Thursday Randoms <3

Well, it’s been a while since we did randoms so here we go…off the top of my head as I was driving to work today:

Random #1

A few months ago, one of our pastors preached a sermon about something to do with Jesus and following Him. But the actual content has not been lodged in my memory. 

The thing that did stick was an opening illustration of disobedience that he gave us. 

Pastor Thomas talked about how irritated he gets when people turn into the wrong lane at an intersection. For clarity, if you are turning left, you should turn in the lane closest to the median. If you are turning right, the turn should be towards the curb. If there are two turn lanes, stay in your designated lane, bro. 

This is something that bothers me as well and I strive to do correctly.

99.5% of the time. 

My caveats are if I am going to need to make another turn from the other lane in a short span of time or if I am driving the man-truck and there is absolutely no other traffic coming and I can just make a wide swath. 

But now when I do that, 100% of the time, I say audibly or in my mind, “I am sorry Thomas.”

And I pray fervently that our young pastor is not anywhere within sight of that intersection. 

Random #2

Speaking of sermons and Jesus, I have heard this scripture repeated several times in the last few weeks:

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all,

and therefore all died.

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves

but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 

2 Corinthians 5: 14-15

This verse is important to me as I decided one year to start every morning’s journal entry by writing: The love of Christ compels me.

It was my way of grounding myself in what would motivate my thoughts and actions for the day. I loved the image of being compelled by, or driven forcefully by, the most gracious and merciful and kind love that exists. 

This is the greatest of oxymorons. 

To be forcefully driven by grace, love and mercy. 

Writing it out every day did impact my walk that year. Perhaps I need to revisit the discipline <3

Random #3

We had so many kind responses to the post yesterday for Rachel’s birthday. 

She has a gift of words herself and on her own social media post she shared some reflections on what it felt like to turn 40. 

I loved her assessment, but one part really touched me. 

She wrote how she had mused over what advice she might give her younger self.

After much thought she decided she would say nothing.

Her younger self wouldn’t have listened anyway, so she would just give her a hug and an iced tea and tell her she is doing great. 

That is golden <3

Random #4

Does anyone else have a thing about paper and pens? 

Like is it extremely important that the pen feels right in your hand, the ink flows smoothly and if you are signing a card, you have to use the same pen for inside and outside? 

Do you match your wrapping paper colors to your card if at all possible?

Does it matter that the tissue you tuck in a gift bag doesn’t clash with the colors of the contents? 

Just me?

Okay…I don’t think so. 

And if you know what I am talking about, let’s have coffee soon. I see you <3

Random #5

This weekend is Labor Day weekend. 

I know most of you are thinking about parades, picnics, the last boat outing before you store it away for the winter, tournaments, and just plain having Monday as a holiday. 

But I have a Labor Day memory that is tucked in my treasure box and pops up every year around this time. 

One Labor Day, my dad took me down to the riverfront in Louisville. They were having some kind of Labor celebration. There were booths and tables from unions and such. We walked around and I remember receiving all kinds of trinkets and stickers, pamphlets and gadgets to put in my plastic bag. 

Somewhere along the way I was given a heavy silver washer. The kind you put behind a bolt. It was manufactured by that particular company and they were handing them out. 

I can still remember feeling like I had been handed a gold brick. I know I still have it somewhere in my keepsakes. A reminder of a fun day with my dad learning about the people who really keep this country running. The workers. 

Happy Labor Day 

<3