RANDOMNESS
Reading and reflection time almost always brings life. Passages from Isaiah pulsating with the truth that God is not soft on sin, yet He is passionate about restoring His people. As Jim McGuiggian says, "The wrath of God works itself out of a job." Will we ever learn? Will we ever grow, change, mature? God's answer is yes. He is bent on doing you and me good, says McGuiggian. Maturity is a slow but, in the capable clay-crafting hands of God, sure process.

The cell phone e-mail that I sent my Japanese buddy was probably long enough to fill two pages (double spaced, courier new). In fact, it didn't even fit on his phone. It didn't really matter because he called me up and we went out for a little curry rice action, followed by a couple games of darts. We connected. It was real life talk - you know, fears about the future, big life decisions, ways of thinking and believing.

There is a curly-haired girl who lives half a world away. I talked to her on the phone for 36 minutes (about) and that too was an infusion of life. She is incredible. I am blessed.

I took a book to a church member who is in the hospital. Though the temperature inside the hospital is already quite warm, she is covered in blankets up to her chin. She said it hurts to move.

When the York College Concert Choir was here Megumi Hosoi was killed by a drunk driver. Today is her birthday and Crimsen is having dinner with the family. It's been about five months but the pain is still very near, like low lying clouds.