sunrise in London

As I look out my window this morning, I see one of the miracles of life that I so often overlook: sunrise. It's coming up through the trees, poking in between the branches, providing light that is both simple but yet still incredibly beautiful. Even in a crowded and bustling city like London, which boasts an utterly amazing skyline, nothing can compete with this simple act of beauty. It gives my eyes the reality that I read in the Scriptures in 1 John 1:5 : "God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all". It's a good thing to see His creativity and character in action this morning.

It's hard to convey with words just how much I'm enjoying my time over here. I could tell you about all the amazing places and things I've done, but I don't really think that provides much of a picture of how amazing it is. See for me, it's not just about being in a cool city. Certainly this city has so much rich history and vibrant culture, but that's just one of the added bonuses. It's living here with people who have the same purpose as me, and who are fellow children of the living God. It's experiencing new things with different landscapes with people who love our unchanging and ever-faithful God.

With all that is going on around me, and with all the busyness of seeing a discovering a new city, it's so easy for me to leave the garden unattended, so to speak. My faith and my time with the Lord are so valuable to me, but it takes more effort to carve out that space for it. So much of me, I realize, is selfish and self-abosrbed. Like I read this morning from 1 John, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (verses 8&9) That is the beauty of redemption through Christ, though, in that while I recognize how wrong I am, Christ cleanses me through the only true way of righteousness.

There is so much to learn, and so much to unlearn.

On to another day of exploring this new city, finding the hidden cool things, wondering with all the other people at the amazing big things, and finding those places which create a sense of belonging and which will allow me to call this place home if only for a few months.

Open skies and bigger waves

Tonight I am in a house in the relative calm of Dallas. The air conditioner hums tunes of cool air circulating in each room. It's the only sound I hear. My situation is far different tonight than the those residents all along the Yucatan peninsula. While the night sky outside rests peacefully suspended in the air, a meaner sky greets my neighbors to the south.

I was flipping through the channels, and a news broadcast came on announcing the imminent threat Hurricane Dean posed to the Yucatan peninsula, and alerted viewers that the hurricane had now risen to level 5 hurricane, the highest level they have to rate hurricanes. Gusts of nearly 200 miles per hour characterize level 5 hurricanes. This is no light event. Nothing to yawn about as my mind fades to thoughts of sleep.

It just amazes me how vast and varied our experiences are here on earth. I will soon go to sleep, and will probably awake to the sight of a normal sky laced with a normal, hot sun. Trees outside will still be rooted to the ground. Cars will be right side up, ready to drive. The lights will turn on and the shower will work. Tomorrow morning will be a far different story for those on the Yucatan.

And so goes life. We sometimes think that we can sympathize with others, but really, we can't. We can offer what limited condolences and small amounts of grief we can muster, but in the end, we are miles away from understanding each other. It's too easy to go to sleep tonight whispering prayers of safety and protection for the people of the peninsula, but I will wake up without the threat of a completely altered life.

For this reality to exist, though, magnifies the power of a far greater force, community. You see, each and every human being is placed within a circular realm of community, as crazy, unique, and intricate as each may be. Our webs of community each look as different as snowflakes under a microscope, but they are what bond us together. The experiences each community faces together reinforce and strengthen that common thread in the fabric of the community. It brings to life the vibrancy and texture of human relations.

As horrible and awful as things like hurricanes are, they are the yeast that gets in the dough to make it rise. Community is only as strong as it is in its weakest and most vulnerable moment. Maybe thats why the human spirit rallies when tragedies occur. For a few moments we put down our differences and decide to clothe ourselves with compassion, carefully tending the wounds that need healing. It's those memories that guide our communities forward, because we realize that in the end, while the world may not care, our community cares, and that is enough.

I can't understand what the people of the Yucatan are going through tonight, or how they will respond in the coming weeks. But I praise the Lord for providing us with communities that give that much needed support and comfort. I praise the Lord that many small groups of people will huddle together tomorrow, holding on to the most precious things in life, cherishing love, and realizing that life can move forward, as bleak as it may look. And I know that in some small way, the broader community surrounding the smaller webs can reach out and provide support in ways words cannot express. Simply caring, and acting on this compassion allows us to share in the piecing back of life for a broken community.

The response will be so deep, with so many layers, that it is hard to understand how healing occurs. But this I do know. The core of that healing is found in the community, where common experience paves the way for love, compassion, and help to take place. And surrounding that central core comes the healing found through external means, from other communities. And that, I realize, is what ultimately bonds us together as one giant community.

As different as we all are, as varied as our communities are, and as numerous as they may be, we all live on the same planet and breathe the same air. We all share the same need for love, community, and acceptance. And tonight I go to sleep marveling at the creativity of a God who orchestrated the design of community, knowing that we humans, as strong as we like to think we are, ultimately need each other more than we will ever know.

ho Kuriov mou kai ho Theos

mark.

A little consistency

Well after a little more than two months in the sweltering heat of phoenix, i'm back at the home where I grew up in, back in Texas. I made the long, 16 hour drive in two days, and am grateful to not have to drive anywhere of significance for the next 4 months or so. That's right, London is coming up really soon. Spending all semester over in London is something I have been looking forward to for a long time, and it's quickly approaching. So the next week and half will be filled with resting, reading, some good old fashioned exercise, and packing/planning. Good times....here's a little thing I wrote about a week ago while I was in phoenix. I wanted to share it, so here it is....

Do we get it? Do we actually get that we are children of the Living God? I so often find myself glazed by the sway of monotony, that I do not realize the astounding fact that I am bought with the precious blood of Christ. The blood. Real, flowing, deep red blood, that gushed from His hands, His head, His side, His feet, staining real wood cut by real people. I buy the lie, every day, that says that I am merely living for myself. I lose the perspective of eternity and the bright glow of truth that command nothing less than my full attention.

I love being out on the water. Especially out on the mighty ocean. Sailing through the ancient waters that have carried men and women on journeys since the dawning of time has a sort of expansive effect on your thinking. Some would call it freeing, I like to call it awakening. Like all those things in life that stir up distant rumblings in your soul, like a distant thundercloud bellowing deeply into the ever darkening sky, certain experiences wake us up to the novelty of life. We begin to sense that life in its most renewed form follows us like a shadow that is never noticed, but always there.

The few times I've been out into the great unknown I always had an epiphany-like thought that flew through my mind. A thought with wings that would perch upon a branch in my mind, if but for a few seconds, allowing me to take deeper breaths of living truth. I would get the image in my mind of me, standing on deck of a small sailboat, riding the rhythmic waves as a golden sun stealed away silently into the far horizon. I would put myself there, wondering why on earth I was imagining such a thing.

I think it's because this. In our world, we refuse to be small. We object to the slightest hint that we are not strong, empowered people. It is a degradation to be called weak or frail. These aren't things prized in our world. But deep inside us, there is a distant voice that sometimes catches our attention, and we realize with great certainty how small we indeed are. Like being caught in a heavy thunderstorm, with deep purple clouds swirling, wind howling, and rain throwing itself sideways. Or when you stand in a valley surrounded by tall, jagged peaks. I would imagine that people living through the World Wars would have felt this way constantly, especially those enduring heavy bombing of their cities, like Britain. The feeling that you have very little control over your life makes you feel small and frail.

It's something that we just do not realize very often in our lives, sometimes, sadly, until we stand at the brink of the end of human breath and see the vast canyon looming ahead, swallowing us up into its never ending abyss. This would be eternity, and so often we fail to live with it in mind. We get glimpses every once in a while, but we quickly busy ourselves again with the pestilence of life, not wanting to face the reality that haunts us to the core. That death is real, and will happen to every one of us.

But death calls a different song for those who find their identity solidified in Christ. It is not a moaning, gasping sound, but instead an enchanting melody of an eternal life with the Giver of Life and the Lover of Good. With that in mind, our existence here is precious, for we are not condemned in our living, but are instead freed to experience the richness of the Kingdom of God, right here on earth, through the Holy Spirit residing in each believer. Where, then, oh death, is your sting? The great resounding voice of Paul, echoed in the Scriptures rings true today:

But when this perishable will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your Victory? O Death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15: 54-56)

lampposts and the sky

Do you ever feel small?

Tonight I had leftover pizza for dinner. Leftover pizza. Yum. Doesn't the sound of those words just make you want to eat? Okay if you didn't catch that, i was being sarcastic...Needless to say, the leftover pizza left me feeling a little "ehhh", so i figured a good walk would be in order. I threw some laundry in the washing machine and headed out the door. I was greeted by a gust of hot, stale wind, not the kind of breeze you envision when you picture a nice walk. The sun had just slipped past the mountains in the distance, and the sky held cascading layers of blue, moving from light to dark as the eye followed its path up to the awakening stars. It really was something to behold.

I tried to take in the entirety of the night sky in between lampposts. Add lampposts to the list of reasons why not to live in a suburb. I mean they are great if you are interested in safety and security, but they just block out the sky. Anyway...as it grew darker and all traces of sunlight ceased to exist, one thought slipped into my head. I began to think about how small I am in the grand scheme of things. If it's not already evident by the sheer numbers of other people in the world, or by the size of a mountain as you stand at its base, the vast expanse of the night sky sealed the deal for me. I am small, like grass, as the psalmist would say.

I began to think about all the ways that we try to magnify our existence into something bigger than it seems to us now. We are a people who will do anything to be recognized, and we crave attention, respect, and honor. I am the worst at this. I sometimes laugh at the way I put on heavy armor, trying to appear like a warrior, when all i really am is a little shepherd like David.

This idea of desiring to be something grand comes from a deeper desire to be known. We run ourselves ragged and spin around until we are dizzy just trying to be known. Why are so many people in this day and age so lonely, yet have so many friends and numbers in their cell phones? Something just doesn't add up.

We fall further away from love and acceptance by all our efforts. I don't slow down and breathe in the fact that I am known and loved by the Savior of the world enough. Too often my vision is blurred by the narcissism that plagues every one of us. Getting past that, though, I realize that through sheer grace I am known and loved and accepted.

The stars faded in and out as I walked past lamppost after lamppost, and as I finished the walk I felt small, yet at the same time size seemed to escape from my thinking, even if but for a few moments. I realized that in the end, that size, like so many things, points directly at God, revealing yet again that He reigns supreme over our world. And I am thankful for this tonight.

Japan

Back in the crisping heat of Phoenix, Japan seems so far away. The two geographies couldn't be any different. The hot, arid, desert like conditions of phoenix compared to the muggy, wet, and lush landscape of Japan. Heading from phoenix, i caught a plane to LA, then took the 13 hour flight to Taipei, Taiwan. The airport in Taipei was just massive, and the things I remember most (as much as you can remember after a bleary-eyed 13 hour flight) were the efficiency of the airport and the duty-free shops. I mean come on, whats up with duty free? haha. After waiting a bit, I flew back over the same waters I had just recently crossed into the land of Japan, to the city of Osaka. I was immediately just bombarded with a whole array of new sensations. There were so many people, so much technology, and so many signs that I could not understand.

After getting acclimated to Japan and my new surroundings for a few moments, I met up with the group I was traveling with and headed for the city of Kyoto via train. An interesting train ride ensued. The outer rings of Osaka were just littered with crammed communities and rice paddies. Every ounce of space in Japan is utilized. More on that later. As the city began to disappear, I started to see groves of lush green trees. It was amazing to see these trees right next to concrete structures. The landscape continued to meander as we made our way into Kyoto, with mountains now appearing in the distance. Kyoto station, where all the trains come through, was just utterly impressive. You get off the train and walk into a huge, cavernous gallery that at its highest point is 11 stories high. Huge escalators line both right and left as you exit into the bustling city center.

Our accomodations for the few days I was there were traditional Japanese Inns, called Ryokans. These consist of small, traditional Japanese rooms with roll-up mat beds. Sleeping on the ground on these roll up mattresses was a lot of fun. And thats in all seriousness. haha. The Ryokans are run by families, and getting that authentic side of Japan was really neat.

We spent a lot of time in local cafe's, where shopkeepers serve usually either breakfast or lunch and coffee throughout the day. These were small, 8-12 capacity rooms that were usually the ground floor of the owner's house. I loved hanging out in these cafe's. Most of the local cafe's were located away from the central shopping and business district of Kyoto, where huge global retailers like Tiffany and Armani had stores. This area was where everybody seemed to conglomerate on the weeekend. I enjoeyd getting to walk around the different parts of the city and experience both the authentic local cafe's and the more modern aspects of the city.

Our group took a train one day to the mountains on the east of the city. It was about a 30-45 minute train ride into the mountains, and the views were just spectacular once you got inside the mountain. Modern Kyoto seemed a distant memory as we glided into the lush forested mountains. We were able to get out and hike up a winding trail to an old Buddhist temple that sat on the upper edge of the mountain and looked out at several other nearby mountains. It was evidently a strategic religious and military locaiton back in the day. But you see, back in the day in Japan means a whole other thing than back in the day in America. They've just had so much more civilization history than America has, even though we had Native Americans here for such a long time.

I left Kyoto with a general impression of mystery. The ancient temples and shrines are everywhere in Kyoto, and they tell a story of deep-seeded Buddhism that intertwines culture and belief into one seemlessly woven tapestry. Old and new stand side by side in Kyoto, evidenced by the cafe's and temples right next to modern telecom companies. It just is a land of mystery to me, and after only a few days there, I can only leave with a huge appreciation for the intricate culture and interesting customs of this land. It was definetely an incredible experience.

Hopping back on the plane to the states, I realized just amazing it is to be able to continent hop with modern forms of travel. It just boggles my mind.

As the first part of my internship with Food for the Hungry, this trip springboards me into the rest of the summer. More to come later. Until then, Peace.

mark.

Fresh Days

It's summertime. Which means no school, long days, and new experiences. It also means that I have no idea what God has in store for the remaining months of summer. This always has the ability to both frighten me to death and encourage the deepest part of my soul. I'm frightened to death because one part of me wants to know exactly whats going to happen to me and how its going to happen. The other part of me screams in opposition, knowing that the passion and uniqueness of life is found in giving up my future to the Lord. I know with all that is within me that the promises that God inscribed on my heart through His powerful Word will guide me every day. And you know what? That's something I can take deep rest in.

You know, the funny thing is that the future is really just one moment away. The line between the present and future is blurred only by how we react to each new event. I can choose to saddle myself with the past and let that be the lens through which I experience the present and the future, or I can lay hold of the true promises of God and abandon myself to His glorious calling. See, life to me gets most complicated when I look inward instead of living outward. What i mean by that is this. We have a tendency to think and believe that life is all about us, when in reality it has everything to do with God. If we start with ourselves, we will never have the right foundation. It's only by grounding myself in Christ that I can be free of being dominated by the lures of the world.

All that to say, one of the most incredible things I've been experiencing lately is a deeper understanding of what it means to be in relationship with God. It's tough. I'm not good at it. I don't always desire Him as much as I wish I did. But what keeps me going is the limitless love He has shown me. How incredible!

I'm getting ready to go out and experience some new things this summer. I'm so excited, yet I have no idea what He's going to do with me. And that's exactly where I need to be.

A Million New Beginnings

There is something that we are missing. I’m not talking about missing fireworks in the sky, I’m talking more about missing the shooting star at the edge of the horizon. It’s that something that eludes us each and every day, passing underneath our conscious thought like a quiet submarine. What I’m talking about is appreciation for the moment.
Today is more unique than a snowflake. There has never been a day like it in the past, and there will never be a day like it in the future. What an incredible thing to think about. Today holds opportunities that will never exist again. There is a new sunrise, and million new beginnings happening all across the globe, and there will be a new sunset. It’s the essence of what has happened for centuries, but wrapped each day in new packaging with a slightly different twist.
There is an appropriateness in realizing the tiny intricacies in life, for it is in these layers we find deeper significance to life. It’s not just the big events that add weight to the scale of our days. It’s in the short conversations, the abilities to see and to move, the simple pleasure of life itself.
I have a tendency to quickly shove these things aside and focus my attention on the “more important” things in life. I think you might have the same problem I have. I’m not sure that life was meant to be lived like this. Somewhere deep down I realize how much I hate the monotony of a dull life. The dull life isn’t easy to define, though. What may “seem” dull can actually be exciting, since we are each created with different passions and energies. Where the dull life manifests itself, though, is in the soul. The dull life can be just as real in the life of rich millionaire as in the life of a poor person.
I am reminded over and over again just how tied down we humans are to circumstances. There is great joy, though, in living beyond our circumstances, for that is where the real place of rest and fulfillment is found.
There are new things happening this day. There are new experiences occurring this day. I’m hoping that we can all learn to open our eyes a little wider and take in the beautiful mess that is happening all around us.