Let Him Flood Your House... (One Year Later)

I kneel here daily to pray

(and as I speak to Him)

I find peace

in the place 

that once offered only panic

And this time?  Today?

He speaks back

says...

open your eyes

look up

remember

And as I do, I am aware that it has been almost one year

in this very spot

where I am

kneeling

praying

that my ceiling landed on the floor

And it's almost as if I can feel Him saying...

Yes, that was hard, but look up.

You have things now that you didn't have then

And I open my eyes to see

fresh paint

recessed lighting

a new ceiling fan

and soggy carpet that has been replaced

with hardwood supporting my full weight

as I worship here on my knees

Then once again my house begins to flood

(only this time with tears)

because you can only know Him like this

if a house floods...

when a house floods...

So, my dear friends, I want

to encourage you to please

Let Him flood your house

because yes,

you will

worry

cry

question

wonder and experience

the most vulnerable moments of your life

you will come to know

both calamity and comfort

fear and faith

and perhaps you may even panic

(right before you remember to praise)

But then, and only then,

can you look up to discover...

that the things you have now are

even better

much better

way better

than the things that you had then

"Faded memories are better than no memories"

- my Momma

Just Try... A Lesson From a Stranger

This Five Minute Friday shout out is to James

from Bella Gelateria in Vancouver

for his reminder to... "Just Try"

___________________________

We met him on vacation
and he captivated us right away

Ever met someone like that?

Someone with whom you feel completely

content
comfortable
familiar

And the irony is that although we had waited

in line
outside
for over 30 min

just for an opportunity

to experience
to taste

his internationally award winning gelato

he made us feel like celebrities

While...

gold medals
honors
news paper clippings on the wall

(proved that he was the best)

tasting his gelato and actually meeting him

(proved why)

Because just as we were leaving...

he pulled up right beside the crowd
and began manually unloading his own truck and

he saw us
he noticed
he stopped

to

thank us
talk with us
encourage us

And maybe he felt it too...

that we were

content
comfortable
familiar

because he invited us in
showed the kids how to make gelato

and told them

stories
secrets
successes

that reminded us to

"slow down"
"love what you do"
"embrace failure"

then "try again"

because as he simply put it...

Most people in life are afraid to fail, so they never try
which means... they have failed already