October 16, 2010

Autumn Finds


Fall has arrived!  Though Chicago taunted us with 80-degree weather last week, the temperature has finally dropped, and the trees are brilliantly colored with oranges, yellows, and reds.  Glorious.


The "theme" of this week was Missions Conference!  Moody Bible Institute annually hosts this event, a congregation of worldwide missionaries and agencies, a refocus upon evangelism and the global church.  Though classes were canceled, we students were required to attend twelve conference sessions (in addition to regularly scheduled work and ministry commitments).  The week seemed short-lived and very, very busy.

Josh and I broke away from this busyness on Thursday afternoon.  He had noticed a consignment shop near the Sheridan Red Line stop, and he determined to take me there.  (He knows me well!)


My favorite consignment store in North Carolina is called "Second Go-Round."  See the correlation?  This downtown shop was certainly an upscale boutique.  The average price range was $39-$99!  At home, we charge $7-$20 per clothing item, so I cringed at most of these price tags.  Josh insisted on buying something for me, but my indecisiveness combined with the pricing made this a difficult process!  After combing the racks (twice) with my patient fiance, we did not leave the shop empty-handed.


Thrifting is marvelous, and spending time with Josh is even more so.  This week, he and I had several formative discussions about our internships, our future, and even a specific organization with which we would like to serve.  What an exciting season this is!

October 10, 2010

Coffee Helps

Another week has come and gone.  Honestly, it all blurs into a state of emotional heaviness.  The classes, chapels, hectic shifts at Panera, walks up and down Chicago Avenue, and occasional naps... processing and grieving the death of a friend is a surreal experience.

A high point of my week was Thursday afternoon.  Josh and I escaped to the Borders on Michigan Avenue for some much-needed time together.

We snatched some travel guides and headed upstairs to the Seattle's Best coffee shop.  Josh ordered an Izze, but I was in desperate need of comfort food.  A caramel latte and a white chocolate, macadamia, toffee cookie (warmed) did the trick!


As I sipped my drink and watched the busyness of the world outside our window, I relished the rest.  Talking, laughing, and planning with Josh is an unspeakable blessing.  We are best friends in the best sense, and I am grateful for his presence in my life.




"When my world is shaking
"Heaven stands
"When my heart is breaking
"I never leave your hands"

This song by J.J. Heller has been a comfort during this trial.  Though plagued by confusion, sorrow, and fear, there is a Rock higher than I, a Savior who loves, a Lion who is victorious.

"We blossom and flourish as leaves on a tree, and wither and perish, but naught changeth Thee."

October 5, 2010

Oh, My God

A phone call, a weary voice, hesitation to speak.  Bad news changes everything.  "He was killed."  Pause.  Thoughts fleet, the body sinks.  Oh, my God.


He was young and joyful, taken not by a freak accident or a deadly disease, but by another man.  Murder, sick and devastating.  An atrocity.


"Sometimes I cannot forgive
"And these days mercy cuts so deep,
"If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep.
"While I lay, I'd dream we're better, scales were gone and faces lighter,
"When we wake we hate our brother, we still move to hurt each other,
"Sometimes I can close my eyes and all the fear the keeps me silent,
"Falls below my heavy breathing, what makes me so badly bent?
"We all have a chance to murder, we all have the need for wonder.
"We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the plunder."


These words by Jars of Clay haunt me.  Intertwined with tears of grief is anger, a sheer disgust with human nature.  I fear the darkness.  The rage which possessed his murderer, the sick selfishness, the swift compulsion to maim a brother.  How fallen is man?  How fragile are the lives which surround me?  Oh, my God.  Deliver us from evil.

Though shaken by loss, I can rejoice.  In the presence of God my brother is liberated from this world and united with his Savior.  Hallelujah!  Eternal life, imputed righteousness, saving faith!

"Behold the mercy of our King,
"Who takes from death its bitter sting.
"And by His blood, and often ours,
"Brings triumph out of hostile powers
"And paints with crimson, earth, and soul
"Until the bloody work is whole.
"What we have lost, God will restore
"That and himself, forevermore
"When he is finished with his art,
"The silent worship of our heart.
"It won't be long until the rod
"Becomes the tender kiss of God."




[Encouraging has been this book by John Piper, from which the artwork is taken.]

Please pray for his family, and for the one who took his life.