transitions, adjustments, and simple blessings

What a month of transitions August has been! I am presently making some mental adjustments even as I type this. I have worked three full weeks as a preschool teacher aide and substitute. I have worked with two different age groups in two separate classrooms. While my hours have been very sporadic these past weeks, I will settle into a permanent schedule beginning this coming Monday. One thing is for certain: I'm going to need a daily dose of Thieves oil to make it through this job. I spent my entire third week battling a pretty bad head cold and am still recovering. Thus, I am blogging to take my mind off the fatigue and stuffy nose. Even still, I am thankful for the chance to expand my experience by working with children in a classroom setting.

Earlier this month, Gungor released their much anticipated first album, One Wild Life: Soul, of their upcoming trilogy. Personally, their last album, I Am Mountain, didn't resonate with me as much as Beautiful Things and Ghosts Upon The Earth, which I still obsess over. I appreciated the new musical and lyrical styles on I Am Mountain and there are a few songs that really stay me, but overall I can't say it is my favorite. I do enjoy that Gungor is not afraid to explore new terrain and try different things, but I was super thankful to see them return a bit to their originally sound on One Wild Life: Soul. The songs are all very personal and any listener can pick up on the difficult life experiences that led to the creation of this album. I love art created from a back-breaking journey. Soul perfectly encapsulates the grief and the joy of this life. Gungor may create a lot of controversy with their music and their social media presence, but I deeply respect Lisa and Michael for their genuine hearts. In my opinion, they model a vulnerability in their faith that I rarely see among Christians. To doubt, to question, to think and say things that aren't deemed as "Biblical" in most church circles. While I don't agree with some of their view points, I appreciate that they aren't pretending. This life in Christ isn't about black and white language and clear-cut rules for life and theology. Many of us who have been touched by tragedy and the frailty of our flesh need room to stretch and to grow in the knowledge and love of Christ. None of us are assuming that we have "arrived" at the ultimate answers and, yet, we know, after all of our questions and presumed conclusions, we know He is the final answer. Thank you, Lisa and Michael, for songs like Us For Them.

Us For Them

When the lines are drawn
When you’re in or out
When it’s us or them
And we shame the doubt

It is all a lie
All we ever really need is love
There’s no need to shed more blood
Look upon the cross
Look upon the cross

See the face of Christ
See the mercy in His eyes
Every valley shall be lifted high
Now our enemies are blessed
The heavy laden rest
For His judgement is love
His judgement is love

There is no more guilt
There is no more shame
All our darkest sin
All our deepest pain

Blessed are the poor
All the lonely broken lost and torn
See a kingdom comes to us
A war that’s fought with love
Our only war is love

Prepare the way of the Lord
Wielding mercy like a sword
Every mountaintop will be made low
Know, He holds the earth like dust
And His judgement comes to us
And His judgement is love
His judgement is love

We will not fight their wars
We will not fall in line
Cause if it’s us or them
It’s us for them
It’s us for them

We reject the either or
They can’t define us anymore
Cause if it’s us or them
It’s us for them
It’s us for them

Cause if it’s us or them
It’s us for them
It’s us for them

Prepare the way of the Lord
Wielding mercy like a sword
Every mountaintop will be made low
Know, He holds the earth like dust
And His judgement comes to us
And His judgement is love
May our judgement be love

Autumn is in the air. The verdant green of the trees here aren't as lush as they were in July. I haven't experienced this sudden of a seasonal change before. Phoenix, quite obviously, only has about two defined seasons. Albuquerque definitely had four seasons, but the changes were more subtle and gradual. In Durango, this more obvious transition into Autumn is a very interesting phenomenon to me. I'm not sure if I am ready for cooler weather yet, but the change is coming whether I am prepared or not. Life is like that, too.

I spent a day picking through my in-law's garden earlier this month. Ripe berries, chunky cabbage and cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, onions pushing through the earth, and more. I took it as an opportunity to document my time harvesting the fruits and vegetables.

 

Last Sunday, Nolan and I packed up our boat and essentials and headed out to Lemon Lake. We spent over an hour on the water. The quiet was so therapeutic. I teased him as he rowed us to the opposite side of the lake. I, the princess, and he, the oarsman. I don't like to work too hard, you know. It's nice to have a husband who is your chauffeur for every activity, especially when he is as handsome as my man.

Storm clouds rolled in over the lake. Instead of returning home, we drove to Vallecito Lake and stopped in a local café for a most delicious lunch. The back of the café had large windows with a tremendous lake-view. We watched the rain move through the little valley as we dined. A perfect way to end the last month of summer.