Amazing Grace

My sister & I went to see the film "Amazing Grace" yesterday (check out her thoughts here); I was at once drawn in, lifted up, and deeply moved as I saw Wilberforce's life story unfold onscreen.

As viewers of a film, we have the privilege of knowing the outcome of Wilberforce's tireless efforts to end the slave trade before the film even starts. In the two beautiful hours that his life is summarized in film, we can see the hand of God moving and we can see his own community supporting, encouraging, and inspiring his efforts. Should I pursue politics, or a life devoted to God? Those who surround him say we are here to suggest that you can do both. I was struck by how uniquely God himself had equipped William Wilberforce to be the voice of the abolitionist movement and how instrumental community was to seeing that purpose carried out.

Year after year, Wilberforce brings his abolition bill forward, and year after year it is defeated in the parliament. His deep conviction is inspiring, and the faith that carried him forward in spite of years of political opposition and failing health is nothing short of miraculous. I could feel the Holy Spirit being stirred inside me as I thought of the pursuit of my own calling and the opposition I am only beginning to face. It is what anyone who is living out his or her calling can expect.

I am struck by the reality that Wilberforce was every bit as human as you or I. He probably did not expect anything so extraordinary as the abolition of the slave trade to be accomplished by his obedience and his efforts. He could not see his life in the context that we are able to see now. However, by God's grace & design, he found himself in a unique position to be the means by which the eyes of a nation were opened and a horrific, dehumanizing practice abolished.

On my own, I am not capable of anything extraordinary. I am every inch a human, I am flawed, and I have been guilty of believing that nothing much will happen because of me. But if I believe God's word, I have a unique deposit of grace that He has given me for the purpose of advancing His kingdom on earth (Eph 2:8-10). Perhaps He has uniquely positioned me also to be a blessing to others in ways I cannot now know. The ways in which God will use me may not be as public in those which He used Wilberforce, but the purpose He has for each one of us is His own purpose and is still significant, even when hidden from the eyes of the world.

If I had a God's-eye view of my own life, what would I see? I am certain that the view I have of my own life is too myopic; why couldn't God use me to do something extraordinary? In faith, in community, in obedience, in perseverance ... by the extraordinary, amazing, unfathomable, limitless grace of God, anything God purposes can be accomplished through one of His children. Imagine what can be happen when the community of faith is obedient! When I think on this, my mind reels; I am overwhelmed ... the possibilities are as vast as God Himself. God is great, indeed.

AMAZING GRACE!! Amazing doesn't even begin to cover it ...

5 Minutes of Sunshine

The Pacific Northwest is perhaps best known for the mountains, the green trees ... and yes, the RAIN. Especially in the winter months, we learn to seek sunshine in other ways. This is my contribution.

Click HERE to enjoy!!

P.S. If you haven't seen Little Miss Sunshine, this clip may spoil it for you. Read a description of the movie from a previous post and if so inclined, go rent it!

Gastrointestinal Update

Yesterday I was finally able to see my gastroenterologist, Dr. Stiner (for those of you needing to catch up, click here & here for a description of my stomach troubles). As expected, the appointment was brief as we went over the types of symptoms I had been experiencing & describing at length how those were affecting me.

Sadly, I wasn't surprised to see that when they weighed me in, I had lost an additional 3 pounds since I was last weighed at the doctor at the end of December (this makes a total of 12 pounds lost since this ordeal began back in June; 10 of these pounds have been since November 2006). If you haven't seen me since my college days, I had already shed a few pounds & pant sizes from working out regularly & good, healthy eating. I maintained a healthy weight for years until the stomach troubles started. With my DNA, I never thought I'd have the problem of not being able to keep the weight on! It concerns me since my body may not be absorbing nutrition from the food I eat & whatever my condition is also has resulted in a greatly decreased appetite.

I have been scheduled for an Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy on March 7 (two weeks from today). Basically, they will give me some drugs to knock me out, take a tube with a camera & go through my esophagus to get a view of the whole upper GI tract (this includes the esophagus, stomach, and the upper portion of the small intestine). This way they can see any lesions, ulcers, or other abnormalities that could be causing the stomach pain I've been experiencing over the last several months. This should only take about 45 minutes to an hour after which someone will be driving me home. I will be taking the following two days off of work since I tend to stay loopy longer than the average patient after taking narcotics!

He listed a few multi-syllabic medical terms indicating what he thinks it could be given a description of my symptoms, but the forthcoming tests will really be the only indication of what's really going on down there.

I will keep you all updated as I found out more!

The Beauty That Surrounds

I feel very fortunate to live in an area teeming with natural beauty & to be in a community dedicated to seeing that this beauty is preserved. My sister & I took advantage of the unseasonably warm February weather this past weekend (56 degrees F) to walk down to the lake. It was a calm & beautiful day. Days like these can't help but ease the soul.

...he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

- Psalm 23

Pausing to Breathe

Psalm 8 (NIV)

O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise

because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

It's Here!!

The new laptop has finally arrived! After many frustrating phone calls with FedEx, I was finally** able to arrange to pick up my laptop at a local holding facility.

WOO HOO!! Let the writing begin ...

**When I ordered the laptop, I requested that it be shipped to my mom's place of business. I even spelled the street name twice for the representative who took my order. My mom's place of work receives several shipments daily & this way I knew that my package could be signed for and in a safe place. However, it was only when I received notice on my apartment door last week that FedEx had attempted delivery did I discover that due to some unknown mishap, my billing address was also listed as the shipping address. Originally, they told me I could not pick it up, it had to be delivered. Then they told me I could pick it up in a holding facility 30 miles south of where I live. That was clearly not my best option & I became flustered at the shocking lack of customer service being displayed. The FedEx representative remarked that delivery would be attempted the following day. When I replied that I have a full-time job and could not wait at home all day for the package, the representative said "really?" as if it were the most incredulous thing he had heard all day that I should have a job. When I asked to have it re-routed, they said only the shipper could do that. So I called the shipper & they told me sorry, they were unable to re-route the package (even though I had originally given them a different shipping address). Finally, I called FedEx again yesterday & they are holding it for me at the local FedEx facility which is just a couple miles from where I work.

At last! SIGH.

Photosmart

It's in the name of my new digital camera, not an adjective that describes me. Maybe with practice, I one day will be proficient enough to call myself "photosmart".

I was thrilled to receive my new digital camera yesterday. It is an HP Photosmart M627 Digital Camera. I don't know all the tricks just yet, but am having oodles of fun experimenting with various self portraits (which is not recommended when you just get done working out at the gym) and pictures of my feet (also unpleasant to look at post-workout).

As soon as I receive my laptop & establish an internet connection, I'll be in business. Ain't technology grand?