Uphill idealist

Have you ever started to sing a song, perhaps a hymn or another favorite, and find yourself caught up in such a wave of emotion that singing is impossible? The tune that you adore can't be sung as your breath is hijacked from the emotion that just so happens to be pouring from your eyes? I met a fellow this week that came to me for an answer to that question. Why do these hymns I love and know by heart always cut to the chase and bring tears to my eyes? All I could say is that I've experienced this song/tears response as well. In fact, I had an unexpected experience with this "Pavlov's response" this past Sunday. Before worship, we were practicing a song for the prelude that is called, "Love can build a bridge" by the Judds. For those that know it, you probably understand why it pulls on the heartstrings. I invite you to take a moment to watch this video for the song here: This song is new to me and I may have heard it year ago when it first ca...

It's been a hectic week prior to leaving for our group's trip to New Orleans for the ELCA National Youth Gathering . As I've been busily ticking things off my to do list this week, I've experienced a wide variety of emotions. I've had moments of frustration, worry, anger - yes anger, excitement, wonder, hope and joy. All these emotions and the wide variety of them have made me look at this scripture in John where Jesus asks what others think of him. “Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’” Mark 8:27-29 (NRSV) Who do you say I am? The other day, I had a frustrating situation while shopping for supplies for a project for this upcoming trip. My time was short and I was trying to ...

In light of reading my blogging friend Mel's reminder of the choices we all have in life, I'm making a thankful list for today to make up for, well - some really cranky attitude I choose to swim in earlier this evening. By the way family - sorry for that. On to the thanks, for what I thought was a crummy, but really not day: A sit down breakfast out with my hubby complete with over-easy eggs, sour dough toast, strawberry jam, a PITCHER of coffee and great conversation. Getting a flyer project done for my youth group. Complete with bios on each student and pictures. Beautiful color printers at the office. People who call the office after reading my article in the monthly newsletter to tell me they were TICKLED by what they read! TICKLED! Love that word. Little children that are content to sit by me and color with sharpies, chat about what movies they will see this weekend, and sing very loudly in my ears for over an hour. I think this means that they might just like me a little...

Some days it's funny how emotion just can roll over me like, well. A steam roller. If I only relied on my emotions - (as I often do) loving my gut instinct and all - I'd really miss out on some serious bread. Bread as in consolation, I mean. Not the green kind. The desolation of the last week was a dear friend and co-worker be hospitalized, but thankfully he is home and on his way to recovery. I had a check up of my own last week and had my own share of tests. Have you ever had the possibility of a health issue totally freak you out? Now that I'm on the other side of the results, although they are good results; I find myself weepy. This seems weird to me - shouldn't I be doing jumping jacks? Maybe now that I know its safe, I can let the tears roll. Do you know what I mean by this? But really, the roller coaster of health issues is not a fun ride. There is too much uncertainity and lack of control in the medical arena - so back on the exercise and food journaling wagon ...