A Vague Rambling To Most

It's amazing to me what sort of things you can witness here on this earth. Things happen that take the breath right out of you and just knock you back.

I feel like I've been knocked around a few times with a 2x4 in the chest and over the head. When I think about the challenges that are stacked against each of us, and the awful circumstances that arise, I can't hardly breathe and I certainly can't put things together or make sense of it.

I'm starting to count it as a blessing that I really don't know everything.

That leaves me in the best state I can be: trusting on Jesus to get me through each moment. I analyze everything in my life, from every angle I can imagine (some might call it "beating a dead horse") but it's moments like these that show me that the best understanding I can get in this world is that I will never understand why things play out the way they do. Thankfully, through all the heartache and pain, our world is covered with Love and because of that, you are guaranteed to see beauty in the most unlikely circumstances. And it shines most brightly in the the areas that are so deeply contrasted to it.

In these last few years I've seen troubles in ways I'd never imagine, ways that are so surreal I can hardly believe it, but one thing is true: my family is everything to me. This microcosm of people have impressed on me ideas and experiences that I'd never come to otherwise. But not mostly, not even usually, in the ideal way: through deep, thoughtful conversation; it has happened by going through the fire, the pit of life, together. We are a wild bunch, but I will never give up hope that Love will shine through, especially in the depths. This family has seen a world of hurt, so we're in line for a lot of beauty. There are so many things coming at us, trying to break us but I, for one, will fight tooth and nail for these people. The most beautiful part about it is, through it all, God is faithful and abounding in  love, peace, hope, healing, strength, and he doesn't shy away easily ; )

"It is now clear to me that the family is a microcosm of the world. To understand the world, we can study the family: issues such as power, intimacy, autonomy, trust, and communication skills are vital parts underlying how we live in the world. To change the world is to change the family."  --Virginia Satir

p.s.-I'll be away from my blog for the better half of this next week. Enjoy yourselves and may God shower you with beauty.