Filed under: focus
We had a great day yesterday. Traditional turkey with friends for lunch, and a short 1-hr drive to Janna’s parents’ home for a low country boil for supper. Probably the best part was just sitting outside while the big pot boiled, the kids played, my dog chased Micah, Janna’s brother, on his dirt bike and just talking. It was about 7o degrees so it was nice. I wished it would have rained. I would have been thankful for that.
Jesus, GA needs some water. Thanks. I also got a phone call from a long-time friend. Nice way to end the night. 
So I’m sitting here in a Huddle House in Rome, GA b/c my truck isn’t ready yet, and I’m reading a book called “Making Room: Recovering the Christian Tradition of Hospitality.” The waitresses and cooks here are so friendly as they usually are at a Huddle (Waffle) House. They know I’m the reason they’re getting paid (being a customer that is) and treat me well. I bet they’re pretty nice outside of work also. Funny thing is is that hospitality originally had nothing to do with money but more with helping other people either out of a civic/cultural duty or b/c God loves them, also. Jesus even said we were helping Him when we helped others. At that point hospitality is more about worship (loving Jesus) than charity.
Filed under: rhythm
I’m very annoyed today b/c I have to go get my truck in Rome, GA (that’s about 5 or 6 hours away, one way). I broke down after my camping trip and it’s taken this long to get it fixed. Oh well. I’ll use the time to call people, listen to audiobooks, etc. Maybe I’ll even just sit in the truck in silence (no radio, no cd, no ipod). Of course I might go crazy and start making up personalities in my head or something…for those of you who know me you can laugh now. Anyway, if you read this today pray that I make it w/o tragedy.
The picture included is the rental truck I have that is costing me $$, another reason to be annoyed. It’s good-lookin’ though.
I grew up in a hospitable home and therefore it’s something in me. I also feel especially called to extend it myself…even to my own household. Don’t get me wrong…sometimes I’m an inconsiderate slob and leave the dishes on the coffee table or leave the house w/o helping but I try. Right now in my 1262sqft home I have a bustling morning that started at 530am. We have a new puppy, Elmo the mini-dachshund, that needed to be let out that early but Missy, our wonderful dog, keeps him company. Ed, one of the young guys in our church, came over at 6:11am to talk or hang out. Z, Zahnwhea, a college student, lives with us and leaves the house with Bess and Janna every morning. Also Mallory, one of Z’s friends, spent the night and her boyfriend picked her up for work at 7am. Life is good and full already and it’s only 815am. 
Filed under: gravity
Fire is called the “primal attractant.” Primal as in basic or first or original. Think about it. If you light a candle, a fire in a fireplace, a campfire, a barrel fire in an alley or even just a bug-zapper…people gather…especially guys. There’s something that just draws you to it. I love fire. I used to get in trouble as a kid for burning things. A fun, fond childhood memory is burning off giant piles of brush or even fields. Just the thought of it makes me glassy-eyed and elevates my heart rate…ok that was personal. But you get the idea. People talk about fire in their hearts, or a burning passion in their soul. What’s yours? God is often represented by fire. In Exodus as both the burning bush and the pillar of fire that led the Israelites. God calls Himself a consuming fire that cleanses and destroys. The Holy Spirit is also represented as fire in Acts 2. Find ways to ignite and fan your flame and see if people draw near. Fire draws in air and you can draw others towards you and therefore closer to God. 
Every Fall I take a personal camping trip. A friend called it my “walkabout” referring to some aboriginal man-making venture I guess…but I like the word. I don’t sleep much on the trip b/c I don’t sleep much anyway and throw in coldness and not-in-my-bed uncomfortableness (is that a word?) and I usually get about 4 hours night. But that’s not why I go. I go to get away. I go to stare at nature. I go to see open spaces. I go to make fires and stir them up and stare at the fire and to make more fires and cut fire wood. mmmm. Fire. I want to hear from God while I’m camping and how that happens I don’t know. But everytime I go I feel better, I think better and I’m glad I went. 
