There and Back Again

Well, I just recently got back from my trip home to Iowa. Which was pleasant, refreshing, and completely enjoyable -- spending time with my family and Alyse, and certain special friends as well. Now, in New York, I miss the open spaces, blue sky, fields, driving, and I especially miss the stars. They were so beautiful one night -- thousands of celestial pinpricks strewn across the sky.

While in Iowa I had a lot of good conversations with my parents -- I really felt a new-found respect and admiration for them, one that no doubt is spawned from our maturing relationship. I also made a concerted effort to show love to my family (something I wasn't very good at before), and I felt like I learned and benefited from their company in all new ways. I hadn't been home for nearly eight months, so there was a lot of time for maturing in the interim.

After coming back to New York, I got thrown into the new school year. I am a Chamberlain for the House of Lewis this year, which means that I fulfill R.A.-like responsibilities, as well as attempt to build community, enforce rules, and serve others in student housing. After I got in at 3 AM Saturday morning, I had to move my stuff between apartments that day -- so I spent four hours (with some God-given helpers) moving tubs and boxes and lamps three blocks up Sixth Ave. Later that day, I had Chamberlain training, and I finally crashed on my bed around 1 AM.

Sunday (yesterday), however, was awesome. I puttered around the apartment in the morning, waiting for my roommate Kyle to get into the city. After he showed up, we took off to Brooklyn Tab(ernacle), and heard an awesome sermon on how Jesus transforms the "natural" to the "supernatural" in all areas of our life. Kyle then shared this great insight with me about mountaintop experiences.

One of the promises of Christ is that "the best is yet to come," not just in heaven, but on earth and in our lives as well. His perfection of our selves is a process. Basically, then, the "mountaintop experience" is a temporary taste of what is to come -- jumping ahead in the process, if you will. It gives you something to strive toward, even if you don't experience it daily at first. Kyle also related the parable of the man who saw the priceless pearl in a field, then sold everything he had to possess that pearl. Seeing the pearl is the equivalent to the mountaintop experience.

I was blown away by this perspective. It showed it to me in a whole new light -- I have been telling as many people as I can about it. Just the idea that those experiences are something that Christ has in store for us ... something that we are discovering through Christ ... it gives me chills.

Then our Chamberlain meeting later that day really brought us closer together as a team, which was encouraging. We also listened to a Tim Keller sermon about the discipline of friendship -- how we are called to be friend-like with everyone in the Christian community. There are different levels of friendship, obviously, but we must be willing to be both deep (intimate) and regular (consistent) with our friendships, even when we don't feel like it.

So Sunday was challenging and very encouraging -- God gave me some direction for how he wants me to show love this year. Please pray as I continue to listen for His voice and guidance. Also pray for my next few days -- I'll be at the Summit, which is the annual leadership orientation conference. It will be challenging as we work out what our House will look like this year, and as we learn how to become effective (yet humble) servant-leaders. I feel like there will be a lot to learn (in a good way), so pray that I stay focused.

Thank you for your support ... and with any luck, I'll be posting more this year. If I ask for your prayer, the least I can do is keep you informed. May God give you His peace and quiet today, in the midst of the pre-school business.