With the exception of being in grad school - when I drove to Columbia to go to church with Jenn and we got Chinese take out for lunch (which was awesome by they way) - I've always been with my family on Easter. This year I didn't hear from my mom inviting me over for lunch or to go fishing or anything. It was out of the ordinary, but my day ended up being awesome. I drove to church by myself and figured I might end up sitting by myself, yet I felt really comfortable with that.
My church does a big Easter service out at Boone Hall Plantation and it is really beautiful. About 4,000 people attend and some plan their vacations to be in Charleston this weekend for the service. It really is beautiful out there; more than that, though, the service was awesome. The music was worshipful and happened to included many of my favorite worship songs. The sermon rocked. I was reminded how much I really do need the Lord. How often I want Him to repair the cracks in my life, rather than my foundation. And, I ended up having the perfect person to sit with during the service.
Over brunch and mimosas with some friends, we toasted things we could each be thankful for. We were heartfelt and honest. We laughed a lot. Afterwards, I was able to get some beach time by myself. It was super windy, yet still glorious out there.
And then, I headed downtown. For the past few months, some friends and I have been serving supper to homeless/down and out on Sunday evenings. We've gotten to know some of the folks pretty well and it's become a highlight of my week. Yesterday, we brought a full Easter spread and ended up serving more people than ever. We read from the gospel of Matthew and offered communion afterwards. We prayed for people and asked the Lord to do big things.
Looking back on my day, it was just about as good as it could get. No worries over outfits, no commercialism, no fuss, but instead, it was filled with peace and joy. Christ conquering death always makes me smile; the pain He endured on the cross was masterfully put to shame when He arose out of that tomb. There is nothing He can't do, and that brings hope in all things.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Two things.
One. If you have a few minutes, read this blog post. I LOVE this blog and this post is challenging and inspiring and such a beautiful reminder before Easter. http://amwalk21.blogspot.com/
Two. The pastor that we stayed with in Nicaragua, Osvaldo recently became a grandfather. Within five minutes of meeting his wife, Rossy, she told me she was going to be a grandmother -- that their 19 year old daughter was pregnant and it had been really hard on their family. Their beautiful daughter, Christian, gave birth to Andre a few days ago.
But he wasn't breathing well and as I found out last night, the doctors gave him the wrong medicine. So, he may have brain damage or he may not make it. BUT it is my prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ would heal him and that I would be able to hold him when I am back in Nicaragua next month. Will you say a prayer with me? That the power of Jesus' blood will heal him fully.
As I think about Sunday -- that my Lord rose from the dead! He conquered death! And asking that Jesus would conquer death in Andre this morning as well!
Two. The pastor that we stayed with in Nicaragua, Osvaldo recently became a grandfather. Within five minutes of meeting his wife, Rossy, she told me she was going to be a grandmother -- that their 19 year old daughter was pregnant and it had been really hard on their family. Their beautiful daughter, Christian, gave birth to Andre a few days ago.
But he wasn't breathing well and as I found out last night, the doctors gave him the wrong medicine. So, he may have brain damage or he may not make it. BUT it is my prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ would heal him and that I would be able to hold him when I am back in Nicaragua next month. Will you say a prayer with me? That the power of Jesus' blood will heal him fully.
As I think about Sunday -- that my Lord rose from the dead! He conquered death! And asking that Jesus would conquer death in Andre this morning as well!
Bound to happen
When I moved back to Charleston a few years ago, I knew I'd run into people that I hadn't seen in a while. Sometimes that is really fun, yet other times it is just plain awkward. There have been times when I can't remember how I know someone: growing up, high school, college, Columbia, mutual friend, etc?
When I moved from James Island to Mt. Pleasant last week, I knew this would increase my chance of bumping into "once known, now strangers." It happened last night. I was walking out of my neighborhood as the start of my run and I heard, "Elizabeth Ann! It's me, Kendall!"
We were both exercising and so it was a brief convo, but turns out we live in the same neighborhood. The last time I remember seeing him, we were in Pirate's Cove in Myrtle Beach; crazy. (Also crazy that Pirate's Cove has a website.)
When I moved from James Island to Mt. Pleasant last week, I knew this would increase my chance of bumping into "once known, now strangers." It happened last night. I was walking out of my neighborhood as the start of my run and I heard, "Elizabeth Ann! It's me, Kendall!"
We were both exercising and so it was a brief convo, but turns out we live in the same neighborhood. The last time I remember seeing him, we were in Pirate's Cove in Myrtle Beach; crazy. (Also crazy that Pirate's Cove has a website.)
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Worth a watch.
Watched this video the other night and it is really cool, especially as I attempt to prepare my heart for Easter.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Little surprises
I love when the Lord is full of surprises. I was watching Courtney's dog Sullivan while she was at the beach with her family. But, Sullivan was being uncharacteristically bad and Courtney had to come get her yesterday. She couldn't put her in a dog hotel until 3pm which gave us time to get Free Ben & Jerry's ice cream cones for lunch. Then Courtney was able to run an errand for me. AND she got to go to Year Team with me last night.
Yesterday morning I read this (it's from a few weeks ago). Maggie sent it to me and it is so good...and was so true for yesterday:
Yesterday morning I read this (it's from a few weeks ago). Maggie sent it to me and it is so good...and was so true for yesterday:
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The Bridge Run
I'm going to try to get you inside of my mind as much as I can (that's a scary thought!). The morning of the run, we woke up early and headed to park in Mt. Pleasant. The race began at 8:00 and they told you to get there at 7:00. We left my house at 6:45 and made it to park right around 7, we got a good parking spot and headed to our carrol -- all the way down to L.
Of course I had to use the bathroom, so I left Courtney and Maggie and headed to Duncan Doughnuts. Me, and what felt like a hundred other friends...I was in line for 45 minutes and my texts weren't going through. When I finally got out of there I went to meet Maggie and Courtney, but this jack leg of a dude wouldn't let me pass him in the crowd and I was literally stuck. Again, the texts didn't go through and apparently they seriously discussed me being dead and buried in a ditch behind the DD. Sorry friends!
At some point, we got to move forward with section L and I was able to find my friends! I managed to scurry up to section F -- passing G, H, I, J, and K to start this race. The wait was absolutely ridiculous and I started at 9:30 even though I'd passed all the other sections!
I passed the start line and started running. The first mile was ok. A few minutes in, I thought about quitting. But, I didn't because I figured I could at least make it to mile marker one. I did! And decided to push on to mile two. From mile one to two was the hardest. When I passed mile two, I got my groove and the run started feeling good...y'all that is SO rare for me! Also, let me remind you that I didn't really train much for this race and hitting mile two was good enough for me!
I decided to push on and just see what happened. Here's the thing. They have signs that say, "Runners keep left." Well, apparently, walkers aren't very good readers because they were all up in my left side! I LOVED looking at the crowd in front of me and trying to figure out who I should pass, via what route, etc. I had to move to the far, far left to pass some walkers and things were going great...until...
There are these 4" wide PVC pipe drainage holes along the side of the bridge. At some point, my left foot went straight down in there and I fell flat on my face. I was STUNNED. There I am, sprawled out on the bridge in complete and utter shock! The people around me were SO nice and helped me up and offered to get me to the medic. I thought I was ok once I got over the shock. Honestly, the whole thing is a bit of a blur and I'm not even sure how long I was down/standing around. A woman came up and pointed out the ambulance, but I felt ok and decided to start running again.
Like Stella, I got my groove back...I felt good running, but I was frustrated with the Lord. Why did I fall on my face? I started claiming truths and telling Him, "you are NOT supposed to leave me! You are NOT supposed to forsake me! You are my rock! You are my redeemer! We are going to do this!" I called upon the Lord and He answered. I calmed and focused, I fell a few feet behind a girl in front of me and followed her path. I past the three mile marker and then the fourth as we were descending off the bridge. I could not believe I'd made it this far.
Once downtown, I kept going. There were people along the street and I loved being cheered on. I knew if I could get to mile five, I could finish...but could I get to mile five? Once on King Street, I asked a group if they knew where mile five was? They joyfully told me I'd passed it and was actually at mile 5.4. I couldn't believe it! That was the furthest I'd EVER run in my life. I pressed on and I have to tell you, crossing the finish line was SO FUN!
My iPod said 1:02:53. I almost wept tears of joy at the finish. Tears of joy because I'd finished. I'd run the whole thing (sans fall) and I really didn't think I could do that. Because I'd felt forsaken on the top of that bridge and the Lord reminded me that He is always there, beside me, behind me, in front, carrying me. Always.
It was such a perfect analogy of my life the past 5 or so weeks:
Mile 1 - cruising along
Mile 2 - tough as nails (week before Nica)
Mile 2.5 - feeling awesome (Nica)
Mile 2.5 - fall - how I felt after Nica. Satan knows my MO's and he loves to use them.
Miles 3,4,5,6 - pressing on and demanding God to be with me. Depending on Him.
Finish line - jubilation!
We fall and we get back up. We make mistakes and messes and our knees are bloodied and torn and ache like hell. Yet we continue on. We can't do it alone, but as the Holy Spirit guides us, the Father calls us, the Son reminds us of his sacrificial love for us, we move forward. And because we do so, the finish line of the battle is all the more sweet.
Leigh met me at the finish line and it was so fun to see her! She rocked it in 51 minutes by the way! Then I looked down and saw my legs were bloody and headed for not one, not two, but three band aids. Only me. Haha. Everyone says the after race is awesome; I didn't agree. The whole things is a logistical nightmare. Also, because we were starving and the lines were crazy long at good restaurants, we ended up eating at Pizza Balls. Food and beer were our only requirements and they met them. I was however, a bit sad when I asked pizza by the slice and realized that wasn't an option. Maggie, Courtney, and I sat there eating a ball of pizza and decided the race:awesome::logistics:not worth it. We also decided Pizza Balls might only stay open due to college kids under the influence at 3 in the morning. Haha.
All in all, I'm glad I did it.
Of course I had to use the bathroom, so I left Courtney and Maggie and headed to Duncan Doughnuts. Me, and what felt like a hundred other friends...I was in line for 45 minutes and my texts weren't going through. When I finally got out of there I went to meet Maggie and Courtney, but this jack leg of a dude wouldn't let me pass him in the crowd and I was literally stuck. Again, the texts didn't go through and apparently they seriously discussed me being dead and buried in a ditch behind the DD. Sorry friends!
At some point, we got to move forward with section L and I was able to find my friends! I managed to scurry up to section F -- passing G, H, I, J, and K to start this race. The wait was absolutely ridiculous and I started at 9:30 even though I'd passed all the other sections!
I passed the start line and started running. The first mile was ok. A few minutes in, I thought about quitting. But, I didn't because I figured I could at least make it to mile marker one. I did! And decided to push on to mile two. From mile one to two was the hardest. When I passed mile two, I got my groove and the run started feeling good...y'all that is SO rare for me! Also, let me remind you that I didn't really train much for this race and hitting mile two was good enough for me!
I decided to push on and just see what happened. Here's the thing. They have signs that say, "Runners keep left." Well, apparently, walkers aren't very good readers because they were all up in my left side! I LOVED looking at the crowd in front of me and trying to figure out who I should pass, via what route, etc. I had to move to the far, far left to pass some walkers and things were going great...until...
There are these 4" wide PVC pipe drainage holes along the side of the bridge. At some point, my left foot went straight down in there and I fell flat on my face. I was STUNNED. There I am, sprawled out on the bridge in complete and utter shock! The people around me were SO nice and helped me up and offered to get me to the medic. I thought I was ok once I got over the shock. Honestly, the whole thing is a bit of a blur and I'm not even sure how long I was down/standing around. A woman came up and pointed out the ambulance, but I felt ok and decided to start running again.
Like Stella, I got my groove back...I felt good running, but I was frustrated with the Lord. Why did I fall on my face? I started claiming truths and telling Him, "you are NOT supposed to leave me! You are NOT supposed to forsake me! You are my rock! You are my redeemer! We are going to do this!" I called upon the Lord and He answered. I calmed and focused, I fell a few feet behind a girl in front of me and followed her path. I past the three mile marker and then the fourth as we were descending off the bridge. I could not believe I'd made it this far.
Once downtown, I kept going. There were people along the street and I loved being cheered on. I knew if I could get to mile five, I could finish...but could I get to mile five? Once on King Street, I asked a group if they knew where mile five was? They joyfully told me I'd passed it and was actually at mile 5.4. I couldn't believe it! That was the furthest I'd EVER run in my life. I pressed on and I have to tell you, crossing the finish line was SO FUN!
My iPod said 1:02:53. I almost wept tears of joy at the finish. Tears of joy because I'd finished. I'd run the whole thing (sans fall) and I really didn't think I could do that. Because I'd felt forsaken on the top of that bridge and the Lord reminded me that He is always there, beside me, behind me, in front, carrying me. Always.
It was such a perfect analogy of my life the past 5 or so weeks:
Mile 1 - cruising along
Mile 2 - tough as nails (week before Nica)
Mile 2.5 - feeling awesome (Nica)
Mile 2.5 - fall - how I felt after Nica. Satan knows my MO's and he loves to use them.
Miles 3,4,5,6 - pressing on and demanding God to be with me. Depending on Him.
Finish line - jubilation!
We fall and we get back up. We make mistakes and messes and our knees are bloodied and torn and ache like hell. Yet we continue on. We can't do it alone, but as the Holy Spirit guides us, the Father calls us, the Son reminds us of his sacrificial love for us, we move forward. And because we do so, the finish line of the battle is all the more sweet.
Leigh met me at the finish line and it was so fun to see her! She rocked it in 51 minutes by the way! Then I looked down and saw my legs were bloody and headed for not one, not two, but three band aids. Only me. Haha. Everyone says the after race is awesome; I didn't agree. The whole things is a logistical nightmare. Also, because we were starving and the lines were crazy long at good restaurants, we ended up eating at Pizza Balls. Food and beer were our only requirements and they met them. I was however, a bit sad when I asked pizza by the slice and realized that wasn't an option. Maggie, Courtney, and I sat there eating a ball of pizza and decided the race:awesome::logistics:not worth it. We also decided Pizza Balls might only stay open due to college kids under the influence at 3 in the morning. Haha.
All in all, I'm glad I did it.
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