people

With how much we are shown the torture, the crisis and the pain that goes on in our world, it is sometimes so easy to forget what the heart of humanity can look like.  These past few days I have been moved to tears multiple times because of people.  None of these have been people that I know, just happen to cross paths at certain times.  The first was on Saturday morning while I was running.  There were two men going for a run together, both decked out in their athletic gear and looked like they were ready to go.  However, one of these men was in a wheelchair and suffered from some sort of muscle disease.  The man that laid in this specialized wheelchair had the biggest smile I have ever seen plastered across his face.  The second man that was pushing the wheelchair also sported a beautiful smile as he stretched.  I said hello, as I do whenever I pass someone while running, but I couldn't help to keep smiling.  Then I stopped and started crying (yes, in the middle of my run, burst out in tears, on the side of the road-probably a really humorous site for passerby's).  I couldn't not help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of what I had just seen.  This was a natural, most likely daily thing for these two by the looks of their fitness level, attire, and comfort of the situation.  Another was a group standing on the side of Roosevelt Rd. today holding large neon signs for a car wash.  I pulled over and asked what they were trying to raise money for and the man informed me that they were trying to fundraise for a family that had recently lost everything in a fire, their home and all of their belongings.  Thankfully, everyone was safe, but they had to start their lives over.  I didn't know the situation of who these people were, but they were devoting time and energy to help out a friend, family member or who knows, maybe even just an acquaintance.  The last one that I am going to talk about wasn't someone I came across but a video that I was shown today....

This man has such a pure heart.  The love that he shows for his fiancee is just unconditional.  All of these people are full of love.   A love that hopefully all of us will experience in our lives in some capacity.

Each of these encounters has brought me to examine aspects of my life.  Thinking about what I am actually doing with my days, how I am treating those around me, the love I am pouring out, am I really serving those around me?  A good friend of mine spoke into my life earlier this summer and reminded me of some lyrics from a favorite band of mine that really struck a chord in my heart..."In these bodies we will live/ in these bodies we will die/ where you invest your love/ is where you invest your life."-Mumford & Sons.  Something to evaluate on a daily basis..where am I really investing all of my love?

The Life of a Nomad

With this past week spent at my aunt's beautiful cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks, I was somewhat in the middle of nowhere, therefore no internet.  The lack of time in between locations didn't provide for enough time for me to post before I left either, so here is an update since camp.

STLF Leadership Camp 2011 blew me out of the water.  With the title, "Camp Wannalead," we themed the camp along the lines of old school summer camp, which turned out incredible!  A mess hall, main lodge, and bunks completed by about 70 eager young people ready to do something different.  These students were from all different backgrounds which allowed for a great dynamic.  I was fortunate to direct a group of 15 recent high school graduates.  The beginning of the week was a little rough for me, considering it was the first time I was really sick since last year.  However, I had two wonderful women at my side for these graduates as well as an incredibly staff around me.  Alright, back to the "leaders" (we referred to the campers as leaders, because everyone really is one!).  When I talk about these young people, there is no amount of descriptive words I could give to do them justice.  There was a wide variety of personalities and interests and future plans.  Some are taking a gap year and doing things like biking 9,000 miles or traveling the world starting in Australia.  Others are gettin' right down to it and going to school studying neuroscience, sociology, art and crazy things!  These are people to watch out for, they will be changing the world, they will be the extraordinaries we are talking about over coffee.

On my mind a lot lately has also been goal setting.  As far as school and work go, I usually am pretty set on achieving a goal.  However, I feel as if I make personal goals all the time that I don't follow through on.  Pretty sure the last one I feel that I accomplished was memorizing all the words to "Bust a Move" spring semester of my sophomore year.  Looking back at ones I have set and not accomplished though, I am not disappointed with them at all.  I have honestly learned something about myself through each of these.  Set out to read all the classics, which I would still love to do, but it has given me the opportunity to search for more books in general and realizing what is a classic? Who defines what great books are?

Anyways, much love!  Missing all of my world traveler friends lots recently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy4FXhkm6Nw

(I suggest this is a goal you accomplish as well...)

Blessed Is This Life

I have started to very much enjoy my alone time in the car when I have been traveling place to place, this is addition to running has given me a great amount of time to think and meditate on things that have occurred or are currently happening in my life.  Yesterday while making the journey from Green Bay, WI to Racine, WI, I was jamming out to Brett Dennen (LOVE, if you don't know it yet, you will too) and his song "Blessed" came on.  His lyrics always tend to get me going on some thought process, but this one in particular, "Blessed is this life and I'm going to celebrate being alive." Take a moment and think about it...

I have so much that I am continually blessed with, so why not celebrate every day?!  I have faced trials in my life that have left me scarred, but those scars have become a part of me.  They have made me who I am and I have no doubt that something positive has come from each and every trial.  Though it may be incredibly hard to see at times, trial is a blessing, an honor.  God trusts that we have the strength to endure.   Cool right?  In times of suffering we are being fashioned into the image of Christ who suffered beyond anything we could fathom.  Now seriously, kind of exciting right?!

This next week will be full of laughter, team building, exhaustion, and a ton of fun.  I have been blessed to be a part of an incredibly passionate group of young people brought together by the non profit, Students Today Leaders Forever.  In the upcoming days, college students and high school students will combine for camp.  Let me tell you, seeing these high school students and recent high school graduates come alive is one of the most amazing things anyone can ever experience and I am so very excited to be a part of it!  Look out for this generation, they are pretty incredible :)

wisdom for the day comes from Marley's aunt...

"getting jealous takes too much effort, it's really not worth it"

In the time I have spent in Vermont, I have realized something simple; all of the things we have yet to learn from a place that is incredibly easy to access.  This place being people.  I have always been told that people have a story and that you can learn from the people around you, but it is something that is becoming more and more evident in my life.  First, I am joined in Vermont by one of the most intelligent women I have ever met who isn't much older than I am.  Kind of crazy.  However, I have come to learn more from being around her on a day to day basis than I have in a long time.  Secondly, her family is incredible.  There have been mass amounts of stories shared, as well as knowledge that has left me curious on many different subjects.  For Memorial Day, we were joined by some extended family.  One of the cousins happened to be one of the greatest parents I have ever met.  She enlightened me on natural childbirth, nursing, and vegetarianism; all subjects which I have not been exposed to but will now be looking into more. 

We can not only learn from those that are directly in front of us, but those that have previously lived and those that may just live far away.  Tonight, we watched a film inspired by a certain poem from Allen Ginsberg.  This poem was the way in which Allen saw his life and saw the world around him.  Everyone has a view of what this world is, so why not look around and see what others are seeing?  

This all basically just left me inspired to ask more questions, read more memoirs and enjoy the company of others and truly getting to know them.

BREAD

Marley and I were able to conquer a few things today including BAKING BREAD (from scratch), opening an incredibly difficult bottle of wine, and playing British Croquet (or crochet as I have come to call it).  Turns out, I am not that bad at croquet. After we conquered that we made a fabulous dinner consisting of the above and adding some grilled chicken as well! Overall, great day but not much else to add that is exciting :)

Vermont!

I have now been in Vermont for a little over a week and let me tell you this place is incredible.  The people I have met already, the art galleries, and most of all the beauty of the nature that you are constantly surrounded by.  So far while being here I have learned a few things about myself:

1. I want to live somewhere that there are mountains.

2. Someday I will hike the Appalachian Trail.

3. There is a lot I have yet to learn about this world I live in, mainly the history of the Beatles.

4. I am neurotic.  This is mostly with having a schedule/plan, I have difficulties going without one or completely relaxing and being in the moment.  This is something I am working on.

There is so much more yet to discover and I know that each day will bring about something new.

Today, Marlena and I accomplished our first summit hike.  With guidance from her uncle, we headed towards Pico Summit.  The conditions weren't ideal for hiking, seeing as it was a little muddy, but hey, it was time for a good adventure.  We were warned that this trail was going to be pretty steep, but doable. This was completely true, at times it was a little steep, but beyond worth it.  Every step of the trail was like something out of a movie, just breathtaking.  We conquered the summit and made it back down, which ended up being about 6 miles in all.  A success I would say.

This is Marley and I at the summit (you can see the other mountain ranges in the background).  Check out my Facebook in the near future for more pictures of the trail!