A pocket of sun

A pocket of sun within a cloud of one,
rains down from heavens so gray.
Reaching in might,
like a yellow lite-brite
in the middle of a dark dreary day.

It breaks through the bleak,
the cold, out of reach
and pours out your warmth on the way.

We're almost there,
to the spot where we'll share a moment of
freedom and play.

In dark or in bright,
in hard times and fright -
your willing to help come what may.

Across the street or with miles so steep,
your brightness will soak me soul deep.

SWB: Love wins

Image from Heartfish.

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

A few days ago, a friend reminded me of a bumper sticker that was somehow connected to Rob Bell's ministry a few years ago. The sticker reads, "Love wins."

For the past month, there seems to have been several points of conflict that I'd wished and hoped away. I tried to fix them, fret over them, and eventually I remembered to pray over them. Some situations require that I take a few steps back, stop rehashing them and simply pray over them when they come to mind - instead of worrying over them.

After the book tour came together so well and with a decent attendance for our small city (about 200 people), after I was given an apology that lifted a burden I'd been carrying and attempting to fix from my end, after a sunny fall day and walking in the crunchy leaves, and after a hand written card from my dear friend Sue, I'm reminded that eventually, always, even when you've given up hope... LOVE WINS!

That promise is the bread I will hold this week, even in uncertainty, conflict and challenge that is always just around the corner. Love wins.

PS. It is amazing that I have such dear friends in my life - thank you for being the people that exemplify the statement that love wins!

A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Million Miles and still running

Yesterday the Don Miller and Susan Isaacs book tour stopped by to First Lutheran of Jamestown NY. I was excited to have writers and speakers of this caliber come to our small city, as so often I have to travel three hours or more to experience a opportunity like this. The evening was more a concert than a lecture and Susan's presentation was so impressive, my 16 year old daughter can't put her book down!

A little over two years ago, I asked some friends to join me at a local coffee shop to try gathering for a weekly book club. Two years and many books later, we still get together on a weekly basis. Blue Like Jazz, Don's first best-selling book, was the first book we used with our book group. After all this time, I'd have to say that book got us started off on the right foot.

It was a great evening of laughter, thoughtful conversation and a challenge to live the kind of life a good book could be written about. So often I find myself uncomfortable in the place of conflict, but conflict(as Don mentioned last evening), causes people to take action or make steps to find a solution.

It was a challenge to take this event on, even as all the pieces came together beautifully, I kept wanting to pinch myself and say, "Is this really happening?" As I was preparing some food for the guests yesterday afternoon, my cell phone buzzed with a text from Brett, the tour manager - "We are in Warren, PA." All at once, it was real. All the phone calls, texts, poster hanging, calls to the radio station were all coming together. It was all working out and I was proud of the risk I'd taken in thinking and helping to make it happen. The best part about this whole opportunity, besides meeting some wonderful new people, was having the chance to share some wonderful books with others and have children involved with World Vision and The Mentoring Project receive the help they truly need.

Part 5 of Don's new book A Million Miles and a Thousand Years, is titled - "A character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it." I suppose that in this instance, I get to be that character who overcame a challenge. It is my hope that what I've learned through this experience will help me to intentionally continue to overcome the conflicts and challenges that come my way. Who knows where the story will go with this kind of plot fueling it. That kind of story could go on for, well, a million miles.

Thanks to Brent, Melody, Don, Susan and their driver for coming all the way to Jamestown NY! Also thank you to all who attended, promoted and supported the dream of having this tour in Jamestown NY. I was all the team work that made it such a great event!

If you have the opportunity to go see this tour - please do! Here is the info on where they are headed to next: