The Light Shines In The Darkness

If you were to look out of our back window everything would look just fine. The sky is blue and the grass is green and yet a big dark storm cloud has covered our family. We didn't expect it. The "weather man" didn't predict it. Just as Tim Tingle says in his story Crossing Bok Chitto, "One day trouble came. It always does, in stories or in life, trouble comes."

The Preacher and I have been feeling so many emotions these past two weeks. For three days straight we were so stressed that it took another five days to recover. And the storm is not over yet.  Although it does seem to have lightened up a little bit, there are still days when it comes back and shows it's ugliness.

When a tornado comes your way what do you do? You head to your storm shelter and take cover. What do you do when storms rage and the darkness invades your life? We headed to our Lord, our shelter from the storm. We came together and bowed our heads humbly in prayer. We asked that the Lord help us to think and act with wisdom and grace. Then we asked our friends to pray. And even though, that week was very stressful, we felt your prayers and we thank you for praying to the Lord who overcomes the darkness.

"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."                                                                                            John 1:5 (NIV) 

The darkness will not prevail...the Preacher and I must hold onto this. 

Love from the Preacher and I

What If We Rode a Bicycle Across the Country

Last night the Preacher and I hosted 2 young men, Marcos and Jeremy, who were cycling across America to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. In June they began their journey in Baltimore and in August they will end in San Diego. 

The four of us sat on our patio around the fire pit talking about their journey. It was so interesting hearing of their adventure, the places they have been, the people they have met, and the anticipation of riding over the Rockies.

The Preacher and I have never done anything like this. Listening to these young men made us realize that out of all the things we have done, this would have been a wonderful adventure.

The Preacher told Marcos and Jeremy of the time that he and I took our bicycles up to Glenwood Canyon. We camped in a campground about 1 mile outside of town. We had high hopes of not having to use our car that weekend. We would just ride into town everyday to shop at the local stores and eat at the local restaurants. What we didn't realize is that even though we live in Colorado, the altitude where we do live is about 2,000 feet less than when you are in a canyon in the Rockies. Therefore, going up the hills that are on the path that parallel the river, is a very hard task when you are not used to that kind of activity. Of course I'm not in that kind of shape, and the Preacher, although being in better shape than I, had a hard time also.

The boys explained to us the training they did to get ready for their ride. One boy, Marcos, loves to ride. Loves everything about riding and the bicycles themselves. Jeremy explained that he was a runner and had been training on his bicycle since December of last year. Both boys were in the kind of shape you need to be to do this kind of trip.

While listening to their stories I thought about what the Preacher has been trying to teach us in his last 2 sermons. These 2 boys have the gift of riding their bicycles thousands of miles across country. The Preacher and I do not have that gift. Then why should we be jealous of their gift? 

When you long for someone else's gift you are not able to fully give God what He wants you to give. You will always be faking it. The Preacher says, "If you know what you are called to do keep doing it and keep moving forward. If you don't know what you're called to do then do the small stuff and God will show you what He wants you to do." 

The Preacher and I have been called to love one another first, and then those who we minister to. We each have specific gifts that make us a great couple and make us who God wants us to be.

I'm glad I don't have to fake it and try to ride a bike across the country. I'm glad God has given the Preacher and I the gifts that make us who we are. But it's not a bad thing to keep yourself in check when finding yourself going down that road of "what if.....?"

The Preacher and I wish everyone a

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!