts can evoke a dusty emotion that we suppress deep down in some alley way in our souls. If I am honest will myself I can easily say that firsts can be both so good and so bad. The first time I held a girl's hand, so good. The first time she broke my heart, well . . . so bad. I have experienced a lot of firsts in my day. Everything from breaking a bone, to tasting my first birthday cake. I have jumped off the third highest bungee in the world, I have gone caving in Budapest and canyoning in Switzerland, I have eaten a scorpion in China and spear-fished in Japan, I have known life to be beautiful and have become painfully aware of its injustice. Through all of this, good and bad, I love firsts. They are constant reminder this beautiful, dynamic journey we call life. I encourage you to seek some firsts today because I can promise you that you never remember them like your first.

Be a voice, not an echo