don't talk to strangers...MINUS the don't

I met a man named George tonight. He was sitting across from me at Barnes and Noble reading some computer magazines and I learned a lot about life through our conversation.

George was a man who, just by looking at him, you knew wasn't "quite right." He was probably in his 40's but looked as if he was much older. He walked very rigidly, slow, deliberate, and laborious (and the PT in me noticed that he had some leg braces under his pants legs). His hands shook, he seemed nervous, and when I spoke to him, or he spoke to me, he didn't seem to be able to locate where exactly to look, so it looked as if he was kind of blankly staring at me or somewhere near me.

But George was an incredible man. I feel like a lot of people at first sight may just dismiss him. May think that he wouldn't understand things if you talked to him, or think that it'd be a waste of time to even try. And I'll be honest, I thought some of the same things. But for some reason, I kept feeling compelled to talk to him (probable things behind this reasoning: God and Brianne).

So, I tried to make some converation. A slightly failed attempt. I continued to read, then tried to make another attempt. A little better outcome than the previous, but still no real conversation. I almost decided to just leave him to his magazines, and me to my books, but wanted to try just one more time. I felt like he just needed to know someone cared, or that someone wanted to be his friend. So, I tried again. This time was different. After a few questions in which he would just say "yes" or "no" or repeat what I asked him, he began to open up. This, friends, was exciting.

In his slow, slightly slurred, thoughtful speech, he began telling me some things, and I'd ask him some questions, and I'd tell him some things - which eventually lead to him telling me about a big part of his life: he has been through 2 heart transplant surgeries. Two. WOW. That's pretty big stuff, folks. He told me that the first one was all his fault. He smoked 4 packs of cigarettes a day, which eventually lead to abnormal destruction of his heart, hence, the need for a transplant in 1994. His body rejected the first heart, so he underwent another transplant surgery in 2001....and he's still with us today, which is a miracle in itself.

He seems to have been through a lot in life. He says the ER and CCU doctors at MUSC know him by name, and that he's even had to call an ambulance to come pick him up from Barnes and Noble 4 or 5 times. He's had several near-death experiences, and been through more therapy and rehab than most people can imagine. He has serious damage, in most every sense of the word....but was such a big encouragement to me tonight.

He somehow learned to laugh about his struggles. While we were talking an ambulance sped by with its lights and siren on and he smiled and said "I have a joke, when I see or hear those, I tell people they're coming to get me."

After talking for a little while, a van drove up to the window and flashed its lights, meaning he had to leave. He stood slowly, got his bookbag, we said goodnight and he shuffled out. I assume he lives in a home with other "disabled" men and women. I wished he didn't have to leave, but he said he comes to Barnes and Noble almost every night if he gets the chance. I plan on returning just so I can talk with him again. I'm hoping that maybe some sort of relationship will form, Lord willing. That he will be able to see that I care for him in a big way, and more than that, that he will be able to see Jesus through me. Through a simple friendship. A thing that we often take for granted, but that if I'd have to guess, George is missing out on.

I learned a lot tonight from my conversation George. More than I will write on here. I tried to encourage him as much as I could, and I can only pray that I somehow showed him that he was loved.

I encourage you to keep your eyes and your heart open to see people that need to be loved (yep - that's everyone). Don't be afraid to talk to strangers (no matter what your mom told you growing up), to meet new people, to share and listen to those you just meet. I'll be willing to guess that you will walk away more encouraged than they will, many times...just as I was tonight.

Luke 1:53

"He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty."

His mercies are new every morning...

"His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden." - Habakkuk 3:4

I stood out on my porch this morning sipping my coffee and watching an amazingly beautiful sunrise over the marsh. The day seemed to begin to wake up and stretch it's legs as the the sun began to peek over the horizon. It was majestic. Bright pink and orange streaked underneath the misty sky, and then it happend -- the huge, bright, powerful ball of fire began to rise. Just as it does every morning. I never want to just "get used to it." I want it to amaze me every single day of my life -- because it is incredible. Just think about it - this huge mass of earth we live on is spinning suspended in a huge galaxy that we know nothing about, around a great ball of fire that keeps us alive. How much more astounding could could it get? It's a simple display of God's power that He chooses to show us every morning -- every single morning He is faithful. Tomorrow I think I might head to the beach to enjoy the sunrise....mmmm...He is good.

"only when surprised"

so, i've laughed a whole heck of a lot tonight - and discovered some pretty wonderful/unexpected things - gosh I love friendships.

cheers!

experiencing creation

If only I could see it with my own 2 eyes...


adventure.

exploration.

they are calling.

I want to go....just go...

I need to go...

LIVE.

walk. run. lay with the grass. stand among the trees. dance with the stars. float in the water. gaze at the hills. be mezmorized by the canyons. meet the people. be surrounded by life at its fullest.

just go...

RECAP

Well hello again. I'm going to take a little time to reflect over the past few days....feel free to read on if you wish...

Thursday night I got to go to Greecian Gardens with my friend Grant, in which we were by far the youngest people dining there that night. We were surrounded by middle-aged to elderly couples everywhere...it was quite funny. Then we watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith (a great movie) and proceeded to have a "friendly conversation" about the differences between guys and girls...he admitted that women were by far the superior gender and we moved on quickly....haha, riiiiiiight.

Friday was fabulous - I got to enjoy dinner at Macaroni Grill with Sleeve - which was filled with good food and excellent conversation. It was really great to get to see him and just hangout and talk for a few hours....and hopefully we will get to do so again very soon if I'm lucky.

Saturday was New Year's Eve - I went to Bri's house for about an hour and a half first and well...we'll just say it was really good to get to talk to her. She is such an encouragement - and I love being able to share my heart with her. After what was supposed to be a quick visit turned into an amazing hour and a half, I left and went to eat at Damon's downtown with Sleeve, Grant, and Jonathan Davis --- I was perhaps the luckiest girl in the world to be surrounded by 3 hot guys like I was at one time! Then we headed over to Danny and Jordan's house then back over to Grant's and just chilled out -- a typical New Year's night.

Sunday was filled with church, and sitting outside on my dock relaxing, and reading, and great phone conversations, and breakfast for dinner, and yea....good stuff.

Monday was the day I headed back to ole' Charles Towne, but before I left I got to sit and have some incredible coffee and even better conversation for a few hours once again with Miss Siciliano. It was SOLID. I loved every second of it...

Today, Tuesday, was the first day of class. To be honest, I was a little anxious/unsettled about starting the semester - but class today was good. I mean, I wasn't necessasrily "excited" about starting all the studying again...buuuut, the stuff I learned today was fun (yes, I accept that I am a nerd for thinking class is fun). Hopefully it will stay that way all semester...my fingers are crossed. :-)

And well, there ya have it folks.

I want to go to the mountains, really bad. Just wanted to toss that out there.

Peace....

a true statement:

I have a best friend named Bri, and she's absolutely amazing. I just wanted to throw that out there because I thought you all should know, if you didn't already.

an excerpt

"...Was never voice of ours could say
Our inmost in the sweetest way,
Like yonder voice aloft, and link
All hearers in the song they drink.
Our wisdom speaks from failing blood,
Our passion is too full in flood,
We want the key of his wild note
Of truthful in a tuneful throat;
The song seraphically free
Of taint of personality,
So pure that it salutes the suns
The voice of one for millions,
In whom the millions rejoice
For giving their one spirit voice...."

-George Meredith

an overflow

Matters of the heart are of utmost importance. It's as simple as that. Whether you think it is something large or something small, if it affects your heart, it is important. The heart is the wellspring of life, therefore if anything is troubling it, your life will be automatically affected. Hence, everything that affects the heart is important, no matter its apparent size or grandeur.

Today I got to discuss matters of the heart for hours with one of my best friends in the whole world, and it was INCREDIBLE. It is difficult to express with words how great it felt to be able to sit and talk for hours upon hours upon hours with someone about the things that matter the most. Pure honesty. Raw emotion. Hearts exposed of their struggles, fears, confusion, questions, vulnerability, instability, and need.

I got the pleasure of sitting in a deli/ice cream shop with AJ Jordan for close to 4 hours today - and in that time there was non-stop talking. I couldn't tell you what she got for Christmas, I couldn't tell you anything about the trip she is about to take to Europe for a month, I couldn't tell you anything about the mission trip she just got back from, I couldn't tell you what she ate for breakfast, or what she's doing until she leaves to go overseas, but I could tell you what she has been struggling with the most in the past 6 months, I could tell you things she's been pondering, things she's questioned, her "theories" on life, and other 'matters of the heart.' And I guarantee you she couldn't tell you what Santa Claus brought me, what I've been learning in school, if I've taken up any new hobbies or have any boy interests, but she would hit the nail on the head if you asked her what has been crying out from my heart for the past few days/weeks/months. If you ask her my number one fear, or struggle, or what it is that makes me break down and cry the most lately, or what it is that drives me or what some of the desires of my heart are - she would know. She would know my thoughts on life now, and life in the future...she would know things I've been questioning, she would know what my latest realizations about myself would be. She would know what I'm working to improve, what I am trying to rid myself of, etc. And that, my friends...is comforting.

It is comforting to know that there is someone who is feeling the same thing, who knows the weight of love, who knows the pain a deep longing can bring, who knows something so deep it can't be expressed with words. It is comforting to be able to talk to someone who is struggling with some of the same things, who has some of the same questions, and who truly cares what you are feeling even if no answer or remedy can be given...no matter how big or small it may seem. It was nice to have a listening ear and someone to tell me it was OK to let the tears well up and let myself feel. It was an encouragement to get to sit across the table and know that there was a level of trust and a level of respect and a level of understanding there no matter how long it had been since we have had a meaningful conversation like this. My heart needed to just be able to overflow, and I am thankful for having someone be able to sit across from me and just let me talk and let me listen and let love be spilled over and felt.

We are so similar, AJ and I. Our relationship is so funny, yet so real and so valued. We have so many desires that God has given us that we don't know what to do with or how to act upon them, but it is awesome. No matter how often (or not often) we talk, or how much we see each other it is nice to know that our adventurous spirit, our sense of humor, our charming good looks (joking), and our love for God and meaningful relationships will always bring us together over a bowl of ice cream to share our "matters of the heart."

AJ, thank you for your encouragment. Know that you are in my prayers - and that you will be the first person I call when I figure out this game called "life" we're playing....not that we want to figure it out...because hey, where would the fun or adventure in that be? :-)

I will see you when I see you....and I am looking forward to it.

World, here we come. Running, skipping, walking, crawling, tripping and stumbling all the while....

pondering significance

Tell me if you agree or disagree with this statement:

A very large determinent of significance is time.

Time is an investment....and you invest in things that are significant in your life, right? You make time for it, you want to spend time with it, etc.

For instance: if someone or something is really significant to you, you will spend a lot of time with it or them. You will make time for it. You will want to invest time into them. (and this doesn't have to be face to face time...it could be through the phone or emails or whatever...just putting time or exerting effort to put time into a relationship)

I'm mostly thinking about relationships here, and people, and things of that variety, rather than materialistic "stuff" that may be significant in your life, although I think it pretty much works the same way.

Let me know your thoughts on this topic if you have them. Or if you can think of something that shows someone they are significant in your life that is bigger than time - let me know that also. Thanks.