Intentional.

There are people in my mind and heart that make me step back, watch, learn, listen, wonder... It's as if I see them sometime through a looking glass, or spectrums of a prism, trying to glean and understand, gather, how they "do it well." In their perceptions, I'm sure, they feel the tugs of life not the grandeur held in my eyes... but nonetheless stand as people I honor, admire, wonder. Like a child squinting into a door ajar, wondering whats inside... Wondering how it's done, what it's like, and who they are...

Laura

Laura, Jenny, and Missy. Let me just name all three of my "short blonde friends" as I so affectionately name them... And let you into the wonder of how intentionally they live, and how I'll never understand it. (They'll HATE that I'm posting this!) But these women have shown me Jesus. I don't know how they love, or how they know how to do so, so intentionally... but they babysit children, clean for widows, foster friendships... They took me in when I was broken that year post NC, stood at the funeral home, saw me off at 6am, sent cards and packages, and rearranged their schedules to see me while I'm home... They love the people they love, well. Immerse in their lives. On Laura's wall is a chalkboard of words, quotes, scripture, sermon lines... I always walk in, pause, read, ponder... On my wall now, will be a chalkboard sign of the same, to pause and read and wonder... Just as I do, when I watch them live life, well.

Adam & Erin

I talked to Erin a few weeks ago, a random phone call to an old church friend... and found out her and her husband and their young family, took in a seventeen year old... to give him a foot-up in the world. This kind of living, making space, making room in your heart, your home, your life, for someone unknown and unrelated to you, marks intention. Marks gospel. I left that phone call, staring. Wondering. How. Why. Where they created space in their heart, and how they sacrifice so intentionally... And was so challenged, inspired, intrigued, wondering...

Lynda

I love talking to this friend of mine, and hearing her heart for where Christ is and wanting to be there. How she sews cloth and yarn and love into intention. Into heart for those doing it with her, and who she creates each act of love for. How she works forward in life at church and work, pushing for ideas and active gospel and gifts. How she is reaching into new avenues and thoughts and prisons and hopes... Listening and wondering with her...

Sandy & J.D.

They make it look so easy. They cook Wednesday night feasts, drive people to appointments, serve endlessly at the church, and deeply care. Something about their heart is unyeilding to personal gain when it encounters another's personal pain. It's a mystery to me, how they love so many, so well, so deeply. I love to watch and wonder...

Crossroads Church

I look around the plastic chairs, and see people. "Transforming followers" of Christ Jesus, whose stories are true testimonies of being stretched and living hard and fully... Of creating and living intentional "street corner" gospel... From moving to the Westside, to Prayer House, to Kevin & Marcy Smith, to Erin & Adam, and Lynda... to South Africa and India connections, to Abba's Answer Adoption, to a teacher who prays with her student's parents to guys like Ryan Waalkes... the list goes on. I miss the weekly testimonials of what God is doing in his kingdom, in his people... Listening, watching, wondering....