Random Musings

I'm currently reading the book "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge. It's a book that talks specifically about how men were created to reflect the glory of God and teach us about His character. It's been an interesting journey into the wild heart of man. Eldredge states that there are three deep seated desires in the heart of a man. He must have a battle to fight, and adventure to live and a beauty to rescue. It's been interesting to dig into those three things and see what God has called man to be. I am also reading this book's counterpart for women, called "Captivating", by John and his wife Stasi Eldredge. In "Captivating" the couple states that the deep seated desires of a woman's heart are to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, and to have a beauty to unveil. Reading these books together has been a beautiful journey into how we are created in unique, yet complimentary ways, to display the face of...

Every Sunday, almost compulsively, I visit www.postsecret.com . It's been a tradition for me for quite some time. And yet, every week, I am struck by how much we have in common as human beings. Postsecret began as a community art project where people were asked to mail in their secrets on a postcard and present them in a creative and unique way. The result has been an amazing collection of secrets that reveal the most interesting and universal of human emotions. Sometimes, the secret isn't immediately evident. This week, there was such a secret. You can view that secret by following this link: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVesPZW0-6gFd9ggtJVNBgvwmrFH0L4SzSt2b7HWL9oVs511d5MDZeS3Bw0ZlK7ZhyphenhyphenCWrU3jfj96mvhGGVlDCEIdFNaFvngKmN5E2fA2idquAtW83-mDSZM260Z8LGKnvmi6jQPw/s1600/deweysaysburnout.jpg I was reminded, once again, of a sense of greater community when Frank Warren posted that this one secret had triggered enough hits on Google that it was actu...

I had the honor, today, of attending the funeral of a man who walked 93 years on this earth. I can't even begin to imagine the things he saw in his lifetime. I wonder what he must have thought as he saw the world go through so many changes. His obituary stated that he had nine hobbies: his wife, his seven children, and his church. What a legacy to leave. He was a military man, a business man, and a community leader, but what he loved was his wife, his seven children, and his church. I am blessed to know one of his children and two of his grandchildren. I can see his legacy in them. What touched me the most, this week, as I heard stories of his passing, was of a comment his wife of 70 years made to him in his last days. I'm told that she told him it was ok to let go, not to worry because, "I'm right behind you". How beautiful. I'm sure that is not a comforting thought for their children who are still grieving the loss of their father, but somehow, it r...

I've been thinking a great deal lately about the power of words. As a person who loves words, it's not an unusual thought for me. I'm often looking for just the right one to express what I'm feeling. I'm processing something that was said to me yesterday, a message actually, that I believe the Lord wants me to hear. But, in that journey of processing, I've been stuck on this thought all day. It's interesting to me how some words take on a life of their own and seem to have power just in the utterance. "Cancer", for instance, is one of those words. That's the one that keeps reverberating in my mind as I chew on these thoughts. In many cases, people have difficulty even saying it, relegating it to "The 'C' word" so as to not have to name the terrible thing. The lady who shared with me last night actually battled cancer. She was given a 24% chance of living as the disease ravaged her body. To someone who has faced those...

Last night, I was thinking about relationships and how they sometimes fall apart before you even realize there is a problem. Have you ever had a friend suddenly get angry with you and then you realize it's been building for a long time and you didn't see it coming? Or, have you ever said something that you didn't know was received in the wrong way until months or years later? I've been thinking alot about that lately and last night, a passage of scripture came to mind that I had never before thought about in this context. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. - James 1:13-15 Here's where I think this applies in our relationships. I think, sometimes, we get an idea planted in our head ab...

As I was driving this afternoon, I was surprised by a new perspective on my relationship with God. Some time ago, I was involved in a business venture that was completely frustrating. A competitor approached us and asked for help in running his business. You see, my family has been in the travel business for more than 20 years, and I, myself, have been involved with the agency for the last 15. We have seen the industry go through a number of big changes and have managed to survive, and prosper, through them all. This competitor, although a businessman, did not have any experience in the travel industry. So, as he was waiting out his contracts, he asked us if we would help. We arranged a situation that was mutually beneficial and had a plan to help him recoup as much money as possible (or at least not lose any more) and then absorb his business once his contractual obligations were fulfilled. It was a good plan. It should have worked for both parties. What we failed to factor i...

I typically do not have a difficult time organizing my thoughts and putting them to paper. However, the topic of this blog is one that has stirred me so greatly that I’ve had trouble organizing my thoughts about it. I’m still sorting through the reasons it has affected me as deeply as it has, and writing is usually part of that journey for me. The tragic death of Anna Nicole Smith has affected me in a way I could not have anticipated. Although aware of Ms. Smith, I never considered myself a fan. However, the media spectacle and constant conjecture surrounding her life has stirred my heart and challenged me to take a closer look at myself and the culture in which I live. Since her sudden passing, I’ve heard many people (in the media, in conversation, in the blogosphere) say things like “What a wasted life” in regards to Anna Nicole Smith. The constant media scrutiny of the situation has also given many the opportunity to make other judgments about her life, i.e. “She married her husband...