books

The other day I went to Barnes and Nobles to look at books, get lost in them for hours, and leave without buying anything.  Something I do quite often. 

As I walked in the door I was greeted by a Barnes and Noble's employee trying to sell me the "Nook".  The Nook is similar to the Ipad and Amazon's "Kindle", they are all basically mini computer screens that allow you to read books on them, instead of actually having a book.  I sat there and listened to the employee's selling speech for 10 minutes, I always seemed to get sucked into those things, about how great this little device is.  I'll admit it was pretty cool but not a book, not for me.

It made me so thankful for books. 

I love...
how the pages get can a little crinkled after reading them ten times.
the smell, both new and old.
that you can underline the good parts, so you can come back and reread those parts (even though you usually don't).
when you  close the book and slowly watch your bookmark move farther and farther back.
that each is different, little/small, old/new, thick/thin.
how they look on the shelf, all lined up, ready to be read.
sharing them.

Someday I'd like to have a library of books, all different kinds of books.  Books that I've read, books that I want to read, books that are not on a computer screen.   

first time

I can get into a routine so easily, each day like the day before.  Maybe there is a little something different here or there, but basically the same.  I was reading something the other day, what it was I honestly can't remember, but it asked me a simple question : "When was the last time you did something for the first time?"  I honestly couldn't remember.
How many amazing things that God has created do I miss out on everyday because I simply don't take the time to experience them.  I'm not always talking about big things, such as traveling half way across the world to see one of the eight wonders of the world, I'm talking about things that areavailable to me but I don't experience because I don't try.  I fall into routine.
I made a list.  A list of things that I have never experienced, always wanted to try, but just ever did.  I am going to do one every week.  I am going to enjoy God in a new way every week. 
Last week I went to a Chinese Church.  It was completely in Chinese.  I had no idea what they were saying.  I sat, experienced what it was like to be an outsider in a new culture, and talked to God.  The whole service was an hour and a half.  I had never experienced anything like that.  People would laugh, at what? I had no idea.  People would stand and I would be the last one.  People would sing when I could only hum along with the melody. 
I experienced God in a new way.  I experienced a new reason to praise Him. 

My list continues to grow. For example, just today I added learning how to play a song on the guitar.  I will continue to experience God in new ways.  I will continue to rejoice and praise Him.  I will continue to share.  
  

tired

As I sit in the coffee shop listening to what I can only describe as a mixture between a boy band and techno ballads, my dear friend sleeps in the chair next to me.  She is exhausted.  We spent the morning walking in a park, celebrating Earth Day picking up trash, and the afternoon thrift store shopping in uptown.
I'm so thankful for being tired.  It is not an empty tired, like after you sit on the couch all day and then get tired from doing nothing and feel guilty for doing nothing.  I'm thankful for that fulfilling tired.  The kind you get after you have accomplished something.  It makes it worth it to feel exhausted.   Even though you feel you can't go on, you have a slight urge to continue beyond your own strength, you did something, you enjoyed God's creation, you enjoyed God.  

back to the future

I am thankful for God using my "past-self" to love me.
I have a ton of old journals.  I write in a journal almost everyday. Sometimes more.
I'm not sure why I keep them.  Maybe it's because they could get published someday after I do something amazing and everyone wants to meet me.  Maybe its because they add more "books" to my book self.  Maybe its because I like how the pages look after they are covered in writing. Maybe, I hope someday that someone will find them, start reading them and want to talk to me about things that no one even knows. 
There is no flow to my journals.  Sometimes I am writing about a sermon I listed to, sometimes about a memory I want to remember or a quote I liked, sometimes venting, sometimes prays to God.  Completely random from one paragraph to the next.
I picked up one from my shelf yesterday, which I rarely do, and started reading.  The issues I was working through at that point and the issues I am working through now were the exact same.  Reading about how I worked through those issues in the past and what God was teaching me then really helped me now.  Basically God used myself from the past to reach me now.  He showed me that he loved me then and He's still loves me now, not a different love but a love that never increases or decreases, a constant love, always there.
I am sure why I keep my journals.  It's because God wants to love me through them, through time, continually.       

later light

I went on a wonderful walk today with a wonderful friend.  She is from Japan and her fascination with the littlest things and how she takes so much delight in new things inspires me.

Today, as we were walking downtown at about eight at night, she exclaimed how strange it was that it was still light out at eight o'clock.  I told her that sometimes in the summer it stays light until nine at night and she was amazed.  She explained to me that in her small town, in Japan, sunlight anywhere near this late is rare, at anytime of the year.  Her home is surrounded by mountains, and as beautiful as they are, they block out the sun if it gets too low.  She went on to tell me how great it was that the sun was out this late and how happy it made her feel.   

I know that I complain a lot about the flatness of the Midwest prairie land I live in; however, blessed by my friend, I was able to realize how truely lovely flat land is.
Thank you, for the flat land allowing the sunlight to spread its light later and farther.  Thank you for the flat land allowing me to see for miles, something not everyone is able to do.

Sure, maybe I don't have a scenic mountain view, but I think sometimes it's focusing on what you have.
I have sunlight, I have an everlasting view, I have friends to remind me of it.

knit rainbow

There is a chair in the corner of my room. I love to sit in it. It was seven dollars, which somehow makes it better, not very comfortable, next to my window, and doesn't match. Sitting in it I can see into my closet.
This is going to sound odd, but I enjoy the view. The part of the closet I can see is the part where my scarves are hanging. They are hanging on hooks that my roommate, who previously lived in this room, put up. Thanks. They are at different levels and somehow that makes it better, more "artistry" I guess. I only wear 1 or 2 of the scarves, but I love how the colors look together. There are a couple scarves I have never worn and don't even like how they look on me, but on the hook combined with the other scarves, I love them. The colors together are so great and remind me of a rainbow. Rainbows remind me of God's promises: to love me, to always be there for me, to protect me. Maybe this is why I love the scarves so much, or maybe why my favorite song is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".
Someday I'll get rid of those scarves, because facing the facts I just don't wear them. It's not as if they never served a purpose through, because I didn't wear them; in fact maybe they served a more profound purpose. A purpose that challenges me to look beyond the simple use of things, to look and see a greater purpose in everything, everything does comes from Him.
Or maybe I just think they look cool and I'm being blessed by cool sights all around me, in the most unique places to remind me He are everywhere.
Whatever it is I enjoy the scarves more on the hook than anywhere else; and because of that I don't ever want to wear them, because I like it better that way, since I like them better that way.

pull-tab

I don't know if anyone else has noticed the change that has happened with cans lately. Many of them have pull tabs on them for can-opener free opening now. This might not be such a big deal to other people, but for me, someone who often cuts myself at low-risk activities, such as opening a can, this upgrade is great! I able to reduce my need of band-aids by quite a bit with these easier to open tops. They also do not require me to bring a can-opener with me if I want to bring some soup in for lunch.
Thank you Lord for these simple innovations that allow you to demonstrate your love for me in simple, small ways.