Back Home in Indiana

I love Indiana. It's raining and miserable, but boy do I love it. Two years ago I was singing a different tune. I couldn't wait to get out of Indiana and head for the warm, sunny South. Savannah is lovely, but it is not home. I'm really enjoying myself.

So I'd just like to say to anyone who is reading this, Merry Christmas!

One Day to Wheels Up

One Day.

One day to pack, run to the bank, buy candy (yes, at least 20 lb of saltwater taffy), eat all leftover food in the fridge, drop Gilbert of with friends, clean the bathroom, do laundry, shove as many sweaters into my rather small suitcase, put all liquids or pastes in a 1 quart plastic baggy for the airport security checkpoints, and email like crazy, crazy, crazy.

I cannot begin to describe how wonderful it will feel to finally sit down on the plane and know I am going home! Sweet home Indiana, where the skys are so blue. Sweet home Indiana, I'll be comin' home to you!

Sunday Morning

So here I am, with my OJ and my muffins. I found a delicious recipie for muffins on the internet. So I am about to scarf down two lovely "Hearty Country Muffins" with cranberries, walnuts, carrot, apples, and whole wheat.

Mmmmmmmm. I was wondering though, if you just eat muffins for breakfast lunch and dinner, what happens to you?

One More Red Kite Pic

Top Row: Me, Becky, Hillary, Luke, David, Jen, Vince
Bottom Row: Nealy, Nick, Kate, Amanda, Clif, Laura

Red Kite Stuff

I thought I'd load some pics of previous Red Kite shows. If anyone is checking this, they might be interested to know that until recently I was part of Red Kite Studio. Alas, a lack of time and money prevented me from continuing, but I am still an honorary Red Kiter.

Wyeth Faith?

Faith: What is it?

You know,

I've been thinking a great deal about faith lately. Several other people have mentioned it over the past two weeks. One friend asked, "what if I get to the end of my life and realize I am unfulfilled?" Good question. I've been struggling lately, with how to attack the issue of faith. Perhaps by instinct, I started reading Romans again. I always go back to Romans, because I never truly understand it all. I'm sure after I read it 40 times, I'll still be far away from unraveling all the mysteries.

So, our good friend Paul says, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And (emphasis mine) we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." What? What does this mean?

For those of us Christians who have spent our entire lives in the Church, this is a beguiling statement. In some ways, our faith is an elemental thing. Something that we know is there but don't really understand. New Christians don't have this luxury, I think. They can clearly remember a time when they were without faith, and they second guess themselves more often. However, their faith is fiercer, stronger, even, than the faith of older Christians (such as myself). They are on the Christian Yo-Yo diet. The seasoned veterans fall into the trap of blind faith, which can quickly lead to spiritual death. Going through the motions, and not really knowing why you bother.

This brings us to a serious problem. Ex-Christians. They have lost faith. They say to themselves, "I don't really believe this anymore. Why should I continue to live as if I do?" How is it that I have not lost faith? I've been asking this question so much lately. How am I any different from so many other people who grew up in the Church and left after being disgusted with the way most Christians behave? Have I been brainwashed? Do I fear the unknown? Am I comfortable in my established routine?

I have no idea. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is where faith comes in. I can't describe it. All I know is that it is there, always at the back of my mind. It's there when somehow, ends meet. It's there when I see doors open (and when I see them close). It's in my family and friends. It's there when I stand on the beach and brave an approaching squall atop a jetty. This may all sound very sentimental, but these raw, unadulterated moments of faith remind me of who I am.

Many people do not stop to think about faith moments. They don't see them for what they really are. They are shrouded, and they lose most of their surreal beauty. Lately, though, I have seen non-believers recognize God and his hand upon their lives. It is a strange, elating thing to sense the rebirth of faith. And as Paul says, there is only one thing to do in such a circumstance, "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

Strange Day

Yesterday, a Scottish guy gave me two dollars and I found a perfectly good bookshelf in the dumpster behind the Chatham Projects.

Awesome day.

A New Leaf

I think I should blog more.