So, today is my birthday, first of all. Big 23, I absolutely don't feel any different... not one bit.
I was reading from a book today called "Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment." It's by Erwin McManus, this gnarly radical pastor down in Los Angeles who has done incredible things with his life. What led me to this book, is that I've been burnt out by reading the Bible recently, and haven't felt inspired to get back into it. So I picked up this book...
McManus' writing just blows me away. Each time I sit down to read a chapter or two, I walk away thinking that I need to get up off my ass immediately, and change the world.
The chapter day was called Falling Forward.
The idea is that Christians (and for that matter, non-Christians as well) get into this mindset in life, where they are comfortable, complacent, and unchallenged. Christians, who should be on the leading edge of practically everything in the world, instead sit in this position of half-readiness, where they are ready to fall back at the first sign of a challenge or danger.
In order to engage God to his fullest, to be challenged to the essence of who we are, we need to be falling forward in what we do. We likely won't see a pair of strong arms to catch us, or a safety net (or job security, 401k, even happiness)... but rather we'll get to experience what life is really made for, and God will direct the rest.
The last week has been great. I had the chance to go back to Colorado for a week of vacation, to enjoy the sun and the 4th of July.
My friend John and I drove from Santa Barbara last Friday. It was a long drive, since the previous night we had his bachelor party so we didn't get much sleep. After a long day of work we set off down the 101. Seventeen hours later, after a brief detour to Redlands, and a tense Portugal-England game on satellite radio we arrived in Colorado.
The few days with the parents have been nice and relaxing. Each morning consists of waking up late, eating breakfast in the sun while reading a good book, and then watching one of the world cup games. Evenings so far have included fireworks, hanging out with friends at bars, Colorado Rapids games, and good meals.
Whenever I come home, however, I become a bit nostalgic for Santa Barbara, even when I am only gone for a few days. I miss the smell of the sea, the warm morning sun and crisp night air, bike rides along the beach, the shining lights on the mountains in the evening. It is strange to think that I'll be leaving Santa Barbara, possibly for good this September, when I begin my trip. Right now, no plans exist to return...
The old cliche, "You can't go home again" seems more and more true as each week another friend leaves the Santa Barbara world; for marriage, Orange County, graduate school, etc.
