One Word

"If you could describe 2006 in one word, what word would you use? I'm not talking about anything but your own personal experience in 2006. Not what happened politically, globally, environmentally, not what happened in entertainment or anything like that. I'm just curious as to what all of you have to say about 2006 in only one word (if you read this, you're on the honor system to answer the question!)." -xxemberxx


For me, that word is Fire.

-Fire consumes. Last January, I jumped headfirst into my job at the theatre, putting in about 100 hours (on top of being a student and living in Hodson) in the first three or four weeks. Theatre consumed my life.
-Fire sheds light. Sometimes, there are things you think you want. When you see them, or yourself, in a different light, though, you realize you don't want it, or that you want something else. Last spring, I got some new perspective on what I wanted - in life, in love, in work, etc. There's still a lot I don't know, but light was shed.
-Fire is playful. Last summer, I stayed on campus and worked at IWU. It was really fun, getting to know some people I didn't know at all, and getting to know some friends a lot better. We ran, biked, swam, played basketball, volletyball, climbed, lifted, went to shows, and just generally spent time in community. It was a blast. I wish post-grad life could be like that-living with your friends, low stress, and playful.
-Fire burns bridges. Every year, there's always some friends you drift away from. But last fall I made a mistake that really hurt a friendship. I apologized, and for a while I thought things were getting better. I was wrong. I'm still sorry, and I know I screwed up, but I've decided not to let that dominate my life anymore. If my friend ever decides he wants me back, that door's open for him, but I can't change the past and I can't change him.
-Fire dances. The past couple months, on the whole, have been great. Getting to know Grace better and exploring that, graduating, getting a better idea of what my options in life are and exploring that, meeting lots of great underclassmen through Antigone, doing the 12 Days with Dave . . . . lots of great memories that brighten the heart.
-Fire needs to be controlled. God's been shaping me. I haven't always sought Him like I should, but looking back I can see how He used certain events this year. There were lots of times I misstepped, misspoke, and generally messed up. There were also times I got it right (I think). I'd like to thank everyone in my life who has encouraged me when I'm going in the right direction, and helped me see when I'm going wrong. I'd also like to thank you for tolerating my idiocy, and helping me through and towards God.


-Fire lights the way. 2007 is a new year. It won't be the same year, at all. I don't know what's going to happen - the light only spills so far. It's going to be a challenge, it's going to be an adventure. I'm going to do my best. That's all I can do. Will you be a part of my adventure?

The Crux

This morning I went the church at The Crux. (For those of you who don't know, I've been wanted to get out and visit some other churches.)
It was great. There are moments and events, some people call them "divine meetings," some people call them "happy accidents," some people call them "serendipity" or "fate." I think God has a hand in them; but whatever you want to call them this morning was one of them.
I've been a little down recently, with some of the things that've happened in the past few months and what I guess boils down to a post-graduation directionlessness. Pastor Daron talked about looking for what God is doing new, about being excited to have 2007 be a different sort of year, not the same old sad year.
- i'm not communicating this very well -

I guess the main reason I'm writing this right now is because there's a few quotes I wanted to be sure I remembered.

"The memories you dwell on will determine your attitude and how you see the future."

"Look for progress, not perfection."

"The pain of discipline vs. the pain of regret"



As a climber, I like the name The Crux, too. It has some cool theological meanings, it's a cool world, but to a climber, the crux is the most difficult part of the climb. It's also the key - if you keep attacking the crux, and push through, you improve yourself as a climbing and you'll be ready for a new challenge. The crux you are past will still challenge you when you come back to it, but once it's behind you it makes you stronger.
I think it's related to the word crucible, another great "good pain" word.