one week til summer!

A week from now my summer will begin because I will be finished with the last of my exams. I am finished with one class, once I finish a paper today the count will be at two; on Tuesday I have an exam and Wednesday I have the FINAL final exam of my Furman career! :)

I'm EXCITED.

I love summer.

I want to plan (I love planning) as much fun into this summer as possible.

So far, the summer has shaped up to be very fun already.

May
11-14:CHICAGO
After graduation (May 9) I will go visit one of my best friends, Miss Megan Flynn, in Chicago!
26-31: Seaside, FL
Going to Seaside area with my mom, bros,aunts, and cousins! Can't wait!

June
16-26: SPAIN with Seester ~~ I AM taking a holiday in Spain...
27: Legally Blonde: The Musicial with Emily Samuel!

July
4: Celebration of the nation with Clint, Jenni, & Caroline, & hopefully others!
18: Louisville, KY, for one of Clint's friend's weddings!
22: I'm 23!!!!!!!!!!! AH, "nobody likes you when you're 23" (Blink 182)
31: Go to Greenville, SC, for Tyner's wedding

August
1: Tyner and Zeke's wedding in Charleston, SC!

On the to-do list but the plans are not definite yet:
May 16 wine festival with Clint
Renaissance Festival with Clint
Visit Memphis with mom to find housing for next year
Visit Addison, my roommate for next year, in Knoxville
Visit Greenville a weekend that all the Spearhead kids are staying at the Overbrook

And if I find any extra bags of money lying around, I'd love to:
Meet up with Caroline in Atlanta
Visit Matt and Erin in NYC

seasons of love

Just spent some time sitting out on the porch with my legs dangling over the balcony in the calm, cool night sky, thinking, praying, being still, taking it all in. Being still, being quieted by His love - God's love - and relishing in the love He's lavished on me these past years through the friends He's given me at Furman and the friend He's given me in Clint - the loves of my life, the love of my life. I had my last Tridelt chapter meeting tonight and it was happy, not sad or bittersweet. I have not cried all that much about graduation. Maybe I will get really emotional later; that's in my nature. For now, these last few weeks, I'm just relishing being here, being among my dearest friends, with glorious natural beauty right outside my door. It feels so nice outside. It calms me. It calmed me, sitting outside how I did, thinking about this place. There have been people here who have loved me, those who have hurt me; those who have appreciated me and those who don't give me a second thought; those who have laughed with me, cried with me, talked with me, danced with me, lived with me, shared with me, been with me through each season of life, each season of love. Through it all, God has taken care of me.

That was the resonating thought while I was sitting out there tonight - He has taken care of me. He never let my foot slip beyond His sheltering fold, His watchful care, His protective hold, just like He promised. It's as if through it all He's whispered to me (like the song says..) "I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever; I'll be there for you through it all even if saving you sends me to Heaven"...because it did.

Saving me from sin & Satan & my depravity & an eternity without Him did send Him to Heaven...dying out of love for me, for us all, so we may know Him and know freedom from sin and death and eternal suffering, sent Him back to Heaven. A friend of mine's blog said how during Easter the chorus of "bleeding love" by Leona Lewis (i keep bleedin', keep keep bleedin, i keep bleedin', keep keep bleedin' love -- something like that)is related to Christ, which I had never thought about but is so true. He kept bleeding out of love so He could always be with us, and even though He loved us to death - literally - He is still with us. Even though saving me did send Him (back) to Heaven, He's been there for me through it all; every season.

Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven. Feels like it is appropriate, that it's the proper season, to close the Furman chapter, and perhaps that is why I am at peace with the end drawing near. Hmm.

Sitting on the porch also reminded me of An American Tail, and I watched the clip of the little mice singing to each other over and over again. The part "somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer that we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there," thinking foremost how I always prayed I'd find a love like the love I've received from Clint and the love I've received from my friends here at Furman.

I was telling Caroline Friday night how last spring I felt like Humpty Dumpty and God showed me His love in big ways through my friends and through Clint, and that love helped initiate the healing, helped point me to God, helped bring me back to life, back to myself, back to who He created me to be; it initiated the process of setting me back on the path of being free, where He intends for me to be. He has set my heart free and each day I press into this truth, this gift, the closer I get to the life He intended for me. :)

Though in the movie this song is sung between siblings, for me it is a love song, and I rest, I am calmed and comforted, knowing somewhere out there beneath the pale, gentle, soft moonlight, someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight, and that love is just one of the gifts of love that has been lavished on me by Love Himself.


Somewhere Out There, from the movie An American Tail

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight

Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

How do you measure a year in the life?
How about love?
Seasons of love

It's there. I know it is, because when I look at you, I'm home - Dory, Finding Nemo

a toast for Nat and Mike's rehearsal dinner

SO I want to write all about this weekend and still bask in it.

However, I must pause from day dreaming and reliving what was the best weekend of my life (and I wasn't even the one getting married!) to get a paper started.

I have a 15 page paper due Friday... so, for now I will post my toast to Natalie and Mike (I've posted wedding pictures on facebook, but want to be sure the toast is saved online. I'm going to invest in getting an external hard drive after my next paycheck, but as for now, I'm hoping my 4 year old computer will hold).


A toast to Natalie & Mike for their wedding

Dear Sister,

Before you had Mike, or Loca, or brothers, your first companion was me – your little and only sister. We may not sing “we are sisters and we love each other all day” to each other anymore, but over the past few years we’ve gone from wearing matching dresses to playing dress up to fighting over clothes to becoming friends. Real friends, the best of friends, who can appreciate each others differences without being threatened by them and share each others joys and family ties, which means we’re stuck together – God didn’t give us a choice who our sister would be and as teens we probably would’ve questioned his judgment, but God knew what he was doing. And I am so thankful to call you my sister and my friend. You’ve challenged, supported, and encouraged me my entire life, and I’ve always admired you.

I couldn’t have asked for a better sister and couldn’t have imagined a better man for my sister, and am so thankful that God brought you two together to love and marry each other.

One night last summer dad told me I was “on my own” for dinner because Mike was treating him to dinner, because Mike had something very important he wanted to talk to dad about. What Mike wanted to talk about is the reason we’re all gathered here today, so I’m thinking the talk went well. That night I was wandering about by myself and happened into mom and dad’s room and on the counter I saw a small note in dad’s handwriting, as if he was brainstorming the points he wanted to be sure to talk about at his important dinner with Mike. Short and to the point, dad had written, “purpose of marriage – glorify God” and beneath that he wrote “Forever.” I took a picture of the note and can show you; dad loves us so much and was preparing to give your future husband his blessing, but not without hearing his intentions first. Nat, we all trust your judgment completely and the first time we met Mike we knew it was just a matter of time until we’d be celebrating y’all like this, and I have absolute faith that your marriage will be one that glorifies God and will be forever. I wish that in your marriage, you and Mike can show each other unconditional, absolute acceptance and love, because by doing so you will show each other in flesh and blood what God’s love is like.

And as husband and wife, you will be the corresponding strength for Mike and he will be the corresponding strength for you. Where he is weak you’ll be strong, and where you are weak he’ll be strong. Though you are both strong, incredible individuals on your own, you’re even better together. You two fit together so well. You even look alike. Nanny, our great grandmother, said you are the perfect couple and I’d agree you are perfect for each other because you bring out the best in each other.

I have seen firsthand how wonderfully you compliment, encourage, support, and love each other, and this is just the beginning. I can’t wait to see your relationship grow over the years. And I am thrilled and humbled to know that I’ll be sharing memories and holidays and double dating with you two for the rest of our lives.
Congratulations Nat and Mike!

Easter weekend & wedding excitement & my little romance

Remember those walls I built
Well baby they tumbling down
And they didn’t even put up a fight
They didn’t even make a sound
I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now
(Beyonce, Halo)

(Picture: a candid of Clint and me that Allison snapped at formal…I love it…I’m smiling so big. I’m SO happy!!!)

Ah, another glorious weekend (Easter weekend), another glorious day (today! Tuesday!). I know it may seem like I am constantly counting down to the weekend (because usually I am haha), but this time in 2 days I’ll be boarding a plane in Charlotte to fly home for Natalie and Mike’s wedding weekend! I am on cloud nine. I am over the moon. I am…sooooo excited!!!

The joy and excitement and love this past weekend was so contagious. The wedding stuff has all come together and now the celebration is just a few short sweet days away.

Thursday I’ll arrive and will be greeted by my love at the airport, then it sounds like whoever’s in town may be going out with the bride and groom.

Friday we have the bridesmaids’ brunch at Puffy Muffin, a personal fav of mine, then get our nails done, change into our rehearsal dinner attire, go to the church for the rehearsal, then out to the farm for the rehearsal dinner! I have been putting the finishing touches on my toast. I cried a little when reading it the first time, but I should be fine. I am really emotional though. I feel so blessed that my sister is marrying such a wonderful man; he’ll make such a wonderful addition to our family. I am so thankful that my sister and me have gotten closer over the years and that I am in a healthy, happy relationship with a wonderful man of my own, and that we are going to have a weekend with our family and friends celebrating Nat & Mike!! We went out to the farm for Easter, and it is in GREAT shape and the next time I see it will be for the rehearsal dinner!!! The wedding party will spend the night at the farm after a night of dining and wining and toasting and mingling. The rehearsal dinner will be family and out of town guests. I can’t wait to see the Renfros, whom I usually only get to see at Thanksgiving…aunts, uncles, cousins, the wife and girlfriend of my cousins.

Saturday we’ll return from the farm, get out hair fixed up, then make our way to the church for photos. The service will commence at 5:30, then we’ll take more pictures, then head to the Parthenon for dinner and dancing! And we’ll have great food and drinks and will dance and dance! There are going to be so many great people there; much socializing and celebrating will be had! I am looking forward to seeing Natalie’s friends again; they were so much fun and so sweet to her at her bachelorette party, and they are coming out in full force to the wedding! I am looking forward to being with and dancing with Clint; we’ve learned some great swing dancing moves and I love dancing with him! Last wedding I went to with my cousins Jay and I had three Red Bulls each and were dancin’ fools along with the rest of our fam! IT’S GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN. And SO BEAUTIFUL – the service…the bride…and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will be beautiful too!

So that’s why I am just over the moon with happiness and excitement and my head’s been in the clouds. Not to mention, I am coming off of one AMAZING weekend!

I returned back to Brentwood and Clint did have dinner waiting on me, a yummy pasta with peppers and chicken that we paired with wine – his favorite, Innocent Bystander Moscato (name of the grape, like a Chardonnay or Riesling) and my favorite, the tres yummy 2006 Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling. Oh, and we tried the Savion Blanc “Cupcake.” It was a nice variety for sampling but we saved plenty for the next night…which was also a lot of fun!

Friday night, instead of going to the concert, Clint and I went to dinner with my parents at Mazatlan (the Brentwood equivalent of Greenville’s Monterrey’s: delicioussss cheap Mexican food). Then, some friends came over to Clint’s and we had some more wine and played rock band because it’s Clint LOVES rock band and I sang the Paramore song “That’s what you get when you let your heart win.” Pat and his girlfriend Courtney came over and it was very nice to see them along with Mr. David Nowers who taught me a great trick…whenever it is late at night and you are stuck at a red light, flick your lights at it and it DOES change green, almost instantly! He said a cop told him about it. Cool beans. To add to our wine sampling, I got Red Guitar’s Rose, but it was my least favorite of all we tried all weekend. I think I even like Franzia better (true story, aw poor Red Guitar).

Saturday Clint and I hosted an engagement party for Mark and Bethy. Bethy is SO adorable; I love her! And they are so cute and perfect together. We had pizza and got a pinot grigio wine for Saturday night. Yes, it may sound like a lot, but this weekend’s wine was spread over the course of three days and many people. Clint is learning about wines with me which is a fantasy of mine – to have the guy I’m with interested and enjoying wine. Learning about wine is fun! I am going to the winery at the Biltmore with Caroline next weekend and may go to a wine festival in Nashville this summer.

Well, Easter started off on a discombobulated note. I woke up at 9 a.m. to an empty, quite house. No one was home! So I checked what time our church was having services – 8, 9:30, 11 – so I threw on my dress, pulled my hair back, and went…just to see my mom in the parking lot…on the way out of the 8 a.m. service! My parents and brothers went to that service, and Nat & Mike had showed up to our (empty) house at 9:15 ready to go…but the parents did not relay the memo that they changed the plans, so the girls got majorly dissed! Haha. So I showed and did not go to church on Easter which was sad. We hunted Easter eggs and I found the prize egg and some other eggs with cash money and ate some chocolate (but not the chocolate cross; in years past I would eat the chocolate cross in one sitting, gross!). We then went to the farm and had a very yummy lunch and hunted eggs with the cousins and painted signs for the rehearsal dinner and hung out with my mom’s side of the family and Clint came too. It was a beautiful peaceful wonderful day – a wonderful Easter! And afterwards, I went to Clint’s family’s Easter gathering for more family time and food! They were so warm and welcoming (as always!) and I had a great time seeing them. I guess you could say I got two Easters. Two wonderful Easters!!

Clint came over Easter night and watched a movie with my family (who, one by one, went to bed because they had work or school in the morning – but I didn’t, thankfully! I am so glad Furman has always cancelled classes the Monday after Easter so I don’t have to rush back). Monday Clint came over and hung out with mom and me and helped me pack up the car and I said goodbye and had a quick drive back, not too sad leaving, knowing I would be returning so soon!

Today, after morning showers, has been warm and sunny and I sat outside reading my Bible, getting some sun, for an 1 ½ hours, went for a walk, and have had an overall relaxing, wonderful day.

Now, one of the top contenders for my favorite song from the Sex and the City soundtrack:

“Little Romance” – by Ingrid Michaelson who sounds like my roommate Jessie

You're in the mood for love
You're in the mood to dance
You're in the mood for a little romance
You're in the mood for love

I see you pressed those pants
I see you styled that hair
There doesn't seem to be much of it there
You're in the mood to dance

Can I have the last chance
To be your little romance
Can I have the last dance
I'm in the mood for love

I'm all dressed up tonight
I've waited all night long
When will they finally play your song
I'm in the mood to dance

Can I have the last chance
To be your little romance
Can I have the last dance
I'm in the mood for love

I'm in the mood for love
If it's the only chance i get
If it's the only chance then get
Ready to throw your shoes away

For I will sweep sweep sweep
You off your feet
Sweep sweep sweep
You off your feet
To be your little romance

Can I have the last chance
To be your little romance
Can I have the last dance
I'm in the mood for you
You’re in the mood for me
We're in the mood for love

cliche reference to Annie but hey it works!

The sun will come out tomorrow, so bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun...

The sun DID come out, finally! Yesterday was FREEZING (no, literally, frost warnings for all those people whose flowers & plants had started blooming, thinking that it was time for spring...) and this morning was still fa fa fa freeeezing...

Allison, cold in April + a biology test = not a happy camper.

But it feels warm again! And my test is over!

And I got to go to STELLAR last night for Leanna's birthday :)Many, many of my favorite people in one place...Leanna, all the rooms, both the fiances, Caroline, Matti. Mr. Hammett had bought some wine for us all and we got to sample and celebrate with the birthday girl; & the wine was SO good! I'm starting to splurge on wine and am 'fraid I'm going to get spoiled. Leanna's dad got us some GOOD stuff. And, last week for formal I was SO proud of myself - I found a $19 of wine on sale for $13 so I got it...and it's the BEST WINE I'VE EVER TASTED, hands down! Chateau Ste. Michelle's 2006 Indian Wells Riesling! DELICIOUS. So good that I got it again for this weekend :) Love me some quality wine!

And one of Clint's best friends got engaged and we're throwing them a party Saturday night [a big CONGRATULATIONS to Mark & Bethy!!]. They're sooooooo cute. :)



TOMORROW Clint is making me dinner (and it will be ready when I roll up after a long drive from Furman to Brentwood). Sigh. he's so good to me. Thanks, babe. :)

Friday I am going to Flight of the Conchords concert with Clint and his friends.

Easter Sunday will be a day full of festivities with my family: our traditional Easter egg hunt in the morning, celebrating Jesus at church & hearing my aunt sing "Christ the Lord has risen to-day ha ha ha ha ha hallelujah!", then another Easter egg hunt at the farm with the cousins! Much eating & family time & wearing a new Lilly Easter dress (from TJ Maxx, where else!).

Monday I don't have class so I get yet another day at home & don't have to rush back! What a deal!

YES. Awesome. Knowing I've got some good times in store have helped me chase the blues away! Not to mention, my new jams. Caroline found the Sex and the City soundtracks, volumes 1 & 2 and shared them with me, along with the new Beyonce cd, so I will have some new, fabulous jams for my drive back tomorrow!

Allison = in a good place once more.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow --- you're only a day away!!!!!!!!

:)

butterflies

So, to borrow from a show that I've really gotten into lately:

"I am someone who is looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous inconvenient consuming can't-live-without-each-other love."

"When it comes to relationships maybe we're all in glass houses and shouldn't throw stones because you can never really know, some people are settling down, some people are settling, and some people refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies."

Thank you, Sex And The City. I'm so thankful for my butterflies. :)

I'm still just floating on air after such a wonderful weekend with my sweetheart. Formal was wonderful, he was a wonderful date, & we had a wonderful time together this entire weekend.

So, not only did I have a great date, I loved my dress, and had a fabulous time with some of my best friends in the whole world! I feel so blessed, so loved, so humbled to be surrounded by such good, loving, uplifting people.

AndI'm so thankful I don't have to settle for anything less than real, ridiculous, inconvenient consuming love...9 1/2 months later and I still have butterflies.

formal is my faaaaaaaaavorite

Well today is kind of like a Friday. We don't have classes tomorrow, but my two roommates are presenting at "Furman Engaged" and I am meeting with a professor to discuss a paper then going to work in the afternoon THEN the weekend of formal festivities shall begin!

Friday night is the traditional Friday event "Informal" where the Deltas and dates gather and do something fun. Freshman year we watched a movie outside; Sophomore year we went to Falls Park and a baseball game; Junior year we went tubing down a river. This year we're going to Paris Mtn for a cookout. I think I'm going to bring a frisbee. Amanda's bf is cooking so we get to hang out bc my bf won't be arriving until later in the evening. Yay! We're planning on going to Paladin Nights, an event Furman puts on now and then in the University Center, to watch a movie and make stuff and eat free food and hopefully get a free massage.

Then Saturday is the day I get to wear my new pink dress from Charleston :)This will be the shortest dress I've ever worn to formal. Freshman year my dress was black to my ankles and the other two years they were long and pink.

Formal is my favorite function. It's usually been in May, and 2/3 years has been at a lovely country club in NC. Lovely? The location is BEAUTIFUL. I love it. And I love being with friends and being all dressed up and sharing a wonderful meal and dancing and dancing and DANCING with a good number of my favorite, dearest people! I've got a great dress and a great date and the weather is supposed to be great! I'm a lucky girl indeed! Bring on the big night!

Here's a look back at some of the past formals...

Confessions

He will quiet you with his love. Zephaniah 3:17.
He will bring you quietness with his love.
He'll calm you with his love.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
In his love he will no longer rebuke you.

Feeling restless and not wanting to do homework I stumbled upon two books I’ve been meaning to read – Confessions and Let Your Life Speak. I have not spent much time with Jesus lately and was hoping these books could facilitate MUCH needed communion with the Joy of Man’s Desiring.

So, here are some excerpts from Saint Augustine’s Confessions (because he put into words the desire and prayer of my heart & therefore helped me focus on what I have truly been needing & seeking). It is an amazing book and I am only 16 pages in!

To praise you is the desire of man, a little piece of your creation. You stir man to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.

Who then are you, my God? Most high, utterly good, utterly powerful, most omnipotent, most merciful and most just, deeply hidden yet most intimately present, perfection of both beauty and strength, stable and incomprehensible, immutable and yet changing all things, never new, never old, making everything new and leading the proud ‘to be old without their knowledge (Job 9:5); always active, always in repose, gathering to yourself but not in need, supporting and fulfilling and protecting, creating and nurturing and bringing to maturity, searching even though to you nothing is lacking: you love without burning, you are jealous in a way that is free from anxiety, you repent without the pain of regret, you are wrathful and remain tranquil. You will a change without any change in your design.

Who will enable me to find rest in you? Who will grant me that you come to my heart and intoxicate it, so that I forget my evils and embrace my one and only good, yourself?

What am I to you that you command me to love you, and that, if I fail to love you, you are angry with me and threaten me with vast miseries? In your mercies, Lord God, tell me what you are to me. ‘Say to my soul, I am your salvation’ (Ps. 34:3). Speak to me that I may hear. See the ears of my heart are before you, Lord. Open them and ‘say to my soul, I am your salvation.’ After that utterance I will run and lay hold on you.

In your eyes [my soul] has offensive features. I admit it, I know it; but who will clean it up? Or to whom shall I cry other than you? ‘cleanse me from my secret faults, Lord, and spare your servant from sins to which I am tempted by others’ (Ps. 31:5).

For the good which came to me from them was a good for them yet it was not from them but through them. Indeed all good things come from you, O God, and ‘from my God is all my salvation’ (2 Sam. 23:5).

What is more pitiable than a wretch without pity for himself who weeps over the death of Dido dying for her love of Aeneas, but not weeping over himself dying over his lack of love for you, my God, light of my heart, bread of the inner mouth of my soul, the power which begets life in my mind and in the innermost recesses of my thinking.

Let no critics shout against me while I confess to you the longing of my soul, my God, and when I accept rebuke for my evil ways and wish to love your good ways (Ps. 118:101).

Bring to me a sweetness surpassing all the seductive delights which I have pursued. Enable me to love you with all my strength that I may clasp your hand with all my heart.


Who will enable me to find rest in you? Who will grant me that you come to my heart and intoxicate it, so that I forget my evils and embrace my one and only good, yourself?

Because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.

Bring to me a sweetness surpassing all the seductive delights which I have pursued. Enable me to love you with all my strength that I may clasp your hand with all my heart.

Come to my heart and intoxicate it, so that I forget my evils and embrace my one and only good, yourself.

Come to my heart and intoxicate it. Bring to me a sweetness surpassing all the seductive delights which I have pursued.

Enable me to love you with all my strength that I may clasp your hand with all my heart.

My God, light of my heart, bread of the inner mouth of my soul.


My heart has been so restless because I have been trying to find rest in lesser things and God has had mercy on me, not allowing me to be fulfilled by anything but himself. That is why I have been anxious, and jealous, and restless. I have not been clinging to the one in whom nothing is lacking, haven’t gone to the source of abundance and thus have not been filled. I do this over and over again. I run away, I turn away, I chase after other things thinking they will offer sweeter satisfaction, deeper intoxication, better fulfillment. He keeps me from letting anything else satisfy me more than him, because if I thought they would I would sell my soul to them, give my heart away, give my life to them – I mean, I definitely try, but God shows me that it won’t fill me up so I come running back like a frightened child. God will provide the light and love and bread my heart craves but I do not let him, I resist letting him love me so deeply. Why? Why must I look to other things for joy instead of the source of all joy? My heart shrivels from its lack of love from God, shrivels and hardens. Comfort me so deeply, dear Lord, that I seek no other comfort because you are my all in all. You are my strength when I am weak, you are the treasure that I seek; you are perfection of both strength and beauty. You are everything I want, you are everything I need. You promised never to abandon me and took that promise to the grave. So why do I still live in fear; fear of abandonment, fear of failure, fear of the grave. You dying on the cross obliterated these things; where o death now is your sting because of my almighty savior, warrior, companion, teacher, protector, life giver, comforter, lover, friend. In two weeks we will celebrate Easter, we will celebrate Jesus’ victory over death, celebrate that the story did not end at the cross. Jesus, born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth. And life to the full, abundant life.


In Let Your Life Speak, the author confesses a sentiment that I unfortunately share but want to confront to be rid of it:

I am astonished at how readily I believe that something I need is in short supply…

[His solution?]

Whether the scarce resource is money or love or power or words, the true law of life is that we generate more of whatever seems scarce by trusting its supply and passing it around. Authentic abundance does not lie in secured stockpiles of food or cash or influence or affection but in belonging to a community where we can give those goods to others who need them – and receive them from others when we are in need.

Other notable quotes that I gleaned from this book today:

We must withdraw the negative projections we make on people and situations – projections that serve mainly to mask our fears about ourselves – and acknowledge and embrace our own liabilities and limits.

Vocation at its deepest level is, “this is something I can’t not do, for reasons I’m unable to express or explain to anyone else and don’t fully understand myself but that are nonetheless compelling.”

Every journey, honestly undertaken, stands chance of taking us toward the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deepest need. As Mary Stanton reminds us, the pilgrimage towards true self will take “time, many years and places.” The world needs people with the patience and the passion to make that pilgrimage not only for their own sake but also for a social and political act.

I want more than a job; I want my "deep gladness" to "meet the world’s deepest need."
I want to claim the promise that I am never alone and instead come to understand and experience and see the God who is most intimately present with me.


Come to my heart and intoxicate it, so that I forget my evils and embrace my one and only good, yourself.

Bring to me a sweetness surpassing all the seductive delights which I have pursued.

Enable me to love you with all my strength that I may clasp your hand with all my heart.

My God, light of my heart, bread of the inner mouth of my soul.