I've been at camp for a week - and most of this week I've been without the comforts of technology - no TV, radio and no Internet. It has been a combination of sweet and peaceful bliss and downright creepy eeriness. I've gone from feeling completely overwhelmed, uncomfortable, homesick to confident, happy and faith filled over the span of 5 days - I know there is still much to learn, but at least the "holy cow what have I gotten myself into?" feelings have subsided considerably. I won't bore you with any details, but I have definitely enjoyed this shift in pace and locale. I must admit my wimpiness though - the Minnesota climate is quite cooler, and I am not used to it yet - nor really want to be used to it. Although, I will conquer this challenge too - we'll see how I handle the Northern Minnesota wilderness next week. And here I scoffed at my wife's idea to bring my long underwear. Stupid me - oh well, I've learned...
Life is good despite missing my wife incredibly. Nights are really lonely - even though I get a phone call in to Rebecca every night, it's what I go through after hanging up that has been the biggest adjustment. For instance, being alone in a cabin in the woods with an active imagination - well, it becomes very burdensome. I hear everything - every creek, every shift - every tiny little bump in the night. The ear plugs have been handy, as well as the fan. Last night though, there was little relief. I hope this was the worst sleepless night of the summer...I awoke in the middle of the night to sweltering heat around me. I had tweaked the thermostat before bed (mistake #1) so that I wouldn't be as cold in the morning. Then on my way from the light switch into bed I drilled my foot on the metal corner of the bed? Yeah, it was quite the painful omen to my night ahead...At 3 am I woke up and looked at my handy alarm clock that had a built in thermometer - and it said that my room was 89 degrees. I got up and tried to turn the heat off - and I think I realized it was broken. I tried turning the fan on high and opening the windows. The heater was still cranking out the heat. Hot, sweaty, restless and my foot hurt something awful...
By the wee hours of the morning, I had moved to the other room. I didn't get much sleep to say the least. But, everyday is a new day. I look forward to some restful sleep this evening. I managed to shut the main power to the heaters off this afternoon - and my room is now back to a much more comfortable 70 degrees.
Well, it is back to camp. I apologize for not writing sooner - see top paragraph about the lack of internet. It's good to be here - I look forward to sharing the many stories that await me... stay tuned!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Lost Keys
Ah, my last post from Richmond has arrived. Let’s all pause for a moment of reflection. Are we good now? Ok – so this final entry is a doozy. It may seem eerily familiar to the entry “I’m With Stupid” from last fall, where I agonized over the loss of my jump drive. Yes, this is definitely along those same lines my friends – history has a way of repeating itself sometimes, much to our distress.
On Sunday afternoon, while Rebecca and I were busily packing up the house, we received a surprise drop in visit from our good friend Beth and her 1 ½ year old son, Jared. We were thrilled to A) see Beth and Jared again and B) have more help packing. We quickly put Beth to work on the kitchen dishes while I returned to the living room to sort through some papers. Jared, plopped down into this new playroom utopia, simply stood quietly in the kitchen, taking it all in and trying to decide what to do first. Then, taking his first steps around our home (he’d been here before, but not since he’s learned how to walk on his own) he went over to the phone table and picked up our car keys and my name tag. Beth then mentioned that he loved her keys and often walked around with them and refused to let go. We were cool with it – go ahead Jared – go crazy little guy. We continued to take turns watching this little blond haired cutey walk around our chaotic house, full of boxes and mess. It was definitely a fine place for him to play and cause trouble as only boys know how to it seems.
After a little while, I noticed that he had dropped the keys and name tag in front of me in the living room. I remember looking at them sitting there on the floor and thinking, “Ok, there are the keys – right in the middle of the floor. I better remember to pick them up…” I then continued to pack stuff up and move into another section of the house. Eventually it was time for our friends to depart – and we hugged them and saw them head out into the rain and drive off down our street for the last time (for me anyway.)
The next morning when it was time to take Rebecca to work, I could not find the car keys. I looked back in the living room where I had last seen them, and lo and behold, they were not there. The name tag had been returned, but the keys were missing. I casually checked the house for the new placement of the keys, but did not see them anywhere in plain view. I grabbed the spare keys and mentioned to Rebecca that I couldn’t find the first set and we were on our way. The way to work was focused on the missing keys. “Where did he put them? Where did we see him playing? Where was the last place we saw them? (I told her about the living room spot) and so on. We were unsettled. We were crabby. We couldn’t believe that now, of all times to lose your keys – in a house now full of possible hiding places – that we were facing this challenge.
I returned home and searched the house. Nothing. No sign or trace. I tried to get inside Jared’s little brain with no success. Jared was turning out to be quite the sneaky hider. I continued on my errands and “honey do” list for the morning. I picked Rebecca up from work for lunch and we searched the house again for an hour. Nothing. We were baffled as to how this little guy could have foiled us so easily. After more looking, I finally put my tail between my legs and called Beth. She laughed and we laughed some more at how Jared had struck yet again. She informed me of his “record.” Apparently, this is not Jared’s first time. No, he has successfully hidden her parents’ DVD Player remote – to which they still cannot find. He has also re-programmed her in-laws’ answering machine, to which they still cannot reset back to the way they had it. Yes, Jared is a trouble maker with quite the success rate. I still remember him standing and surveying our house when he first arrived – silent and smirking – absorbing all that lay before him. I love that kid and wow, I was now respecting him like no other 1 ½ year old. I thought I was a good hider of things – but this kid, he had reset the bar – and it was much higher now.
Day one of searching proved no results, only more unsettled feelings and agonizing “what ifs?” Upon waking this morning, it was on our mind but nothing was said. We resolved to not talking about it in order to hopefully stumble across them “when we weren’t looking for them.” It was the only way to having some shred of peace. After Rebecca left and I sat alone plotting my last day of Richmond out, I made my own resolution: I was going to find those keys. I threw on my head lamp and dropped to my knees and crawled around every inch of this house – determined to find what I so badly wanted. I kept thinking of Jared trotting around the house the other day – of all his moves and everything I saw him doing. I couldn’t help but try to psychoanalyze him like they do on those detective shows. I was trying to get inside his mind and decipher what his moves were. I thought of him pounding the TV screen and shutting the stereo off and turning it back on again. I saw him in every nook and cranny of this house, holding tightly to those keys until something new and exciting caught his attention and – clink – the keys were dropped…somewhere…
Yes, I am determined to not let this hang over me as I leave this fine state. I don’t want Beth to worry that her innocent child had somehow attributed to our lack of peace in our home in our last days in it. No, I am not going to let little Jared out fox this fox – I am going to conquer his challenge and find those keys.
As I looked and looked, I kept muttering in a determined mantra – “I’m going to find the keys.” I couldn’t believe that our keys were gone without a trace. I just could not accept this fact. Peering into boxes, sorting through clothes and blankets, underneath furniture and into bags that had been checked and re-checked a hundred times by both of us – all turned up nothing and then… I found the keys. YES! I found the keys!! Looking into a big bag of gifts bags in the kitchen, flipping through everything in it, there, in the corner of the bag sat the missing keys. I grabbed them and hoisted them high above my head and let out a victorious roar of delight – success at last. I cannot begin to describe the joy of this moment. I am still on an absolute natural high. Before getting side-tracked on my search mission, I was preparing to go for a run. I can now resume my day’s plan – I can go on that run in a new frame of mind. The day is shaping up to be a fine one – this is surely going to be a glorious run – no thoughts of those missing keys now. Praise God indeed.
“Or suppose a (man and woman) has a (set of keys) and loses them. Does he not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until he finds it? And when he finds it, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost keys!” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10
Luther Seminary, here I come.
On Sunday afternoon, while Rebecca and I were busily packing up the house, we received a surprise drop in visit from our good friend Beth and her 1 ½ year old son, Jared. We were thrilled to A) see Beth and Jared again and B) have more help packing. We quickly put Beth to work on the kitchen dishes while I returned to the living room to sort through some papers. Jared, plopped down into this new playroom utopia, simply stood quietly in the kitchen, taking it all in and trying to decide what to do first. Then, taking his first steps around our home (he’d been here before, but not since he’s learned how to walk on his own) he went over to the phone table and picked up our car keys and my name tag. Beth then mentioned that he loved her keys and often walked around with them and refused to let go. We were cool with it – go ahead Jared – go crazy little guy. We continued to take turns watching this little blond haired cutey walk around our chaotic house, full of boxes and mess. It was definitely a fine place for him to play and cause trouble as only boys know how to it seems.
After a little while, I noticed that he had dropped the keys and name tag in front of me in the living room. I remember looking at them sitting there on the floor and thinking, “Ok, there are the keys – right in the middle of the floor. I better remember to pick them up…” I then continued to pack stuff up and move into another section of the house. Eventually it was time for our friends to depart – and we hugged them and saw them head out into the rain and drive off down our street for the last time (for me anyway.)
The next morning when it was time to take Rebecca to work, I could not find the car keys. I looked back in the living room where I had last seen them, and lo and behold, they were not there. The name tag had been returned, but the keys were missing. I casually checked the house for the new placement of the keys, but did not see them anywhere in plain view. I grabbed the spare keys and mentioned to Rebecca that I couldn’t find the first set and we were on our way. The way to work was focused on the missing keys. “Where did he put them? Where did we see him playing? Where was the last place we saw them? (I told her about the living room spot) and so on. We were unsettled. We were crabby. We couldn’t believe that now, of all times to lose your keys – in a house now full of possible hiding places – that we were facing this challenge.
I returned home and searched the house. Nothing. No sign or trace. I tried to get inside Jared’s little brain with no success. Jared was turning out to be quite the sneaky hider. I continued on my errands and “honey do” list for the morning. I picked Rebecca up from work for lunch and we searched the house again for an hour. Nothing. We were baffled as to how this little guy could have foiled us so easily. After more looking, I finally put my tail between my legs and called Beth. She laughed and we laughed some more at how Jared had struck yet again. She informed me of his “record.” Apparently, this is not Jared’s first time. No, he has successfully hidden her parents’ DVD Player remote – to which they still cannot find. He has also re-programmed her in-laws’ answering machine, to which they still cannot reset back to the way they had it. Yes, Jared is a trouble maker with quite the success rate. I still remember him standing and surveying our house when he first arrived – silent and smirking – absorbing all that lay before him. I love that kid and wow, I was now respecting him like no other 1 ½ year old. I thought I was a good hider of things – but this kid, he had reset the bar – and it was much higher now.
Day one of searching proved no results, only more unsettled feelings and agonizing “what ifs?” Upon waking this morning, it was on our mind but nothing was said. We resolved to not talking about it in order to hopefully stumble across them “when we weren’t looking for them.” It was the only way to having some shred of peace. After Rebecca left and I sat alone plotting my last day of Richmond out, I made my own resolution: I was going to find those keys. I threw on my head lamp and dropped to my knees and crawled around every inch of this house – determined to find what I so badly wanted. I kept thinking of Jared trotting around the house the other day – of all his moves and everything I saw him doing. I couldn’t help but try to psychoanalyze him like they do on those detective shows. I was trying to get inside his mind and decipher what his moves were. I thought of him pounding the TV screen and shutting the stereo off and turning it back on again. I saw him in every nook and cranny of this house, holding tightly to those keys until something new and exciting caught his attention and – clink – the keys were dropped…somewhere…
Yes, I am determined to not let this hang over me as I leave this fine state. I don’t want Beth to worry that her innocent child had somehow attributed to our lack of peace in our home in our last days in it. No, I am not going to let little Jared out fox this fox – I am going to conquer his challenge and find those keys.
As I looked and looked, I kept muttering in a determined mantra – “I’m going to find the keys.” I couldn’t believe that our keys were gone without a trace. I just could not accept this fact. Peering into boxes, sorting through clothes and blankets, underneath furniture and into bags that had been checked and re-checked a hundred times by both of us – all turned up nothing and then… I found the keys. YES! I found the keys!! Looking into a big bag of gifts bags in the kitchen, flipping through everything in it, there, in the corner of the bag sat the missing keys. I grabbed them and hoisted them high above my head and let out a victorious roar of delight – success at last. I cannot begin to describe the joy of this moment. I am still on an absolute natural high. Before getting side-tracked on my search mission, I was preparing to go for a run. I can now resume my day’s plan – I can go on that run in a new frame of mind. The day is shaping up to be a fine one – this is surely going to be a glorious run – no thoughts of those missing keys now. Praise God indeed.
“Or suppose a (man and woman) has a (set of keys) and loses them. Does he not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until he finds it? And when he finds it, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost keys!” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10
Luther Seminary, here I come.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Richmond Recap
I feel there is still a need to summarize just where life has led me these last few years. As we've begun the packing process at home, so many memories come to the surface as items and photos are discovered and sorted into boxes. Since memory can be tricky the older we get, I feel a recap would be a great way to catalog for myself where the road in Richmond has taken me. Perhaps you, the reader, will find enlightenment and enjoyment as well. The immediate future holds encounters, experiences and insights which will be described and shared in the upcoming lifeintents "issues" of the "Camp Chronicles" and the "Luther Low Down" - but now, take it easy as I proudly present to you, the Richmond Recap:
It all goes back to 2003 when we first arrived in Richmond around the first of October. Through apartment searching a couple months prior, I had decided on a gem of a place in the West End - where I was told "was the place to live in Richmond." Memories and stories come to mind of apartment shopping with Sheffi, my good friend from NC State, and the vast array of choices that presented themselves before landing at the Wilde Lake apartments. Having left our jobs and income in Minnesota, we relied on our faith and savings to carry us for the remainder of the year as we bonded and found odd jobs around the city. I worked across the street at Video 2000 as a clerk and Rebecca settled on JCPenney a few miles away at the Regency Square Mall. We also got lucky with becoming "Christmas Casuals" at the Post Office for the busy holiday season - making good money and having even better times behind the scenes sorting mail. We also decided on where to worship on Sunday mornings after visiting different congregations around the area, doing what most refer to as "church shopping." Most places were of Lutheran tradition, but we took a shot at one Methodist church a block away from our apartment. We lasted through the service, but the live Bengal Tiger on display for the children's message was a bit much for our tastes. Eventually, the Spirit guided us to St. Luke Lutheran church off of Chippenham Parkway - our first church south of the James River. Their friendliness, inviting worship and over all Christian warmth "sold" us immediately and we looked no further. By Thanksgiving 2003, we became members.
It was shortly after joining St. Luke in November 2003 that we began meeting and building friendships through the "Big Picture" young adult sunday school class. This proved to be a highlight for both of us and we looked forward to our interaction and bible study every sunday. Soon we were getting together for "game nights" on the weekends and deepening our relationships on a more consistent basis. By January 2004, Rebecca had landed a full-time job at Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) in downtown Richmond. I on the other hand, was still trying to find my place in the working world, and floated between the Video store, substitute teaching and my one-day-a-week "internship" at the Virginia Film Office. I continued to peruse the job listings daily for something I could really sink my teeth into. By March, I came across just the place - Challenge Discovery, an outdoor high ropes course and teambuilding facility. I was soon full throttle excited for this job, unleashing my passion for the outdoors, people and experiential learning. It was a powerful place of employment to say the least and I had no difficulty fitting in and excelling.
Throughout 2004 we continued our involvement at St. Luke with the Youth Ministry and had become regulars in the church choir. We continued building relationships at Game Night with our friends as well as getting out to explore Virginia together. Ever since we arrived and until now, we've really enjoyed taking time to be tourists and see what Richmond and Virginia had to offer: Maymont (pictured), Belle Isle, Monticello, Williamsburg, the beach, Shenandoah National Park, Bottoms Up Pizza, Carytown, Civil War history, Deep Run park, the spy museum and DC, Water Country USA, the Braves games, fishing in the Chesapeake, Natural Bridge, Swift Creek Theatre, outdoor malls, Pocahontas State Park, Jamestown, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Crabtree Falls - there really is alot to do here and I'm sure I left things out. And I still think the concept behind Virginia as a Commonwealth is somewhat elusive and hard to understand let alone explain to others. On the film scene I had also become a regular "Production Assistant" (aka PA), getting some experience doing behind the camera work on commercials for Geico insurance (the Gecko ads) and several other gigs around the area with "Dreams Factory" a local TV and Film company. Eventually all of my coffee making, errand running and boom microphone holding landed me a coveted spot with Lionheart Productions and Virginia local legend Director Kevin Hershberger on his civil war pic "No Retreat from Destiny." I traveled to Maryland and spent a week outdoors with the crew. I was still relegated to much of the same PA junk jobs, but was given a little excitement suiting up in Civil War (I think I was a Yankee) garb and getting in the middle of the action as I followed the camera around during the war re-enactments. I met some solid people that week and was able to have a lot of fun in my film pursuits.
When 2005 rolled around, Rebecca and I were truly invested in Richmond, Virginia. We had begun to give alot of thought to sticking around long-term, as we really loved life here. When we initially moved, we told ourselves, "it will be a nice change of pace for us when we eventually move back to Minnesota." By 2005, we were definitely saying "if" instead of "when" - we simply were having the time of our lives here. I was still unsure where I belonged career wise - I had many part-time jobs and the film career wasn't taking off or feeling worth it to keep pursuing for the long-haul. I had caught a big break with "Blue Tip TV" as a PA on the set of "Spad Johnson, Private Eye" a film noir made-for-TV movie about a Bogart-esque private eye in 1950. I even landed a job as "Head Writer" for the company and developed a few screenplays for future productions. It seemed like the perfect job and a dream come true for me, but I slowly began to grow disenchanted with the plans of a future in the film business. I loved writing no doubt, but the long hours and pace of the industry didn't seem as "glamorous" as I once thought it would be. Rebecca had become burnt out with the leadership and politics at her employment with RBHA and we both knew that our health demanded some positive change to keep us going strong. By the end of 2005, Rebecca got the job of her dreams at Chesterfield County Mental Health, a mere 5 miles from home (our first house!) I decided to pursue a full-time job and end my pursuit of a career in film, once and for all.
January 2006 I began as the Student Organization Coordinator at VCU - the first full-time job since leaving Rochester, MN 3 years prior. I had used my experience at Challenge Discovery to really nail down what I was passionate about and transfer it into building strong teams and leadership within the student orgs of VCU. It didn't take long to become excited and thankful for the opportunity at VCU, as I became invested in my new found purpose with the students and staff in the university community. Rebecca had also become rooted in her new and improved place of employment and found herself feeling better and better each day there. We were also busy with the Youth Ministry at church and were truly fulfilled in our service. We had also added a few new friends to our group and were pleased to have such a fun and supportive gang to hang out with. Relationships at church also deepened and our many interactions and circles of involvement kept us in good spiritual and social health.
2007 and 2008 have been like a blur - I can't believe my time is actually up in just a few days. We were really busy throughout 2007 - lots of camping, trips out of state (and country) and over all enjoyment of our places of employment, worship and recreational lives. *Before continuing, it is worth mentioning that our 5 years have not been all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows - we have definitely been refined by fire and experienced several hardships and challenges over the course of our time here. Further details of those things take a lot of extra thought and time to delve into, so as this is more of a textbook sampling of what we've done and where we've been, I will not "go there" for this entry.* My sense of calling has definitely been a constant over these 5 years as I tried out many different things for possible career moves. The Lord's call was strongest towards the end of 2005 when I realized that film wasn't where I felt led anymore. By the beginning of 2006 I had met with Pastor Dottie and the Assistant to the Bishop, Chip Gunsten, and had openly expressed my interest in the seminary discernment process. This coincided with my recent full-time job with VCU, and although I was committed to VCU, I was also allowing the Spirit an "all-access pass" to guiding me where He wanted me to go. In 2007 we continued in dialogue, bible study, prayer and I took many a walk through nearby Hollywood Cemetery over lunch trying to discern the best "career" for me long-term. With my sense of call increasing in volume week after week throughout '06 and '07, I decided I couldn't put off my calling to the ministry any longer. With peace within both of our hearts, I finally applied to Luther Seminary and began the Candidacy process for ministry.
As you know, 2008 is just about half over now, and by the time our 5 year anniversary hits since we moved here (this October), we will both be back in the icy tundra of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. It has been an amazing journey here in Richmond - I have grown in just about every possible way, (except for my waist line, which has decreased actually...) Rebecca and I have grown together immensely as husband and wife and the lives we've encountered, befriended and loved have affected us significantly - much more than even a writer like myself can adequately describe! As my quote of the month states - many a world began for us here, and we are changed and improved a hundred times over. Praise God!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
In with the new
First of all, I need to apologize to myself for not writing sooner. This may have deeply affected you as well. Now that we've gotten that out of the way - I need to update on what is going on that has demanded so much of my time that I could not post a blog for nearly three weeks. The last time I went that long without writing I had to have tiny trespassers removed from my unmentionables. Well, nothing that drastic has occurred, but I have had my share of changes going on around me that nonetheless, have sucked time and motivation away from me.
I went a total of 2.5 months without shaving and sported a beard that one friend referred to as "magnificent." Indeed, I surprised myself tenfold with my facial hair growth and ended up actually liking and keeping it around much longer than the 2 weeks I initially intended it for. I definitely added some maturity to my face and started noticing that I was somehow treated as if I were an elder rather than some 18 year old ready to head off to college. It was nice, to say the least. The Jesus references have subsided and its back to "How are you young man?" when I enter places. It's all good - it was a great experiment which if nothing else, proved me wrong and provided some awesome photos when shaving day came around. See photos on the side of this webpage and stand in awe of the greasy mustache and handlebar chops (as requested).
Other changes worth mentioning here is that I am now fully and completely hooked on the sport of baseball once again. My family and I are immersed in Fantasy Baseball against one another - and, I have to admit that my skepticism has turned to full-out addiction. I am currently holding steady in third place - but my confidence is high that this will turn around any day now. My team, the "Bananas" are loaded with studs that will eventually turn up the noise and cause some statistical damage against my lesser opponents. I am feeling good in my ability to manage them and tweak the line-up and do my research. I expect this to change once I leave my job and take on my new job at camp, not to mention taking Greek through the summer. By then I hope that my team will be able to dominate without me. We'll see...
Speaking of seminary, the transition is beginning to sink in. Tomorrow (Wednesday May 7th) will be exactly 7 days until I leave Richmond, Virginia. I don't know for how long I will be absent from this awesome state and even better community of friends and acquaintances, but either way, it will not be an easy period to adjust to. I really love it here. I love our friends dearly, our church family, our house and our life in Virginia in general - it is really odd to think that I will not be here in a week's time. I am excited to be closer to our families and other friends yes, but, when someone is in a place for 5 years and puts all of them self into not only the location but the people - well, its hard to leave you know?
Our house sold, we resigned our jobs and made plans for the summer in Minnesota - but none of that hit me hard enough to say "you're leaving" until we were the guests of honor at our own "farewell party" at the Youth Talent Show Lock-in a few weeks ago. Being given a cherished binder full of pictures and letters from the youth that we've built relationships with these last 5 years - wow - what a huge impact that left on my heart. We managed to hold our emotions together until driving home the next day as I continued to reflect on and be thankful for these wonderful relationships we were apart of. These kids were literally much of "our life" outside of our 9-5 jobs - and I would not trade our time with them for anything. They and many others here will be greatly missed. I am excited to see how God will use them post-Keith and Rebecca - for I know that as much as we impacted their lives, they impacted ours for the better as well. The one thing that always makes me feeler better when apart from others is that it is then that we really experience personal growth and change - and depending on the experience while together, it can really be meaningful and positive. I'm looking forward to seeing God more and more in the future lives of these kids. I am also incredibly blessed to have built some really tight and strong bonds with our "adult church friends" and know that our connection will continue no matter the distance.
To be honest, it still hasn't sunk in. Maybe this Sunday, my last at church, things will begin to set in for me and my heart. Maybe I'll be overcome with emotion at all that God has done through and around me that I will no doubt realize that "this is it." Or maybe I'll just be fired up about all of this goodness that has taken shape over the last 5 years of my life and just be really, really thankful, excited and on fire. I don't know - but all of this looking back and looking forward causes nothing but tearful emotion, thankfulness, praise and excitement-filled anticipation. I know that in and through it all is one loving Father, Son and Holy Spirit where all originates and continues to flow from - it's never an ending, but always a new beginning.
I went a total of 2.5 months without shaving and sported a beard that one friend referred to as "magnificent." Indeed, I surprised myself tenfold with my facial hair growth and ended up actually liking and keeping it around much longer than the 2 weeks I initially intended it for. I definitely added some maturity to my face and started noticing that I was somehow treated as if I were an elder rather than some 18 year old ready to head off to college. It was nice, to say the least. The Jesus references have subsided and its back to "How are you young man?" when I enter places. It's all good - it was a great experiment which if nothing else, proved me wrong and provided some awesome photos when shaving day came around. See photos on the side of this webpage and stand in awe of the greasy mustache and handlebar chops (as requested).
Other changes worth mentioning here is that I am now fully and completely hooked on the sport of baseball once again. My family and I are immersed in Fantasy Baseball against one another - and, I have to admit that my skepticism has turned to full-out addiction. I am currently holding steady in third place - but my confidence is high that this will turn around any day now. My team, the "Bananas" are loaded with studs that will eventually turn up the noise and cause some statistical damage against my lesser opponents. I am feeling good in my ability to manage them and tweak the line-up and do my research. I expect this to change once I leave my job and take on my new job at camp, not to mention taking Greek through the summer. By then I hope that my team will be able to dominate without me. We'll see...
Speaking of seminary, the transition is beginning to sink in. Tomorrow (Wednesday May 7th) will be exactly 7 days until I leave Richmond, Virginia. I don't know for how long I will be absent from this awesome state and even better community of friends and acquaintances, but either way, it will not be an easy period to adjust to. I really love it here. I love our friends dearly, our church family, our house and our life in Virginia in general - it is really odd to think that I will not be here in a week's time. I am excited to be closer to our families and other friends yes, but, when someone is in a place for 5 years and puts all of them self into not only the location but the people - well, its hard to leave you know?
Our house sold, we resigned our jobs and made plans for the summer in Minnesota - but none of that hit me hard enough to say "you're leaving" until we were the guests of honor at our own "farewell party" at the Youth Talent Show Lock-in a few weeks ago. Being given a cherished binder full of pictures and letters from the youth that we've built relationships with these last 5 years - wow - what a huge impact that left on my heart. We managed to hold our emotions together until driving home the next day as I continued to reflect on and be thankful for these wonderful relationships we were apart of. These kids were literally much of "our life" outside of our 9-5 jobs - and I would not trade our time with them for anything. They and many others here will be greatly missed. I am excited to see how God will use them post-Keith and Rebecca - for I know that as much as we impacted their lives, they impacted ours for the better as well. The one thing that always makes me feeler better when apart from others is that it is then that we really experience personal growth and change - and depending on the experience while together, it can really be meaningful and positive. I'm looking forward to seeing God more and more in the future lives of these kids. I am also incredibly blessed to have built some really tight and strong bonds with our "adult church friends" and know that our connection will continue no matter the distance.
To be honest, it still hasn't sunk in. Maybe this Sunday, my last at church, things will begin to set in for me and my heart. Maybe I'll be overcome with emotion at all that God has done through and around me that I will no doubt realize that "this is it." Or maybe I'll just be fired up about all of this goodness that has taken shape over the last 5 years of my life and just be really, really thankful, excited and on fire. I don't know - but all of this looking back and looking forward causes nothing but tearful emotion, thankfulness, praise and excitement-filled anticipation. I know that in and through it all is one loving Father, Son and Holy Spirit where all originates and continues to flow from - it's never an ending, but always a new beginning.
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