Halfway through training

Do you ever put something off for so long that you can't bring yourself to do it?

Like writing someone a letter. Or finishing that project you meant to do a month ago. Or returning to church.

I'll confess, I still haven't finished that letter, and I've received 3 in the interim. What a jerk (me, that is). And I've put off/ forgotten about writing in a blog, posting pictures on facebook, posting songs on youtube, or sending any kind of update to the world about my existence for months now it seems.

Honestly, there is SO MUCH to say, but I am too tired right now to say it. I just wanted to jump one of those many hurdles, to overcome the activation energy and just post SOMETHING. Just something.

Synopsis:

Missions training is amazing. I am becoming a new person.
I had forgotten about the previous post, that I had written about desiring God above all else. Fortunately, I am truly growing in this area.
I am learning to cook, kind of.
I am forming new friendships left and right, and learning to be missional.
God is directing my paths. I am recovering my spontaneity. I never know what a day will bring, but I am certain that God is taking my availability and making much of it. Yesterday I went from slacklining with strangers to doing someone's dreadlocks to listening to a seminar about islam- none of them were planned in advance.
I am still afraid to write songs, but I'm getting in the habit of climbing over hinderances. I like climbing.
I have reconsidered the importance of obeying the law regarding climbing on buildings, playing in parks after dark, and jumping into rivers from railroad bridges. No absolute conclusions yet, but no illegal actions either.
I stay up too late and wake up wonderfully early.
I have unlimited texting. I love my brother.

I floss regularly.

Day #1: Missions Training

Day #1: Missions training

I will confess, I had nervous thoughts anticipating missions training. Early morning prayer, would I be late? And what about the fact that the morning between 8 and 10 is so beautiful, and we would be stuck inside of a basement with minimal light and an unexciting view?

Well, for today at least, I was awake. Not only that, but I was so blessed to go far beyond the basement. Pastor Andrew brought us to his favorite place in Ann Arbor. I was so pleased when we arrived. Obscure parking lot. Random trail. And then this glorious view:

This morning was so peaceful, and I felt so near to God in watching the mighty waters, the peaceful lake, the birds, the sun.... stillness and tumult living beside each other like neighbors. I could go on about today- frisbee and running, Ypsilanti evangelist and grocery shopping, being the frozen food fairy, eating Indian food, farewells to departing seniors, showing up places I don't even expect to find myself. Now I am at New Life. I am thankful for my unexpected life, and for this time in which God has chosen to leave me unemployed. It is a blessing.

Excerpt from my friend's prayer letter:

"I was challenged by the realization that sometimes God's answer to our prayers is not a tangible solution, but simply His presence."

"Serving God in Africa is sometimes my greatest desire, when really God Himself needs to be my greatest desire."

May God be my greatest desire. And yours as well.


*Photo Courtesy of John Blair, ganked from Flickr