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Bowling and energy drink combo
Derby, Kansas
12/23/09

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Ramon turns 24!

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Troy Stains made this.

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The Nutcracker!

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Today had all the makings of a good day - 

the toothpaste tube still had toothpaste left 

and my hair didn't fidget around like I hate. 

It wasn't until I realized 

I had no magical power in my fingers

that could keep the static electricity out of my comb 

that ran through my beard;

that I felt Monday in my spine.

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I thought I spit my gum out five minutes ago;

I got up,

walked to the trash,

and gladly got rid of it.

Quietly staring at your picture,

my mind must have been in another place;

still chewing.

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I'm writing this solely so I do not forget this night. That I do not forget my blessings. Thank God that I have a warm house that I can step into tonight from the cold and praise God for the food I'm about to prepare.

About a month or so ago I started going down every other Thursday to hang out with the homeless - hand out hot cocoa, food, clothing, and most importantly engage in conversation. Going into this thing I thought that my presence there would not radically transform a person over night nor did I believe that miracles would just start coming about through my fingertips, but I did believe however that some change could be brought about by my serving, if even in some small way.

But God is tricky. Because I feel, that most of the healing and love that I thought I would be giving out is actually being given to me through all the people I meet and especially the people I've met tonight. I went into this thinking I would be changing people through God and his love and low and behold God is changing me through his people and through their love for him.

The majority of the people I serve are smiling, they are grateful, they are lifted up by just being alive. They teach me something about life every time I visit and I'm in love with the Lord for bringing them into my life like this.

I was reading Haggai 1:6 today and knew deep down that a good majority of my life was spent that way. Instead of counting my blessings - I cry about what I don't have or what has happened to me so much that I can't see the good God has right in front of my face. It's embarrassing to think about but it's true. And I wonder how much of that is true for everyone else? Would it take living on the streets for us to realize how good we have it someday; to realize how blessed we are??

I hope not.
Because there is a lot of good in our lives if we just open up and appreciate the gifts we have received.

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So glad I'm having adventures again.

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Thanksgiving.

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