Monday Afternoon Distraction

Lists. How  I love them. I've missed them on this little blog o' mine. So here you. Just a few quick thoughts.

1. Just checked the stats for posts. My post about the bachelor got the most visits BY FAR. Regardless of your position on the Bachelor, we all love talking about it (and, apparently, reading about it).

2. Hello sunshine! 

     A little Vitamin D changes everything (also, is time to wear chacos again, because my feet are getting            seriously claustrophobic.)

3. I tried baking apple crisp yesterday to be like my friend, Catherine. I learned a lot about failure. Sorry, Cath!

4. Birchbox...you're still my favorite treat. Thank you for the amazing smelling perfume that I would bathe in if socially acceptable. Also, this month's box was out of this world. If you're reading this and don't have a subscription (male or female), I don't understand your existence.

5. Kayaks. I want to buy one. You should get one, too, and we can explore.

6. I'm so excited for the Veronica Mars movie that my head may explode. Pre-ordering tickets. Who wants one? #judgeme #teamlogan Also, its really interesting to see the fan support behind the project. Their kickstarter story is fascinating.

7. Afternoon distraction.

    "Nooooooooo." "I don't want to talk about it" (me, too, kid. Me, too)

That's all I've got for today, folks. Hope this little list is nice break from your afternoon.

A Steady Assurance

   One of the things I'm learning about is the steady assurance that comes from following Jesus. It's a weird thing to really apply to everyday life (at least for anxious, control freak me). What does it mean to live in light of the face that I belong to Jesus and to another Kingdom. The currency, culture and core beliefs of Christ's kingdom are not the same as the world around me. And because it isn't the same, I have a hard time fully trusting the assurance that comes with citizenship.
    Two times this I've had interactions impacting my heart about assurance. The first was while reading A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson. There is a whole chapter about security and the implications about how security impacts how we live now. A lot of the chapter focuses on our feelings. Just because I feel anxious or afraid doesn't mean that God is any less sovereign or loving. Just because I feel chaos and insecurity doesn't mean that my position of security has changed. Most of the time, my feelings (or my gut, whatever you want to call it) have a much larger impact on what I deem reality than they should. Although how I feel matters, it doesn't change my position or my citizenship in the Kingdom.

My feelings are important for many things. They are essential and valuable. They keep me aware of much that is true and real. But they tell me next to nothing about God or my relation to God. My security comes from who God is, not from how I feel.

-Eugene Peterson

     The other encounter was with a dear friend waiting on some news. She's in a weird limbo place. The not knowing. That is my least favorite place in the whole world. It's awful. We talked about how scary this place is and she told me, "You know what is really scary? Dealing with this and not knowing the Lord." And she was right. As believers we can face the unknown with the confidence that not only are we not alone, but we are guided and loved by the all knowing Creator. And that place isn't so scary. Like when my brother and I were kids and my parents told us to hop in the car. We didn't know where we going or when we would be home, but we knew that our parents loved us and weren't going to lead us into a gang fight (whoa...that was a little dramatic...you get the picture) or put us in harm's way. And the best part was that they were going to be there with us. 

     So many times we face life with anxiety and fear, but for those in Jesus we can go assuredly knowing that our position is secure and He walks with us.

The Bachelor and Storytelling

     I watch the Bachelor. It's fun and entertaining and fascinating. I also get lots of flack for watching the Bachelor. It's trashy, sinful, negatively influences society, etc, etc.We're not going to debate the pros and cons of television and entertainment right now, but I do want to talk about the beautiful glimpses of humanity. About the times when someone's story, and honesty, are a simple part of fighting for Truth and, therefore, Kingdom work.

     In a world full of lies and chaos, its beautiful and refreshing to hear the truth. To hear someone's story. Stories are powerful. God tells stories. Through Scripture and through his people. Sometimes its hard to see our own lives as a beautiful piece of art (Gal 1:10) because we are living them, but when someone else tells their story, the one that God is writing, we are reminded that God is always at work. He's writing, weaving and speaking a story. But its not our story at all, its HIS story that he writes us into. And when we tell our piece of the story, others are reminded that there is a bigger story going on.

    So former bachelor, Sean Lowe, shares his story (lots of folks share their story on iamsecond.com and its wonderful). He talks about failure, reality tv, his family...all things that Lord has written in his story. And I love that he talks about doubt. At one point he talks about how he wrestled with whether he was doing what the Lord wanted or not. And I appreciate that, because a lot of people (myself included) wrestle with that.

    Head over to iamsecond to watch a few of the videos and tell your story. And listen to others' stories-the guy at the grocery store, the lady making your coffee, your parents and friends. All those stories matter because they make up this one grand story that's all about Jesus.

I'm Weird, You're Chivalrous

   So if you've had to spend even a nano second with me, you know that I can be a little socially awkward. Not like spits when I talk awkward, but just a little uncomfortable. Hey, I'm cool with it. Let's just pretend it's cute (it's not). Today I ate lunch at Barberitos (Barberitos>Chipotle>Moes>Qdoba just so we are all on the same page). Who knew that Cary got such a cool place that is from the great city of Athens, GA? I digress. I'm walking towards the door on my way in and in front of me are three men about my age-ish. The last one holds the door open for me. I say thank you and flash a southern smile, because I'm grateful and appreciate the effort and awareness that went into that gesture. Now here's where it gets dicey. As we go to get in line, I assume that he will go around me to where his two friends are standing. That to me would be expected. Be with your friends. BUT HE DOESN'T. Is this man really so kind and chivalrous that he will stand behind me in line? And so I don't know what to do. I make ample room for him to walk by me, but he holds his ground. I want to say, "hey, friend, thanks for being kind, but really go hang with your buddies" but I don't because I don't want to reject his kindness. It was weird and uncomfortable and I had no idea what to do. As we moved through the line ordering our food (me a vegetarian burrito, him the largest nachos I've ever seen in my whole life) we said a few words to each other. He talked to his friends a bit. Maybe he wasn't uncomfortable at all. Eventually, I just embraced it and moved on. It was kind and I really was so thankful that he considered me.

So, friends and readers, what was the right thing to do? Fellas-I'm especially interested in what you have to say. Was I selfish and ridiculous for not offering to let him join his friends or is it better to simply accept the offer?

Regardless, thank you kind sir at Barberitos today for how you treated me. It did not go unnoticed and it was much appreciated. I'm so sorry for not knowing how to handle these situations well.