A couple of months ago, I was having a bad day.

Now, I'm sure I've had bad days since that particular one, but this one stands out in my mind.

It was the kind of day that things weren't necessarily going wrong, but they certainly weren't going right.

I was feeling unproductive, unsuccessful and downright depressed. The sun wasn't shining, I couldn't figure out why I was feeling the way I was - which only made me more frustrated - and I didn't know where to go.

I was pondering where I was and if I was giving God my best - realized that I wasn't and that only made me sink farther into my bad mood.

Lost. That is how I felt. Lost, unfaithful and unworthy.

As I was walking and pondering my circumstance, I had my eyes glued to the sidewalk. I didn't want to fake a smile at the people passing by and I certainly didn't want them to guess that maybe all was not well.

Suddenly, into my view there came a dash of color on the gray concrete. I paused.

Something was written in bright blue chalk.

i love you.

"Really?" I wanted to ask. It was as if God had placed those words there just for me.

i love you. period.

I love you when you're lost, unfaithful, unworthy, undeserving, frustrated, depressed, angry, irritating. I love you when you refuse to love yourself.

Because that is what I do. It is Who I Am. I don't change. Neither does my love.

I won't let you forget it, even if I have to write it on a sidewalk so you'll see it.

"...for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth." Psalm 26:3

Bravery and Break Walls

In Traverse City there lies a marvelous oasis.

It is known as the Open Space.

The Open Space is surrounded by the crystal blue waters of Grand Traverse Bay and is the perfect place to toss a frisbee, read a book, watch a sunset or simply gaze at the clouds.

And after you do any of the aforementioned activities, it is always nice to jump in the water over the break wall. Just don't get caught. It's not what you would call "legal" - shhh.....

The other day I was relaxing on a ledge overlooking the break wall when I heard the scampering of little feet approaching. I looked up to see a young girl, about ten years old, running full tilt to the edge of the break wall.

Her steps slowed as she approached it. She cautiously looked around in every direction. Then began climbing through the rungs of the fence.

I glanced back down at my book and I heard a SPLOOSH!

Then there was another set of scampering feet. Again I raised my head to see a young girl - maybe a year or two younger - run up to the break wall.

Girl #1 was breathless and giggling as she climbed up the ladder out of the waves. "See, that shows how brave I am.", Girl #1 announced to her little friend.

Her friend looked from the first girl to the crashing waves below and back again. Eyes wide. Awestruck.

I chuckled to myself as I watched this scene before me. How many times have I felt the same way?

I see a challenge in my life - some crashing waves over an illegal break wall - and I feel the need to jump in. Just to see if I can do it.

Sometimes I come out breathless and triumphant. Other times, I'm choking on the water that threatened to drown me, vowing never to do such a ridiculous thing again.

But I think that's the point. If you don't try, how do you know if you can? Or if you can't?

We could stand on the edge of the break wall all day, pondering the risks and allowing fear to overcome us. But we'll still just be standing on safe ground. Wondering.

Maybe its time to get out of the comfort zone.

So look around. Check for cops. And jump in.

....Okay, maybe you should keep it legal.
But still jump in.

Liver & Onions: A Lesson in Anatomy

One word comes to mind when I think of Liver & Onions.

YUCK.

Of course, I really can't say that with any sort of legitimacy because I have never actually tried Liver & Onions. Maybe it is like Green Eggs & Ham and that is all I would ever want to eat after trying it...But I digress.

Let me help you understand my reasoning for the emphatic statement above. The Liver is an incredible organ. It filters three pints of blood every minute for detoxification, aids in the digestion process by producing the necessary biochemicals, helps with protein metabolism, hormone production, and the storage of glycogen.

You know what else? You can't live without it. There is NO substitute for your liver.

That being said, can you still tell me that eating something thats main purpose is the filtration of toxins and waste out of your bloodstream is really that appetizing? I didn't think so.

Well, in my attempt at making this entrée a bit more appealing, I needed to find out what the liver does with this filtered waste. After all, people actually eat this stuff, so it can't stay in there, can it??

This is what I found: The Liver filters the waste and uses it to create a very important alkaline substance that is essential to digestion. You ready for this?

Drumroll, please...

Bile. Yep, bile. Yum. Can you believe that God created our livers to turn our waste into something useful?? That a grotesque substance of filtered waste and toxins could actually HELP our body??

**As I marveled at this newfound information, I began pondering the bile that I create outside of my body. Usually its in the form of messed up conversations with others about my faith. The problem I've run into is this: I am wretched at talking. Writing I can handle, but talking? That's another story.

I can never get my words to come out the way I want them to, I never feel like I say the right things....it's a mess. Thankfully, though, God is a lot like our liver. He can take those messed up words and still use them to get His point across - if the person has a willing and open heart. Even if I feel like all it is is waste.

So does this mean God is a Trash Compactor and Recycle Bin all in one?

"The words of the godly are like a life-giving fountain..." ~ Proverbs 10:11a

**This is not permission to introduce mass quantities of toxins into your system just to give your liver a workout. Nice try, though.