21 July 2011
I know I leave the world I’ve come to be comfortably familiar with in ten days. I know it’s the simple familiarities that I’ll miss the most… the man in the fedora hat @ Solo who knows me, asks personal questions because I’ve been coming here for 3 years, and calls everyone “kid”. It’s knowing what aisle the cereal is in and where to find the perfect cup of coffee.
I know change is upon me, which means reflection illuminates a different and curious aspect of each “mundane” thing. I’m doing what I’ve always done- savoring, enjoying, appreciating, being.
Change, did you pull yourself up off the shore after high tide and embed yourself in the wind and sun’s rays? Did you know reflection would become your sidekick? Did you make an agreement with my heart this time? To remain steady as long as you could have the fullness of your unknown flavor fulfilled?
Change, thank you for teaching me to dance and exposing all the areas I get to trust God with on a deeper level. I’m grateful for you, Change, for you come fast and love the dreamer. You fancy risk-takers and have an appetite for adventure… I like that about you :] Remember a couple years ago when I thought I was inviting you over for a friendly cup of tea… little did I know I’d be so infatuated by your whispers of destiny & potential that we’d whip up a complete home make-over, followed by a giant move, and unending WORLD shifts. Ha, Change, we really hit it off! Look at us now, I’m a bit more familiar with you, but you still know how to scare me… and I think I like it. You’re mysterious and often unpredictable. You appeal to my right brain, but my left brain is left reeling- screaming each time we entertain one another. But you’re clever, your domain has few restrictions, for you work in hair, homes, careers, politics, hearts, and stoplights. Is there an off limits area to you other than the constant and unexpected God… or are you the most experienced dimension of the Almighty?
I used to think you were cruel, Change. That you were mean and wanted to destroy and distrust things that I held so dear and worked so hard for. But now I see more clearly, that if you’re embraced you’re much softer on the soul, even kinda romantic (in an axe-murder type of way).
When I was younger, I felt threatened by you. I rarely saw you coming and never appreciated your finer attributes of being an opportunity maker and value displayer. But then you took my head coaches, grandma, & childhood dreams, and replaced them with blooming flowers, pathways to greatness, and simple pleasures.
Once you called my name so I might turn and prepare for your arrival, but I disregarded your voice and my ears plugged themselves from your call. Yet you followed after me, altering the moon and playing with the way water can be presented. Once, though, you marched up from behind, placed your hand around my face, and yanked me around! Forcing me to face you. Requiring and engulfing all my attention, spinning me into confusion with your aggressive, non-negotiable ways.
But nowadays, or maybe just today, I’m curious about you. Where you came from and where you’re going. Why you mark certain ages with your distinct brand of surprise, but during other you befriend planning. You’re so very illusive.
This week I will change my toenail polish, water to ice, hello friend to goodbye sister, thoughts to actions, and desires into realities. I will embrace the unknown and grow a 3rd arm named Flexibility. I will risk, long, run, love, miss, and savor.
This week I will suit up in a white skirt and pigtails to dance with my Lord, in an apron and laughter to bake with my King. This week I will breathe deeply and let the Arizona sun saturate my body. Soon Change will be grasped with both hands all the way to Redding, California. At which point I’ll probably need to wrap my legs around it and hold on for dear life… or maybe… just maybe… He’ll build a guard rail to let me throw my hands in the air and be exhilaratingly, refreshingly on the greatest adventure of my life!
You are my favorite writer. Not fully because I'm inclined to loving you, who you are and how you operate, although that does exist in my reason to why. You are my favorite because you provoke things in me that others haven't seemed to do yet. The beautiful way you use words is like how seasons change, in the fall there are glorious colors from trees that brighten our world and as spring comes the sight of life is apparent and exciting for what is to come with all the wonderful smells that appear again in flowers trees and the outdoors. The way you look at things in life as though they are your best friend along with you in the journey is inspiring and delightful because it shows that there is a great amount of enjoyment to experience as life unfolds. Thank you for writing. Thank you for impacting. Thank you for you. Beautiful.
im glad you write