This afternoon I was walking in the gorgeous sunshine down Kirkwood, which is the most interesting street in the city, where the campus merges into downtown. On this street you can see every type of person under the sun: rich, poor, black, white, hippie, hipster...
I walked deliberately, focusing on all the unique people, the myriad colors of spring, and the textured limestone of old, stately buildings. I slowed when I saw an older man with a cardboard sign that said he and his family needed help. He was sitting silently until I approached and asked if I had anything for him. I looked at him and asked where he was from, how he got there. I could only find a dollar in my purse, gave it to him, and told him earnestly, "God bless you." He looked me in the eyes and told me in an even stronger, richer voice, "God bless YOU."
My short interaction with the poor and homeless isn't rare. I interact with many individuals and families who find themselves in poverty or on the verge of losing everything on nearly a daily basis, especially through my job. However, what was interesting about this one moment was that I paused to really think and care about that person. I wasn't thinking about how to solve his problem or how he was keeping me from getting to work. After smiling and continuing my slow walk up Kirkwood, I nearly reflected aloud, "God--you've changed me!" Slowly, but surely it seems like I'm to be more thankful, alive, and engaged.
Not being fully present in the moment or situation God has placed me in has meant I've missed out on possible conversations or relationships. Someone told me, "When we're always thinking about the future and not looking to see how God wants us to love at that moment, we're closing ourselves off to ministry opportunities, blessing others, and being blessed." Someday I might get to the end of my life, realizing I never lived it, because I wasn't present in the present.
I was reminded of a similar concept in the book about practicing gratitude in our faith, One Thousand Gifts:
"Time is a relentless river. It rages on, a respecter of no one. And this, this is the only way to slow time: When I fully enter time's swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here. I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment."
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Blossoming
Lately the weather's so gorgeous, I just want to faint. The campus and whole town is awash in beautiful pinks, whites, and pastels. Spring seemed to arrive about a whole month or six weeks early this year. I'm pretty sure it probably might have still been snowing late March last year.
With the arrival of spring, I've been able to run around outside and play tennis. This afternoon I played tennis for a good 2 hours with a friend. Suddenly it seemed like everyone in the whole city knew how to play tennis. First we went to Bryan Park, where they have 5 courts, but they were all full. So we walked several blocks to campus, where there are least 10 courts, and finally managed to play. It was exhilarating and sweaty.
The weather has also been rather exciting. On Friday after work I jumped on the city bus and rode to the gym on campus. It was perfectly sunny and beautiful. After about an hour there, the tornado sirens went off and everyone had to head to the locker rooms in the basement of the massive building. I was very thankful my good friend Clare was also there so we could keep each other sane in the midst of being locked underground with countless undergraduates.
A slow moving storm with a history of producing tornadoes was passing through town, so there was a tornado warning for an hour and a half! It wasn't very fun not being able to know or see what was going on. I just heard all the stories later. Apparently it poured and hailed buckets. A huge wall cloud and funnel formed, and passed directly over our apartment complex. Many of my fellow hearty Midwestern friends at our complex were so concerned by the crazy sky, that they went to other people's apartments on the ground level. Thankfully nothing touched down. All I learned is that every undergrad has a smart phone and the latest gossip among sororities on campus...
Lastly, I had a marvelous, restful, energizing trip to see Andrea in Daytona. Here's a few pictures to highlight. I'm thankful for such an encouraging, amazing, and thoughtful sister!
Enjoying the plentiful sunshine!
Hiking around Hontoon Island State Park.
With Erin and Andrea at "Gospel in Life"
Making all-you-can eat sushi!
With the arrival of spring, I've been able to run around outside and play tennis. This afternoon I played tennis for a good 2 hours with a friend. Suddenly it seemed like everyone in the whole city knew how to play tennis. First we went to Bryan Park, where they have 5 courts, but they were all full. So we walked several blocks to campus, where there are least 10 courts, and finally managed to play. It was exhilarating and sweaty.
The weather has also been rather exciting. On Friday after work I jumped on the city bus and rode to the gym on campus. It was perfectly sunny and beautiful. After about an hour there, the tornado sirens went off and everyone had to head to the locker rooms in the basement of the massive building. I was very thankful my good friend Clare was also there so we could keep each other sane in the midst of being locked underground with countless undergraduates.
A slow moving storm with a history of producing tornadoes was passing through town, so there was a tornado warning for an hour and a half! It wasn't very fun not being able to know or see what was going on. I just heard all the stories later. Apparently it poured and hailed buckets. A huge wall cloud and funnel formed, and passed directly over our apartment complex. Many of my fellow hearty Midwestern friends at our complex were so concerned by the crazy sky, that they went to other people's apartments on the ground level. Thankfully nothing touched down. All I learned is that every undergrad has a smart phone and the latest gossip among sororities on campus...
Lastly, I had a marvelous, restful, energizing trip to see Andrea in Daytona. Here's a few pictures to highlight. I'm thankful for such an encouraging, amazing, and thoughtful sister!
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