Wading through life

I have a professional colleague that calls New Orleans home. His name is Jason Jones and he is a brilliant photographer and a great guy. Pray for him when you have a chance. If you click the photo, you’ll see that he’s in the heart of the devastation.

He sent me a Christmas card this past winter. He and his girlfriend are standing in front of the old home they gutted and rebuilt. During shoots, he used to talk about all the work he was putting into it.

The Christmas card read:

We did it! We’re celebrating the Holidays in our new old home.

Joel — Thanks fro a great couple shoots. Here’s where all the money went! Merry Christmas — Jason

Now…I’m clearly speculating here…

I don’t know that he’s a Christ-follower. And just reflecting on how excited he was about his new home and all the work he put into it…the satisfaction of finishing the project… If by chance his home is standing in eight feet of water right now…what’s his attitude toward the God of the universe, who commands the wind and rain?

I always try to enter into the minds of people struggling with things about God — the tough, unanswerable questions…the ones Christians despise for existing. Why is there suffering? If God loves everyone, why would he send people to hell. Natural catastrophies such as tsunami, hurricanes, earthquakes and landslides…they don’t make a whole lot of sense. Too many innocent hurt.

We can offer pat answers like "because of sin," "because of the fall," "because God is just." But those only go so far — if anywhere — in the minds of the people experiencing the tragedy.

I think empathy of Christ followers needs to rise. So often, we try to offer people an answer, expecting some magic explanation to take all their pain away. Instead of deep theology, lets offer some practical, tangible love and support.

That’s one of the things I love about the Mennonite church’s relief efforts. Mennonite Central Committee is a very proactive relief outreach of the Church in response to Matt. 25:35-36.

The Lions are just killing me. Blood pressure level just gets way too high.

1st and goal from the 5.

Hold.

Hold.

Complete pass.

Complete pass.

Incomplete pass.

Field goal.

That’s been the story of the preseason.

It’s terribly unfortunate that John Madden has to be a Monday Night Football announcer, but I guess I’ll bear with it. I’m pumped about tonight’s game: Lions vs. Rams.

On another note, ESPN does a great job of making national news sports-related. They landed a bunch of interviews with athletes that are being affected by Katrina–and of course the Saints, who have been temporarily transplanted and have a wind-ripped dome they call home.

Well, since you haven’t guessed, I’ll let you know that today is the one year anniversary of this blog. I’m not even sure what my thought process was, but a year ago today I launched this Web site and started jotting my thoughts in digital ink.

This is also entry No. 200. A little 2 for 1 action going on. It would have been really neat to lauch my new Web site in time for this event. Just didn’t happen. But, it is in the works…so keep your eyes peeled. Not exactly sure what it’s going to fully be yet…but it will be an upgrade. Always moving foward, folks. Never going back.

Anyway… it wasn’t until Sept. 9 that I sent out the public-awareness e-mail inviting people to read by blog, but nevertheless Aug. 25 is the anniversary. My first entry was fittingly posted at 2:10 a.m.

So, what does one do on an anniversary? Reflect, of course. See where one’s come from…what the journey’s been like, what’s been learned… That sort of stuff.

I’ll spare you the reflection. If you want to journey with me through the goings-on of the past year or so…well…it’s all right here, just a few clicks away. Check out the archives; they’re broken down by month.

Links to a few major events:

• First post
• Welcome message
• My mindset entering the season of Chase’s accident
• Chase’s accident report
• Chase reflection
• I went to Utah
• Aunt Joyce passed away
• Dealing with junk
• JLS Christmas party
• Declaration for 2005
• The unsettling begins…
• …and a king emerges
• Art show 2
• Blog No. 100
• Chase semi wrap-up
• Mindset entering Wild at Heart
• Baby passed away
• Lane and Brody were born
• Boot camp wrap up
• Artistic theologian
• We have a driveway
• The desires of my heart
• My future ministry?
• Pistons lose game 7…on my birthday
• The rant
• On assignment
• A business model?
• Kolbe

I will say this: I’m miles ahead of where I was a year ago…personally, spiritually, professionally… across the board. And I fully expect the same to be true next year at this time. Hard to even imagine what life will be like then, but I’m looking forward to it.

Actually, there is probably no way you know what tomorrow is. But, I’ll let you know when it comes.