on Friends

Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose by and by. Life is like that; one stitch at a time taken patiently, and the pattern will come out all right like embroidery. Oliver Wendell Holmes

I’m at a place, sufficiently far along, that I can see enough of the tapestry that is my life to reflect upon it. I marvel at the many colored threads that are woven together to create something of such breathtaking beauty. My years are certainly full of despair as well as joy, and with those experiences come the contrast of colors that make a more dramatic piece of work.

In my tapestry, the colors that shine most brightly, that most take my notice, are those colors of friends, family, the people I hold dear to my heart. Sometimes a thread is lost for awhile, but most often it picks up again somewhere further on, a friend thought lost, reemerges, and I am overjoyed at the reunion.

Part of the goal of this trip is to pick up those threads that are growing thin, to bolster them with time, attention, affection, to create new memories together. Now, having left California, there are others that are beginning to fade. It’s a hard part of life, but I am old enough to accept it with peace, mostly. There are many more that will abide in my life until its end: red, lime green, violet, indigo, jade, sienna, purple, fuschia, mahogany.

I am most fascinated reflecting on how friends have entered my life. I pursued some, was pursued by others, and in a few cases met someone somewhere in the middle as we each recognized something that at once seemed essential and necessary to the other. Some I met in social groups, some during earlier travels, some through fellowship in church groups and Bible studies, others as we shared the recent arduous journey of obtaining our degrees. But, whatever the means, they are now intricately part of me, and can neither be extricated nor altered.

Even now, as I meet so many new people, make new friends and acquaintances, I wonder which ones will endure, will bear the months and miles that will soon separate us. I marvel at the new colors, the remarkable shades of dark and light that enter my life, enriching my days, exponentially increasing the experience that is my life, and I hope in turn that the flecks of orange I bring to their lives increase their joy.

RoadTrip Journal 10.18.05

First, let me explain that these photos of my first snow were taken only 48 hours after the fall photos I previously posted. It’s a characteristic of Colorado, these drastic weather changes. What outsiders don’t know, and I’m really not meant to tell, is that such storms, (this one left 18” of snow), are very short lived. Generally speaking, the grass pokes through in a matter of days, and in this case, we’ve been enjoying temperatures into the 80s again.

I have to admit that I was giddy and absolutely ridiculous with excitement to wake to this magnificent blanket of white stuff. I ran around with my dog who was quite unsure about how to handle this new substance. Of course the camera came out immediately and I ended up going into work quite a bit later than usual, and with very wet feet as I didn’t pack as thoroughly as I might have. And, can someone please tell me how you’re meant to navigate through snow covered streets with limited visibility and stoplights that are nearly completely obstructed? I mean, all I could think was, "You're kidding me, right?!" Did you know changing lanes on snow-covered highways is like jumping the wake while waterskiing? At least I have the California plates to warn everyone away. I admit, I was a bit of a disaster, and I relished every moment of it!

Now, I have to clarify, that this isn't truly my first snow. I had another one in the year I lived in Indiana as a new bride. This experience, the excitement and freshness of it, made me think of God's promise to restore and renew. I feel restored and renewed, able to replace tarnished memories with new ones. I am truly blessed.

I’ll be seeing a lot more of the stuff as the next leg of my journey is beckoning. I’m heading to Strasburg, Pennsylvania by way of friends and family in Kansas, Missouri and Ohio. I’ll celebrate Thanksgiving in Cincinnati with relatives before I head on to work for a friend’s dad, helping him assimilate a recently acquired company into his existing one. I’m very excited about the opportunity to explore the east coast, which I’m completely ignorant of, and to assist in simplifying the processes and systems in his company. It’s the sort of challenge I welcome and will bring such rewards to know I’m helping people find more hours in their days.

I’m excited to have a season of dormancy as I’ll be living in the heart of Amish country with very little to distract or disturb me. I have a stack of books, this blog, and a wood stove waiting for me. That’s all I’ve got to report for now, dear friends.

RoadTrip Journal 10.09.05

It's not so much that we're afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it's that place in between that we fear... It's like being in between trapezes. It's Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There's nothing to hold on to. Marilyn Ferguson

But oh, how glorious that flight can be when Christ-led! As I prayed this morning with two women I just met, hands clasped together, earnestly petitioning our Father, I felt such peace. I'm overjoyed at the many rich experiences I'm being blessed with during these months of uncertainty. On these days I often find myself thinking, "I'm the luckiest girl in the world!"

It's been ages since I updated you all on my progress. I'm still in Denver. My cousin and his family graciously invited me to stay on with them, which I did until this past week. I'm now staying at a neighbor's home, housesitting for the next several weeks. I've been working long hours on a temp assignment that will continue until I leave. It's really feast or famine, so I'm taking advantage of this opportunity to get back in the black while I can!

It's autumn and I'm thrilled with the brisk mornings and talk of snow by the month's end. I drove to the mountains this weekend to see the aspens in their glory. I'm determined to savour every new experience that comes along, to live richly, breath deeply. I'm loving the church I'm attending, and am participating in three Bible studies. (Amazing what one can do when not in school!) It's tempting to want to stay on indefinitely, perhaps permanently, but I long to continue on in my journey, especially to spend time with those friends and family I've yet to see. I'm excited to see what experiences are yet to be had before I settle in somewhere. It's certainly very possible that I might make this my home after I complete my trip.

on Colorado Community Church

One of the deepest blessings for me on this journey has been discovering that the body of Christ extends beyond the parameters of physical and mental boundaries. I have been blessed to stumble upon a most wonderful church. Located in Denver, it has two campuses, with immediate plans to launch a third, and long term plans for five locations by 2020. Self-titled a 21st Century Church with 1st Century Power, it is both an intercultural and interdenominational church, and in many ways it feels like home. It’s been said that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week, and coming from a multi-ethnic family, that’s long been heartbreaking to me. I strongly believe we are all one in Christ, and I’m thrilled to be part of a church with cultural, ethnic, socio-economic and denominational diversity during this season. I encourage you to check out the website by clicking on the green link above, and in particular, listen to the sermons on covenant living.

Here are some aspects that are particularly appealing to me, things that I think are fruit of a healthy, dynamic church:

• Project 1.27 is a ministry to fulfill the commitment the pastor made to find homes for the 800 foster and adoptable children in Colorado. It almost functions like a private foster/ adoption agency. Check it out! www.project127.com You know that's close to my heart!

• 5 + 5 is a tithing concept where 5% goes to CCC and 5% to another church or ministry of choice. This openhanded attitude of "growing fruit on others' trees" is new to me and very refreshing. In fact, there's even an annual offering taken Thanksgiving eve that funds anonymous donations to ministries in need.

• My first Sunday, the pastor welcomed visitors by saying something about the church and different types of churches, and that if we didn't feel comfortable here, so and so had a great ministry, and such and such across town was really anointed, and that other place should really be checked out, even by members of CCC because God's really moving there. This demonstrates the attitude that all the churches in Denver are literally the body of Christ. There's no arrogance that CCC has a special anointing, just that they're one of the parts of the whole.

• Another philosophy is that of members covenanting to serve. This is exemplified by a saying they have, "If you don't want to do anything to serve God here, please find another church that's okay with that because we need your parking space." And yes, for my friends reading this, I did say "members". If you really want to keel over, I have to say that I'll be attending a membership class that's coming up.

• And, this is a BIG church with five services at the campus I attend, not like our little River that's still in the early stages of maturation. I never thought I'd attend a big church, but the lead pastor works so hard at being inclusive. I attend the Upper Room, a novel idea for an overflow room that serves coffee and pastries in a round table setting. It's such a creative solution and fosters relationship and community in a way that a sanctuary often doesn't. Even though I watch the sermon on one of many monitors (think sports bar) the pastors are so intentional about acknowledging us that against all odds it feels very intimate.

• Another example of this idea of being vessels and tools in God's hand is a generosity of resources. There are pew Bibles which people are encouraged to take home and keep, and be sure to get a nice one that's not all dog-eared yet.

All that being said, I have to say that I miss, long, and ache for the extended worship of my home church, The River. It reminds me that all our longings will only ultimately be fulfilled in heaven.