And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss

Years and years from now, I want to remember that I graduated college with a full heart and an open mind, more in love with Jesus than ever, and ready to move on with humility and grace. The summer after graduation was sublime, with oh so many beach days, a best friend's wedding, youth group summer camps, late night movies and early morning runs.

“The dedicated life is worth living. You must give with your whole heart.” - Annie Dillard

And now I am four weeks in to my first real post-college job and still loving it. It's hard on my heart though, and some days tears holes that don't seem mendable. No matter how desperately I want to, I cannot be everything to every kid. It's frustrating the way that life seems too rough on them, too harsh for their little lives. But I love their moments of transparency, so wide-eyed and honest when I least expect it. Never before have I been so thankful that my God is rich in love, because my love often feels like it's not enough.

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." - Zephaniah 3:17

In the midst of it all and at the end of every day, I cling to the fact that my God is true to His promises. His love endures, His grace is enough, His mercies are new every morning, and He knows the plans he has for me.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,

If his grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,

When I think about, the way
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us

As said by a brilliant poet in DC, "What makes us human is what we can have for keeps, and what we can have for keeps is love. "

My element is a light roast of hot, black coffee that goes down smooth, usually with dessert on the side, is Amos Lee and some brilliant poetry - these days along the lines of Mary Oliver, is warmth - in general, is a window that looks out on no particular thing, is, perhaps more than all these, an intimacy with Jesus that makes me speechless and breathless and basically just less.



And I have all these things just now. I do love to be in my element.

Not Forgetting

We used to talk about middle-aged apathy, the lack of passion that would roll over and consume us like a wave somewhere in our thirties or forties.


I desperately do not want to forget where I'm at right now. Change can come so slowly you don't notice it, but I want to be able to trace my steps and remember why I made the choices I did.


I don't like being inside all day. The best part of my days here is the skipping home in the afternoon, being kissed by air that didn't come out of a vent.

I need interaction. Cubicles do not suit me. While we're talking about suits, suits do not suit me.

A Fire in Your Belly

Rosa Parks had a fire in her bellly. According to Ralph Nadar, that is. He blankly called us out on our apathy and lack of passionionate anger. I will admit, I was pleasantly surprised by pieces of what he said. There was an unmistakble sadness, though, that distracted me just a little bit. Where politic should have been, instead I saw weariness. He wore age like chain mail, it hung all around him. What he did say is that "Freedom is access to power." I believe that.