Question

 For one of my friends the question is 'where in the world?'  For me, the question is 'what in the world?’

For a considerable amount of time it's felt like I've been walking a hot, dry desert in loneliness.  Over the last two months I've been brought to an abundant Oasis.  There couldn't be a more fitting analogy.  I've become obsessed with documenting and exploring my life and what occupies time, space and attention.  There is powerful clarity coming through the exercise in writing that didn't previously exist.  Writing became documented exploration of a life I'm discovering.

I always thought of my life as a picture puzzle.  All the pieces coming together to make a whole.  What I realize is it wasn't a picture.  It was multiple unrelated pictures occupying common space that made up the different parts of my life.  Work, relationships, spirituality, entertainment, ideas, values and themes.  All in a block and all vastly different. 

My life is still a puzzle.  The pieces are coming together into an integrated and cohesive experience never before realized.  With the integration there is a sense of clairvoyance and newfound resolve and grounding previously unknown.  I feel a comfort once absent from my life.  I'm stepping into my life with a deeper understanding of how I interact with what enters my orbit.  

Noise that has distracted me has fades into the background; almost to the point of being unnoticeable.  Yes, there are flare ups and I'm temporarily distracted.  As a friend witnesses in his life I acknowledge the feeling and seek calmness the way he seeks breath.  An exercise is realigning in moments of uncertainty and distraction.  A new skill welcomed to a life full of diversion and noise.  Calm.  Steady.  Resetting to from chaos to presence.  Refreshing.

A week or so ago a friend and I were scheduling a Facetime conversation.  We agreed upon Sunday at 9.  The inquiry about a known conflict with my church attendance.  It served as a gentle nudge that I got distracted from my desire and commitment to preserve space for a relationship with my faith and spiritual family.  Another friend calls that a godwink.  A coincidence.  Perhaps a divine redirection coming from a re-calibrated awareness.  Bandwidth becoming available for presence and reflection.  After connecting across continents, I went to church and attended the 1130 service.  My friend reminded me interpersonal and spiritual connections and priorities can exist simultaneously.  

I was up early after an all night marathon of thought so see my wife off for a retreat of sorts with her sister.  I hope their time together nourishes and strengthens their bond.  I watched the message I skipped out of on June 28.  I attended service on July 5 and again today, July 12.  The messages were meaningful.  The worship was powerful.

When Pastor Rob turned 65 he proclaimed 'I'm not retiring.  I'm re-firing.'  He wasn't kidding.  There is resparked intention and energy in him.  His preaching is definitively and divinely inspired with conviction and radical application to living in a divine relationship.  More relevant than ever in my 30 year, recently recommitted  relationship with Shoreline.   

Another thing - the journey in the messages and my awakening are existing in parallel.  Themes and ideas independently finding a point to blend into cohesion.  Clarity under divine authority.  Continuity  

Life is indeed amazing.  Once the mind calibrates to amazing, it can't be undone or unseen.  Dan Brown's "Secret of Secrets" was a timely read.  It's too real to be fiction.

Today's message shared enlightenment and intentionality contained in a popular benediction used at the conclusion of worship services..."May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine onto you and be gracious to you;  then turn his face toward you and give you peace."  Every word matters.  Every word intentional.  Every word has specific meaning.

This season of life will be one for the record books for it is a season full of wonder and amazing.