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| Pacific Highway 1Spring Break is a wonderful, beautiful thing. I am currently sitting in my hotel room as I type this entry, and through a peak in my curtain (Kelsey and Carmen are still asleep), I can see a stretch of coast leading eternally before me (or so it seems, anyway). 
Saturday evening we flew in to San Diego. As if fine dining, theater, beautiful sunsets, and Coronado Island weren't enough (see above), yesterday we took off up the coast for a few days. Current location: Ventura, CA. Destinations: Santa Barbara and (eventually) Morro Bay. 
(sigh) 
Going back to VA isn't going to be easy. [photos = random google images (I don't have any of ours yet)] | | |
| Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5b Such an incredible truth and amazing hope. I have so much to do and not enough time to do it, yet sometimes, when there is no time, you have to take what you don't have--and post.  This is such a time. It's October 29, 2006. This past week has been one of reflection, and in some ways I think that for the rest of my life around this time I will be forced to pause from the present and look behind me--if but for a moment. Yet how much joy I have been given from such reflection--or rather, from Him who infused purpose when I could not comprehend any and hope when I could not see through darkness! I am undone. To witness a humanly impossible situation--in which the death of hope is pronounced--and watch it then resurrect amidst stone - can words articulate what is simply called unspeakable grace? I have often thought that the richest truths rest on a plane transcending language; I am more inclined to hold to it now. Perhaps I sound as if I'm gushing. That's not my intent. Simply, I am happy. And not because of anything spectacular in my life, but because, well, joy comes in the morning. I once wrote that I desired "to look behind me and see distant thunderheads." And as I look around me and see my amazing friends, beautiful family, and majestic, faithful Abba, I know joy. The morning, even if it is but for a moment, has come upon me. You've come far, and though you're far from the end
You don't mind where you are, cause you know where you've been ...
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| Ex NihiloSo I tend to get nervous when I hear people make bold statements such as "God wouldn't let that happen" or "It's not God's will that [insert some phrase that entails a specific event, usuallly tragic]." Not many people would make such statements so boldly (although I heard just yesterday of someone making a similar declaration). But there seems to be a current of thought that a Christian's life cannot go from bad to worse, if only because of his reconciled state. It's almost a denial (a naivete) of what life entails. Again, practically no one would state that Christians cannot see darkness at all. But the extent of such darkness, its length and depth, is often overlooked, misunderstood, or disbelieved. I've seen a life, dehumanized by abuse, waste away through years of great failures and small victories, until one day the striving seemed pointless, and life, a wasteland. And so of his own volition, he left life. He was no island. I've held dear friends whose families have been ripped apart by deceit and unfaithfulness; I've witnessed unexpected deaths of parents and children--my own father, as well as my one of my best friend's, of that number. Darkness rages, and sometimes it doesn't stop when it's supposed to, when "God wouldn't let any more happen." I am not out to topple faith or deny the power of God (forbid it), but rather to view God as He is, to exhort those who call Him Father not to be surprised by the expansiveness of tragedy in a fallen world. Despair is very real, save only that there exists a Creator who creates light out of darkness. Ex nihilo. Out of nothing. Rich in mercy, God provides hope out of destruction, amidst destruction--not necessarily by halting it. Although--what inexpressible grace!--He does that, too. Forsaking wide-eyed dismay at the scope of darkness in a fallen world, yet expecting the Father of light to create hope where there should be none--this is faith unshaken by tempest. It rests not in the circumstance of a storm's abatement, but in Him who transcends the tumult altogether. | | |
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Well, Lauren and Caleb are married. It seriously did not sink in until Lauren was practically walking down the aisle, and now that it's over I realize how much I miss my former roommate (whenever you read this, I love you, Lauren!). That being said, the ceremony was truly the most beautiful I had ever been a part of. I am so thankful for the opportunity to visit where Lauren spent her childhood, to meet all of her "WA" friends, and to experience northeast Washington in all its undoing splendor. I wouldn't redo the flying part of the trip (next time we'll stay in Vegas, girls  ), but everything in between I'd gladly do again. And again. In fact, I miss it. And Ronnie. () For explanation purposes, Ronnie was our host this weekend, and being at her house was like visiting a five-star hotel that was owned by your grandmother. Seriously. Our room was essentially a suite. We had our own bathroom and vanity, king-sized bed, coffee maker, and food basket. Our room led out to a balcony that overlooked the Columbia River, which sunk below a sea of mountains. One morning we awoke to a note slipped below our door. It read: "I'm making eggs benedict this morning. Let me know what time you girls want breakfast." She was just like that. It was a joy to her and her husband, Jim (who was amazing, too, by the way--he loved his wife so much), to love people they didn't even know. I aspire to their warmth. Well, I'll stop writing and post some pictures. These were all taken by our incredible photographer, Carmen, and since I know she wants to do a post of her own, I'll only put up a couple (or few, I guess *sheepish grin*): [I'm seriously proud of my artwork with this candle ...]   
Dorks!  At Ronnie's!
Go Groomsmen! And ... Best Man!! Oh, and ... Usher!! These guys were a blast to hang out with this weekend.  
Here's to Lauren and Caleb. 
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| Give me Away, and I'll take it ...
Much, much more to come. | | |
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