www.cimplifigh.wordpress.com

www.cimplifigh.wordpress.com

This thing called life...

I have the day off today...It is beautiful. In fact, yesterday was beautiful too because I had that day off as well. But today I find myself in a much more introspective mood and, when those contemplative times come I need to jump on them and blog rather than let them pass as I've been doing. First things first. Lovin' the Flames right now. Dayna and I went to te game vs. the Rangers two nights ago. It was spectacular. Then the win in OT last night (which I predicted)...Iggy is the man, enough said. I got a jersey for christmas.
Secondly, if you would like to foster contemplative times in your life, I recommend buying a nice coffee maker, a grinder and Costco's Hazelnut Vanilla coffee (it's a huge bag). Make sure your coffee maker has a timer on it so you can wake up to the smell of this sweet nectar diffusing its way through your house. It's the best part of waking up. (Brilliant!)
Now on with life. It's hard to really write about the things that have been going on. The last six months have been so bittersweet I have opted out of writing about any of it. The crazy thing to me is that this dance of joy, sadness, elation, anger, contentment, loss, fear, confidence and questioning; is life. Every single person on earth deals with the emotional roller coaster that it is. Somehow, God is God over all of it, knows what He is doing, and we are supposed to deal with the happenings of life as honestly and lovingly as we know how to. Every day I am excited about the life that God has given me, to marry Dayna and dream dreams with her. I am still learning to balance the joy of expectation with the reality of loss and suffering. I think about Nate every day and miss him. I ache for Rosanna and the rest of the Toews. I'm challenged to live life every day without regrets, yet often fall into apathy. I think about the tension between having so much materially, caring about things which are pointless in the end, and seeing others who live well with so little. All in all, at this point all I can say is that God is God, and I need alot of His grace to dance the dance of life. I think through it all my idea of what is important in life is being constantly refined and for that I am thankful. A line from Shane Caliborne's 'the Irresistable Revolution' struck me yesterday as I read:
"There will be many people around you who will tiptoe through life just to arrive at death safely. Dear children, do not tiptoe. Run, hop, skip or dance, just don't tiptoe".
Take that however you will. So thats it for now, hopefully the next time will be sooner than later...

skiing ostrich

Well, you'd think after not posting for about 3 and a half months, I'd have a ton of stuff to write about. And I do, but I don't really want to (write about it). But this you tube clip has given me reason to post again. In fact, it has given me zeal for life again! Thank you, youtube!
I may start posting again in the near future. Thanks for the patience...

The rumors are true...

Hey folks. Last friday I asked Dayna to marry me...(she said yes)

We are both super excited for what the Lord has in store for us...This girl rocks my world!, not that I need to explain that to you all, but she is my best friend and loves me just the way I am. Thats pretty cool.

PS. - sorry to those of you good friends who are finding out via facbook or my blog...it wasn't my intention but its the way things seem to go these days!

Yes Please

Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable His judgements,

and His paths beyond tracing out!

"Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been His counsellor?"

"Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay him?"

For from Him and through Him

and to Him

Are all things...

To Him be the glory forever. Amen

A God Moment

I had the chance to stand up for my buddy Stephen at his wedding in Rosemary, AB a couple weekends ago. I wasn't looking forward to the drive out, a solo mission; but knew at the same time that it would be good for me. It was. I'm going to keep this short. While I was driving, I remember coming up out of a little valley and cresting on a hill. I can't describe everything that was going on; I suspect to fully appreciate the plains you have to grow up farming them or something. Still, I lived in Saskatchewan for a few years, and every time I drive the prairies a nostalgic love courses through me. Driving from Calgary to Saskatchewan meant meeting friends; driving the other way meant going home...Either way, the drive is good. Anyways, I was coming up out of this valley, and there was a flock of birds flying about 100 meters in front of my car in the sky. The sky itself was a great blue, touched with the type of clouds that look like God didn't have a ton of paint left on the brush...my favorite. There were wheat fields on either side as far as I could see and not another car in sight. I was coming towards a train bridge which a train was crossing over...I couldn't see the end of the train in either direction. I haven't been overwhelmed by a moment like that in so long I forgot what it felt like. You know those quintessential moments where it feels like you are the only one on earth, and God is just letting you see Him for who He really is? Creator, Lover, our Glorious...Majesty. I hope that's what heaven is like.