Soul Restoration by Moonlight

As my whole family found it prudent to be elsewhere this Family Day, I took advantage of the day off with some dear friends. And filled a deep need in my soul for nature, not quite the Rockies, but a bit of beautiful medicine, in Tumbler Ridge.

It being several hours drive away, and us starting mid-afternoon, (due a certain game of Settlers lasting till the middle of the night before), we started our outdoor pursuits at a rather late hour. And you will see, as we traversed this bit of Woods, the sun slipped away into night, the pinks hid behind the hills and the moon rose higher.


I had the good fortune of traveling and trekking with the lovely young-Jones family, which meant that we had great conversation, good travel tunes, and lots of hilarious fake-sneezing, on Lilah's part.



Before we ended our journey back at it's beginning, we paused to overlook the expanse, dark but for the moon, and quiet but for distant highways. We felt mighty from our vantage point and then we closed our mouths, as the truly Mighty roared suddenly through the trees.

By the night light of the moon,
You wrapped Your arms around me,
Told me I was safe here,
And told me that You loved me.

In silent words You spoke it,
To a feeble body such as mine,
Your gentle, tangled forces blow,
By the moon, hung in Your sky.

Must Have...Lost!

I just finished Lost Season 3, I've been two episodes short for the last four or five months. And tonight I poured a large mug of tea, grabbed a bag of Clodhoppers and watched the last disc.
Now, I'm freaking out!!!
I'm trying to download 'itunes', so that I can download the first two shows of this Season. And it's moving slower than a tortoise. I'll be back to work Tuesday, and still non-the-wiser at this rate! And the lovely ABC.com only streams to American viewers, thanks a bunch!
But I've got to know! I'm freaking out. What has happened to Jack? And poor, poor Charlie. And where is my dearest Sayid?
Someone help me out!

Meeting the White Hairs

Yesterday was a mildly stressful day as I was forced to realized my wonderfully plotted idea of bussing the kids to the Old Folks home was slightly flawed. Yes, at -30 something, busses don't really like to start. Faced with this fact in the early morning, I spent my day planning an alternative Service Project, just incase when we tried to fire the bus, (an hour before Youth began), if it wouldn't run, we would atleast not be scrambling!
And in a demonstration of my self-sufficiency, I went about all day madly planning the "in-case event", and didn't spend a moment in prayer about it! Seriously, what was I thinking? When it finally hit me, late afternoon, I sorted things out and asked God to intervene as He would will. And when they tried the bus a half hour later, she purred. Much to my delight!
So we went on to Wildrose Manor, piled off the bus and headed in to greet a snowy haired crowd. A smallish crowd I should say. And our kids picked up boxes and spread out, finding interested parties and setting up games of Scrabble, Monopoly and SkipBo. And the games went on for more than an hour, stories were told, and us young-uns generally got beat pretty good! At the end of the night we pulled out song sheets and enjoyed some hymns together, made our goodbyes and ducked out.
They loved us! And from all the reviews and anecdotes I've gathered - we loved them! I saw those kids come alive, even the crew who can usually be rowdy, or fearful of boredom, were attentive and kind. There wasn't a single issue of discipline, no warnings given. No better visit to an Old Folks home has ever happened in the history of Youth Groups! (Maybe that's a bit self-important!) It was awesome to watch! We were invited to come back anytime, and as far our teens are concerned - That'd be great!

Bright Sadness

After a week battling a mysterious stomach-something, I seem to have recovered. Much to my Great delight! This peculiar affliction sabotaged my good night's rests, while leaving me with normal-but sleep deprived days. I'll breathe easy after one more peaceful sleep.
Thankfully I managed to make it to work all week, and had a hectic but rewarding Friday. Friday's are the big show day, beginning each week at an unfortunately timed 7am prayer meeting, they keep trucking straight through till Youth Group wraps up around 10-11pm. T-i-r-e-d!
We had a great night - exploring the noise distractions that fill our lives, and the real goal of Lent - removing our distractions to make room for more intentional times with Yahweh, and doing justice to our neighbours. We listened for Him to speak in the Names of Christ, and in the way He cares for the birds and the lilies of the field. And those who wanted made commitments to Remove, Add, and Do Justice. All starting this Wednesday.
Myself, I will be giving up my at-home Facebook time, that hour of bored surfing and time wasting, is gone for 40 days. And the whole lot of us will be heading out to make friends with the elderly at a local Old Folks home this week.
Because this is the time of Bright Sadness, the advent to Holy Week. Remembering Christ's death in full view of the redemption and life He purchased. Living in the way of Easter Sunday, not far removed from the tragic Friday, but full of hope and wonder.
And I think it's pretty cool that a bunch of kids are willing to give that spin!