Ankle Issues-Why?

Crisp autumn air
Tickles the hair follicles
And roses my cheeks
The chill pierces my lungs
Sharply at first
Until my pace settles
And the tingle
Transfers to my fingertips

Running. I love waking up early and setting out on a long run. There is nothing more invigorating than feeling the lethargic heart grow steadily more fierce or the astrigent air inflate my lungs. There is something so majestic in the stillness of the morning, when the birds are softly singing, the deer are gently grazing, and the sun slowly rising.

This is exactly how last Saturday morning went. Followed by a blessed afternoon at church. And better yet, concluded by hiking through the woods with my parents and my dog. At some point along the hike, however, my left foot was seized by immense pain. I literally could walk no further. The next day, my foot was none the worse, but certainly no better. Monday, I was on crutches. And my hopes of running again began to fade. You see, this is my favorite time of the year to run and this weeks forecast promised excellent conditions and so my moral began to slip as I contemplated sitting inside with my foot propped rather than feeling my blood surge through my veins during a vigorous run.

Wednesday morning daily devotion book read:
A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot. It has to go through the white heat of the furnace to become porcelain.

Sometimes it seems that just when I am finally making progress toward some goal or project, everything suddenly comes to a standstill. Maybe this seemingly negative happening is, in fact, a positive one, an intermission that allows me to consider other options, enjoy a needed break, or improve on my plans. Perhaps this intermission is essential to my spiritual growth-- a time of moving my attention away from the busyness around me to the quiet of my own inner refuge of peace. There I experience a sacred reunion with the presence of God. Lingering in the presense of God, I realize what it feels like to be at peace.

So whether or not I wanted to be set back with an injury, God is allowing me this time to reconnect with Him. I wish I knew what He wanted though. I wish I knew what redirection my life is supposed to take from here. What other options I am supposed to consider. I feel so lost and still a little bitter about not being able to run. Being idle is against my nature, but I have been trying to remind myself that all things work together for good when God is in control.

So Father God, please take control of my "free time" and show me the plans you have for me. Help me to block out the busyness of the world around and to listen to Your words. Help me see the options in front of me and choose according to Your will. Allow me to come through the fire refined. This is my prayer dear God. Draw me closer to your side. And if You could, heal my ankle too. Thanks Father! Amen.

Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."


What a powerful message. The eloquence of this verse resonated with my soul so much that I felt impressed to read this verse everyday this week. Something inside whispered, "Read this again, don't just pass over it, digest it, for this is the meat."


This week I have also been praying for an Italian friend of mine who recently disclosed some person struggles and whom I hoped would feel the presence of Christ in his life. Something in the words he spoke to me told me that he needed Jesus more now than ever before.


Fourteen hours ago he posted, "Sono stato crocifisso con Cristo, e non son più io che vivo, ma è Cristo che vive in me; e la vita che vivo ora nella carne, la vivo nella fede nel Figliuol di Dio il quale m'ha amato, e ha dato se stesso per me." The very verse that God had impressed on my heart this week. God is so amazing!

GIFT

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a GIFT. That's why it's called the present!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4tusxJ_Nqk&feature=related

This is the youth of today! What are we doing to show them the love of Jesus? He was willing to die for us, are we willing to take a moment to comfort his children? Don't let His children hit bottom before we point their eyes upward to their heavenly Father. Jesus brings healing. He brings life and He is waiting to intervene.

Happiness

Write and just keep writing until it all comes out. Out with what? Everything. I want it all out. To pour out until there is nothing left to pour. To empty every remnant of thought. To feel as though I have given it all. Said all there is to say. But writing only allows one dimension. The words desire variety of expression. To shout! To surge from my lips with power. To drop from my mouth with weightless effort. To be set free as a delicate whisper. To sting with venom like vengeance. To confess with utter remorse. So layered are my thoughts. So clouded is my mind. I must write on until I see the grey skies break. Until the cold embrace lifts and warmth trickles in. Until others words no longer dissipate my body. Until others words resonant truth inside my soul.  Saturated by adverse perception. I want to reverse the years of misconception. To make barren the habitat of such purposeless ideas. I am starting fresh. My spirit is awakened. I am challenged. I am alive! No longer will my thoughts weigh anchor to my dreams.

Written on a writer's block. I was supposed to write about happiness. Hopefully, I'll get to that soon.

People Make It

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like
art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that
give value to survival."
C. S. Lewis

I read this quote today. I had to read it 5 times before I decided whether I agreed or disagreed. All I can say is that if we didn't have interaction with others throughout our days, we would be the grumpiest planet. Everyday someone makes me laugh, helps me discover, points out something amazing. If I didn't have people I would be lost. Friends is another category though; I suppose you don't need friends to survive, but who would want to. Tonight, I am most thankful for my friendship with me dad. He and I are about to adventure through the woods with my dog and I am marking this as one of the BEST NIGHTS OF MY LIFE!

School

I LOVE IT! It's such a different experience being the teacher instead of the student.

But seriously, lice at 8:30am on the second week of school. C'mon.

While I was organizing books this morning though, I made a pile of ones I want to read. Who knew you can learn so much from childrens' books.

First on my list is, "Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro" by Ned Munger. Twenty seven page read with excellent graphics. I am hoping afterward, I'll feel inspired and be able to talk to Nick!

Lunch breaks over. Back to the kids!

"Wrong side of the bed." What does that even mean?

How is it possible to wake up on the wrong side of the bed? And even if you happen to wake up on the other side of the bed, why does that negatively affect your disposition for the day? Waking this morning in a grouchy mood led me to search for the origin of this phrase.

"The saying stemmed from the early expression 'Left foot forward'. The supposedly sinister nature of the left is reflected in many English superstitions and expressions, such as the belief that it is unlucky to put your left shoe first, or to walk into a house left foot first. The Romans, especially Augustus Caesar, were very careful that they got up on the right side of the bed, but there is no evidence that they were less grouchy than anyone else." From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).

So there you have it. Getting up on the wrong side of the bed stems from a superstition that the left side of the bed was bad luck. Therefore, waking up in a sour state has little to do with what side of the bed you awoke in but rather something else entirely.

Since I could not pinpoint the deeper cause to my irritation at 6am, I concluded that there was no antecedent to my behavior and no evidence that it should last all day. So I went to school, had a blast, left school, had a blast, and am now reviewing the day in slow motion. I had a great day in spite of the fact that I woke up on the "wrong side of the bed".

Skies

Green fields traced by blue skies
Reminds me of your gentle eyes
The look that captured my heart and soul
And I wonder if you feel as I do


Yellow stars tossed across black skies
Brings me to laying by your side
When love was real and lingered on my lips
I wonder if you taste it too


Grey peaks touching white skies
Takes me back into your arms
I always find you when I close my eyes
I wonder if you see me too


Clear waters thundering under clear skies
Refreshes the peace you brought me
The kind words that restored faith and trust
I wonder if you hear them too

Orange horizons thinning into purple skies
Uncovers the affection I hold for you
Passion veiled by friendship
And I wonder if you wonder as I do