Dreamlike Reality

This entry was originally published at www.xanga.com/redroadhome on 8/8/06.

His faithfulness absolutely stretches to the sky. Excited to get to share some examples of it from the past couple days.

On the spectrum of preparedness, I most often fall on the worrying side: my failures to tread the fine line between unpreparedness and overpreparedness usually come in the form of worrying about a lack of preparation instead of chillaxing to the point of wasting opportunities and being an unfaithful steward. Unfortunately I was somehow cut in two and placed on both ends of that spectrum regarding my trip home last Saturday: I burdened some folks with my worries about how far the drive was and how little sleep I had gotten and how loud my car was, and I burdened others with not acting quickly to work out who I was taking home and who would have to catch a ride with someone else. Sad that such a great summer would end on such a disobedient note – still have a long, long, long, long, long, long, long way to go, I guess.

But God faithfully worked things out. He helped me stay awake, allowed me to enjoy a getting to know Jessica better, provided some Starbucksage, got me home with only a few directions, and encouraged me with the news that Kelsey and Lizz had a good ride back. The super jackpot: getting to spend three weeks taking care of Lydia’s plant Glory, jiggling Jess’s bag of sea shells, and using Hannah’s fan. I made it back, safe and sound, to the best state in the Union after ten hours of driving and eight weeks of enlightenment. I even got to catch dinner and a pizza with my dad before sleeping for eleven hours.

One of the first things people asked about me coming home was, “What are your plans?” I could only answer that I had a heck of a lot of no plans – certainly not a good thing. The danger: cramming a summer’s worth of video games in three weeks. But availability can be just as much a blessing as a curse. My prayer: give me opportunities and don’t let me miss them or ignore them. Paint them on bulletin boards; knock me over the head with them; do whatever you need to do to make me make the most of this time. Funny that that prayer would not have been possible without Lizz: praise God for how much she has to offer and teach and how willing she is to learn and be used.

Church, bright and early Sunday morning. Walk in, grab a bulletin, start to look at the first announcement, and see that the junior highers are going to Geauga Lake, an amusement park, the next day and are still looking for chaperones. While I’m doing this, Andrew Baumgart comes over and starts a conversation. I spent my early high school days in youth group with Andrew. He graduated, spent a couple years in the Navy, and actually was homeless for a while before coming back home to live with his parents. I hope the opportunity to catch up was as much a blessing for him as it was for me. Dereck Holben popped in near the end of the conversation, in just enough time before the service started for me to tell him to, since he was going to be leading worship with the junior highers, let Carl, their leader, know that I was interested in going to Geauga Lake. So within fifteen minutes of doing the first thing since I had been home, I was blessed with a great conversation with an old friend and an activity to look forward to the next day.

Monday was just as full of blessings: got to ride up with Josh, who was my closest friend throughout high school. Now a married man, I got to soak up some of his wisdom and passion (and hope that I’ll be able to continue to do so while I’m home). I enjoyed a day of rollercoasters, notably the junior high girls screaming and Carl posing. The best blessing of the day, though: running into Lindsay Reedy, a girl I had just spent eight weeks with two whole states away. Appropriate roles: always the aware pursuer, she jumped through her group of friends from high school and got awoke me from my need-to-pee-and-get-back-to-my-group stupor. Darn amazing to turn around and see someone you weren’t even sure you were ever going to see again only a little over two days later. And a darn exciting reminder that those eight weeks weren’t a dream that are going to stand alone in time and space: they’re here to stay, with their friendships and lessons and joy.

What else can I do but worship? Glory be to the One who so faithfully provides strength for the weary, opportunities for the available, and reminders for those likely to stray. How exciting would it be to be so faithful, so loving. I hear that He’s working on that in me. Thank goodness He’s darn powerful.

Enjoying opportunities on the Red Road and glimpses of Home.