Timber

Ever since we have moved here, about 6 months ago, the Elliott's and their neighbors have had tree-cutters here about every month, cutting down enormous trees that were dead or dying or whose roots were causing problems.

I don't think it's any coincidence that this is happening during the time of our living here. The physical world seems to always reflect the inner world.

There are dead, dying, and stubborn rooted trees in my life, dear Jesus. I would give you permission to cut them down but I can tell you have already begun.

balm to my soul

to visit home again.

The Avett Brothers - The Greatest Sum

Listen, who I used to be
Don't matter much at all to me.
The pit you dug, to plant your feet's
a far cry from my destiny.

Not even the clouds,
Not even the past,
Not even the hands of God
could hold me back from you.

Dark and lonely is the ride,
the devil always by my side.
Though no match for what lies between
the thought of you,
your trust for me.

Not even the sun,
A bullet from a gun,
No, nothing that this world could bring or
Anything someone could do
Could hold me back from you.

No can of gold placed in my hand,
the largest find,
the greatest sum.
Though some would say
It'd ease our pain,
We know that it can't be done.

Not even the sun,
Not even the clouds.
Not even the past,
No, nothing that this world can bring or anything someone can do,
Could hold me back from you.
Could hold me back from you.
Could hold me back from you.

"the only life worth living"

(have I done this one already? I can't remember. Either way, it's worth reading again.)

"Our eyes are just our eyes and not all we have for seeing, maybe not even the best we have for seeing. Facts are all the eye can see, eyes cannot see truth. It's not with the eyes of the head that we see truths like that, but with the eyes of the heart. To see Jesus with the heart is to know, in the long run, that his life is the only life worth living." -Frederick Buechner

pink and green

This is childhood!

let's run

It's Monday morning,
bright yellow.
Squeals and
one more underdog.
She learns to pump for herself.
It's a warm day in January
here in the Midwest,
and my hands look like my mom's,
dry and veiny but I like them.
My daughter's hands look chubby and new.

Let's hold them and run for the car.
I'll race you.
She kicks it into high gear,
hilarious.
Our cheeks are pink,
we eat raisins in the car.

purpose

I'm waiting for Micah to get back with our daughter. He took her around town for errands and she kept calling it a date as they walked out the door.
This is a day in her life. She may not remember it, he may not remember it, but it happened. He loves her. He delights in her, and she knows it.
I called him and I heard her laughing in the background.
Whatever happens before we're born, and whatever happens after we die, in between those two times, she received Micah as her father here on earth. That will never not be true.
He and I may go through change after change, valleys and peaks of a life together, but that man was born to be a daddy, and I get to watch him. One of the greatest gifts of my life.