The Most

The most beautiful thing I've seen today took place on Gage Street. As I was running errands this morning I passed "The Phelps People" holding their many signs to offend practically every category of people out there, and as I was averting my eyes so as to keep my emotions in check, I spotted an older man holding an American flag on the opposite side of the street. It took me a few seconds to realize that he was a Veteran and that the decorated vest he wore probably was linked to his previous military experience. As I finished going to the bank, I looped around the same path, and tried to spot the man again. He was gone, but so were the Phelps gang. They had moved up the street a few blocks. Here's a "Hurrah!"for the gentleman who was willing to stand by himself across from approximately 30 people with radically opposing viewpoints, and to the man who intimidated that group enough that they had to move down the street.

The most uncomfortable thing I saw today was along the same lines. It was a young police officer shouting across the street and making exaggerated hand gestures to 10 skateboarding teenagers. I could tell the skateboarders had the upperhand.

The most profound thing I read today was in a book called Kisses from Katie by a gal named Katie Davis. This girl went to Uganda straight out of High School, and continued on there, helping to establish an NGO that lifts up the impoverished children of her neighborhood. It's an inspiring read; convicting at the same time; a great example of what God can do with someone who has an open and willing heart.

Michaela's Wedding and Xi'an

 I came at the tail end of Chinese New Year. The last day of this was the Lantern Festival.

 Tara- one of the teachers at Sias University where I stayed

 Lamb on a skewer and milk tea. Yum! Yum!

 Michaela ordering some street food

 The view while we hiked up a mountain called Shizu

 Headed to the highest possible point on the mountain

 Michaela all dressed up for the wedding

 Headed to the church in a limo

 Michaela and Jonathan

 At the reception

 The Muslim Market in Xi'an

 The Terra Cotta Warriors

 A sign inside Xi'an's subway. Notice Top Center

 In front of our hostel at Xi'an

Chinese babies are pretty cute.

Beijing, China

 My friend Michaela introduced me to Emily through e-mail, and I was able to spend 2 days with Emily in Beijing, and went with her to see The Great Wall.

 It's kind of like taking a picture of the Grand Canyon- it really doesn't do it justice.

 While we were touring at The Wall and at a tomb, we met an Australian named Emma and spent most of the day together. The upside of going to touristy spots is that it is an opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

 Proof that I was at the wall. :)

 The Bird's Nest built for the 2008 Olympics!

 Street food. This is a biscuit with an egg in the middle. Not a bad breakfast for lunch on the go!

 The Forbidden City

 These girls invited me to a feast at their apartment. The menu was tofu wrapped pork, mushroom chicken soup and cowboys and indians served Chinese style.

 This is Andy, another one of Michaela's friends. He took me ice skating and to some famous shopping district that I don't know the name of. Beijing's Drum and Bell Tower are in the background.

 Every country has its polar bears. Yes, that's ice by the side of the lake.

Saul, Winston and Other Individuals

It’s a shame about Saul! You know what I mean? Here is a guy who had everything going for him: the right looks; the right height; a kingdom established by a sovereign God; the anointing; even a few short stints prophesying, which turned out genuine enough to puzzle writers about how he should be categorized (Prophet or no?). But then things started to go downhill from there: Saul trying to take on the role of a priest when he wasn’t one; not following directions 100% in the midst of warfare; trying to repeatedly hunt down and kill shepherd-boy Dave, an innocent man; willing to put Jonathan to death over eating a bit of honey, and seeking out witches to help him make major life decisions. It’s just plain sad when you think of it! Isn’t it? He had potential, but his end was inglorious, and his royal line died with him.

We know plenty of stories of individuals who started well, only to fall into infamy: Benedict Arnold, Robert Lundy (the Irish version of Arnold), Martha Stewart, Darth Vader, Gollum… just to name a few. Right? Chapters from history books, media and the fictitious versions of these stories should douse cold water on us. Wake us up! Whisper to us the need to “keep on keeping on” (as GT and the Halo Express so eloquently defined “endurance”). It should remind us to walk in integrity; to love to God; to tidy up those priorities; to keep our minds and hearts set on things that don’t spoil, fade, rot and/or burn.

“Never give up!” Those were the carefully chosen words of Winston Churchill. He used them to encourage his countrymen while earth and buildings were exploding around Great Britain. And how crucial those words are to the weary heart; to those growing weak and weary in the trenches. We’ve come this far, let us not lose hope now; let us not fall victim to the sinister darkness around us.

This is getting a bit preachy, isn’t it? But I preach to myself. My muscles are tired; my heart is sad; I’m at a crawl. But there is a death that comes with halting; with pilgrims who tire of arduous trails. My anemic pace isn’t much, but I take comfort in the fact that there is a certain school for those who are feeling spent. I don’t know what I’m supposed to learn at this place, but I’m guessing it will be an important lesson. After all, I’m all ears if nothing else… and really, I don’t want to share the same fate as Saul.

Another Song

“I want to run, it’s my nature to run, and I want to fight, it’s my nature to fight, and I want to live but You tell me to die. I have resolved that I’m much better off in Your hands then mine…

I want a crumb, but You are a feast. I want a song, but You are my symphony, I want a star, but You are a galaxy. And I have resolved that I’m much better off in what You have for me. 

–Bebo Norman, exerpts from his song “The Only Hope”

Josh Garrels-Farther Along

I really love this song.

Around the World in 18 Days

It is difficult to pinpoint what I love about travel. Perhaps it is the fact that no matter how many places you visit, there will always be new places to go or else something you haven’t seen at a previously visited location. There is also the aspect of meeting new people that fascinates me (says the introvert). The challenge of adjusting to a different way of doing things or thinking about things is also interesting. This process can be pleasant, and sometimes painful, but you can hardly walk away unscathed by what you experience during an expedition.

This month I bought a ticket to China. I have been telling my friends about it, and have found myself saying things like “I’m nervous about going to the airport in Beijing” or “I’m nervous about [insert whatever here].” It isn’t too much of a surprise that I’m saying these things.  I’ve heard similar things come out of my mouth right before venturing to other places. When I first went to Ireland I was concerned about living a whole year away from my family and friends, and when I first went to Switzerland I didn’t know if I would be able to find the proper train to get on, and when I went to Colombia I was anxious about Bogota being the Kidnapping Capital of the world (among other things). I am now realizing that I’m not just “nervous” about these things; I’m voicing fears. "Fears that I don’t totally want to admit are fears.

I just recently finished reading Numbers and Deuteronomy . The Israelites had plenty of fears, and usually didn’t mind voicing them. “You led us out here to die” they told Moses. “We’re going to starve to death; we’re thirsty! What I’d give for a good meal of leeks!" There was a lot going on with those folk. The fact that Numbers records an 11 day journey taking 40 years is quite sobering (I hope my journey to China just takes 18 days, as planned!). And then, as you probably know most of the Israelites still didn’t REALLY get it, and ended up dying in that sandy wasteland- except for Caleb and Joshua. And then what mighty warriors they turned out to be! I think it’s interesting how Joshua’s career started out. God told Moses to tell Joshua not to be afraid but to be courageous, and then God told Joshua that directly on several occasions, and then later on Josh was able to exhort the rest of the Israel not to be afraid, but to be courageous. What a journey for that man! What a kind of an epic journey for the rest of the nation! To finally go in and conquer the land; THEIR LAND, and to joyfully claim it. Now that's the kind of expedition I'm talking about- one that leaves the imprints of indelible ink.

Deut 5:29 Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!