Exploring....

Oftentimes, I'll admire the works of more advanced photographers. I'll wonder where they come up with their creative concepts, and how they find such interesting locations. It's definitely caused me to look at the world around me through a different lens..... could that garden provide good photo ops? Could that abandoned building? How about that field?

For those of you who've visited my home in Ottawa, you'll know that they're developing the suburban sprawl like CRAZY.... right behind my neighbouhood. It makes shopping really convenient of course, but it makes me sad too, to see all those beautiful fields (that I never particularly appreciated before, btw...) built over. They've built plaza's to the east and west, and now the only patch left is an abandoned property directly behind my house.

All this to say that for the past couple of months I've been inspired to go exploring on that property, and see what there is to see. Seize the day and all that! After an initial 15-minute walk-about several weeks ago (after which my camera batteries died on me.....), I finally went back recently. Here's what there is to see:







I thought the markings on this bug looked neat...

Found this one hiding amongst the grass......

Is this what an ant sees?

Love this......

Last shot of the day..... another favorite. This one's for you, Chungi & txp!!

Productive Delay

"Waiting on God isn't about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It's part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life. Waiting on God isn't to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan. Waiting is an essential part of the plan. For the child of God, waiting isn't simply about what I'll receive at the end of my wait. No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I'll become as I wait. God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what He's promised. Through the wait He's changing me. By means of the wait He's altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires. Through the wait He's causing me to see and experience new things about Him and His kingdom. And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in His redemptive hands." (Paul Tripp - Meditation on Psalm 27) - as seen here.

I love this reflection. So often in life we are waiting for something.... waiting in line at the store, waiting to see if we've been accepted into school, waiting for water to boil, waiting to meet that Special Person to share your life with, waiting for God to lead you towards that next step in life.... In our age of instant-everythings, this is one of the worst things that can be imposed on us, but whether the situation be serious or less so, the bottom line is that we spend lots of time waiting. I would even argue that we 20-somethings are in the life-stage of waiting as we stand at a great cross-road, trying to discern God's direction, purpose, and passion for our lives.

So how do you deal?

I like this seemingly revolutionary perspective.... that waiting is not purposeless. For me, I am finding that letting God shape my impatience has turned lonely, directionless, or frustrating times into days where I can hope and smile and serve genuinely. I have come to realize that it's ok to be waiting.... to not be there yet, even when it seems like everyone else is miles ahead of me. I know the end-goal will be worth it, and I have such hope in the promise that my Lord has only good in store for me. But more than that, I look forward to who I'll be when I get there..... someone who started by saying "yes" to God in faith, and is hopefully just a little bit more like Him by the end of the process.

What are you waiting for in your life? May the reflection above encourage your heart and motivate you to seek His.


Sola gratia.

Quiet Friday.....

It's Friday. After a huge rush of a week (meetings, seminars, hotels, hearts, and throw in a couple of foreign countries!), the weekend is finally here! Delicious.... I can hardly wait to sleep in tomorrow. Mebbe I'll actually get around to baking my cookies this weekend. ;) It's pretty quiet around the office this morning..... the quiet murmur of meetings in other cubicles can be heard, and I'm sitting here eating oatmeal for breakfast (Sonja!) and looking over a translation request.

In other words, I will be bored quite soon. :p

Exhilaration.

I haven't felt this way in so long. Maybe never. Have you felt anything like this before? A feeling that comes out of no-where and knocks you off your feet..... something so intense that it can pick you up from the deepest melancholy and make you soar up to the heights.......... It's pure excitement and headiness and giddiness..... It's a buzz in your head. I can hardly sit still. I'm eating but I have no real appetite -- my heart pounds and my tummy tingles. I'm feeling more alive than I have in days, and I'm sure I have a stupid grin on my face.

I don't know why, I don't know how. I don't know what this means. This just is.

Why do I feel this way? Why does this keep resounding in my head, my heart?