Friday, March 11, 2011

Check the Fan Pulls

Is it shaking or is it me?  Another dizzy spell spawning from the depths of my vertigo?

Or is this more?

The room spins, but this time things are falling (look up, look up, see the fan pulls shaking)

The earth rocks

This time it's not me, I'm dizzy but this time for different reasons

This is an adaptation of a facebook feed from my cousin in Japan over the past couple of days / before the 8.9 hit.  She is all right but they are out of power for an unknown amount of time.  

Tell a story in 55 words and post the link here with G-man for Flash Friday 55!  Come and play.

Monday, March 7, 2011

A Love Story - Part 3

(Part 1 is here.) 
(Part 2 is here.) 

Grayson could feel the cold of the floors through his shoes while he waited for her to enter.  Before long she would appear from the back and walk down the aisle towards him, then stand opposite as the proceedings began.  Cameras crowded the room along with so many men in suits.  He waited with a nervousness he hoped to subside but would not fade, even with this days end.

Through the sea of jackets he heard the rear doors open.  He stood and turned, eyes that had seemingly been dried out began a flood of salty emotion again.  Amidst several escorts she stood, hair straight back, dressed in a white suit, belly protruding at the seven month mark.  Back-lit from the hallway she seemed to glow, head down, eyes swollen and red.

She walked down the isle with every intention of not looking in his face, forcing her stare to stay on the floor but as she passed through the small gate that separated crowd from participants she was burned by his glare and glanced his direction.  Their eyes met for an instant that hung momentarily until an attorney swept her to her position behind the opposite desk.

"All rise" was the next call as the judge entered the room and proceeded to his bench.  "Be seated."

"Today a ruling will be made here that will spark criticism and controversy for decades," the Judge began, " it has only been three years since the landmark decision of Roe vs Wade in this very Supreme Court and the progression to a decision like this came much faster than anyone anticipated I suspect."

The judge rambled on about regulations and laws but Grayson's thoughts hurried to the end.  Get too it, is this our child or just hers to do with what she pleased?  He found it incredible that the progression to this high court had happened so speedily but the rush when government officials got wind of the original argument forced it to the public spotlight on the biggest stage.  He just believed this child was both his and hers.

MaryAnne ran from her thoughts.  This could finally be the day after 7 long and excruciating months that it could be over, she could begin her recovery, and continue with her life.  She continually reminded herself she could not handle this fetus, not now, not ever, and she was forgiven.  She hated it, but she longed to do what she believed was best for her and her world.

The Judge concluded his speech and asked the court to rise for his ruling.  Crowds outside waited, the country clung to its radios and news outlets waiting for how feel, and both Grayson and MaryAnne were being held up by their surrounding cast, both facing forward in agony.

"I find in favor," the Judge took a deep breath feeling the weight of the moment, "of the female, MaryAnne.  It's your body, it's your choice."

The eruption of cheers and protests was instant and overwhelming.  Silence that had lived in this room seconds before had vanished into the victorious screams and devastated cries of those around but Grayson and MaryAnne heard nothing.

Grayson immediately began swimming through bodies to get to her for one last pleading and though his progress was swift upon reaching the isle she was halfway down being flown away by her brigade.

"MARYANNE!" he bellowed with every ounce of breath he could find, "PLEASE!"  She turned, hair in her face with a confused look of suddenness.  "SHE is OURS!  BELLE is MINE TOO!" he screamed at her as she was pushed out the door. "NO! PLEASE!"  Guards and friends both restrained and held him up.

Their eyes met faintly, just as in the beginning, as the hallway turned, and for him she was gone.  MaryAnne's entourage rushed her to a vehicle waiting among the raging crowd and took her immediately to the clinic for her surgery, a minor procedure.  Their paths together had ended.  Their worlds could never be the same.

.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Rockets and Wings - 55

"Hang on" he thought. "This is going to be a rough ride!"

Grasping the sides attempting to keep his seat while the rockets fired below.

In these moments regrets and memories flood like swollen rivers - eyes redden - sweat beads.

The evening before rushes in and he thinks:

"Why did I eat 23 wings last night!?!?!?"

Sorry, this just flowed out of my 7 year old mind this morning, my bad to all.


Tell a story in 55 words and post the link here with G-man for Flash Friday 55!  Come and play.

.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Groupless - Without a New Start

Just over a month out from being without a Brentwood Community Group now and I don't like it.  I could end this right now and be completely satisfied but it would defeat the purpose of writing the steps in this 6 month journey.  I suspect this could go many ways over the next months but we will just have to see.

Twelve weeks before time to launch our 3rd Community Group I began to feel a little hesitant.  I wrote this off, figuring it was me trying to deny the end of an incredible run with amazing people.  Talking through God's Word, wrestling through some hard books & studies, and pushing each other to Christ in life through everyday situations.

The depth of need for this goes back to creation (perhaps I'll delve into this at some point) and thus my initial write off.  Then my brilliant wife had questions and so we began to explore.  I'm a concrete kind of guy so I wanted a verse saying to breathe or wait or something, all I got was a consistent feeling over several weeks to wait until next time.  I am usually quick to act, but I slowed down for this one, because I knew if it was direction from Christ it was going to be painful for me.

"The Lord's voice is always gentle calling you to His home.  He is not forceful or hurried but soft.  By contrast, Satan's voice is rushed and immediate."

After weeks of talking and working this through we agreed, for the next 6 months, no C-group.  I approached our Community Life Pastor about not leading the group and he was disappointed but accepting, with a challenge to lead a week later.  (I would have done the exact same thing.) 

The new launches came and went and here I sit, groupless, searching for a reason, hoping I don't miss it because only a month out I'm not sure how long I'll last.  I have some ideas of why, explore community outside of groups, find a new place to serve, spend more time pouring into people who are not in groups, etc. but as I start to delve into these already some doors have been closed.

I know that I breath this stuff, it consumes my thoughts, the how's the what's the who's & when's.  So for the next six months I'll do what I can where I can to be involved with Community Life as it is where my thoughts sit.  I'll attempt to journal through the process here as I hopefully learn and ultimately press even more into Christ through whatever He presents to me.  We won't be alone, but we won't be weekly grouped either and I will dearly miss that.

So here's to true biblical relationships based in Christ . . . and here's to the journey, right?

.