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New York
I love to take long road trips. Especially to places I haven't been before. One of the 'bucket list' trips I wanted to take was to New York City. It's not just because of all the media attention that I wanted to go, but something really appealed to me about being in a huge city and feeling small and anonymous. I took my bike down and decided to bike all around Manhattan Island. I planned on this trip to be a 2 3 day silent retreat which only heightened the sense of noise, people and aliveness of the city. I stayed in hostels took in some of the tourist sites and sat in silence for hours at a time (Rockefeller, Statue of Liberty, Empire State building,[url=http://www.chanel-handbags.us@#$%&/]chanel handbags[/url], Central Park, Time Square, Art museum).
One of the great surprises of the trip was the way people were really nice to each other. I love to people watch and I expected to hear horns honking, people swearing and yelling at each other just like the stereotypical portrayal of New York. I didn't see that though at all! What I saw were moments of generosity,[url=http://www.raybansunglassesoutleta@#$%&/]@#$%& wayfarer[/url], grace and welcome.
The two mornings I was in New York, I would go for an early morning bike ride through Central Park (5am) and then I went to a local Starbucks at Broadway and Central Parkway (Columbus Circle) for a coffee and atmosphere. I like people watching, and I got a lot of time to do this on this retreat especially at this Starbucks.
One of the first things I notice walking into this smaller, very busy coffee shop with a very long line up, and everyone seemed quite content to be slowed down at 7:30 in the morning in New York! No one complained, no one yelled out "can we get another person working behind the counter to speed things up?" (which I have seen many times in Canada) Also as I grabbed a seat by the window beside a man, he smiled, welcomed me,[url=http://www.michaelkorshandbagsclearance.us@#$%&/]michael kors handbags clearance[/url], and even moved his stuff a little over to give me room even though I had tons of room to sit. That same man even struck up a conversation with me about computers (which I had pulled out) and life. (yes this broke my silent retreat, but worth it)
At first it was over what technology is available now (a topic I am not versed in by any means), but then moved into a talk on how people are so busy and distant from each other. At first I thought 'of course, this is New York" ( a little prejudiced I guess) but he told me he's lived in New York for many years. I believe he had Jamaican roots. Our conversation never got into spiritual things but his presence with me was a reminder of the Holy Spirit who welcomes, engages and makes me aware of the important things.
I also tend to be pretty shy when it comes to meeting people, especially in large group contexts. So my position is usually let others lead and initiate most conversations. This man took that in a way that was safe and engaging (yes I thought I was being set up for something for a split second J, but there was such a disarming genuineness in his eyes)
Later I saw a man who would typically be called 'homeless' standing near my bike. He was paying special attention to it as he smoked and I was glad at that moment I locked it up(not that my bike draws special attention). He walked over to it,[url=http://www.prom-weddingdresses@#$%&/]bridesmaid dresses[/url], leaned over it and fidgeted with it for a sec. I felt like I had to run out (thinking he had wirecutters ) and felt the lump in my gut of a very possible confrontation. As I stood,[url=http://www.louisvuittonoutlet-online.us/]louis @#$%& outlet[/url], I could see more clearly that he was actually turning my headlight off.
I had a battery powered headlight that sat on my handlebars so I could bike at night. I had gotten up that morning at five to ride in central park and once the day got light enough,[url=http://www.@#$%&-scarpe.it/]@#$%& scarpe[/url], I forgot it was on. This man saved my battery!
I did finally get up and went to him and thanked him for such a considerate move (with a bit of humble pie to feed my prejudiced self). He said to me "oh I hate that myself on my bike so I thought to save someone else the hassle". good moment. So good trip and with all considered, I took a picture of the sun just peaking around the skyscrapers as a reminder of the dawn, a reminder of light in darkness,[url=http://www.hollister-abercrombie.fr/]abercrombie and fitch[/url], and considerate/welcoming/generous people in one of the busiest places in the world.
After the trip, I painted it as a reflection and reminder to my own soul. Nothing special, but saved lots on counseling over it!
I took my girls and my mom to a resort in Quebec. I was given a free week to stay at a time share by a gracious gift,[url=http://www.truereligionjeansoutlet.us@#$%&/]wholesale true religion jeans[/url], that the owners couldn't use so it landed in my lap.
The girls were pumped! (ages 6,4, and almost 2) I was excited but I was much more involved in the journey because of the energy and anticipation of my girls. They are adventurers! I have seen on many occasions where my girls all of a sudden become much more loving, forgiving, gracious, generous, at peace, and wide eyed on the adventures we take. This can happen with a walk through a local park or forest,[url=http://www.louisvuittonpursesbag.net/]louis @#$%& bags[/url], but was clear to me on the trip to Quebec.
The 6 7 hour trip was filled with stops, and interactions about where we were going. The girls did great (as opposed to fighting and crying all the way) We finally landed at the place and settled in. The resort was nestled in a valley of sorts on a lake. Each day we would swim (they had an indoor pool,[url=http://www.nikefactoryoutletstore.us@#$%&/]@#$%& outlet[/url], outdoor pool and a lake!), go for a hike up the cliff (half a KM uphill!) and pick raspberries and blackberries all around us.
My kids have this amazing and healing way of seeing nature. Rocks, trees, plants and bugs are wondrous and worthy of hours of their attention. I am one who has a hard time slowing down and was pleasantly surprised and refreshed at the pace the kids wanted. It was that child like approach to the trip that made the whole thing such a memory.
I got the strong sense that God was reminding me over and over that I need to be more like my girls each day of my life wide eyed, wondering, anticipating, gracious, generous. I was finding it quite easy to get stuck in negative spirals at the time we went on the trip and I needed to do heart check. I still read and prayed and wrote in my journal, but still couldn't break the pattern. I was getting quite discouraged by my negative slump. It was the letting go of my concerns and me centeredness and focusing on my girls that started kicking the door open to joy. I knew the verse "Whatever things are pure,[url=http://www.polo-ralphlaurenoutlet.us@#$%&/]@#$%& outlet[/url], lovely, excellent, worthy of celebrate focus on these things (Phil 4:8),[url=http://www.truereligionjean.cc/]true religion clearance[/url], but having it modeled for me was what I needed. I am grateful for God for my little teachers!
Over the last little while, I have been finding time to reconnect with my adventurous side. I could blog long entries for each of these adventures,[url=http://www.lululemonoutlet-canada.ca/]lululemon[/url], but since I haven't written in a long,[url=http://www.ghd-hairstraighteners.co.uk/]ghd hair[/url],, long,,, long time, I will sum up those adventures with pictures and captions. Each of the stories have been deep meaningful times of reconnecting with God as well. He has been showing up to me in the ways I have needed to hear, and in the ways I have needed to be grateful (Worshipful)
Worship for me in about capturing and celebrating the ways God reveals His character, heart and presence in my everyday life. That seems to take a new level for me when I am in an adventure mode. I think it is possible to see God in a new way because of the adventurers heart. One who goes on an adventure (whether some corner of the earth,[url=http://www.abercrombieand-fitch@#$%&/]abercrombie[/url], a missions trip, or on a vacation to a new land or area you haven't been before) carries some key skills to seeing and worshiping God:
1,[url=http://www.oakleysunglasses-outletcheap@#$%&/]oakley sunglasses[/url]. We tend to be more heighted with anticipation of something that is going to happen.
2. We have 'wider eyes' so to speak speak and notice the details of that day and place (smells, sounds,[url=http://www.toms-outlets.us/]toms outlet[/url], landscape, people, needs and uniqueness)
3,[url=http://www.soccershoes.us/]@#$%& mercurial[/url]. We tend to have a greater openness to others generally (mainly because we have to rely more on others)
4. We have an extra energy to share the adventure with others when we get back. This trip was a bit different, because I came with a very searching and contemplative heart. I also felt I needed a place to just be alone. So with no plan for food (just fishing), no caffeine or alcohol and some good books, I began a week long silent retreat of sorts. It was weird not have others with me to share the trip,[url=http://www.cheap-soccerjerseys@#$%&/]usa soccer jersey[/url], to ask "what is the plan for today?", or "What kind of sandcastles do we build today?" (having 3 girls is a different trip to than being alone)
So I began a time of swimming, walking, reading, and a lot of just meditating on the beach. In those times, I was very focused on my deep human needs and how Jesus wanted to meet me in those times. As I hoped for profound and weighty thoughts from the bible and the collective wisdom of those who have gone before me, I found a different deep insight being introduced to me The presence of the suffering Christ.
I felt in those time of reflection,[url=http://www.new-balance574@#$%&/]newbalance[/url], Jesus was beckoning me to a portion of beach which was a place of letting suffering just be. I didn't discover this right away because I was too busy journaling and reading in a mental search for God to heal my deep longings. Yet, He waited for me each day in that place and I quickly realized the things I sought came with just being with God,[url=http://www.polo-ralphlauren.it/]@#$%&[/url], rather than trying to understand Him. I realized this on day two of my seven day adventure. After that initial day,[url=http://www.longchamphandbags-outlet@#$%&/]longchamp handbags[/url], I would at first reluctantly make my way down to meet Him on the beach. Mostly because I know very well I am not comfortable with suffering especially emotional suffering. Yet that is exactly where Jesus wanted to dig into. I have gone to counseling, spoken deeply over the years to friends over my emotional state, but nothing went a deep and shook me as these beach encounters. It was like a big plow was carving up the hard ground with all the roots, rocks and leached soil of my heart. I would have never thought that was the case of my heart before, but carefully and quickly Jesus opened this broken package up in me with amazing love, acceptance and care. And he did it with allowing me to see His suffering and tears for me just lovingly sitting with me and allowing myself to be real about myself.
So many times I have seen the victorious Jesus, who is risen and very active in our world around us in the transformative work of the Kingdom and rightly so. Jesus is also the suffering Christ, which I have seen so much in some of the work in drop in, hurts of my community and the devastation of the global community that many of my friends are involved in advocating for.

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