Adventurous Life

Have you ever sat down in a hot tub at the end of a long day? The water is warm, you turn on the jets, and the bubbles begin. This is where you want to be--relaxation seeping in, stress flowing out, and peace settling upon you. Soaking it in and letting it go. Ahhhhhhhh. Life feels like a spa tub sometimes. On the surface, everything looks placid, but there are currents underneath. The top of the water may be generally smooth accompanied by the shhhhh of tiny little bubbles popping everywhere, or it could be like mini geysers propelling water sprinkles all around the outside of the tub. Just as the flow and force of the water is determined by the jets, the levels of stress in my life is determined by factors and events that cause or expose my insecurities, which then cause me (and my life) to feel unstable. I moved to a new place a couple of weeks ago. Currents swirl. I went on a two-week road trip to catch up with friends and share about Austria. Bubbles pop. I look at the fu...

I never really knew what it was to live Until I lived for You, Lord. I never really knew what it was to love Until I was loved by You, Lord. I never really knew pain, suffering, and misery Until I turned away from You, Lord. I never really knew the joy of coming home Until I returned to You, Lord. And of all the things I thought I knew I knew nothing, nothing Until I knew You.

"I have no husband." ~ John 4:17 I've always wondered about the woman at the well. What was her life like? What was she feeling? How did she get to such a place? Was she weary from all of her burdens? Now that I have met her, none of my questions have a been answered. I was sitting at a table with 3 Muslim women (Laura, Sarah, and Fiona*) from 2 different countries. We tried to get to know one another through the little bits we knew of German and English. I had told Laura earlier that I was single, and she replied with a smile and a laugh, "Good!" She is married. Fiona asked if I was married, and I told her I wasn't. She responded with, "Then I will pray a husband for you! Every woman should be married." I let that comment slide. She then shared about her family throughout the conversation. To sum it up: 1 child with one husband, 6 children with the other husband, all of them are in her home country, she is in a new country and not sure if she wi...