Lessons learned, or trying to learn.

We took some of our youth to Cleveland 2 weeks ago.

It was the most physically uncomfortable time of my adult life, but it was one of the best times I have walk through.  We stayed in a synagogue-turned-church that had no air conditioning, and we slept on the 4th floor.

I had to keep reminding myself, people used to live in this weather and wear long sleeve shirts and long dresses with layers underneath.  So I had to keep telling myself: Buck up Buttercup.

I learn a few lessons that week.  I really went just to chaperone and prayed furiously for the teens and the people we were going to minister to, but hadn't thought to pray for myself.

Still GOD shows up in spite of ourselves.

Lesson #1: Never stop believing GOD still does great things.  Not that I don't know that intellectually, but watching it with my own four eyes, not being the American cynic, remembering GOD ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH is still at work, if only we opened our eyes, or even gave HIM a chance to work...  reminds me of my immaturity in HIM. :::sigh:::

Lesson #2: Give a teen a purpose and s/he will fulfill it.  Again intellectually I know this, why do we dumb down and expect so little from them??!!??!

Lesson #3:  Think BIG!  Seriously, no one thinks big anymore.  They just think money.  Or self purpose. Or personal desires.  Think big means get out of your self and go against the flow.

I came home and reflected, and am still reflecting on some of these.

A few days ago, I watched a documentary.  I love documentaries.  Lately, I have been watching nutrition & lifestyle documentaries, and quite frankly, I am tired of them.  Well, not tired, but need a break.  So the other night, I was looking through Netflix documentaries and decided to watch 180South.  I don't know why I picked it, but I don't regret it.

I think about 'why' a lot.  Mostly coming from my faith, or lack thereof.  How to challenge myself to seek HIM deeper.

Believe it or not, this movie helped me in this area.  The only reference they made to any sort of religion was one buddist-based sentence.  But still, as I watched, GOD kept showing up, kept talking to me through this film.

GOD is good.  All the time.

I am about  to embarking on a scary unknown.  At least to me.

But HE is good.

And I will cling to HIM, through the fear, through the tears, through the unknown.  I did not pick this, but it is mine.

And I will continue to reflect and try to learn more lessons.  I love to learn.  Even when I don't want to. Actually, those are the lessons that are the best.

Ask HIM to give you some lessons.

HE is faithful.

I leave you with these quotes from the movie: 

(excuse the 'french', but it speaks to me)

The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask.~ Jeff Johnson

Taking a trip for six months to get in the rhythm of it. It feels like you can go on forever doing that. Climbing Everest is the ultimate and the opposite of that. Because you get these high powered plastic surgeons and CEO's, they pay $80,000 and have sherpas put the ladders in place and 8000 feet of fixed ropes and you get to the camp and you don't even have to lay out your sleeping bag. It's already laid out with a chocolate mint on the top. The whole purpose of planning something like Everest is to effect some sort of spiritual and physical gain and if you compromise the process, you're an asshole when you start out and you're an asshole when you get back. ~ Yvon Chouinard

Denial.

Tonight, Samuel and I watched an Areosmith video.  You know....Don't Want To Miss A Thing.

I told him that he probably did it because his daughter was in the movie.

To which he responded...and I quote:  " WHAT?"

Me:  " You know, his daughter."

Samuel: " WHAT?"

Me " Liv Tyler, his daughter."

Samuel: ' WHAT??!!??!!"

Me: " Well, look at them, you can see the resembelence!"

Samuel:  " WHAT??!!??!"


Me: just staring at him.

Samuel:  "NO WAY!!!!"


It took google and seeing some pictures to convince him that Steve TYLER could be Liv TYLER's father.

He is still appalled.  In in semi-denial.

Guys.

Whatever.


But still it also made me in the mood to watch the movie again.  Not a chance, WhO HaS tHe TiMe??!!?, but it is a nice thought.

Tonight, he also found his long lost retainer.  And now he is moaning and groaning as his teeth TRY to get back into place.

Because quite frankly, it makes me mad to have spent so much money and him mess it up by constantly losing his retainers.

He thought, " Oh I'll find it, pop it in my mouth and it will be fine, mom."

Go upstairs and look at his face.  Not as fine as he thought.

He was in denial.

Again.

My turn.

I will be okay when I chaperone our church's teens missions trip next week, and be so busy I probably will not miss the girls.

Duh.

Denial.

I am actually looking forward to going and pray we have a holy and fun time, but #1, I WILL miss the girls, terribly and #2 it will be the first time I do this without The Love of My Life.  We have always done this together, but he is so busy with work, he can't go this time around, and denial #3:it is okay.  It is really not okay, but it is.  If you get what I mean.  Not sure I like it, but it is not about me.

Denial.  It is more than the river in Egypt.  Sometimes it is a way of life.