A month ago I moved to Portland, Oregon for an opportunity to work with some very special children. Unfortunately, I really do not know anyone here aside from the families that I work for, so last night I set out on a mission to meet some new people with similar a interest— a love for running! I arrived at the Red Lizards Runners meeting post just in time to sign my name on the release waiver, grab a small map, and hit the pavement (I know that I should have arrived earlier to introduce myself, but I got lost).

I started out next to a girl who was inevitably far too fast for me to run along side and breath at the same time, so I slowed my pace and grew content to follow the long line of runners in front of me. After about two miles of running by myself I noticed some men running toward me making the return journey back to the meeting post. I waved and smiled in effort to say, “Good job!” without using a great deal of energy.

Most of the men smiled, waved, or were actually able to mumble “Good job;” but one gentleman I passed motioned to his friend, “Hey, look there is girl who thinks that she can keep up with the men.” All of the sudden I noticed that all of the ladies who I started with were nowhere to be found. Not only had the ladies disappeared, but I was at the very end of a long line of men with whom I was struggling to keep up. All the sudden it seemed a lot darker outside. I arrived back at the post and everyone was gone. I ended my little trek just as I had started: alone. I am a little baffled. I don’t know where everyone went so quickly, nor how I got so off track. There really has to be a better way to meet friends than this. Suggestions please…

What if every possession you owned fit into a small shopping cart? This morning I went running in a park on the outskirts of Portland, and along the way I found a beautifully wrinkled old woman. She was sitting on one of the park benches shivering from the cold, yet her naked hands tightly griped her shopping cart. Sadly, the small cart wasn’t even full. I couldn’t help but think about my warm apartment overflowing with “things” that I grip so tightly. I honestly don’t think that I am a strong enough person to live in the shoes of the wrinkled lady I saw today. What about you? What if every possession you owned fit into a small shopping cart?

"Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are lovely... meditate (ponder, think, focus) on these things."
Philippians 4:8

1. Reading an interesting book with my favorite cup of joe
2. Sleeping in next to a special someone
3. Massages (neck, back, feet…)
4. Running in the rain
5. My dad’s hugs
6. Candlelit baths
7. Taking pictures
8. Watching girly movies in my pajamas
9. Traveling to new places
10. Having meaningful conversations with loved ones

What are some of your favorite things?

The other day a little boy named Jordan had to sit on the fence for recess because he was being naughty all day long [making farting noises during lessons, pushing classmates, not doing work, etc.]. After he had served his time on the fence, I asked him, “How are you going to act tomorrow so that you don’t miss recess?”
He responded by saying, “Teacher, I think that school should just be fun for me. I just don’t think that I should have to do any work.”
At first I wanted to laugh but later I thought, “How often am I just like a little kid in my spiritual life?” When struggles arise I often call out to God, “Lord, I just don’t feel like I should have to do any work… Life should just be fun and exciting for me.”
I wonder if God giggles when his grown children talk as though they are six years old. I am old enough to know that God does not allow me to endure challenges for my personal enjoyment, not that joy cannot be found in the mist of trials. Rather, I am in difficult situations in order to learn something for the future.

“Life dies inside a person when there are no others willing to be-friend him. He thus gets filled with emptiness and a non-existent sense of self-worth.”
- Mark R. J. Lavoie

Like many people I keep my days rather full, going from one place to the next without much regard for those around me. Ironically, I think I keep my schedule full in effort to prove that my life matters. To prove that I am important. A small moment in my life proved the opposite to be true.
A few days ago, I went into a local Starbucks in need of a good afternoon pick-me-up and found an important lesson waiting just beyond the counter. One of the barista’s working behind the counters appeared to be having the same kind of day as me: an unappreciative, friendless day. With eyes scrunched, and hands moving franticly from one order to the next Matt worked diligently to meet the needs of the coffee addicts waiting in line.
After my coffee was prepared I looked Matt in eyes and offered a simple, “Thanks Matt, I’m sure the coffee will be delicious.” Before heading out the door.
The next day I went in to that same Starbucks to find Matt behind the counter again. Before I reached the stand I was greeted with a wonderful smile and words of thanks.
“Hi, I wanted to thank you for being so nice yesterday. You really made my day.”
It’s funny how some of life greatest lesson are found (or perhaps re-found) in some of the most unlikely places. I can’t help but wonder (as Keri would say) how hard is it to make someone else’s life a little more worthwhile?