A Gift and a Comic

My friend Faye stopped by my office unexpectedly today to see if I was free for lunch.

I was.

In fact, I was desperately in need of an hour with someone like Faye. Someone who has experiences that are equally ridiculous to my own. Someone who understands that you just have to laugh at some of these situations, because if you don’t laugh you will quite possibly go insane.

I was not having a very good day. I woke up this morning with things heavy on my mind and heart, very aware of some ongoing battles. I was seriously contemplating the possibility of withdrawing completely from all relationships for the next few weeks for the sake of my own sanity and survival. I’ve been struggling with physical health and pain, and today was a bad day for that as well.

And then Faye showed up. I was delighted to see her.

So we sat for an hour and ate pitas and caught up on the happenings in each other’s lives since the last time we were together. We told stories of the “I can’t believe I found myself in that situation” events that we both seem to collect. We were sarcastic. And we laughed.

She was a gift from God to me today, on a day when I badly needed the physical presence of a friend. When I needed some encouragement to face the rest of the work day and some other upcoming engagements that have the potential to be quite draining.

AND

I came across this comic strip this morning, and it made me laugh. Faith the size of a mustard seed indeed!

Regarding truth...

I've been thinking a lot about truth lately. About the cost of speaking it at times. It's seemed to have had a high cost for me lately. I've been considering silence, or dishonesty to limit the costs for a while.

I read this post on Drew's blog this morning, and liked it. I needed the reminder that as a child of God I am called to truth.

Money Can't Buy...

Whoever said that money can't buy happiness lied.

I've spent money, and bought happiness, albeit temporary. I've done it as recently as Sunday.

What money can't buy are joy and peace, the things that ultimately bring a more permanent, lasting happiness.

Emptiness and Fullness - Henri Nouwen

Emptiness and Fullness

Emptiness and fullness at first seem complete opposites. But in the spiritual life they are not. In the spiritual life we find the fulfillment of our deepest desires by becoming empty for God.

We must empty the cups of our lives completely to be able to receive the fullness of life from God. Jesus lived this on the cross. The moment of complete emptiness and complete fullness become the same. When he had given all away to his Abba, his dear Father, he cried out, "It is fulfilled" (John 19:30). He who was lifted up on the cross was also lifted into the resurrection. He who had emptied and humbled himself was raised up and "given the name above all other names" (see Philippians 2:7-9). Let us keep listening to Jesus' question: "Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" (Matthew 20:22).