The Great Pursuit

Chip got loose tonight. For those of you that have never met Chip, he's our generally mild-mannered beagle that has a wild streak every now and then. We talk about getting rid of him or just letting him loose one day, but we never will. After almost 5 years, he's become part of the family. But, tonight he escaped from his warm, safe home to take a chance at making it on his own. He failed.

At around a quarter to 10, he was in the yard again: stalking whatever prey he thought he could catch. I slipped on my shoes and grabbed the leash. I had to catch him and bring him back inside. As much as he thinks he is "wild-at-heart," he really isn't. He could never survive on his own. It was my duty to bring him in to do what was best for him.

As I stalked him into the backyard, he realized the chase was on.
To him, it's a game. I chased him through the woods behind the houses along our street. He ventured into the backyards of our neighbors on Randall. He sniffed every bush, pursued every scent, and continued leading me along, ready to run at a moment's notice. After almost being seen by some of our neighbors, I continued chasing him, knowing that his rebellion was not good for him. I was very disappointed in him for running away again.

As I kept following him, my legs and arms got scratched by the branches and roots all around, yet I continued pursuing him deep into his rebellion. I would catch him. I had to. He was my dog. I watched him fail at catching a rabbit. He's too much of an indoor-dog to ever catch his own food. His diet as a wild stray would only consist of trash can cuisine. Still, I pursued him. Floodlights came on as the motion sensors picked up the chase. My eyes adjusted and I saw him standing in the neighbor's driveway. I snuck up, but he caught a whiff of my scent and ran.

Finally, he was the furthest away from home that he'd been all night. I was getting tired of chasing him during what was supposed to be a quiet evening. As he walked along a fence, I quietly stalked him, but he heard me coming. He turned to his left and started walking until he reached another fence. I looked and noticed a third fence that met with the one he was up against. Surrounded. There was no escape at this point. He realized that this was the end of the line. He couldn't make it on his own. He had come to the point of surrender. I lunged forward and caught him up in my arms. I was now covered in dirt, holding my dog. I told him that it was time to come home and go to bed. I stood up and started walking him towards home. Along the way, my mind started going over what would compel me to chase this dog through the woods and dirt on a quiet night.

In a way, I guess it's because I love him. He is my dog, and I want what's best for him. As disappointed as I get with him for running away time and time again, I know I would do it all over again.

Then it hit me. I'm safe, warm, and comfortable when I'm right with God. He provides everything I need; I have no reason to run away from Him. I can't make it on my own. I always end up empty and hurt when I try and do things independently of Him. I need God, yet I continually rebel and run away. Throughout my rebellion, he chases me and follows me into my dark and dirty sin. He pursues me. He watches me fail at surviving on my own. He wants me to come home again. Finally, when I'm all fenced in and realize how much I need my Father, He grabs me and doesn't let go. He tells me how much He loves me, and walks me home. He's scarred, dirty, and tired, but to Him, it was all worth it:

The Great Pursuit.

Father, thanks for never giving up on me. As I run further and further into my selfishness, you chase and pursue me.

"'I love you' could not be said a better way."

3 out of 4

As of this morning, I am done with 3 of my 4 classes for the semester! Turning in my Anatomy Final felt so good, despite being unsure of my grade.

My Philosophy class had their exam on Friday during class, so I didn't even have to show up this week, and my entire Writing grade comes from my portfolio that I turned in that same day. Now, all I have left to do is take a Statistics exam that I'm fairly confident about. Life is good.

David, Ryan, and I went out to Subway for lunch today. It was so cool to be home mid-morning on a Monday.

I only have this week and next left at Hage's. I wasn't heavily scheduled over these next two weeks, but 2 of my coworkers offered me some of their hours, so I won't just be sitting at home bored.

I'll be at Grace 5 weeks from tomorrow. I'm getting really excited and really anxious. I just hope I'll be able to make a good impact on my guys this summer. I always had awesome counselors every summer, and it's very daunting to try and live up to them. I guess the only way to find out is to just dive right in. (almost 2 weeks of staff-training should help, too)

In the meantime, I'm thinking about getting a new title / layout for my blog. I've had this layout since I started, and I've had this title for almost as long. What do you guys think? Any ideas? Comments? Suggestions?

Distant Relative?

This week, I went out to Olive Garden for lunch. While eating my breadstick I noticed some striking similarities...

I don't know. What do you think? Distant relative... or cheap imitation?

I forgot to post the rules last week:
Post your own picture on your blog and link to it in the comments. Dave normally does this, too, but he's slacking this week.

Ouch, Sunburn!

This is the most awesome weather! I'm blogging this from my backyard with the sun beating down on me (Typed at 2pm, posted later). The trees are just starting to bud, and everything just smells like spring. I don't know any other way to describe it. Chip is laying in the grass rolling back and forth getting all the scents of nature embedded into his "indoor-dog" coat. That actually sounds like fun... haha. Soon enough, I'll be done with school and I'll be able to sit out here without the weight of papers and exams on my shoulders. I only have to go to GVSU 4 more times this semester!!! I'll be done next Wednesday by 4pm!

I'e been listening to Sanctus Real's new CD a lot lately. It's called The Face of Love and it is amazing. "I'm Not Alright," "The Face of Love," "Fly," and "Benjamin" are becoming my favorite songs. Here are the lyrics to "Benjamin":

Rain falls outside.
I think the sky must know
What's happening tonight.
Children born while fathers die
It's that circle of life
That we all live inside

And we’ve been friends for a long, long time,
So if you can’t talk, just cry.
And know that we will talk
On the other side.

It’s bitter cold outside
But the sun still shines
‘Cause we can feel it.
Benjamin,
You mark the life.
That’s been left behind.
We see him in your eyes.

And we will be friends for a long, long time,
So until you can talk, just cry.
And know that we will talk for the rest of our lives.

And He gives and He takes, and He makes us strong
When He gives, He takes, and He makes us strong
When He gives, and He takes, and He makes us strong
When He gives, He takes, and He makes us stronger

We will be friends for a long, long time,
So until you can talk, just cry.
And know that we will talk for the rest of our lives.

‘Cause we will be friends for a long, long time,
So until you can talk, just cry
And know that we will talk for the rest of our lives.
Just know that we’ll be friends for the rest of our lives.

The band wrote this song when they were going through some difficult times. The lead singer’s son, Benjamin, was born the same night that his father found out he was dying very soon. I love the bridge where it says “When He gives, He takes, and He makes us stronger.”

How true.

10pm Update: I now have sunburn on my arms and face. Oh well, it was worth it.

So easy to say, so tough to live out...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV)

The truth of this passage has been shown to me over and over again, but it's not easy to live out. I need to make this real for myself. So often I go through life and lose focus when it comes to what matters most. If you're reading this, and you see me not following the message of this passage, kindly (or maybe not so kindly) call me out on it.

Thumbs-Up Thursday

The Captain of the Pirate Bus has started an Internet "trend" called Thumbs-Up Thursday. So far only a few people participate, but I'm sure it'll catch on... someday.

This week I've captured the essence of almost my entire Thursday: writing papers.

Of course, it's not all bad, I will get to enjoy a re-run of The Office tonight.

Wake Up and Smell the Earthworms

Greetings to all who've been on the edge of their seats waiting for an update. Yes, I see that hand. Great, all one of you.

I want to start off by saying that while I do carry an umbrella during the rain, I am not fruity, nor do I know how to carry it properly or practically so both my backpack and I can stay dry. I am secure in my masculinity and have not had the urge to drop-out of school to be a cowboy (although I have had the urge to drop-out of school (this urge, however, has been masked because I can't work at Hage's forever (I've become far too cynical))).

I've been rather busy doing nothing since my last post while I should be doing a lot of something. These last 2 and a half weeks of class are going to consume me... starting.... later.

I really do have a lot to do, and I was amused when I saw a Facebook group called, "Procrastinator's Unite... tomorrow."

Despite knowing what I need to do, I easily get distracted. It's so hard to focus on homework when some of my friends are on Spring Break this week. Luckily, most of them are already on their youth group trip to... somewhere, so I won't be distracted this weekend after work.

Spring is in the air, and it makes it so hard to concentrate on other tasks when the weather is warm and sunny. That's why I enjoy rainy days like today. They force me to sit down and get some work done (read: "blog").

Besides the smell of earthworms in the air, the smell of freedom reigns supreme. Looking at the calendar and talking with Keith this morning, I realize that in 19 days, I will be done with the semester! Even as I type my papers, part of me is already at Grace. I still have minor things to do to get ready, but May 30th can't come fast enough.

Until the next time I take the time to "starts with a U... ends with a pdate."

Adios.