not so manic mondays

For just over a year if not much longer I have had practically nothing to do on my Monday's. Last year during school, both semesters, I had evening classes so I wasn't busy till 6pm & I believe before that I didn't have anything on Mondays. I worked occasionally, but my hours with admissions weren't always consistant because you never know when somebody needs a tour of campus.

This morning I was woken up at 4:30am by my silly teammate who often speaks in her sleep quite clearly & loudly & also occasionally does other funny things, such as wake up & think it's about 12 hours later than it actually is. This morning was one of those sleep walking times that I had not experienced before. She came to my room to wake me up because she needed to get her van to the shop down town & she thought she had missed her appointment be a couple hours. I had to tell her what time it was about 3 times before she realized that it was still dark out & that she was sleep walking. I chuckled at her & went back to sleep. This was only a continuation of a very silly day, just several hours after we had gone to bed.

When it was actually time to get up I reluctantly did so because if I had not lead her to the auto shop so she had a ride home I could have slept for another hour or more. I got up though & as I was driving I realized how I've felt a bit captive lately. I know it seems silly because I've been able to go visit friends randomly in the area & the next 3 weekends I'm traveling to a different place each time. I love variety in my day, but I also like waking up, making myself presentable, & going out with a purpose. Right now our mornings are very laid back, but I think I'm going to start getting up certain mornings & going out to just be up & ready for the day. All this makes me wonder how frustrated God gets with us some times when we just simply stray away from our faith.

There is always going to be silly things distracting our days & faith. Some times even at weird hours of the morning! These things may distract me & make me question different aspects of my faith, but God is the only true & constant thing that has ever been in my life. It is because of God that I have been blessed with each breath, with each friend, with each adventure and even though I squirm most when he's holding me still in one place I think that's when I'm reminded me most to just stop & be & acknowledge my breathing. "Be still & know that I am God" is one of my favorite verses from the Bible, it's not about building us up as wonderful people who are loved beyond comprehension or all the sins we commit each day. It is about simply acknowledging God who will never give you more than you can handle.

a trail of Jesus' ministry

Today I went with Anthony to his home church. He had mentioned a few people that I was glad to meet, but the one person that really took me & didn't let go, seriously, was Pastor Reggie. Pastor Reggie is a pastor at a camp in WI so he doesn't get to preach at the church very often, but everybody loves it when he does.

Anthony walks up to Pastor Reggie & they great each other with a hug and telling each other how good it is to see one another & then Anthony promptly introduces me. Yes, I was the mysterious friend this morning that some thought I was his girlfriend, others didn't have a clue, & we joked that I was his wife. We thought the last one would really throw people for a surprise loop since he hadn't been to church there since last Easter! He introduced me as his teammate, Julia, and Pastor Reggie & I shook hands & then kept shakking hands & still Pastor Reggie didn't let go of my hand & a few minutes later he still didn't let go, but we all kept on talking. At one point in the convo he mentioned to me that he was praying for me & that is why he was still holding on & was going to continue to do so until I told him to stop.

This blew me away. The man had just met me & knew nothing about me, but he was praying for me. He was Jesus with skin on amongst many other people that I met today. Pastor Reggie took my hand as God does in our lives on a constant basis and wouldn't let go. Like I said, it took me a minute to realize what he actually meant since he was carrying on a conversation with Anthony & I at the same time. I didn't want to tell him to stop, prayer is needed & much appreciated always & knowing that a complete stranger was doing it on the spot was so obvious that God was there with us & surrounding & protecting each & every one of us.

After Pastor Reggie let go of my hand & Anthony went on to talk with a few other friends that had approached us, Pastor Reggie turns to me & says, " You have ministry written ALL over you child! I saw it the moment I turned around & saw you walk in. It was like you were leaving little foot prints of Jesus every where you stepped!"

wow! seriously, for somebody to just point out that they see Jesus in your being, wow! I thanked him for the encouragement & prayers & told him he didn't know how much it was needed or it meant. How often in our lives do we stop & pray for somebody we just met on the spot and hold on to them to let them know we're there for them & so is God? Some yall might, but I'm a Lutheran, so you know that's over stepping some sort of boundary right? Ha! Yes, I am breaking out of my Lutheran shell, I have been for a while, but it's been a very slow process & I'm constantly excited to learn what God has in store for all that surrounds me. God is present & real in all of our lives, even if we don't aknowledge it & that takes my breath away.

I hope that yall have people in your life like Pastor Reggie & realize that you are Jesus with skin on too, so use it!