See Something More

"Is there any pleasure on earth so great as a circle of Christian friends by a fire?"  This quote by C.S. Lewis is possibly my favorite one. He said a lot of deep theological things, but these words ring true to my heart more than anything else he ever said. It's simple, but it's so true.  I know this because I went camping this last weekend at one of my favorite places in the whole world - the Buffalo River Valley. I arrived at camp early in the afternoon and enjoyed riding my bike, setting up camp, laying around in my hammock, building a little fire, and getting out the hotdogs and s'mores. But something was still missing, and camp wasn't complete until two cars pulled up and eight friends got out.  Soon, the sound of the crackling fire was covered up by talking and laughing. The lonely campsite turned warm with friendship. We sat around the campfire until late in the night, just sharing life together.  There truly is no pleasure on earth like a circle of br

Pulling into the parking lot of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe, I chose my parking spot carefully. I normally don't care where I park, but since my bicycle was on the rack on the back of my car, I selected a spot where I would be able to see it. After ordering my smoothie, I sat down by the window and picked a seat where I could sip my peaches n' silk while still keeping an eye on my bike...since it is probably the most valuable thing that I own.  That's when it hit me.  I am being just like my dad! I had no reason to be worried about anyone stealing my bike. Out of habit, I did what I have always seen my dad do - I parked close by and sat by the window so I could watch my bike. He always does that, and now here I was doing it, too!  Do you ever have those moments when you realize that you are acting just like one of your parents? When I pack a suitcase and find myself rolling up all my clothes instead of folding them and then packing them neatly inside, I think, oh my goodness

"When I was your age, I too wanted to go on the mission field right away," she began her story by telling me this. "A lot of people delay going to the mission field. They wait to get married, they wait to have kids, and before you know it they settle down and never end up going at all." I don't want to be one of those people, and neither did she.  "When I got a place of my own, I avoided buying a vacuum cleaner," she continued her story. She wanted her home in the United States to be a temporary place. She didn't want any attachments nor anything to tie her down. "If I got a vacuum, then that meant I would have to commit to cleaning the floors every week. But I didn't want to clean my floors week after week. I wanted to move overseas and be a missionary."  Well, the floors got pretty dirty after a while, and this friend of mine was forced to go out and buy a vacuum cleaner one day. She kept it in a storage unit with some of her other

When I was a little girl and would go shopping with my mom, I remember how she would sit outside the dressing room and beg me to come out and model each outfit as I tried it on. When I found just the right one, something that fit well and looked nice, she would say, "That befits you!"  "Befit" is probably not a word that you use everyday. I sure don't. In fact, the only time I hear it used is when people are talking about the way clothes fit. I find it unique and interesting that the Psalm-writer uses the same terminology to talk about praising God.  "How good it is to sing praise to our God. How pleasant and fitting to praise him!" (Psalm 147:1) In other words, praise is befitting on the Lord. It fits well and looks good on him!  Everytime we worship the Lord, we clothe him in garments of praise and adoration. And when we do, he looks stunning and brilliant, radiant and gorgeous. His praise is glorious, and it fits him just right.  I am learning anot

All you have to do is watch the news to see that our world is full of hurt and suffering. Most of the time, however, it doesn't even take a television. Everyone knows the pain of the world by our own stories, our own personal experiences.  I discovered an interesting passage in the book of Hosea this week, which caused me to contemplate these things. The first few verses of Hosea 6 say this:  6  “Come, let us return  to the  Lord . He has torn us to pieces  but he will heal us; he has injured us  but he will bind up our wounds. 2  After two days he will revive us;  on the third day  he will restore  us,  that we may live in his presence. 3  Let us acknowledge the  Lord ;  let us press on to know him. As surely as the sun rises,  he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains,  like the spring rains that water the earth."  Is this saying that God tears, that God injures? Is it possible that God actually causes pain in this way? It reminds me  of the age old question,

Late in the afternoon, the sun made patches on the road as it passed through the leaves on the trees. It just wasn't quite as hot today as I expected it to be. I  stopped pedaling my bicycle for a moment as I coasted downhill, just to take my mind off my beating heart and burning legs and to enjoy the breeze. Today, that breeze was just a touch cooler than normal.  That was the moment that I noticed it. The first hint of autumn.  If you pay attention, you will catch it every year. Sometimes it is that first morning that you wish you had worn a jacket. Sometimes it is that first little red leaf on the tree in the backyard. If you are not attuned, you will miss it. You will wake up one morning and autumn will be in full swing. But if you are like me, you eagerly anticipate not just when fall arrives, but also the coming of it.  "What is it that you love about fall?" My friend asked me out of curiosity as we rode our bikes together that afternoon.  "Oh, it's everyth