I’m not dead yet… I feel happy…

I wanted to write and let you all know that I am, indeed, still alive. 

I was kidnapped by my job for the last several weeks, but I have been released back into the daylight, have sufficiently de-stressed thanks to my yoga class, and hope to be writing up a storm for the next several weeks.  So check back soon.

I also hope to update my photo.  My hair's not brown anymore -- I've been a blondie again for several weeks, and it's a little odd seeing my evil twin up there in the corner.

Keep your fingers crossed for me -- I hope to find out this week if I'll be able to go down to Mississippi in April to work with people still homeless after Katrina.  This has really been on my heart and I'm asking God to open this door if He sees fit.

In other news, I haven't stopped being amused by the Chuck Norris Fever sweeping the nation (or at least, the internet).  My newest favorite:

When the Boogey Man goes to bed, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

***

Dan -- dear friend, pastor, mentor and all-around pain in the ass sometimes (he simply refuses to let my sorry self fall off the radar) -- and I have been dialoguing at length about what we dream about when it comes to "church."  What that community looks like, what it values, who it reaches out and embraces, how it embraces them, how it points people to Jesus.  We're meeting for coffee tomorrow -- email conversations just don't cut it when you're talking about these kinds of things. 

Normally after these kindred-spirit conversations, my heart and brain are full and I let go of my cynicism for a while and dream again, like I used to.  I am looking forward to it.  You might hear some ramblings about this over the next few weeks or so.

In general, I'll do my best to slow down and knit some words together.  I sense that God is quietly at work in me even in this crazy season, and I don't want to continue to let frenetic activity keep me from paying attention, or from being grateful. 

Busy or not, I only get once.  There have been sunsets I've missed too often; far too many whispers of grace I've been too distracted to hear.  Not good.  Luckily, I'm a huge wuss and my heart won't let me go too long or too far without the alarms going off and reminding me that I'm not all that strong on my own.

No more.  God, I'm watching.  And listening.  And very, very hungry.